Miller was born in Edinburgh and began his football career playing with leading local amateur club Civil Service Strollers whilst training as a law clerk.
[1] By this time World War I was in its second year, and the conflict had a huge impact on Hearts when most of their players enlisted en masse and several were later killed in action.
The Scottish League continued to operate during the war, and Miller replaced Harry Wattie (also a product of Tranent, who was one of the players training for the Western Front and who would ultimately perish at the Battle of the Somme).
In one of Miller's first appearances in October 1915, Hearts lost 5–0 at home to Ayr United; however in the very next match they defeated Rangers 4–0 at Ibrox Park with Willie Wilson scoring a hat-trick.
[6] Miller continued to play regularly for Hearts until April 1922 when he found the football was conflicting with his legal career, which he did not wish to give up to turn professional.