NIALL DAVIE, 300 APPEARANCES THIS SATURDAY FOR THE CLUB CAPTAIN AND HOW !

Much is being made of this coming Saturday and Non League Day and rightly so, the club are throwing everything into a very special day including holding a very important Food Bank collection.

On the playing side however, to Millers fans far and wide, the day takes on extra significance because of the milestone which will be achieved by our very special Club Captain Niall Davie.

Niall made his debut for Carlton in the 2015-2016 season coming on as substitute in a cup game against Shepshed Dynamo according to official club records.
The Millers manager at the time Wayne Scott had been impressed with Niall during his time involved with the club’s under 21s and indeed it was Wayne who gave the talented youngster his first team debut after taking the reigns from Les Mcjannet.

Wayne takes up the story “He joined the club in the first pre season after Les had stepped down, from Grantham Town and instantly made an impression as an attacking left back with the younger group.
He eventually worked his way into the first team squad and from memory ended up playing for both the Academy group and the first team in the following season”
“We realised the potential he had and were sure he would become a first team regular and so it proved, his only setbacks were the unlucky injury lay offs he suffered over the years, one of which prevented him from playing in that memorable Senior Cup Final win at Meadow Lane when we beat Basford”
“He turned his ankle in the warm up and Alex Troke came into the team after Niall had to stand down, that was tough for him, but he came back after every setback and 300 appearances tells you everything you need to know about Niall, I’m absolutely delighted for him” concluded Wayne.

Niall had more back luck in the 2021-2022 season braking his leg in a game v Yaxley, which led to him missing another Senior cup Final when the Millers beat Mansfield Town 1-0 at Basford United.
Although he contributed massively in helping the Millers get to two finals which they won, the pain at missing out again must have been difficult to take.

The one thing with Niall Davie is that he keeps bouncing back.
Niall will have started 249 of the 300 games and come on as substitute in 51 games, scoring 35 goals for the Millers (2 from the spot) and becoming Club Captain under the management of Tommy and Mark.

On the 7th March 2023, he scored what has gone down into Millers folklore as possibly the best Millers goal ever, the Millers Maradona he is now affectionately known as after that incredible goal against Hebburn away, which helped turned around Carlton’s season when they ended up staying up after looking certainties for relegation.

After the wonder goal came a great run of results including a late away win at his old club Grantham Town, with Niall in outstanding form, but as usual, there was more bad luck ahead for the talented captain and more pain was around the corner, as an away game at Pontefract on 18th April was abandoned and Niall was taken to hospital with concussion and kept in overnight for observation.
Thankfully after missing a few games, Niall was the given the all clear and 2 years on is leading the charge as the Millers push for an unlikely play off spot.

Talented with a wand of a left foot, Niall Davie is undoubtedly one of the best and most popular players ever to have played for this football club and 300 appearances and how is what he and all the fans can celebrate on Saturday on Non League Day, fitting indeed !

Please stay behind after the game to show your appreciation in the Clubhouse Sports Bar.

Finally we take you back to November 2023 and a post match interview with Niall after he had scored a hatrick in the second half against Brighouse at Stoke Lane in front of a crowd of 155.
The interviews back then were probably a little less professionally done and with the backing of Aerocom Uk, Carlton Town Tv have certainly upped their game, but just for old times sake, many will enjoy the lovable Gaz Bee, pint in hand in full flow, speaking to Niall after that match winning hatrick.