Fan on the Board
Twenty points in 10 games if we carry on the season with the same ratio we will end up with 92 points, that would do for me!
The MK Dons game was such a disappointment but it may have been a blessing in disguise, a reality check, how can we go from five straight wins to losing 4-0 at home. Everyone has their ideas, a lot of players had a "bad day at the office," but my view is that the we all built the game up so much that we were only ever going to lose it.
With Oldham losing the night before and Leeds losing earlier in the day, I was calculating in my head how many points we would be clear at the top.
Now if I think that way other people - players included - might do as well. Perhaps the players thought the game was there for the taking and didn't go into it with the same grit and determination they have in every other game this season.
Well at least we have bounced back and now can go into the Leeds game in a confident mood. The build up for the first goal at Tranmere was the best play I have seen from us in the last three years - 10 one-touch passes. Loong may it continue, it was great hearing people singing "we've got our Millwall back" after years of singing "we want our Millwall back". The times they are a-changing!
The MK Dons game threw up a few issues, firstly it showed that winning games brings back fans. No matter how much you spend on fancy marketing the best way to get fans through the turnstiles is playing good football and winning games.
It was a shame that we had such a big build up and good crowd for the MK Dons game because the result really soured it. Due to the increase in the crowd it obviously put pressure on the ticket office and the catering, both issues were brought up with the club by both the MSC and myself.
On the ticketing the explanation given was the large walk up (3,000-plus), the late arrival of many people and the Leeds tickets being on sale at the same time caused problems.
Our walk up is one on the biggest around - most other clubs sell the majority of their tickets well in advance. We are currently looking at several new ticketing system to replace the current one hopefully that will have an impact on the current length of queuing for big crowd games.
As for the catering, there were complaints of a kiosk in the East Stand running out of certain items during the game. The stock sheets have been checked and the caterers have admitted they were at fault.
Andy Ambler will try and ensure it doesn't happen again its in nobody's interest to run out as it is lost revenue and stops people using the kiosks. I have asked for feedback forms to be left near the kiosks so the caterers can get feedback, Andy is waiting for the catering company to arrange this.
Another problem was brought up by Kenny Jackett and the board. During the game against MK Dons when we were 2-0 down fans in the West Lower (north stand end) decided to keep the ball every time it went into the crowd.
At 2-0 Kenny still thought we could get a result, keeping the ball in the crowd stops any momentum our team may have, it gives the opposition time to regroup.
All in all it doesn't do our team any good, some people may see it as a laugh but Kenny and the players don't. We all want Kenny and the boys to keep winning and help them with our support as much as possible, so can I ask that if the ball does come into the crowd its gets thrown back straight away please?
I have had several letters of complaint regarding swearing in the family enclosure - not by children but adults.
The club will never condone bad language especially in the family enclosure, which needs to be an area where people can take children without bad language or bad behaviour. So if you sit in there try and be mindful of other people especially children, what we don't want is a heavy steward presence in the family enclosure.
There were reports in the national press regarding Millwall moving to the Olympic stadium after the Olympic games. This was a pure rumour and lazy journalism - the club were asked for input on how we run the community scheme and how the club tries to integrate with the local community, the press changed this into Millwall moving to the 2012 stadium.
Let's hope we get a good crowd and for the Leeds game , a good performance and the right result, if we are going to do anything this season we need to beat teams like Leeds, so let's all get behind the team and be that 12th player and try and make it like the old Den!
Finally, we have now been at the ground since 1992, the MSC and myself have been discussing with the club the possibility of naming one of the stands after a former Millwall player, the idea is currently in its infancy so if you have any suggestions write to either the MSC or me (petergarston@hotmail.com).
Pete














