It's a fairly long trip up the M1 to Rotherham. An 8.15am start and a stop off at Leicester Forest East services. You veer off into the Sheffield hinterland toward the Rotherham district.
The Millmoor ground is nestled in amongst scrap metal yards and railway lines. It's northern. But the sun was shining, the locals were friendly and we had a pleasant pint in the away end Millers Bar (it was like Peter Kaye's Phoenix Nights - the disco light above door professing 'The Millers Nightlife', the MDF tables and old fashioned chairs which have graced the backsides of many a large sweaty pie eating away fan). The one thing less pleasant was the toilets - damp loo paper, wet floors, draughts and sinks out of use, but you when you have got to got, you have got to go! Beer in, through the turnstiles to the Community Stand. From here you can see the bridge over the railway lines were buses head across to Blackburn.
The Millers' mascot is Dusty a huge lumbering character with a large red hat. The pre-match presentations went on a bit and the piped music was in a time warp! But it was an away game and the hard core Gills fans were in good voice. Team wise our International goalie, Mr Jack, was back, to which we groaned. Our squad is depleted at present. Jarvis is still injured and 'Dave' Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu & Dean McDonald are not exactly hot shot scoring players. In fact our lack of strikers is causing problems. Gary 'Twiglet' Mulligan was playing and curiously Mr Spiller had been moved up front. So it was with trepidation, after the Miller Men song had been played &the coin tossed, that the game kicked off.
Within 7 minutes we allowed the Millers to do exactly what we let Brentford do. Take the ball from the goal kick two touches and oops back of the net. Groans. Here we go again.
But there was some light - our strike force maybe numb but we have some persistent midfielders - and they scored some cracking efforts. Bastiens, out German loan signing who really does have some forward thinking scored a brilliant effort from the edge of the box in the 21st, while our international Crofts headed home in the 24th. We went loopy!
Half time - no real entertainment just 15 minutes of lottery winning numbers - etc etc.
Second half. Oh dear. Not much to say except what the hell happened during the 15 minute break? Did get the sulks cos their numbers weren't drawn?! Whatever happened the second half was a case of Gillingham defending so deep they may as well have played in the goal mouth and diced with the goal line.. oh - they did.
Consequently the Millers scored and if they could score one then 2+ was on the cards. I missed the winner - I dared the toilets at the back of the stand. An improvement. The echoing of Millers fans being happy was enough to know. I re-sat in time for the final whistle and chorus of 'What a load of rubbish' from the following Gills fans. Indeed. So, no safer and little hope of getting the coveted 3 points on Monday.
The trip home was long but the sun sets and rolling countryside was a pleasure to enjoy. And the Rotherham No 23. Martin Woods was a bit of a sort! ha ha!
Back to Kent at 9.30pm. What a day. What a way to spend it!
UTG!!
The Millmoor ground is nestled in amongst scrap metal yards and railway lines. It's northern. But the sun was shining, the locals were friendly and we had a pleasant pint in the away end Millers Bar (it was like Peter Kaye's Phoenix Nights - the disco light above door professing 'The Millers Nightlife', the MDF tables and old fashioned chairs which have graced the backsides of many a large sweaty pie eating away fan). The one thing less pleasant was the toilets - damp loo paper, wet floors, draughts and sinks out of use, but you when you have got to got, you have got to go! Beer in, through the turnstiles to the Community Stand. From here you can see the bridge over the railway lines were buses head across to Blackburn.
The Millers' mascot is Dusty a huge lumbering character with a large red hat. The pre-match presentations went on a bit and the piped music was in a time warp! But it was an away game and the hard core Gills fans were in good voice. Team wise our International goalie, Mr Jack, was back, to which we groaned. Our squad is depleted at present. Jarvis is still injured and 'Dave' Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu & Dean McDonald are not exactly hot shot scoring players. In fact our lack of strikers is causing problems. Gary 'Twiglet' Mulligan was playing and curiously Mr Spiller had been moved up front. So it was with trepidation, after the Miller Men song had been played &the coin tossed, that the game kicked off.
Within 7 minutes we allowed the Millers to do exactly what we let Brentford do. Take the ball from the goal kick two touches and oops back of the net. Groans. Here we go again.
But there was some light - our strike force maybe numb but we have some persistent midfielders - and they scored some cracking efforts. Bastiens, out German loan signing who really does have some forward thinking scored a brilliant effort from the edge of the box in the 21st, while our international Crofts headed home in the 24th. We went loopy!
Half time - no real entertainment just 15 minutes of lottery winning numbers - etc etc.
Second half. Oh dear. Not much to say except what the hell happened during the 15 minute break? Did get the sulks cos their numbers weren't drawn?! Whatever happened the second half was a case of Gillingham defending so deep they may as well have played in the goal mouth and diced with the goal line.. oh - they did.
Consequently the Millers scored and if they could score one then 2+ was on the cards. I missed the winner - I dared the toilets at the back of the stand. An improvement. The echoing of Millers fans being happy was enough to know. I re-sat in time for the final whistle and chorus of 'What a load of rubbish' from the following Gills fans. Indeed. So, no safer and little hope of getting the coveted 3 points on Monday.
The trip home was long but the sun sets and rolling countryside was a pleasure to enjoy. And the Rotherham No 23. Martin Woods was a bit of a sort! ha ha!
Back to Kent at 9.30pm. What a day. What a way to spend it!
UTG!!
The Millmoor Lane experience!
2 comments:
I see Rotherham has not changed much since I was a small unknown admirer.
I think it is "veer" rather than "vear", dear.
And what is it with foreign players in Division One! Aren't there enough in the Premiership already?
Okay okay - I have replaced the a with an e!
Foreign players - mm. I guess so - one from Trindad & Tobago, one from Germany and a Welshman. Can't see the TnT man staying very long. The Welshman is a home grown and Felix is a much needed centre forward. I won't grumble too much!
Post a Comment