1960 - Wednesday Team Bus Crashes, Player Loses Leg

[KivoOwl]

On the way back from an away game with Arsenal.

 

 

[nevthelodgemoorowl]

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Edited April 8, 2013 by nevthelodgemoorowl

[KivoOwl]

It used to be just one centre half in those days and Dougie McMillan was one of the top centre halves in the country, just goes to show how good Swanny was.

He was an inside-right Nev, and never played a first team game.

[horny owl]

Footballers were hard back then.... Propper mans game.

[dunsbyowl]

[Jackie Sewell]

I remember hearing this in my bedroom on the radio news. Just couldn't take it in. Just reading that newspaper report tells how horrific it was. It was reported at the time that McMillan  was standing in the footwell of the steps adjusting the radio when the crash happened, which is why his leg was trapped. I went to that that testimonial match, notice the price 2d= about 1p! McMillan did the kick off.

Dougie McMillan stayed in Sheffield and ran the post office at the bottom of Wincobank Hill until fairly recently.

See that picture of Tony Kay in hospital, well I went to the very next home game and Kay played with that same bandage (or a clean one) round his head.

Swan broke his shoulder after being thrown down the bus, and Craig, as you can see cut his chin and was soon back. 

[matthefish2002]

I remember hearing this in my bedroom on the radio news. Just couldn't take it in. Just reading that newspaper report tells how horrific it was. It was reported at the time that McMillan  was standing in the footwell of the steps adjusting the radio when the crash happened, which is why his leg was trapped. I went to that that testimonial match, notice the price 2d= about 1p! McMillan did the kick off.

Dougie McMillan stayed in Sheffield and ran the post office at the bottom of Wincobank Hill until fairly recently.

See that picture of Tony Kay in hospital, well I went to the very next home game and Kay played with that same bandage (or a clean one) round his head.

Swan broke his shoulder after being thrown down the bus, and Craig, as you can see cut his chin and was soon back. 

 

I remember him well serving me and my Mum loads of times when i was younger. I never believed my Mum that he had played for Wednesday until I read about him in a Wednesday history book about the crash.

[Wolfmanjack]

On the way back from an away game with Arsenal.

 

 

Kivo, he actually played at Hard Lane, against Kiveton Park United, a few years after his accident. He had a prosthetic leg (obviously) and played in goal for a team whose name escapes me.

[KivoOwl]

Kivo, he actually played at Hard Lane, against Kiveton Park United, a few years after his accident. He had a prosthetic leg (obviously) and played in goal for a team whose name escapes me.

Never new that!

[Jackie Sewell]

In that bottom picture of Keith Ellis( who I met cos he worked for my grandad and got me everyones autograph) you can just see he's wearing a check flat cap. I've referred to these a few times in posts because at that time we used to stand at the players entrance before games as they arrived in ones and twos, and they all had check overcoats and check caps in 1960 and of course we had to wear them too, just the job at 15.

That picture reminded me as it says, that Ellis( who scored in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal) travelled back in his own car hence missing the crash. Didn't realise he had a sportscar though, or a wife like that.

[theowlsman]

Thanks for that Kivo, an interesting read.

[Wolfmanjack]

Never new that!

I was there. Probably 1967 or 68 in the days when the best sides for miles around were Kiveton Park United and Ecclesfield Red Rose. Just can't remember who he was playing for.

[markowl]

I was his Area Manager when I worked for the Post Office.

A lovely bloke.

[dunsbyowl]

I remember hearing this in my bedroom on the radio news. Just couldn't take it in. Just reading that newspaper report tells how horrific it was. It was reported at the time that McMillan  was standing in the footwell of the steps adjusting the radio when the crash happened, which is why his leg was trapped. I went to that that testimonial match, notice the price 2d= about 1p! McMillan did the kick off.

Dougie McMillan stayed in Sheffield and ran the post office at the bottom of Wincobank Hill until fairly recently.

See that picture of Tony Kay in hospital, well I went to the very next home game and Kay played with that same bandage (or a clean one) round his head.

Swan broke his shoulder after being thrown down the bus, and Craig, as you can see cut his chin and was soon back. 

Was that at Wincobank itself - down near the railway line? Barrow Road?

Edited April 8, 2013 by dunsbyowl

[Jackie Sewell]

Was that at Wincobank itself - down near the railway line? Barrow Road?

Yes Dunsby, it's the one on the corner of Barrow Rd. and I think Newman Rd. opposite the gasworks.

[Jackie Sewell]

To be honest Dunsby, it shocked me to the core at the time and this has brought it all back. They say people can remember where they were when Kennedy was shot, I can remember where I was when Dougie McMillan lost his leg, that's the impact it had. He wasn't that much older than me, and wanting to be a footballer myself I was just horrified. Just put our relegation fight into perspective.

[killaowl]

just found this

 

Dougie McMillan

posted on 9 Apr 2010 in Features, Reports 0

Dougie McMillan’s name is etched in Wednesday folklore, despite the fact that he failed to make a single appearance for the club. Playing for Scottish amateur club Armadale Thistle, McMillan was spotted by Wilf Sharp who was a member of Wednesday’s 1935 Cup-winning side.

“I came down on trial, played against Frickley Athletic and Harry Catterick asked me to sign after the match,” remembers Dougie.

McMillan appeared in a County Cup game against Doncaster Rovers and was on the verge of forcing his way into Catterick’s first-team plans when he travelled with the senior squad for a game against Arsenal on Boxing Day in 1960.

Sadly, as the bus team returned home following a creditable 1-1- draw at Highbury, a cruel twist of fate saw McMillan’s career wrecked before it had even begun at the age of just 19.

After the bus crashed on a bend on the A1 near Huntingdon, McMillan’s right leg had to be amputated to free him from the twisted wreckage. Recalling that fateful trip Dougie says: “Everyone was in high spirits after such a good result. Some of the lads were playing cards at the back of the coach and i only went to the front because Tommy McAnearney wanted Radio Luxembourg on the radio. Tommy was going to go but i said , ‘You sit and play Tom and I’ll try and find it.’

“My foot was in the stairwell while i was tuning the Radio and i looke dp and saw that the bus was going off the road. That was it and the next time I came around, I was in agony. My leg was only hanging by a thread, so they had to take it off to to get me out.”

Dougie has a philosophical outlook on the accident which robbed him of a career in professional football saying: “You have to put it down to fate.” After losing his leg he travelled with the squad to away games for a while. “It was good that they kept me as part of the squad,” he says. “I worked in the office at Hillsborough for about six months with Eric England and Ted Gibson but i knew i was going to have to leave.

He was granted a testimonial and a crowd of 26,000 at Hillsborough saw a mixed Wednesday and United team face a SelectXI, which included the likes of Billy Wright, Bobby Charlton and George Cohen.

Dougie had two spells as manager of Hallam FC and also coached the juniors at Rotherham when his old team-mate Jimmy McAnearney was in charge of the Millers. Despite his handicap Dougie played in a five-a-side team with Johnny Quinn at Hoyland Common Sports Centre.

He says: ” I tied my false leg on and played in goal.” A keen golfer he played amputee golf up until having hip replacement tow years ago, competing in tournaments in this country and overseas. Away from Sport, following several office jobs, Dougie took on a Post Office at Wincobank and remained there for 31 years until retiring in 2003. The father of two lives in Grenoside with Marjorie – his wife of 47 years – and the couple have seven grandchildren.

Fellow amputee, the late Derek Dooley, visited Dougie in hospital half a century ago and advised him on how to cope with the loss of a limb. Dougie who now offers similar words of comfort to those in the same position, is pleased to see that an amputee football academy has been set up in Dooley’s name. “They’ve got better legs today than when i got mine,” he notes.

[Señor Sam]

Dougie was a member of Tankersley Park Golf Club. Think he played off single figures. Nice guy.