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Millwall History 6
Posted on: Mon 24 Oct 2011
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| Where it all started. Mortons Jam Factory on the Isle of Dogs...... |
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Millwall has produced many great players since it's humble beginnings back in 1885, many of whom went on to
become national as well as local footballing legends. Click on any of the links below to view a short video of
some of those great names in action.
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Off the field, major new investment came through American consortium Chestnut Hill Ventures, led by new
company chairman John G Berylson. Having taken four points from the opening two fixtures in 2007/8, the pre-
season optimism soon began to fade and following a crushing 4-0 defeat at Carlisle The Lions were bottom of
the table with ten games played.
Manager Willie Donachie paid the ultimate price, and after Richard Shaw along
with Colin West had steadied the ship during a brief caretaker spell in charge,
Kenny Jackett was recruited to the Den hot seat from Manchester City. The club
were plagued by an horrific injury list throughout the campaign and the new boss
ultimately hauled Millwall to League One safety following a 3-0 demolition of,
ironically, Carlisle in the penultimate game of the season.
(Kenny Jackett arrived from Manchester City in November 2007)
The summer of 2008 saw chairman John G. Berylson and the board embroiled in
an AGM battle with former majority shareholder G.F. Lacey, with the shareholders
ultimately backing the board.
Meanwhile manager Jackett bolstered his squad with the additions of goalkeeper
David Forde, defender Tony Craig, returning permanently after a loan spell having left for Palace 12 months
previously, young striker Ashley Grimes and midfielder Nadjim Abdou.
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The new boss's first full season in charge so nearly yielded the promotion everyone was hoping for. After a
faltering start The Lions were soon up amongst the front-runners and held a top six spot for most of the
campaign. Promotion favourites Leicester City and Leeds United were both
beaten before Christmas, but stuttering home form after the turn of the year
threatened to undermine the team's progress. However, a record six away wins
on the spin served to maintain the momentum, and although the push for a top
two finish ultimately faded, Millwall secured fifth spot and a place in the Play-
Offs. Leeds were the semi-final opponents with a Neil Harris goal in the first leg
enabling Jackett's men to take a narrow lead to Elland Road. Jimmy Abdou's
late equaliser rewarded a battling display in West Yorkshire and Wembley
beckoned.
(Neil Harris celebrates after scoring Millwall's winning goal in the Play-Off semi- final first leg
against Leeds United)
Sadly, in spite of a wonder strike from Gary Alexander at the national stadium,
a 2-1 half-time lead was surrendered to Scunthorpe United who won the Play-Off final 3-2.
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It took a while for The Lions to find their form again as the 2009/10 campaign got underway. Injuries to key
players were a factor, but by October Millwall were upwardly mobile and up amongst the front runners. Steve
Morison, signed during the summer from Stevenage Borough, began to find his feet at League One level, and
the home form sustained the promotion push.
(Players celebrate after Shaun Batt scores The Lion's second goal in a 2-0 win
away to Leeds United)
However, by the turn of the year, automatic promotion looked out
of the question but a storming run of form, with just one defeat in 19
outings, saw Kenny Jackett's side gradually begin to close the gap
on Leeds United in second spot. After completing the double over the
Yorkshire outfit in late March, that gap had closed to a solitary point
where once it had been in excess of 20. Two defeats and a draw in
the last five games hampered further progress though, but The Lions
still entered the final day of the league campaign as one of five teams who could still clinch promotion.
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A 3-2 win over Swindon proved not to be quite enough as Leeds also won to clinch the runners-up spot, and
once again the Play-Offs beckoned after a third place finish. Huddersfield were the semi-final opponents, and
after a 0-0 first leg draw, goals from Paul Robinson and Steve Morison at The Den secured a return trip to
Wembley. This time there was to be no heartbreak as Robinson's solitary goal was enough to see off Swindon
Town and clinch  promotion for the first time through the Play-Off lottery.
(Millwall skipper Paul Robinson, Alan Dunne and Neil Harris celebrate after their 1-0 win against Swindon Town in the 2009/10 Division 1 play-off final)
Kenny Jackett's men kicked-off their 2010/11 Championship campaign in
style with a 3-0 win at Bristol City followed by a 4-0 demolition of newly
relegated Hull City. In spite of a bizarre 6-1 home defeat at the hands of
Watford, The Lions soon established themselves comfortably at the
higher level, and after an unbeaten December moved into the New Year
harbouring ambitions of sneaking into the Play-Offs.
The formidable home form of the previous two seasons returned with big
wins recorded against Palace (completing a home/away double), Scunthorpe and Preston, whilst promotion
rivals QPR and Leeds United were also beaten at The Den. Away victories at Hull and Burnley, also up
amongst the front runners, saw Millwall targetting sixth spot with half a dozen games remaining, but defeats at
Coventry and at home to Swansea put paid to those hopes and ultimately a ninth place finish was secured.
Overall, it had been a very satisfactory return to the second tier of English football, and whilst there will be big
challenges to face in 2011/12, the squad clearly has the balance and confidence to tackle them.
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