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The Millwall FC Miscellany E-Book

David Sullivan

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Herausgeber: The History Press
Kategorie: Lebensstil
Sprache: Englisch

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Millwall FC, founded in Victorian times, have a tremendous history to delve into. This book will provide you with all you want to know about the Lions, and some stuff you don't… The Millwall Miscellany is a book on the Lions like no other, packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legends. Featured here are loads of stories about the club from 1885 to the present day. Here you will find player feats, individual records and plenty of weird and wonderful tales, quotes ranging from the profound to the downright bizarre and cult heroes from yesteryear – a book no true Millwall fan should be without.

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Leseprobe

First published 2011

The History Press

The Mill, Brimscombe Port

Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

This ebook edition first published in 2017

The right of David Sullivan to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

EPUB ISBN 978 0 7509 8388 4

Typesetting and origination by The History Press

eBook converted by Geethik Technologies

FOREWORD

I am standing in the tunnel ready to take the field, the noise is deafening, the hairs on the back of my neck are standing and I can see my team-mates are filled with nerves, anticipation and probably a sense of fear, feeling the hostility of the atmosphere into which they are about to walk.

The pressure is lifted as we see a Huddersfield team finally emerge from the safety of their dressing room, expressions etched with the fright and dread of having to run the gauntlet of playing at the Den. This recollection from the play-off semi-final in May 2010 epitomises a football club which prides itself on being united between players and supporters.

During the course of this book you will come across numerous episodes of a club that is known worldwide for its motto of ‘No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care’.

I have been both fortunate and proud to have played a big part in a wonderful club’s history, a club that never seems to be more than a game away from its next major incident, whether it’s a an FA Cup final, play-off final, promotion, relegation or an FA hearing. This is Millwall.

Neil Harris, 2011

INTRODUCTION

This miscellany is, as far as I am aware, the first of its kind to be published on Millwall. It contains a wealth of facts, trivia, stats, stories and legends. Having celebrated their 125th birthday in 2010, the Lions (since their formation in 1885) have had as many highs as they have had lows. A period of seven years, beginning in 1997, saw the Lions go from administration to the FA Cup final in 2004. To celebrate their 125 years the Lions also finally ended their Wembley hoodoo with victory over Swindon Town in the League One play-off final last year.

On the following pages you will read about the biggest wins and the heaviest defeats, the player who sold his England cap, attendances, and other intriguing curios, like the famous Victorian/Edwardian celebrity who appeared for Millwall, and the singing centre-forward. Along with quotes, unusual statistics and passages from the club’s colourful history, this volume is a must for any Lions fan. There are, I am sure, many tales and stories on Millwall that will remain buried until future researchers unearth them, but if you enjoy reading what has already been found then this labour of love will have been worthwhile.

Finally I would like to thank Michelle Tilling at The History Press for her encouragement and the faith she has shown since asking me to compile this book, and for living Lions legend Neil Harris for his foreword. Many publications have been consulted in my research and I would like thank all those authors, known or otherwise, who have assisted me in my quest.

David Sullivan, 2011

THE MISCELLANY

THE BEGINNING

Like many clubs who have survived for over a century or more, Millwall’s formation began in very humble circumstances, when in the summer of 1885 a group of workers from a firm of jam and marmalade producers, C. & E. Morton, decided to form a football club. The mix of the group was made up of many Scottish migrant workers and some local lads who decided to jump on the bandwagon, as the game of Association Football was beginning to capture the imagination of young men up and down the country.

The name Millwall evolved from the seven windmills that were originally located along the western wall on the Isle of Dogs. After the name of Millwall Rovers had been agreed, the choice of colours for the playing strip appeared to be a formality. Such was the Caledonian influence in Millwall’s formation, the navy blue and white of the flag of St Andrew’s cross, the Saltire was adopted.

Who could have imagined that 15 years after being on the end of a 5–0 thumping at the hands of Fillebrook in their first ever match, Millwall Rovers would, as Millwall Athletic, have been prominent in forming and twice winning the Southern League, and reaching their first FA Cup semi-final in 1900. Unfortunately for Millwall, their emerging fame and prominence took a knock in 1897 when their application to join the Football League was rejected. Having received just one vote, this occurrence would delay their appearance to join the elite until 1920, when they became founder members of the new Third Division.

NICKNAMES

Millwall have only ever had two nicknames, the initial one being the Dockers, not surprisingly due their proximity to the Millwall Docks. The second, the Lions as they are known today, could have emanated from two likely sources. One was mentioned following their epic run to their first FA Cup semi-final in 1900 when Millwall were described in the press as the ‘lions of the south’. The other was supposedly coined by an enthusiastic fan watching a Millwall match who on many occasions kept shouting out, ‘Come on Millwall, eat ’em up!’ A nearby chap was getting rather irritated by this ‘Eat ’em up’ chant and remarked sarcastically, ‘Hi what are these fellows, footballers or lions?’ The first fan’s riposte was, ‘Why, lions of course,’ who then yelled ‘Come on the Lions’. That said, the local press were in the habit of calling them the Blues or the Dark Blues.

BROTHERS

Millwall have fielded a known twelve sets of brothers so far in their history, with the first set of siblings being the Warners of Poplar who appeared in the very early days of the club’s existence. George and Henry were fairly regular performers who may have been joined by another brother whose first name began with ‘A’. Whoever ‘A’ was, his contribution was not as prolific as that of his two brothers. George and Arthur Burton were a pair of brothers associated with the club when Millwall Athletic were still an amateur club

Another trio of early stalwarts were Eddie, William and Dick Jones. The Welsh family had settled on the Isle of Dogs with Eddie, aka ‘Taff’, the first to take the plunge with Millwall Athletic before Willie signed on. Dick, who was English-born, became the third brother to pin his colours to the Millwall mast in 1899. Dick would later become Millwall’s third Welsh international in 1906, with two appearances for his country. His association with the club stretched to 1935.

The Caledonian input of siblings began with Henry and James Matthew who spent three and two years respectively with the club, and both gained Southern League championship medals in 1894/95 and 1895/96. Alex Tainsh, who had one season at The Den in 1919/20, had followed his elder brother John down from Scotland – John’s spell also lasted for one campaign: 1905/06.

Not only were George and Jack Fisher brothers, they were also twins. As in so many cases, one brother appears to outshine the other, and this was certainly the case with these two. George would go on to play in over 300 games for the club, while Jack would only manage a meagre three starts after signing during the Second World War. A similar tale to the Fishers’ was that of the pre-Second World War brothers George and Ken Burditt who played over 63 games between them for Millwall. However, poor old George appeared in just one.

The Emerald Isle would be the next source to supply Millwall, with the Brady brothers from Dublin, Ray and Pat. The two Irishmen (the elder brothers of Liam Brady of Arsenal) had outstanding careers at The Den before both signed for Queens Park Rangers in 1963.

Charlie Hurley was born in Ireland but was brought to England at an early age and signed for Millwall aged 17 in 1953. He would go on to forge a marvellous career with Sunderland after his transfer to them in September 1957. However, his younger brother Chris, despite scoring twice in his first game of the 1964/65 season, would never make the same impact that Charlie had.

Another, more local duo, were Phil and Nick Coleman who came through the youth ranks at Millwall. Phil would later captain the youngsters who won the FA Youth Cup in 1979, but it was Nick who made the most first-team appearances for the Lions. Following on from the Colemans are the Bethnal Green-born John and Brian Sparrow who both had loan moves to The Den. John came in 1977 from Chelsea, while the younger Brian arrived five years later from Arsenal. Meanwhile, North Londoners Dean and John Neal had varied careers at Millwall, with Dean notching 42 goals in 120 league appearances, but John managed just one goal in six matches.

THE BIG HOME DEFEATS

21/2/1948

1–7 v Bury

Division Two

10/10/1960

1–7 v Chelsea

League Cup first round

10/8/2002

0–6 v Rotherham Utd

Division One

11/3/1978

1–6 v Ipswich Town

FA Cup sixth round

5/1/1982

1–6 v Grimsby Town

FA Cup third round

18/9/2010

1–6 v Watford

Championship

THE BIG AWAY DEFEATS

28/1/1946

1–9 v Aston Villa

FA Cup fourth round

16/1/1932

1–8 v Plymouth Argyle

Division Two

22/10/1933

1–7 v Manchester Utd

Division Two

15/12/1956

1–7 v Walsall

Division Three South

25/12/1925

0–6 v Luton Town

Division Three South

3/1/1948

0–6 v Cardiff City

Division Two

17/11/1962

0–6 v Peterborough Utd

Division Three

9/12/1995

0–6 v Sunderland

Division One

KEEP IT ON THE ISLAND

A footballing term that is seldom heard today, ‘keep it on the island’ is credited to a Millwall giant of the late Victorian era – the strapping full-back Jack Graham – whose famous punts, clearances and passes at the East Ferry Road ground usually exceeded the confines of the pitch. Hence the cries of the supporters of ‘keep it on the island!’

CONSECUTIVE CLEAN SHEETS

The most consecutive clean sheets kept by Millwall is 11, when the club were members of Division Three South. The run commenced on 27 February 1926 and was ended with a 3–1 defeat at Exeter City on 17 April. Of the 11 games, the Lions won 9 and drew 2.

Gillingham (H)

0–0

Merthyr Town (A)

2–0

Reading (H)

1–0

Southend United (A)

1–0

Bournemouth (A)

0–0

Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

2–0

QPR (H)

3–0

Watford (H)

3–0

Bristol Rovers (A)

1–0

Watford (A)

1–0

Swindon Town (H)

3–0

SIGNIFICANT UNBEATEN RUNS

The Lions have had two significant unbeaten runs as a Football League club, with the first, at the start of the 1959/60 season, being a 19-match undefeated spell that ended in a 2–1 loss at Notts County (11 of the fixtures finished as draws). The full list with goalscorers is set out below:

22/8/1959

Workington (H)

3–0 Ackerman, Pierce, Howells

27/8/1959

Doncaster R (A)

0–0

29/8/1959

Rochdale (A)

1–0 Broadfoot

31/8/1959

Doncaster R (H)

1–1 Wilson

5/9/1959

Gateshead (H)

4–0 Crowshaw, Wilson, Ackerman (2)

7/9/1959

Bradford (A)

1–1 Ackerman

12/9/1959

Darlington (A)

1–1 Broadfoot

14/9/1959

Bradford (H)

2–0 Heckman, Howells

19/9/1959

Aldershot (H)

2–0 Wilson (2)

21/9/1959

Northampton T (A)

3–0 Broadfoot, Wilson, Ackerman

26/9/1959

Barrow (A)

2–2 Pierce (2)

28/9/1959

Northampton T (H)

2–1 Pierce (2)

3/10/1959

Gillingham (H)

3–3 Broadfoot, Wilson, Crowshaw

5/10/1959

Southport (H)

2–2 Pierce, Ackerman

10/10/1959

Exeter City(A)

2–2 Wilson, Broadfoot

17/10/1959

Watford (H)

2–2 Broadfoot (pen), Wilson

24/10/1959

Oldham Ath (A)

1–1 Howells

28/10/1959

Crystal Palace (A)

2–1 Broadfoot, Wilson

31/10/1959

Carlisle Utd (A)

1–1 Pierce

The second such exploit was the magnificent 59-game unbeaten at home from 24 August 1964 until 14 January 1967. Coincidentally, the run began and ended against clubs from Devon; Torquay United who drew 2–2 and then Plymouth Argyle who ended the run with a 2–1 success. The details are set out below.

24/8/1964

Torquay Utd

2–2 Curran, Whitehouse

29/8/1964

York City

1–1 Curran

7/9/1964

Chester

1–0 Opponent own goal

12/9/1964

Brighton & Hove A

2–0 D.A.B. Jones, Whitehouse

26/9/1964

Barrow

3–1 K. Jones, Hurley (2)

28/9/1964

Southport

0–0

10/10/1964

Tranmere R

1–0 Curran

12/10/1964

Bradford City

3–0 D.A.B. Jones, Curran, Rowan

24/10/1964

Crewe Alex

0–0

7/11/1964

Halifax T

5–1 Julians (3), Rowan, Neil

21/11/1964

Chesterfield

4–2 Whitehouse, Julians (2), John

12/12/1964

Stockport C

1–0 Whitehouse

26/12/1964

Wrexham

2–2 Wilson, John

2/1/1965

Lincoln City

2–1 Curran, Julians

23/1/1965

Oxford Utd

2–2 Curran (2, both pens)

13/2/1965

Hartlepool Utd

0–0

27/2/1965

Darlington

1–1 Clarke

13/3/1965

Newport C

4–0 Curran, K. Jones (2), Brown

27/3/1965

Notts County

4–1 John (pen), Rowan (2), Julians

5/4/1965

Aldershot

5–0 Julians (2), Curran (2), Clarke

10/4/1965

Doncaster R

1–1 Clarke

16/4/1965

Rochdale

0–0

24/4/1965

Bradford

1–0 Gilchrist

21/8/1965

Workington

2–0 Curran, Clarke

4/9/1965

Oldham Ath

1–0 Julians

13/9/1965

Exeter City

3–0 Jones, Rowan, Neil

18/9/1965

Scunthorpe Utd

2–2 Jacks, Julians

2/10/1965

QPR

2–1 Julians (2)

16/10/1965

Swindon T

1–0 Brown

25/10/1965

Bristol R

3–3 Opponent own goal, Julians, Brown

30/10/1965

Grimsby T

2–1 Julians, Wilson

22/11/1965

Peterborough

4–1 McQuade, Brown, Julians (2)

27/11/1965

Oxford Utd

2–0 Julians, Brown

11/12/1965

Walsall

1–1 Curran

28/12/1965

Hull City

3–0 Julians, Curran, Neil

1/1/1966

Southend Utd

2–0 Neil, Cripps

15/1/1966

Shrewsbury T

4–2 Wilson, Julians, Brown, Rowan

5/2/1966

Gillingham

2–0 Julians (2)

26/2/1966

Watford

0–0

5/3/1966

Reading

3–0 Wilson, Julians, Cripps (pen)

19/3/1966

Brighton & Hove A

3–2 Julians, Dunphy, Jacks

2/4/1966

Brentford

1–0 Brown

12/4/1966

Bournemouth

1–0 Julians

16/4/1966

York City

2–0 Dunphy, Wilson

30/4/1966

Swansea Town

1–0 Jones

16/5/1966

Mansfield Town

2–0 Opponent own goal, Brown

27/8/1966

Charlton Ath

0–0

3/9/1966

Northampton T

1–0 Julians

5/9/1966

Coventry City

1–0 Broadfoot

17/9/1966

Hull City

2–1 Wilson, Julians

19/9/1966

Preston North End

2–0 Opponent own goal, Neil

1/10/1966

Birmingham City

3–1 Julians, Neil, Broadfoot

15/10/1966

Crystal Palace

1–1 Hunt

29/10/1966

Cardiff City

1–0 Baker

12/11/1966

Ipswich Town

1–0 Hunt

26/11/1966

Carlisle United

2–1 Julians (2)

10/12/1966

Bolton Wanderers

2–0 Julians, Neil

17/12/1966

Rotherham United

2–0 Hunt, Wilson (pen)

26/12//1966

Norwich City

2–1 Julians (2)

MOST AWAY WINS IN A SEASON

The most impressive campaign for victories away from home has to be the 2008/09 season when Millwall won 12 league games and two FA Cup ties.

13/9/2008

Leicester City

1–0 Alexander

28/9/2008

Swindon T

2–1 Easter, Grabban

11/10/2008

Tranmere R

3–1 Kandol (2), Abdou

21/10/2008

Colchester Utd

2–1 Grabban, Robinson

13/12/2008

Walsall

2–1 Harris, Frampton

27/1/2009

Hereford Utd

2–0 Craig, Laird

24/2/2009

Cheltenham T

3–1 Henry (pen), Grimes, Laird

3/3/2009

Southend Utd

1–0 Alexander

7/3/2009

Huddersfield T

2–1 Laird, Henry

17/3/2009

MK Dons

1–0 Laird

21/3/2009

Hartlepool Utd

3–2 Harris (3)

28/3/2009

Crewe Alex

1–0 Price

The two FA Cup victories came at Chester City (3–0) and in a third round replay at Crewe (3–2).

NOW THAT’S LONGEVITY

When Millwall faced Crystal Palace at Cold Blow Lane in October 1966, there was one interested spectator in the shape of 82-year-old William (Bill) Gaffney. It was reported that Bill had attended Millwall Athletic’s first match as a professional concern in 1894 and was also present at the Lions’ initial game against Brighton & Hove Albion at The Den in October 1910.

GROUNDS

Millwall have played home games on six different grounds since their formation.

1885–6

Glengall Road

1886–90

Lord Nelson

1890–1901

East Ferry Road

1901–10

North Greenwich

1910–93

The Den, Cold Blow Lane

1993–

New Den, Zampa Road

NB: Millwall have, owing to ground closures, played homes games at Selhurst Park (December 1947) and Fratton Park (April 1978).

BIG HOME VICTORIES

29 August 1927

9–1 v Torquay United, Division Three South

scorers: Hawkins (3), Landells, Phillips (2), Bryant (3)

19 November 1927

9–1 v Coventry City, Division Three South

scorers: Landells (4), Cock (2), Phillips (2), Collins

19 September 1925

8–1 v Southend United, Division Three South

scorers: Dillimore (3), Graham, Moule, Parker (2), Chance

19 December 1925

7–0 v Luton Town, Division Three South

scorers: Landells (2), Amos (2, both pens), Gore, Moule, Dillimore

27 December 1926

7–0 v Luton Town, Division Three South

scorers: Amos, Phillips (2), Gomm (2), Parker (2)

12 December 1936

7–0 v Gateshead, FA Cup second round

scorers: Mangnall, Thorogood, McCartney, K. Burditt (3), Thomas (pen)

30 October 1937

7–0 v Torquay United, Division Three South

scorers: Steele, Mangnall (3), Walsh (2), Brolly

BIG AWAY VICTORIES

7 May 1927

6–1 v Crystal Palace, Division Three South

scorers: Parker (3, 1 a pen), Black, Phillips, Bryant

24 December 1927

6–1 v Bristol Rovers, Division Three South

scorers: Cock (2), Black, Phillips (2), own goal

28 November 1936

6–1 Aldershot FA Cup first round

scorers: Thorogood, Mangnall (4, 1 a pen), Thomas

17 September 1938

6–1 v Manchester City, Division Two

scorers: Barker (2), Walsh, Rawlings (2), Richardson

11 January 1938

5–0 v York City, FA Cup third round

scorers: McLeod (4), Rawlings

6 February 1965

5–0 v Barrow, Division Four

scorers: Julians, Curran, Rowan, Whitehouse (2)

CHARLIE’S FLIGHT OF FANCY

During the course of the Berlin Airlift of 1948–9, Lions manager Charlie Hewitt cottoned on to the idea of flying in two continental players every week to play for Millwall at the approximate cost of £1,000, citing the success of the mercy flights to the German capital and how it easy it would be to pull-off such a coup. Needless to say, Hewitt’s flight never ‘took-off’.

INTERNATIONAL VENUE

The Dens (both old and new) have staged international matches (men’s), with the first being a home international between England and Wales on 13 March 1911, which England won 3–0 in front of a gate of 25,000. Then, on 12 December 1989, a ‘B’ fixture between England and Yugoslavia was staged, again the English coming out on top with a 2–1 success. To celebrate the construction of the New Den in 1993, Poland were the visitors for a UEFA under-21 European Championship encounter on 7 September. Unfortunately, England could not maintain their winning run at Millwall as the Poles edged a 2–1 win.

On 21 August 2007 the club hosted a friendly international between Ghana and Senegal that finished in a 1–1 draw. Two other national teams to feature at New Den were Jamaica and Nigeria, who shared a goalless draw on 11 February 2009.

JIMMY BROAD

In the three games Jim was absent in Millwall’s last season of Southern League football in 1919/20, the Lions failed to score. The reliance on Jim was all too evident when he notched 32 goals in 39 appearances. His tally is all the more remarkable when you consider that he did not find the net in 15 of the games he played in. Joint second goalscorers in that campaign were Dougie Thomson and Bobby Noble, who both scored 4.

FA YOUTH CUP

Millwall have won the FA Youth Cup on two occasions, with the first arriving in 1978/79. The first team had been relegated that year, so it was left to the juniors to lift the gloom pervading The Den. Twelve years later came the second success.

1978/79

Slough Town

3–0

Norwich City

2–0

Sunderland

2–1

Nottingham Forest

3–3

R5 (replay)

Nottingham Forest

1–0

SF first leg

Everton

0–0

SF second leg

Everton

2–0

F first leg

Manchester City

0–0

F second leg

Manchester City

2–0

1990/91

Sutton United

5–0

Swindon Town

1–0

Portsmouth

3–1

Plymouth Argyle

1–0

Wimbledon

1–1

R5 (replay)

Wimbledon

3–2

SF first leg

West Ham Utd

2–1

SF second leg

West Ham Utd

2–0

F first leg

Sheffield Wednesday

3–0

F second leg

Sheffield Wednesday

0–0

CRICKETING LIONS

Many professional footballers could turn their hand to the summer game of cricket, though the days of combining both sports have long since gone. The last Lion to be classed as such was goalkeeper Jim Standen who regularly appeared for Worcestershire. Former England bowler and outside-left Dave Smith played for Gloucestershire, while Millwall reserve full-back Terry Kent assisted Essex as did 1920s Millwall players Len Graham and Alf Moule.

South African Test cricketer Lennox Brown played one game for Millwall against Crystal Palace in 1935. Two years earlier, Laurie Fishlock, the England and Surrey player, appeared in 34 games for Millwall at outside-left and would finish up as leading goalscorer with 7.

Then there were two players from the Southern League days, Willie Stewart and David Storrier, who both played for Forfarshire in their native Scotland as well as making appearances for the Lions. When Millwall were still an amateur outfit, another of their cricketing players was Charlie McGahey who played for Essex and, later, England.

SUBSTITUTES

With substitutes being allowed since 1965, the bench size has gradually increased so that now clubs are permitted to name seven players for that role, with three allowed to replace a colleague at any point of the game’s duration. Millwall’s first sub was George Jacks who replaced Kenny Jones to a chorus of boos in the very first match of the 1965/66 season against Workington at The Den – the Lions won 2–0.

The first player to score a hat-trick after coming on as a substitute was the American striker John Kerr who achieved the feat against Derby County in August 1994. Besides this, John has the unique New Den distinction of scoring both the first goal in the new stadium, in the official opening match against Sporting Lisbon, and the first League goal, versus Southend United.

Neil Harris, the Lions’ record goalscorer, became the second Millwall player to register a hat-trick as a substitute, when he bagged a 9-minute treble to overturn a 2-goal deficit into a winning margin of 3–2 at Hartlepool United on 21 March 2009.