Editing James Milner (section)

==Early life==
James Philip Milner<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3044867 |title=Updated Premier League squad lists for 2022/23 |publisher=Premier League |date=4 February 2023 |access-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215211650/https://www.premierleague.com/news/3044867 |archive-date=15 February 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> was born on 4 January 1986<ref>{{Hugman|13685|access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> in [[Wortley, Leeds]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Stewart |title=James Milner: England midfielder at World Cup 2010 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/players/6599044/James-Milner-England-midfielder-at-World-Cup-2010.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=10 May 2010 |access-date=22 April 2016 |archive-date=1 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301154236/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/players/6599044/James-Milner-England-midfielder-at-World-Cup-2010.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> Milner played most of his childhood football for [[Westbrook Lane Primary School]] in [[Horsforth]], where one of his PE teachers and coaches was future Premier League referee [[Jon Moss (referee)|Jon Moss]], who would give him a red card two decades later.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanghera |first=Mandeep |date=21 January 2019 |title=James Milner: Liverpool player sent off by his former PE teacher Jon Moss |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46946865 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>

Milner was later educated at [[Horsforth School]]. Graeme Coulson, a coach from [[Rawdon, West Yorkshire|Rawdon]], recognised Milner's talent and persuaded him to play for Rawdon in several tournaments, including a tournament at Rawdon Meadows, where Milner scored four goals in their victory in the final.<ref name="Milner child">{{cite web |url=http://archive.cravenherald.co.uk/2002/12/31/117792.html |title=James is the latest teenage soccer hero |newspaper=Craven Herald & Pioneer |date=31 December 2002 |access-date=28 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519050949/http://archive.cravenherald.co.uk/2002/12/31/117792.html |archive-date=19 May 2010}}</ref>

Milner was described as a "first class" student at his school; he left with 11 [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSEs]] and an award for his performance in [[physical education]].<ref name="Milner child"/><ref name="Sunday Telegraph">{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Roy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2320779/James-Milner-keeps-feet-on-the-ground.html |title=James Milner keeps feet on the ground |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 September 2007 |access-date=9 September 2007 |location=London |archive-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905194548/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2320779/James-Milner-keeps-feet-on-the-ground.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> He played for the Yorkshire Schools cricket team, was the cross-country champion at his school for three consecutive years and was the district champion over 100&nbsp;metres for two consecutive seasons.<ref name="Milner child"/> He then completed his studies at [[Boston Spa School]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Come on and join the girls |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leeds/come_on_and_join_the_girls_1_2264869 |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |location=Leeds |date=10 May 2004 |access-date=3 December 2011 |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130140502/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leeds/come_on_and_join_the_girls_1_2264869 |url-status=live }}</ref> a sports college which was a partner to the football club.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leeds United Foundation |url=http://www.bostonspa.leeds.sch.uk/leeds-united-foundation |publisher=Boston Spa School |access-date=3 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125213928/http://www.bostonspa.leeds.sch.uk/leeds-united-foundation |archive-date=25 November 2011}}</ref>

Milner supported his hometown club [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] from a young age. His earliest memory of the team was watching them win the [[FA Youth Cup]] in 1993. He and his parents, Peter and Lesley, were [[Season ticket (sports)|season ticket]] holders and Milner later became a [[ball boy]] for the club.<ref name=interview>{{cite news |last=Shaw |first=Phil |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/james-milner-players-my-age-want-to-play-in-the-world-cup-im-no-different-335751.html |title=James Milner: 'Players my age want to play in the World Cup. I'm no different' |newspaper=The Independent |date=31 December 2005 |access-date=19 January 2011 |location=London |archive-date=14 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114080235/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/james-milner-players-my-age-want-to-play-in-the-world-cup-im-no-different-335751.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

When Milner was 10 years old, he joined the Leeds United Academy after being spotted by a [[Scout (association football)|scout]] while playing for Westbrook Juniors in Horsforth.<ref name="Milner child"/> At the academy, Milner played against contemporaries from other clubs in Northern England, including future [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] striker [[Wayne Rooney]]. His role model was Leeds-born [[Alan Smith (footballer, born 1980)|Alan Smith]], who was then a Leeds United striker. Milner believed playing with Smith put him through a learning curve, as Smith had done what Milner aspired to do in coming through the academy and playing for the [[First team (association football)|first team]].<ref name=interview/> Having made good progress at the Academy, Milner was taken on as a trainee after leaving school.<ref name="Milner child"/> However, his father insisted that he attend college once a week to continue his education.<ref name="birthday boy">{{cite news |last=Townsend |first=Nick |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/the-birthday-boy-in-a-very-different-world-from-wayne-74739.html |title=The birthday boy in a very different world from Wayne |newspaper=The Independent |date=4 January 2004 |access-date=19 January 2011 |location=London |archive-date=11 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411125101/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/the-birthday-boy-in-a-very-different-world-from-wayne-74739.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Milner continued to excel in the youth team, and played for England at under-15 and under-17 levels.<ref name="Milner child"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Wrigglesworth |first=Dave |url=http://www.horsforth.leeds.sch.uk/newslet/dec00/sports.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030511092833/http://www.horsforth.leeds.sch.uk/newslet/dec00/sports.asp |archive-date=11 May 2003 |title=Profile of James Milner: aged 14 years |publisher=Horsforth School |access-date=9 September 2007}}</ref> He helped the England under-17 team win the 2002 [[Nationwide Building Society|Nationwide]] summer tournament against [[Italy national under-17 football team|Italy]], [[Czech Republic national under-17 football team|Czech Republic]] and [[Brazil national under-17 football team|Brazil]], scoring a goal against Brazil.<ref name="Under-17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/07 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20040828110908/http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/07 |archive-date=28 August 2004 |title=Milner magic seals Nationwide Glory |publisher=The Football Association |date=14 July 2002 |access-date=28 July 2007}}</ref>