Milija Aleksic

Career A goalkeeper born to a Yugoslav father, he grew up in a small Serbian community in Chesterton, Staffordshire; he was a childhood friend of future England international Mike Pejic. His career started with Gordon Lee's Port Vale. He played two FA Cup games for the "Valiants" as a 17-year-old in the 1968–69 season, both First round games with Shrewsbury Town in which he conceded one goal in both the original game and the replay at Vale Park.

In 1973, he returned to the Football League, signing for Tony Waiters's Plymouth Argyle. He played against Pelé in a friendly against Santos in March 1973, which Plymouth won 3–2. The "Pilgrims" posted a 17th-place finish in the Third Division in 1973–74, before winning promotion with a second-place finish in 1974–75 (they finished one point behind champions Blackburn Rovers). They then held their own in the Second Division, finishing in 16th place in 1975–76. In August 1976, he played two games on loan at Oxford United; both games were League Cup clashes with Cambridge United. He was then loaned out to Ipswich Town. The "Hatters" finished sixth in 1976–77, four points behind promoted Nottingham Forest. Luton then dropped to 13th in 1977–78 under new boss David Pleat, and then finished 18th in 1978–79. He played 77 league games in his three years at Kenilworth Road.

Aleksic was signed by First Division side Tottenham Hotspur in December 1978 for a fee of £100,000. The club posted a 14th-place finish in the 1979–80 season under the stewardship of Keith Burkinshaw. He faced competition between the sticks from Barry Daines and Mark Kendall. In one tie against Manchester United, notorious 'hard man' Joe Jordan broke his jaw in what was officially described as an 'accidental collision'. The White Hart Lane club made a top ten finish in 1980–81, and also lifted the FA Cup with a 3–2 victory over Manchester City at Wembley. Aleksic featured in both the original tie and the replay, which was won with a brace from Ricardo Villa and a scruffy goal from Garth Crooks. However, he soon lost his first-team place to Ray Clemence,

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals Port Vale 1968–69 Fourth Division

1973–74 Third Division

1974–75 Third Division

1975–76 Second Division

32!!0!!2!!0!!3!!0!!37!!0 Oxford United (loan) 1976–77 Third Division

Ipswich Town (loan) 1976–77 First Division

1976–77 Second Division

1977–78 Second Division

1978–79 Second Division

77!!0!!4!!0!!7!!0!!88!!0

1978–79 First Division

1979–80 First Division

1980–81 First Division

1981–82 First Division

25!!0!!7!!0!!0!!0!!32!!0 Luton Town (loan) 1981–82 Second Division

138!!0!!15!!0!!10!!0!!163!!0

Honours Stafford Rangers FA Trophy: 1971–72

Plymouth Argyle Football League Third Division second-place promotion: 1974–75

Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup: 1980–81 FA Charity Shield: 1981 (shared)