Robert Milarvie (1864 – 30 November 1912) was a Scottish footballer who played for Hibernian, Stoke, Burslem Port Vale, Derby County, Newton Heath, Ardwick / Manchester City, and Ashton North End.
Career Milarvie played for Pollokshield and Hibernian before moving south to join Stoke, where he played in the first season of the Football League. On his debut, he claimed a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Notts County on 24 November 1888. He scored five goals in 15 matches for a struggling Stoke side who finished bottom of the table. He moved on to nearby Burslem Port Vale in the summer of 1889. He made his Vale debut in a 1–1 friendly match against Halliwell at the Athletic Ground on 2 September 1889, but his club were censured by the Football Association for fielding him as he had also signed for Derby County, with County then winning the fight for his services. He was initially suspended for the season, before the ban was shortened after he explained he was a Catholic and had been influenced by Vale's Catholic representatives. He spent the 1889–90 season with Derby, scoring on his debut against West Bromwich Albion, the first of four goals in 14 appearances.
He left Derby in 1890 to sign with Newton Heath following a trial spell. He also worked as a cotton yarn dyer. He played four games for the club in the Football Alliance before moving on to neighbours Ardwick the following year. He played 19 Alliance league games in 1891–92, the final year of the league's existence. The club were then elected into the Football League Second Division, and Milarvie made 19 appearances in 1892–93. He played 23 games in 1893–94, but then lost his first-team place to the new signings of Billy Meredith, Wally McReddie and Pat Finnerhan. Ardwick changed their name to Manchester City in 1894–95, and Milarvie left the club after the 1895–96 campaign to join Lancashire League club Ashton North End. After retirement, he ran a pub in Manchester, dying on 30 November 1912.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStoke1888–89Football League15500155Burslem Port Vale1889–90–000000Derby County1889–90Football League14400144Newton Heath1890–91Football Alliance22410234Ardwick1891–92Football Alliance193102031892–93Second Division172211931893–94Second Division224102341894–95Second Division103001031895–96Second Division100010Total6912417313Career total120255112526
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