Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club (/ˈmɪlwɔːl/)[1] is a professional football club in Bermondsey, South East London, England. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the Millwall area of the Isle of Dogs in 1910. From then until 1993, the club played at what is now called The Old Den in New Cross, before moving to its current home stadium nearby, called The Den. The traditional club crest is a rampant lion, referred to in the team's nickname The Lions. Millwall's traditional kit consists of dark blue shirts, white shorts, and blue socks.
| Full name | Millwall Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Lions |
| Founded | 1885, as Millwall Rovers |
| Ground | The Den |
| Capacity | 20,146 |
| Owner | Millwall Holdings |
| Chairman | James Berylson |
| Head Coach | Neil Harris |
| League | EFL Championship |
| 2023–24 | EFL Championship, 13th of 24 |
| Website | Club website |
| Current season | |
Millwall was one of the founding members of the Southern League in 1894. They competed in it for 22 seasons until 1920, claiming the title twice in 1895 and 1896. Since joining the Football League in the 1920–21 season, the club have been promoted 11 times (five times as champions in 1928, 1938, 1962, 1988, and 2001) and relegated nine times. They have spent 91 of their 98 seasons in the Football League yo-yoing between the second and third tiers. The club had a brief spell in the top flight between 1988 and 1990, in which they achieved their highest ever league finish of tenth place in the Football League First Division in 1988–89. Millwall reached the 2004 FA Cup Final and qualified for UEFA competitions for the first time in their history, playing in the UEFA Cup. The club have also won two League One play-off finals in 2010 and 2017, the Football League Group Cup in 1983, and were Football League Trophy finalists in 1999.
Millwall's supporters have often been associated with hooliganism, with numerous films made fictionalising their notoriety. The fans are renowned for their terrace chant "No one likes us, we don't care". Millwall have a long-standing rivalry with Premier League side West Ham United.The local derby between the two sides has been contested almost 100 times since 1899. Millwall also share a rivalry with Leeds United, and contest the South London derby which can also sometimes be referred to as the South East London derby for geographical reasons with local rivals in the district Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic.
History edit
Beginnings, Southern League and relocation: 1885–1920 edit
The club was founded as Millwall Rovers by the workers of J.T. Morton's canning and preserve factory in the Millwall area of the Isle of Dogs in London's East End in 1885.[3] J.T. Morton was founded in Aberdeen in 1849 to supply sailing ships with food, the company opened their first English cannery and food processing plant at Millwall dock in 1872 and attracted a workforce from across the country, including the east coast of Scotland, primarily Dundee.[3] The club secretary was 17-year-old Jasper Sexton, the son of the landlord of The Islander pub in Tooke Street where Millwall held their club meetings.[4] Millwall Rovers' first game was an away fixture held on 3 October 1885 against Fillebrook, a team that played in Leytonstone. The newly formed team were beaten 5–0.[3] Millwall's first home game was on a piece of waste ground on Glengall Road against St Luke's, on 24 October 1885, which they won 2–1.[5]
Rovers found a better playing surface for the 1886–87 season, at the rear of the Lord Nelson pub and it became known as the Lord Nelson Ground.[3] In November 1886, the East End Football Association was formed, along with the Senior Cup Competition. Millwall made it to the final against London Caledonians, which was played at Leyton Cricket Ground. The match finished 2–2 and the teams shared the cup for six months each.[6] Millwall won the East London Senior Cup at the first attempt. The club also won the cup in the following two years, and the trophy became their property.[3][6]
In April 1889, a resolution was passed for Millwall to drop "Rovers" from their name, and they began playing under the name Millwall Athletic, inspired by their move to their new home The Athletic Grounds.[6][7] They were founding members of the Southern Football League which they won for the first two years of its existence, and were runners-up in its third.[8] During this period the club was invited to join the Second Division of the Football League but the committee turned down the opportunity, partly due to the expected increase in travel expenses but also to stay loyal to the Southern League.[9] They were forced to move to a new ground North Greenwich in 1901, as the Millwall Dock Company wanted to use their land as a timberyard.[10] Millwall Athletic reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1900 and 1903, and were also champions of the Western Football League in 1908 and 1909.[11] On 10 October 1910, Millwall played their last game as an East London club against Woolwich Arsenal in the London Challenge Cup.[12] Millwall won the game 1–0 in front of a crowd of 3000.[12]
Millwall moved to a new stadium, named The Den, in New Cross, South East London in 1910.[13] The club had previously occupied four different grounds in the 25 years since their formation in East London; limited expansion space on the Isle of Dogs meant The Lions had to move to boost support and attendances.[10] The estimated cost of The Den was £10,000.[10] The first match played at the new ground was on 22 October 1910 against reigning Southern League champions Brighton & Hove Albion, who won 1–0.[14]
Entering the Football League: 1920–1940 edit
Millwall, who had now also dropped "Athletic" from their name, were invited to join the Football League in 1920 for the 1920–21 season, along with 22 other clubs, through the creation of the new Football League Third Division.[15] The Southern League was shorn of its status, with almost all its clubs deciding to leave—Millwall followed suit.[15] Millwall's first Football League match was on 28 August 1920 at The Den, and they were 2–0 winners against Bristol Rovers.[16]
In the 1925–26 season Millwall had 11 consecutive clean sheets, a Football League record, which they hold jointly with York City and Reading.[17] Millwall became known as a hard-fighting Cup team and competed in various memorable matches, notably defeating three-time league winners and reigning champions Huddersfield Town 3–1 in the third round of the 1926–27 FA Cup.[18] In the 1927–28 season Millwall won the Third Division South title and scored 87 goals at home in the league, an English record which still stands.[17] Matches against Sunderland and Derby County saw packed crowds of 48,000-plus in the 1930s and 1940s.[19] Their 1937 FA Cup run saw Millwall reach the semi-finals for the third time, and a fifth-round game against Derby still stands as Millwall's record attendance of 48,762.[18][19] Millwall were the 11th best supported team in England in 1939, despite being in the Second Division.[20] Millwall were one of the most financially wealthy clubs in England. The club proposed plans to improve the Den and signed international players.[21] Winger Reg 'JR' Smith was capped twice, scoring two goals for England in 1938.[22] The Lions were pushing for promotion to the First Division toward the end of the decade, but one week into the 1939–40 season, World War II broke out and Millwall were robbed of their aim.[21]
Wartime doldrums and relegation to fourth tier: 1940–1965 edit
On 7 April 1945, Millwall appeared in a Football League War Cup final at Wembley Stadium against Chelsea, but because it was a wartime cup final it is not acknowledged in the record books.[23] With the war in Europe in its last days, the number of spectators allowed to attend games was relaxed. The attendance was 90,000, the largest crowd Millwall have ever played in front of, which included King George VI, whom the team were introduced to before kick-off.[24]
The loss of so many young men during the Second World War made it difficult for clubs to retain their former status. This was especially true for Millwall, who appeared to suffer more than most. From being one of the country's biggest clubs before the war, Millwall were reduced to one of its smallest afterward.[23] The Den sustained severe bomb damage on 19 April 1943, and one week later a fire, determined to have been caused by a discarded cigarette, also destroyed an entire stand.[23] The club accepted offers from neighbours Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and West Ham United to stage games at their grounds.[23] On 24 February 1944, Millwall returned to The Den, to play in an all-standing stadium. This was achieved with considerable volunteer labour by Lions fans.[23]
Millwall's fortunes fluctuated in the immediate post war years, they were relegated to Division Three South in 1948 and had to apply for re-election to the league in 1950 after finishing in the bottom two. An upswing in fortunes saw Millwall finish 5th, 4th, and then runners up in Division Three South in 1952–53 season; but with only the Champions being promoted, Millwall found themselves stuck in the third tier despite averaging crowds of over 20,000. Millwall then suffered a down swing in fortunes with a number of bottom-half finishes. One highlight of the period was one of the biggest giant-killing upsets in the Fourth Round of the 1956–57 FA Cup on 26 January 1957, when Millwall beat Newcastle United 2–1 in front of a crowd of 45,646.[25] Millwall suffered the ill fortune of becoming a founding member of Division Four[26] in 1958. While initially suffering from this reorganisation, the de-regionalisation of Third Division North and Third Division South opened up the way for promotion via the runner up spots. Millwall won the Division Four Title in 1962 with the help of 23 Goals from Peter Burridge and 22 from Dave Jones. They were relegated again in the 1963–64 season, but were to bounce back by winning back-to-back promotions as runner up. This is the last time Millwall played in the fourth tier.[27]
Unbeaten home record and the class of '71: 1965–1987 edit
Later in the decade, Millwall established a record of 59 home games without defeat (43 wins and 16 draws) from 22 August 1964 to 14 January 1967. During this spell, Millwall played 55 different teams, kept 35 clean sheets, scored 112 goals and conceded 33.[28] This was thanks largely to managers Billy Gray, who laid the foundations, and Benny Fenton, a former player who continued to build on Gray's side. All the players, which included winger Barry Rowan, goalkeeper Alex Stepney, defender Tom Wilson and strikers Hugh Curran and Len Julians, were presented with a commemorative gold cigarette lighter by the Football Association.[28] The record was eventually broken by Liverpool, who were unbeaten for 63 games at home between 1978 and 1981.[28]
In the early 1970s, the Millwall team included many notable and memorable players, now remembered by some fans as "The Class of '71". This was a team that included; goalkeeper Bryan King, defender Harry Cripps, goalscoring midfielder Derek Possee, Millwall's most capped international player to date, Eamon Dunphy[29] and the club's longest serving player, Barry Kitchener.[30] They missed out on promotion to Division One by one point.[31] By remaining unbeaten at home in Division Two for the 1971–72 season, Millwall became the only club to go through an entire season without losing a match at home in four different divisions 1927–28 Division Three South, 1964–65 Division Four, 1965–66 Division Three and 1971–72 Division Two.[9] In 1974, Millwall hosted the first game to be played on a Sunday against Fulham.[32] The Lions reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup in 1974, and again in 1977.[33]
George Graham managed Millwall from 1983 to 1986, and during that time he guided the club to a Football League Group Cup win, beating Lincoln City 3–2 in the final in the 1982–83 season.[34] The 1984–85 season was particularly successful, Millwall reached the FA Cup quarter-finals and gained promotion to the Second Division, going unbeaten at home again in Division Three, winning 18 games and drawing five.[35] In the FA Cup they were beaten 1–0 by First Division Luton Town at Kenilworth Road. The match is remembered for all the wrong reasons, after hooligans rioted at the game. 81 people (including 31 police officers) were injured in the disturbances.[36]
Promotion to top tier, new stadium, and administration: 1987–2000 edit
Graham's replacement was Glaswegian John Docherty. In his second season as manager, Millwall won the Second Division championship and gained promotion to the top flight of English football for the first time in the club's history.[38][39] Starting the 1988–89 season strongly, Millwall topped the league on 1 October 1988 having played six games (winning four and drawing two) and rarely slipped out of the top five before Christmas. This was mainly due to Tony Cascarino and Teddy Sheringham, who scored 99 goals between them in three seasons playing together.[40] Millwall's first top division season ended with a tenth-place finish, which was the lowest place occupied by the club all season. The following season, they briefly led the league for one night in September 1989 after beating Coventry City 4–1, but won only two more games all season and were relegated in 20th place at the end of the 1989–90 season.[41]
Just before relegation was confirmed, Docherty was sacked and replaced by ex-Middlesbrough manager Bruce Rioch.[42] Striker Teddy Sheringham, who later played for England and was the highest-scoring player throughout the Football League in the 1990–91 season,[43] was sold to Nottingham Forest for £2 million after Millwall's 6–2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Second Division play-offs.[44] Rioch left Millwall in 1992 to be succeeded by Irish defender Mick McCarthy. McCarthy guided Millwall to third place in the new Division One at the end of the 1993–94 season.[45] This was their first season at a new ground, at first known as The New Den (to distinguish it from its predecessor) but now called simply The Den, which was opened by the Labour party leader John Smith on 4 August 1993.[46] The new ground was the first all-seater stadium to be built in England after the Taylor report on the Hillsborough disaster.[47] The Lions knocked Arsenal out of the 1994–95 FA Cup in a third-round replay, beating them 2–0 at Highbury.[48] They also reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup in 1995.[33] Millwall lost 5–1 on aggregate to Derby County in the play-off semi-finals that same 1994–95 season, in a tie blighted by crowd trouble.[4] McCarthy resigned to take charge of the Republic of Ireland national team on 5 February 1996, shortly after Millwall had been knocked off the top of the Division One table by Sunderland, following a 6–0 defeat.[45]
Jimmy Nicholl of Raith Rovers was appointed as McCarthy's replacement, but could not reverse the slump in form which saw Millwall relegated at the end of the 1995–96 season in 22nd place.[4] Just five months earlier they had been top of Division One, but now Millwall found themselves in the third tier for the 1996–97 season. The club experienced severe financial difficulties that resulted in them being placed in financial administration for a short time.[4] Nicholl was relieved of his duties and John Docherty returned on a short-term basis to stabilise the club.[4]
Millwall came out of administration, and new chairman Theo Paphitis appointed ex-West Ham United manager Billy Bonds as manager.[49] The 1997–98 season was not a successful one, with the club hovering close to relegation to the fourth tier. Bonds was sacked and replaced by Keith "Rhino" Stevens, with Alan McLeary as his assistant. McLeary was later promoted to the role of joint-manager alongside Stevens.[4] Stevens and McLeary led Millwall to their first ever official appearance at Wembley Stadium.[4] The Lions reached the 1999 Football League Trophy Final with a golden goal win against Gillingham in the semi-finals, and a 2–1 aggregate victory over Walsall in the regional final. They faced Wigan Athletic in the final but, while playing in front of 49,000 of their own fans, lost 1–0 to an injury-time goal.[50] Millwall finished 5th and lost 1–0 on aggregate to Wigan in the Second Division play-off semi-finals of the 1999–2000 season, their third play-off semi-final loss.[50]
Champions, FA Cup Final, and European football: 2000–2007 edit
Mark McGhee was named as Millwall's new manager for the 2000–01 season in September 2000, and eight months later the club won promotion as Division Two champions.[4] They finished with 93 points, a club record, with striker Neil Harris winning the golden boot with 27 league goals.[51] Winning the first match of the 2001–02 season 4–0 at home to Norwich City set the team up well for a good year, in which Millwall finished 4th and qualified for the Division One play-offs, but lost to eventual winners Birmingham City 2–1 in the semi-finals. Millwall finished 9th in the 2002–03 season, but McGhee left Millwall by "mutual consent" in October.[52]
In October 2003, Dennis Wise, ex-Chelsea and England player, became caretaker, and subsequently permanent player-manager, of the club for the 2003-04 season. In his first season in charge Wise led the team to finish four points off of the play-offs, and to the first FA Cup Final in their history.[53] Millwall played Sunderland in the semi-final at Old Trafford, with Tim Cahill, who finished the season as Millwall's top scorer, scoring the winning goal, to set up a final against Manchester United. When Millwall took to the field at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 22 May 2004 they were only the second team from outside the top flight to play in the Cup final since 1982, and were the first team from outside the Premier League to reach the final since the foundation of the top tier in 1992.[54] The club was missing 16 players from their squad due to suspension or injury, but kept the score at 0-0 until 1 minute before half-time when Gary Neville's cross was headed in by Cristiano Ronaldo. Millwall eventually lost the 2004 FA Cup Final 3-0.[55] As United had already qualified for the UEFA Champions League, Millwall were assured of playing in the UEFA Cup. Midfielder Curtis Weston, substituted for Wise with one minute of normal time remaining, became the youngest Cup final player in history at 17 years 119 days, beating the 125-year-old record of James F. M. Prinsep.[56] In the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, Millwall lost 4–2 on aggregate in the first round proper to Hungarian champions Ferencváros, with Wise scoring both Millwall's goals.[57]
In 2005, Theo Paphitis announced that he was stepping down as chairman of the club with Jeff Burnige to replace him from May 2005.[58] At the end of the 2004–05 season, manager Dennis Wise announced that he was leaving as he was unable to form a working relationship with the new chairman.[53] Former Millwall striker Steve Claridge was announced as the new player-manager of Millwall. However, when Burnige then stepped down just two months after taking up the post, it was announced on 27 July that Claridge had been sacked after just 36 days, without ever taking charge of the team in a competitive match.[59] Former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Colin Lee replaced him but lasted only five months in charge of the club.[59]
On 21 December, with the club bottom of the Championship, he became the club's Director of Football and was replaced as manager by 32-year-old player Dave Tuttle, on a short-term contract until the end of the 2005–06 season.[60] Millwall experienced a tough season, having had four managers. Their 13 goals scored at home was the second worst in Football League history.[17] Their relegation to League One was confirmed on 17 April 2006 with a 2–0 loss against Southampton. In the closed season Nigel Spackman was appointed as the new manager, but he lasted only four months after a string of bad results.[61] In September 2006, Theo Paphitis (chairman from 1997 to 2005) ended his nine-year association with the club after a year-long spell as a non-executive director.[62] On 19 March 2007, Willie Donachie signed a two-year contract following some progress in the latter half of 2006-07 which had seen the club climb to 11th place in the league.[63] Before Donachie took charge, Millwall had taken only six points from their first ten games. In the 2007–08 season Millwall sat bottom of the table at the beginning of October. Donachie was sacked on 8 October, with Richard Shaw and Colin West becoming caretaker managers.[63]
New owner, stability, and first play-off success: 2007–2014 edit
In March 2007, Chestnut Hill Ventures, led by American and future chairman John Berylson, invested £5 million into the club.[65] Millwall appointed Kenny Jackett as new manager on 6 November 2007.[66] Over the course of the next two seasons, Jackett led Millwall to two top six finishes in League One, in fifth and third place respectively. He won the League One Manager of the Month award three times while in charge of the club.[67] On 13 January 2009, Harris broke Teddy Sheringham's all-time goal scoring record for Millwall during the 3–2 away win against Crewe Alexandra with his 112th goal for the club.[68] After a play-off final defeat in the 2008–09 season against Scunthorpe United and losing out on automatic promotion on the last day of the 2009–10 season to Leeds United by one point, Millwall made it back to Wembley, finally breaking the play-off hoodoo run of five successive failures in 1991, 1994, 2000, 2002 and 2009, with a 1–0 win in the 2010 League One play-off final against Swindon Town, securing a return to the Football League Championship after a four-year absence.[64]
Millwall's first game back in the Championship was a 3–0 away win at Bristol City. The game had been much hyped due to City's signing of then-England goalkeeper David James. Only days after the defeat, Steve Coppell resigned as City manager.[69] The Lions celebrated the 125th anniversary of the club on 2 October 2010, which was the closest home game date to the first fixture Millwall ever played against Fillebrook on 3 October 1885. Millwall drew 1–1 with Burnley and wore a special one-off kit for the game, made by manufacturers Macron, which bore the names of every footballer who had played for the club.[70] Prior to the start of the 2011-12 season, Neil Harris left the club for the second time, departing as Millwall's all-time top goalscorer with 138 goals
Kenny Jackett celebrated five years in charge of the club in November 2012, with a 4–1 victory away at Nottingham Forest.[71] After a strong start to the 2012–13 season, including a 13-game unbeaten run and flirting with the play-offs,[72] Millwall finished poorly, with only five wins in the last 23 games, narrowly avoiding relegation on the last day of the season.[73] Their poor league form coincided with reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup for the fifth time in their history.[74] They played Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium on 14 April 2013, losing 2–0 to the eventual cup winners.[75] Kenny Jackett resigned on 7 May 2013.[76] He was Millwall's fourth-longest serving manager having managed 306 games.[77] After a month of searching, Millwall appointed St Johnstone boss Steve Lomas as their new manager on 6 June 2013.[78] His appointment provoked mixed emotions among some supporters, due to him being a former captain of West Ham United, their biggest rival.[79] Club record goalscorer Neil Harris returned to Millwall for a third time as a coach on 23 June 2013 after retiring as a player through injury.[80] Millwall sacked Lomas on 26 December 2013, after winning only five of his first 22 games in charge.[81] Harris and youth team coach Scott Fitzgerald took over as joint caretaker-managers.[81]
Harris' return, play-offs, and FA Cup giant-killers: 2014–2019 edit
The club appointed Ian Holloway as their new manager on 6 January 2014, with the club sitting 21st in the Championship table. He was given the priority of maintaining their Football League Championship status, which he achieved. Millwall went unbeaten in the last eight games of the 2013–14 season and finished in 19th place, four points above the relegation zone.[83][84] The following season, Holloway was sacked on 10 March 2015 with the team second from bottom in the Championship, and Neil Harris was reinstated as caretaker manager until the end of the season.[85] He was unable to ensure survival, however, as Millwall's relegation to League One was confirmed on 28 April with one game of the 2014–15 season still to play.[86] Harris was confirmed as Millwall's permanent manager the next day.[87] In his first full season in charge, Harris led Millwall to a fourth-place finish in League One and a play-off final at Wembley, which the Lions lost 3–1 to Barnsley.[88]
In the 2016–17 FA Cup, Millwall reached the Quarter-finals for the tenth time in their history, knocking out Premier League opposition in three consecutive rounds: Bournemouth in the third round, Watford in the fourth round, and reigning Premier League champions Leicester City in the fifth round.[89] On 28 February 2017, Millwall beat Peterborough United 1–0, increasing their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions, and going nine games without conceding a goal for the first time since the 1925–26 season.[90] Millwall made it to the League One play-off final at Wembley for the second successive year, after beating Scunthorpe United 3–2 in the semi-final. They were promoted back to the Championship following a 1–0 playoff final victory over Bradford City, thanks to an 85th-minute winner from Steve Morison, his 86th goal for the club.[91]
In Millwall's return to the Championship in the 2017–18 season the team went on a club record 17-game unbeaten run; their longest streak in the second tier, which surpassed a record of 15 set in 1971.[92] During the undefeated run they won six away games in a row, equalling a club record set in the 2008–09 season.[93] In the 2018–19 FA Cup, Millwall reached the Quarter-finals for an 11th time in their history, losing to Premier League side Brighton on penalties. In the previous round they knocked out Premier League side Everton, to equal Southampton's FA Cup 'Giant-killings' record, having knocked out 25 top-flight teams when not in the top flight themselves.[94] This season Millwall broke their club transfer fee record twice, firstly buying Tom Bradshaw from Barnsley for £1.25 million, and then a week later buying midfielder Ryan Leonard from Sheffield United for £1.5 million. They also broke their record received for a player, selling George Saville to Middlesbrough for £8 million.[95]
On 3 October 2019, Neil Harris resigned as Millwall manager with the club sitting in 18th place with two wins from their first ten Championship games.[96] Harris led Millwall to Wembley twice, with one promotion, and to two FA Cup quarter-finals during his tenure.[96] He was the Lions fifth longest-serving manager, having spent four and a half years at the club, managing 248 games.[77]
Rowett era, death of chairman and instability: 2019–2024 edit
On 21 October 2019, Harris was replaced by former Stoke City boss Gary Rowett.[98] Rowett inspired a dramatic upturn in form; losing only two matches of his first 15 league games, which saw the 2019–20 season end in an 8th-placed finish, just two points off the play-offs. Rowett guided the club to a mid-table 11th place in his second season in charge. This season marked the first time in Millwall's history that they played more seasons in the second tier (44) than the third tier (43). The following 2021–22 season saw an improved 9th place finish, missing out on the play-offs on the final day of the season. Millwall went close again in 2022–23. Millwall required a win on the final day of the season to secure a play-off spot but gave up a 3–1 lead, losing 4–3 to Blackburn Rovers and eventually finishing 8th.[99]
On 4 July 2023, the club announced the death of owner and chairman John Berylson, who died in a car accident. The 70-year-old was driving in Falmouth, Massachusetts, lost control of his Range Rover and hit a tree. He died at the scene.[100] A club statement remarked "Under John's passionate leadership and guidance, Millwall Football Club has enjoyed tremendous success and stability. Since first becoming involved in the club in 2006, he has presided over some of the greatest moments in Millwall's history, and his influence in providing the platform for those was immeasurable...any success moving forward will be in his memory and honour. It will be his legacy."[101] His son, James, was named as his replacement as chairman.[102] On 18 October 2023, the club announced it had mutually agreed to part company with first team manager Gary Rowett with assistant manager Adam Barrett taking over as interim manager.[103] On 6 November 2023, Millwall confirmed England under-20s manager Joe Edwards as their new Head Coach.[104] In his debut game, Edwards led Millwall to a 4–0 win at Sheffield Wednesday, the Lions' largest away win in the second tier for 22 years.[105] After a 2–0 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday, and just four wins in 19 games, Edwards was sacked by Millwall on 21 February 2024.[106] He was replaced by former player and record club goalscorer Neil Harris, his third spell in charge of the Lions.[107][108] [109]
Colours, crest and nickname edit
Kit edit
Millwall's traditional kit has predominantly consisted of blue shirts, white shorts and blue socks throughout their 125-year history.[2] For the first 50 years, up until 1936, they played in a traditional navy blue, similar to the colours of Scotland national team.[2] This colour was chosen because it paid homage to the Scottish roots of the club,[3] with the nucleus of the first Millwall Rovers squad being from Dundee.[110] In 1936, newly appointed Millwall manager Charlie Hewitt opted to change the kit colour from navy blue to a lighter royal blue,[111] and the team played in this colour for the best part of 74 years, with the exception of 1968–75 and 1999–2001, in which the team played in an all-white strip.[2] Their kit for the 2010–11 season celebrated the 125th anniversary of the club, with Millwall adopting the darker navy blue of their first strip.[112] The club has retained this colour since.[2] As for change colours, white shirts and blue shorts or yellow shirts and black shorts have been the Lions primary away colours. They have also played in red and black stripes, all grey, all orange, all red, and green and white stripes. Millwall wore a special one-off camouflage kit to commemorate the centenary of the First World War against Brentford on 8 November 2014. It went on sale to fans, with proceeds going to Headley Court, a rehabilitation centre for injured members of the British Armed Forces.[113]
Badge edit
The club crest has been a rampant lion since 1936, which was also introduced by Charlie Hewitt.[111] There have been many variations of the lion; the first was a single red lion, often mistakenly said to be chosen because of the club's Scottish roots.[114] The lion bore a striking resemblance to signs used by pubs named The Red Lion.[114] From 1956 to 1974 Millwall's crest was two leaping red lions facing each other.[2] Former chairman Theo Paphitis brought back the badge in 1999, where it was used for a further eight years. The current crest is a leaping lion, which first appeared on a Millwall kit in 1979.[2] It remained until 1999 and was re-introduced again in 2007.[2] The club mascot is a giant lion called Zampa, named after Zampa Road, the road The Den is located on.[115]
The Lions edit
The team nickname is The Lions, previously The Dockers.[116][117] The original Dockers name arose from the job of many of the club's supporters in the early 1900s.[3] The club did not like the nickname and changed it after press headlined Millwall as 'Lions of the South', after knocking Football League leaders Aston Villa out of the 1899–1900 FA Cup. Millwall, then a Southern League side, went on to reach the semi-final.[118] The club adopted the motto: We Fear No Foe Where E'er We Go.[119] In the 2000s the club started to recognise its unique link with London docks by introducing Dockers' Days, and archiving the club's dock roots in the Millwall FC Museum.[120] Dockers' Days bring together past successful Millwall teams who parade on the pitch at half-time. Supporters who were dockers are allowed to attend the game without charge.[120] In 2011, Millwall officially named the east stand of The Den as the 'Dockers Stand' in honour of the club's former nickname.[121]
Kit sponsors and manufacturers edit
For the 2013–14 season, Millwall chose the charity Prostate Cancer UK to sponsor their shirt for free.[122]
| Year | Kit manufacturer[2] | Main shirt sponsor | Secondary sponsor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–80 | Bukta | None | |
| 1980–83 | Osca | ||
| 1983–85 | LDDC | ||
| 1985–86 | Gimer | London Docklands | |
| 1986–87 | Spall | ||
| 1987–89 | Lewisham Council | ||
| 1989–90 | Millwall | ||
| 1990–91 | Lewisham Council | ||
| 1991–92 | Fairview Homes PLC | ||
| 1992–93 | Bukta | Fairview | |
| 1993–94 | Captain Morgan | ||
| 1994–96 | ASICS | ||
| 1996–97 | South London Press | ||
| 1997–99 | L!VE TV | ||
| 1999–2001 | Strikeforce | Giorgio | |
| 2001–03 | 24 Seven | ||
| 2003–04 | Ryman | ||
| 2004–05 | Beko | ||
| 2005–06 | Lonsdale | ||
| 2006–07 | Oppida | ||
| 2007–08 | Bukta | K&T Heating Services Ltd | |
| 2008–10 | CYC | Oppida | |
| 2010–11 | Macron | Matchbet | |
| 2011–12 | Racing+ | Sasco Sauces | |
| 2012–13 | BestPay | ||
| 2013–14 | Prostate Cancer UK | Wallis Teagan | |
| 2014–15 | Euroferries | ||
| 2015–16 | Wallis Teagan | ||
| 2016–17 | Erreà | ||
| 2017–18 | TW Drainage & EnergyBet | DCS Roofing | |
| 2018–19 | Macron | ||
| 2019–22 | Huski Chocolate | ||
| 2022–23 | Hummel | ||
| 2023– | Erreà |
Stadiums edit
History edit
Millwall began life on the Isle of Dogs and inhabited four different grounds in the club's first 25 years.[10] Their first home was a piece of waste ground called Glengall Road, where they only stayed for one year. From 1886 to 1890 they played behind The Lord Nelson pub on East Ferry Road, which was known as the Lord Nelson Ground, before being forced to leave by the landlady, who received a better offer for its use.[10]
They moved to their third home, The Athletic Grounds, on 6 September 1890.[10] This was their first purpose-built ground, with a grandstand that seated 600 people and an overall capacity of between 10,000 and 15,000. The club was forced to move on again though, this time by the Millwall Dock Company who wanted to use it as a timberyard. They relocated in 1901 to a location near their second home, which became known as North Greenwich.[10] They remained an east London club for a further nine years, with the last game played on the Isle of Dogs on 8 October 1910 against Portsmouth, which Millwall won 3–1.
On 22 October 1910, Millwall crossed the river to South East London, moving to Cold Blow Lane in New Cross. The fifth ground was called The Den, built at a cost of £10,000 by noted football ground architect Archibald Leitch. The first game played there was against Brighton & Hove Albion, which Brighton won 1–0.[14] Millwall remained there for 83 years, until moving to their sixth and current ground, at first known as The New Den but now called simply The Den, on 4 August 1993. The ground has an all-seated capacity of 20,146.[123][19] A Sporting CP team, managed by Bobby Robson helped open the ground by playing a friendly, which The Lions lost 2–1.[4][119]
Bermondsey redevelopment controversy and the Den's future edit
In September 2016 Lewisham Council approved a compulsory purchase order (CPO) of land surrounding The Den rented by Millwall, as part of a major redevelopment of the "New Bermondsey" area. The plans were controversial because the developer, Renewal, is controlled by offshore companies with unclear ownership, and is seen by the club and local community to be profiteering by demolishing existing homes and businesses as well as Millwall's car-park and the Millwall Community Trust facility to build up to 2,400 new private homes, with no social housing. The club contemplated the possibility of having to relocate to Kent. Millwall had submitted their own plans for regeneration centred around the club itself, but the council voted in favour of Renewal's plans.[124] In December 2016 Private Eye reported how Renewal had been founded by a former Lewisham Council leader and senior officer, suggesting potential bias, and that the decision to approve Renewal's plans may have been made as far back as 2013 despite the fact that no due diligence had been able to be carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers due to "poor" and "limited" access to information and management at Renewal, which is controlled from the Isle of Man and British Virgin Islands.[125] In the face of mounting community opposition and media scrutiny, the Council said in January 2017 it will not proceed with the CPO.[126] However, it was later reported to be taking legal advice regarding other avenues of securing the CPO, and Council cabinet members will decide how to proceed after a "review". Private Eye reported that Millwall are continuing to explore relocation options in Kent.[127]
On 9 May 2024, Millwall secured a 999-year lease for The Den from the Council, after approval from the Mayor of Lewisham. The new lease secured the clubs future in London and removed restrictions on developing the area surrounding the stadium, also giving Millwall development rights to build new homes, leisure and community spaces in New Bermondsey.[128][129]
Traditional songs edit
A tradition at The Den is the playing of the official club song[130] "Let 'em Come", by Roy Green, as Millwall and the opposing team walk onto the pitch. It was specifically written for the club and the lyrics represent old London culture, such as eating jellied eels[131] and having a glass of beer before going to the game. The song ends with all home fans standing, arms raised (usually in the direction of the travelling fans singing the last line, "Let 'em all... come down.... to The Den!" A television drama about a Millwall supporter and ex-docker, starring David Jason, featured a lyric from the song in its title, Come Rain Come Shine. The song was played on repeat at Wembley Stadium after Millwall gained promotion to the Championship in 2010.[132] The song "Shoeshine Boy" by the Mills Blue Rhythm Band was played as the entrance song before "Let 'em Come".[133]
Other songs that have been regularly played at The Den over the years in the build-up to a game include "London Calling" by The Clash, "No Surrender" by Bruce Springsteen, "Town Called Malice" by The Jam and "House of Fun" by Madness, which features the lyric "welcome to the lion's den...". Status Quo's cover version of "Rockin' All Over the World" is played after every home win.[134]
Rivalries edit
Millwall were listed eighth out of a list of 92 Football League clubs with the most rivals, with West Ham United, Leeds United, Crystal Palace, and Charlton Athletic considering them a major rival.[135][136] Portsmouth, Everton and Gillingham also share minor rivalries with Millwall, with hooliganism between their fans dating back to the 1970s.[137][135][138]
Major rivalry with West Ham United edit
Millwall's fiercest rival is West Ham United. It is one of the most passionately contested local derbies in football.[140] The two clubs have rarely met in recent years due to them playing in different leagues; the majority of their meetings happened before the First World War, with some 60 meetings between 1899 and 1915.[141] The clubs have played 99 times since the first contest in 1899. Millwall have won 38, drawn 27 and lost 34.[142] Despite violence between the two sets of supporters and calls for future games between the clubs to be played behind closed doors, they last met in the Football League Championship in 2011–12 with no outright ban on either set of fans, and no repeat of crowd trouble.[139][143] The rivalry between the sides, specifically the clubs' two hooligan firms has been depicted on the big screen several times, in films such as Green Street.[144]
Rivalry with Leeds United edit
Millwall share a fierce rivalry with Leeds United. The rivalry between the teams is intensified by both clubs' passionate fans and association with football hooliganism.[145][146] The clubs' two hooligan firms, the Leeds United Service Crew and the Millwall Bushwackers, were notorious in the 1970s and 80s for their violence, being called "dirty Leeds" and "the scourge of football" respectively.[146][147] From 1920 to 2003 the sides met just 12 times; competing in different tiers for the majority of their histories, and neither considering the other a rival on the pitch. Since Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in 2004, the teams have met 28 times in 16 years. The rivalry began in League One during the 2007–08 season, with disorder and violent clashes between both sets of fans and the police at Elland Road.[148] It continued into the 2008–09 season; where the teams were vying for promotion to the Championship, culminating in Millwall knocking Leeds out of the League One playoffs at the semi-final stage.[149][150] The clubs have played each other 41 times and are evenly matched, with both teams having won 18 games, and five games ending in a draw.
South East London derbies edit
Millwall are closest in proximity to Charlton Athletic, with The Den and The Valley being less than four miles (6.4 km) apart. They last met in July 2020, a 1–0 win for Millwall at the Valley.[151] Since their first competitive game in 1921, Millwall have won 37, drawn 26 and lost 12.[152] The Lions are unbeaten in their last twelve games against Charlton, spanning 24 years, where they have won seven and drawn five. The Addicks last win came in March 1996 at The Valley.[151] The Lions last played against fellow South East London club Crystal Palace in the 2021–22 season in an FA Cup tie at The Den, which resulted in a 2-1 loss.[153] In almost 100 competitive games between the two clubs since 1906, Millwall have won 39, drawn 29 and lost 29.[154]
Players edit
Current squad edit
- As of 10 May 2024[155]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Millwall Under 21s edit
- As of 26 July 2023.[156]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Millwall Under 18s edit
- As of 19 May 2023.[157]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Player of the year edit
- As voted by Millwall Supporters Club members and season ticket holders.[158]
Personnel honours edit
English Football Hall of Fame edit
Millwall players inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame:[159]
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PFA Fans' Player of the Year edit
| Players included in the PFA Fans' Player of the Year whilst playing for Millwall:
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PFA Team of the Year edit
| Players included in the PFA Team of the Year whilst playing for Millwall:
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Notable former players edit
The following is a list of notable footballers who have played for Millwall, including players who have been honoured in Millwall's Hall of Fame, international players who were capped by their country while playing for Millwall, players who have been given a testimonial for 10 years of service at the club, players who have made over 100 appearances or scored 50 goals, and also 1885 founder member players who contributed significantly to the clubs' history.[22][161][162][4][163][164]
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Note: Current players George Saville and Tom Bradshaw have been capped internationally while playing for Millwall, and will be added to the list when they leave the club.
Managers edit
There have been 35 permanent and 15 caretaker managers since the appointment of the club's first professional manager, Bert Lipsham on 4 May 1911.[165] From 1890 to 1910, Millwall directors Kidd, Stopher and Saunders were honorary managers, also working under the title of club secretary.[166] Bob Hunter is Millwall's longest serving manager, having stayed at the helm for 15 years. Prior to becoming manager, he was the club's trainer for 21 years. He died in office in 1933, having served at the club for a total of 36 years.[167] Steve Claridge holds the shortest tenure at the club, having been in charge for a period of 36 days without ever taking charge of a first-team game.[59] Every Millwall manager has come from the United Kingdom or Ireland.[165]
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(s) = secretary (c) = caretaker
Top 10 managers by games managed edit
- As of match played 4 May 2024
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- Managers in bold denotes still managing the club
Club officials edit
Board edit
- Chairman: James Berylson
- Directors: Constantine Gonticas, Trevor Keyse, Demos Kouvaris, Richard Press, Peter Garston and Matthew Sidman
- Chief Financial Officier: Emma Parker
- Chief Commercial Officier: Luke Wilson
- Director of Football: Steve Gallen
Coaching staff edit
- Head Coach: Neil Harris
- Assistant Head Coach: David Livermore
- Assistant Head Coach: Adam Barrett
- Goalkeeping Coach: Andy Marshall
- U21 Elite Development Squad Manager: Kevin Nugent
- U21 Elite Development Squad Assistant Manager: Paul Robinson
- Academy Director: Scott Fitzgerald
Honours and achievements edit
League
- Second Division (level 2)
- Champions: 1987–88
- Third Division South / Third Division / Second Division / League One (level 3)
- Champions: 1927–28,