Kirk Millar programme article
Posted : 6th October 2023
‘Look at Linfield’ this week catches up with long-serving winger Kirk Millar who spoke of his pride at making his 400th appearance for his boyhood club in last week’s 6-1 win over Newry City at Windsor Park.
“It’s a proud moment and a massive thing for me and my family because we are all Linfield fans. It’s a boyhood dream, an absolute privilege, and to wear the armband last week was also special. I’ve been here since I was a boy of seven years of age, apart from a stint in England, and I’m happily still here now.
“To mark it with two goals was nice. There was some fortune about my first goal, although usually players try to say they meant it. I just tried to put the ball into a dangerous area and thankfully, it went all the way through and into the net. The second goal was one we work on in training all the time, and I scored one very similar away to Dungannon earlier this season. Joel Cooper put the perfect weight on the pass and I just guided the ball into the corner.
“I feel confident that I can adapt to playing anywhere as a player. When I play centrally, I find it enjoyable because I get on the ball more, and I’m still able to do what I’ve always done which is to get crosses into the box, just from a different angle at times. I’ve scored three goals this season which have all been from the left side, scored into the far corner. I think that’s a benefit of not being on the right – I can drift around and cut in from the left to shoot on my stronger foot.”
The former Oldham Athletic man from the Shankill Road has recently returned from a couple of weeks out through injury when he missed the double-header against Larne. He was called upon ten days ago when Stephen Fallon got injured in the first half against Crusaders and, following his brace and Man of the Match display against Newry City last week, he’s itching to be involved against Glentoran tonight.
“You have to play well every week at Linfield, otherwise there will be a quality player ready to take the shirt and seize their opportunity. I’ve been here for nine years now and that’s always been the way of it, and I don’t think it’ll ever change. There’s a lot of good players in the squad and on the bench currently and they are more than capable of stepping in, so I knew the importance of taking my chance when I came on against Crusaders and when I started against Newry City.
“I was out injured for a while there and then when I came back, I had a bit of a freak injury in training. I’ve worked hard in training and kept myself fit, so that I could take my opportunity to get back in the team when it came along. It was great to get that opportunity last week, although it was disappointing that it had to come about due to an injury to Stephen Fallon who is a top player. Obviously, I am hoping that I’ve done enough to earn a start against the Glens - it’s always a great occasion and one that everyone is desperate to be a part of.”
Remarkably, despite a win over their rivals here in a Co. Antrim Shield clash last season, and a couple of league wins at The Oval in recent seasons, the Blues haven’t beaten the Glens here in a league match since September 2019 – a match in which Millar scored a late winner. There’s been four draws and two Glentoran wins in the six league meetings at Windsor since then, and Millar assures everyone that the Blues want to end that run.
“We’ve a lot of youth in this squad and there’s no fear amongst the squad – you can never have fear playing for Linfield! Linfield players have to be brave, get on the ball and make things happen. Before we beat Crusaders last week, we were aware that we didn’t beat them in the league last season, and that’s something we were determined to put right and thankfully, we did. This situation with Glentoran is similar because, although we beat them at The Oval, we only got one point from our two home matches against them last season, so we’ll be looking for a good performance and a good result tonight.
“We’re playing well and are well positioned at the moment, but I still think there’s a lot more to come from us as a squad. We are playing well in spells but I think we’re on a process of getting to where we want to be as a team, and I think we’ll reach those levels soon.”
Congratulations to Kirk on the excellent achievement of his 400th appearance for the Blues. Here’s to many more, and best wishes to the creative maestro and his teammates for tonight’s eagerly-awaited first ‘Big Two’ derby game of the season.