Talented but too many injuries ... what might have been for Jamie Proctor at Rotherham United

QUIZ question.
Jamie ProctorJamie Proctor
Jamie Proctor

When did Jamie Proctor last play for Rotherham United?

Yeah, I had to look it up as well.

It wasn’t always like this. Just ask Michael Hefele.

Hefele was the Premier League centre-half destroyed by Proctor on a Wednesday night in August in West Yorkshire back in 2017 when the Millers faced Huddersfield Town in the League Cup.

The striker had just joined the Millers on a £75,000 deal from Bolton Wanderers and had started the League One promotion season so well that the fee was beginning to look a snip.

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But he was to suffer horribly with injuries and was never able to muster the run of games that his talent deserved.

This week he joined fellow Miller Curtis Tilt on loan at League One Wigan Athletic until the end of the season. His contract is up at the end of June so he won’t be seen in a Rotherham shirt again.

“He’s been really unfortunate,” manager Paul Warne said. “I don’t think the Rotherham fans got to see the best of him for very long; maybe for a couple of games but not consistently.

“When we first got him, he was perfect for us. He was mobile and strong.

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“I feel for him because he’s struggled to get back in the side after his injuries. Other players have come in and done well and pushed him down the pecking order. It’s sad because he’s a good kid and wants to do well.

“We’re saying farewell to him. He won’t be coming back.”

In all, there were 29 appearances for Rotherham. Just 11 starts. Five goals.

Hefele endured a chastening evening three and a half years ago. His team eventually won 2-1 but were behind to League One opposition for almost an hour.

Proctor was rested at half-time and Kieffer Moore came on in his place. Moore also gave the German a torrid time but not quite as brutal as the ‘going over’ his teammate had inflicted in the opening 45 minutes.

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“You wouldn’t want to play against them two big horses, would yer?” Warne famously said.

In a League One encounter with Charlton Athletic at AESSEAL New York Stadium three days later, Proctor suffered the cruciate knee ligament damage that was to spell the long, slow end of his Millers career.

He didn’t play again for 12 months.

There would be later operations on his hips but it was the knee injury that ultimately did for him with Rotherham.

Wigan is a good move as it takes him to a club closer to his North West home where he lives with his wife and young daughter.

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“It’s a great deal,” Warne said. “He came back into the building after being at Newport earlier this season and trained well.

“With proper maintenance of his training and game-time, he should go on and still play for a few years.

“We had a game behind closed doors and he caused Curtis (Tilt) and Robbo (Clark Robertson) no end of problems. He’s a strong ‘9’ and I think he’ll do really well at Wigan.

“I don’t want to keep people here for the sake of it. I don’t think he was going to play a part here and he goes with our absolute blessing.”

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The Millers gave Proctor a show of faith in October 2018 by extending his contract until the summer of this year.

The length of the deal was well intentioned on Rotherham’s behalf, aiming to boost a player at the end of a protracted recovery, but, in footballing terms, it turned out to be a mistake.

His most memorable moment came a month later as he drove home a last-minute equaliser in a 2-2 New York derby draw against Sheffield United.

Within six weeks of his joyous celebration in front of the kop hip surgery was required.

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By the end, after loans at Scunthorpe United, AFC Fylde and Newport County, the 28-year-old had become the forgotten man.

It was cruel how a lovely, genuine, friendly, modest bloke suffered. Powerful and with a deceptively good touch at times, he had much to offer until the injuries diminished him.

Skipper Richard Wood faced him many times in training and said he could be a real handful.

The player already has an eye on the future.

He’s an intelligent man and has acquired qualifications in several areas including business and journalism.

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Already he has his own company offering one-to-one football coaching with youngsters and it would be no surprise if he eventually went into teaching.

He leaves New York as humble and decent as the day he arrived and goes with everyone’s good wishes, with everyone’s respect.

What might have been, eh? All the best, Proc.

PS: Rotherham 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1, League Cup, New York, August 28 2019.