The Surprising Connection Between Millwall FC and Scotland's Historical Icons
Get ready for a fascinating journey through history, where we uncover a link between an English football club and two iconic figures from Scotland's past. But here's where it gets intriguing... it involves a player with a unique family tree and a club with strong Scottish roots.
Martin McFie, a football legend who graced the fields for Millwall over a century ago, has a family tree that leads us straight to Flora MacDonald, a renowned figure in Scottish history. MacDonald is celebrated for her role in aiding Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape after the Battle of Culloden, an event immortalized in The Skye Boat Song.
The discovery of this connection was made possible through the dedicated research of historians, with assistance from the Gaelic news platform, BBC Naidheachdan. McFie's family origins can be traced back to Erisco, a small village on the Isle of Skye. Among his ancestors was the famous Flora MacDonald herself.
MacDonald's story is a captivating one. As a young woman, she found herself caught up in the aftermath of Culloden, a battle that saw the defeat of Jacobite forces loyal to Charles Edward Stewart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. The battle, fought near Inverness, resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,600 men, with the majority being Jacobites.
After the battle, Prince Charlie and his supporters went into hiding, and it was here that MacDonald played her part. Living in Benbecula at the time, she helped the prince evade capture by disguising him as her serving maid for a crossing to Skye. Her actions ensured his safe passage and eventual escape to France.
But the McFie family's story doesn't end there. They too faced a dramatic chapter in their history - the Highland Clearances. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, hundreds of families were displaced from their lands to make way for large-scale sheep production and other agricultural uses. Some families relocated within Scotland, while others, like the McFies, chose to emigrate.
Calum Beaton, chairman of Skye's Kilmuir Historical Society, explains that the McFies were among those who sought a new life overseas. "I understand they were evicted from Erisco when Duntulm Estate brought in Cheviot sheep. There wouldn't have been much for them here at the time, so they went to Australia in search of a better life."
Martin McFie was born in Merino Downs, Australia, in 1867. However, his connection to Skye remained strong, and this fact piqued the interest of football historians.
David Sullivan, a lifelong researcher of Millwall and its players, shares his fascination with the club's history. Last year, the south London club approached Sullivan, seeking a comprehensive list of every player who had ever played for the Lions. Sullivan's response? "The managing director at the club said go back to the year dot. I started digging, and that's where I got the interest in Martin McFie."
Sullivan's research revealed that McFie's birth on the Isle of Skye was just the beginning of a fascinating story. With the help of BBC Naidheachdan, it was discovered that McFie grew up on Skye and not in Australia. After the death of his mother in 1869, he was sent to live with relatives on the island.
On Skye, McFie's uncle, Norman McFie, was an influential figure. Norman left the island to seek his fortune and was eventually elected mayor of Tamworth in Staffordshire. Young McFie, too, would make his mark in England, but on a different stage - the football pitch.
In 1887, McFie joined the newly formed London Caledonians team, which went on to defeat Tottenham Hotspur, setting up a cup final clash with Millwall Rovers. Millwall, too, had strong Scottish connections. The club was established by workers from a Scottish tin company on the Isle of Dogs, and it boasted several Scottish players and a chairman from the Black Isle.
"Scotland was rich pickings for the club," Sullivan remarked.
McFie's footballing prowess was recognized early on. An 1890 newspaper report labeled him as "one of the best half-backs in London." He played against Millwall's greatest rivals of the time, Royal Arsenal, and even formed his own team, McFie's Eleven, comprising players from Millwall and London Caledonians, for a Christmas Day game against Arsenal.
The growth of Millwall and Arsenal, both with strong Scottish roots, saw them become the first professional football clubs in London. However, McFie's path took a different turn. He chose to join the army, serving with the Royal Fusiliers and rising to the rank of sergeant major.
McFie passed away on the south coast of England in 1952, far removed from his ancestral home on Erisco and even further from Merino Downs. His name might have faded into obscurity, but for the dedicated efforts of Sullivan.
"I've got a fascination with where players came from and what they did afterwards," Sullivan said. "McFie's family history and how he came back to Scotland with some of his siblings after their mother died, it was quite emotional really."
Back on the Isle of Skye, the Kilmuir Historical Society hopes to include McFie's story in their forthcoming book. Mr. Beaton commented, "It's an unusual story and a new one to us. We'd like to do more on it."
So, there you have it - a tale that connects an English football club, Millwall FC, to Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald, two iconic figures from Scotland's past. A story that showcases the power of historical research and the enduring connections that can be found across time and place.
