Saturday 28th Feb 2014 May be remembered as a crucial day in the history of Rotherham United Football Club. The visitors, Millwall, were three points behind and occupying the last relegation place at start of play. Win and we would be six points clear. Lose, and we would drop into that last place ourselves. It also meant the first visit of the notorious Millwall fans to the New York Stadium, could the town cope?
I wonder why?
I went down to the station earlier that day to pick up Vicky and Alex from the station, Alex having been lured by the tickets for a fiver offer to entice people in. There was a huge police presence there, riot vans, horses and dogs abounded. As I waited in the station car park more police arrived and appeared to be getting ready for an invasion. We got out of there as soon as possible.
A quick lunch and Chris drove us down due to Ians dodgy knee and my dodgy back. We spotted Kathy Wolversons and her boyfriend 'Billericky Ricky' outside the stadium, and on chatting found that he is from Rickmansworth (hence Woolys geographically challenged nickname). Small world. Wooly himself then appeared with John. Apparently James had a more pressing engagement at Flamingo Land for his girlfriends birthday. Derision abounded from all sides, even Alex was scornful of his decision. Not only that, but in his appearance on Rother FM he stated that he would be attending the match. Shameful! It was decided that I would sit on the row in front in Alex's place so that he could sit in my seat next to Vicky. A decision that almost lead to disaster, as we shall see.
Old man on the end was confused by my desertion, and I ended up sitting next to a woman who wanted to talk to me. We chatted about the Millwall fans, hats, the team, the weather. I have decided that I prefer OMOTE's silent treatment.
The teams came out and it was a bit of a worry that Captain Morgan was no playing, having been replaced by Clubfoot. Danny Ward was up front with Derbyshire, meaning that there would be no feeding the fish today. Frank sang, I kicked (alone), and we were off. The first half was pretty poor with little quality from either side. The most excitement came when Sideshow Bob slipped on the steps and crashed to the floor, crutch flailing. My row was populated by people with weak bladders and I was constantly up and down. True to form poor defending and a miskick lead to a goal for Millwall just before half time and the crowd began to get on their back a bit, particularly Arneson who was having a bad day. Not a good half, the teams left the field with Millwall winning 1-0.
It obviously wasn't working so we decided to make a change, with me going back to my seat and Alex going to sit next to the old lady. The players came back out for the second half, kicked off, and almost immediately scored. A shot by Ward was hacked at by their defender, and turned into the net. 1-1 and what a substitution! After they we pressed and pressed. Our viewing was split between the play on the pitch and the antics in the stand. The Millwall fans were edging closer to the Rotherham fans, the seat netting no object. Gesticulation commenced from both sets, over the heads of a line of stewards. On 85 minutes on the pitch we got a corner and Ben Pringle stepped up to take it. He put in a wonderful delivery, right on the head of a leaping Kari Arneson, who powered home. 2-1.
Cometh the man
Kari flying high
All hell broke loose. The Millers fans were in ecstasy, The lions fans got violent. Police swarmed to the left side of the stand to stem the tide of viscious Middle aged men, and in a strategic move the thugs rushed across to the other. Vicky was fascinated, never having seen football thuggery before.
Thugs on tour
None of this rattled the players who held on easily to take all three points in an absolute six pointer of a game. 2-1 to the Millers. Next up Cardiff.
Men of the match
Ian - Pringle
Jackie - Pringle
Vicky - Hammill (I'll have some of what she's having!)
Funniest moment - The thugs two pronged tactical assault
No comments:
Post a Comment