Tanners to mark legendary manager's passing

Leatherhead's fans, players and officials are planning to pay tribute to legendary former manager Billy Miller on Saturday when they host East Thurrock United in the Ryman Premier.

The Tanners boss, who famously guided the Surrey club to the fourth round of the FA Cup in 1975 and clocked up almost 900 games in charge between 1965 and 1980, died last Saturday following a period of ill health. He was only 31 when he took over from Norman Douglas as Leatherhead manager, having already spent eight years at the club, first as a player and then managing the reserves.

Officials at Fetcham Grove have also released details of their former manager and player's funeral which will be held on Wednesday 18 March at Leatherhead Crematorium in Randalls Road at 2.45pm.

Ill health had stopped the mastermind of Leatherhead's famous run and former Kingstonian, Walton & Hersham and Woking manager from making the short journey from his home in Ashstead to Fetcham Grove only last month to attend a special reunion of the Surrey club's cup heroes from 40 years ago.

Before seeing the modern day Tanners draw 1-1 with the Metropolitan Police on Saturday 10 January, their predecessors, pictured with their late manager, were lauded at a commemorative lunch to mark their historic 1-0 win in the third round over Brighton & Hove Albion and heroic fourth round exit at Leicester City who had to come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

Image courtesy of Leatherhead FC

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