▁before ▁moving ▁to ▁south ▁coast ▁riv als ▁South am pton . ▁He ▁also ▁played ▁for ▁F alk irk ▁and ▁L l anel ly , ▁whom ▁he ▁helped ▁win ▁the ▁Wel sh ▁Football ▁League ▁championship ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 2 – 3 3 . ▁ ▁Football ▁career ▁ ▁F alk irk ▁Mc Il wa ine ▁was ▁born ▁at ▁Ir v ine , ▁North ▁A yr shire ▁and ▁after ▁a ▁spell ▁with ▁Ir v ine ▁Victoria ▁he ▁joined ▁F alk irk . ▁At ▁F alk irk , ▁he ▁became ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁out standing ▁centre - hal ves ▁in ▁Scottish ▁football ▁and ▁was ▁selected ▁to ▁represent ▁the ▁Scottish ▁League ▁against ▁the ▁Irish ▁League ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 2 7 ▁( the ▁Scottish ▁League ▁XI ▁won ▁ 2 – 1 ). ▁He ▁soon ▁became ▁a ▁target ▁for ▁several ▁top ▁English ▁clubs , ▁and ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 2 8 ▁it ▁" ca used ▁a ▁sens ation ▁in ▁the ▁football ▁world " ▁when ▁he ▁chose ▁to ▁join ▁Port sm outh ▁who ▁were ▁struggling ▁to ▁avoid ▁re leg ation ▁in ▁their ▁first ▁season ▁in ▁the ▁First ▁Division . ▁ ▁Port sm outh ▁Mc Il wa ine ▁joined ▁Port sm outh ▁for ▁a ▁record ▁transfer ▁fee ▁of ▁£ 5 0 0 0 ▁( including ▁a ▁friendly ▁match ▁at ▁F rat ton ▁Park ), ▁replacing ▁Harry ▁Fox all ▁who ▁retired ▁shortly ▁afterwards . ▁He ▁made ▁his ▁debut ▁at ▁home ▁to ▁S under land ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁February ▁ 1 9 2 8 ▁in ▁a ▁ 5