Isle of Wight football legend to hang up boots after 29 seasons

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The club will honour the loyal service Adam has given — almost 30 seasons (28 with West Wight) — with a special testimonial game, between two mixed teams of current players and 'old boys'.

Adam in his early days playing for West Wight. (Image: Pete Millar)

It will be held at West Wight's Camp Road ground on Saturday, May 11, with a good crowd expected, kick off 3pm.

Adam will, of course, be playing in it.

The Island-born 45-year-old, from Totland, has played 618 of his games for the first team, as a central midfielder, and returned an impressive scoring record of 236 goals.

Playing in recent times for the reserves, Adam has amassed 113 appearances and scored 54 goals.

Adam Millar in more recent times in West Wight's colours. (Image: Pete Millar)

The stats do not include his matches played for Cowes U18s for a full season, half a season for Newport's first team, one appearance for East Cowes Vics and a season with Portsmouth outfit, Mayflower, in the Hampshire League, late 1990s, helping them to a runner-up spot.

During the club's halcyon years, Adam was a key player — helping them go on to win 11 Island League Division 1 titles and a clutch of cups.

They include seven Isle of Wight Challenge Cup, between 2003-2011 and the Isle of Wight Memorial Cup three times, together with a Hampshire Cup, an Isle of Wight Junior B Cup, and a Combination 1 and 2 title.

The big Liverpool fan, who enjoys trips with his son to Anfield, also represented the Isle of Wight at the Island Games in Gotland in 1999, winning a bronze medal. 

Adam made his debut for West Wight in the 1994-95 season, when aged 15, against Whitecroft.

Over the past five seasons, Adam developed a new catchphrase: "One more year" — vowing to make that his final season playing football — which became a standing joke among team-mates and supporters of West Wight.

But Adam — one of six members of the Millar family to have played for West Wight — is adamant this is his last campaign.

Adam won numerous trophies. (Image: Pete Millar)

He said: "I decided this was going to be it at the start of this season. I've played a long time and my body's feeling it now.

"Since I first played when I was 15, I don't know where the time's gone. I've got six matches left. I'll enjoy those and then that's it.

"I'm glad I played for as long as I have. It has given me so many friends over the years, a lot of confidence and some important life lessons. If I had the time again, I wouldn't have changed any of it.

"On Saturday's, I'll be on a golf course probably and I won't be waking up on a Sunday with aches and pains playing football anymore."

Last season, Adam won a new club award, donated by Island League legend and ex-West Wight manager, the late Graham Daish, to mark his service as a player to the club.

And at a recent 'legends' reunion, Adam won a poll for being the club's best ever player.

Adam will end his career on a high. He has been invited to play in the forthcoming game between Saints Legends and Island Legends, at Westwood Park, Cowes, on Friday, May 17.