The stewards were friendly and helpful. As an undercover officer, PC James Bannon was meant to be securing the arrests of violent football fans. I thought the Den ground was great. Whys he doing that? Millwall away sounds like a bit of a challenge and a rite of passage for football fans. We didn't hit any traffic until we got into London but even then it wasn't that bad. and our Waiting nearly an hour to be allowed to leave the ground to walk the 600m to the train station for my safety is ridiculous. WebMillwall v Portsmouth Millwall supporters attacked a group of Portsmouth fans in the Windmill Pub near Waterloo Station. Avoid local pubs. The stewards were pretty relaxed and laid back. We sealed the victory in the 81st minute, Jim O'Brien making 4-0, The Stewards were obviously prepared for potential trouble as they looked like they knew what they were doing whilst being completely approachable. West Ham United, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic. The majority of Lions fans are loyal, passionate and support their club in a positive way. These were grim miles of looming tower blocks, shuttered shops and graffitied trains clattering above looming arches. WebStill a Millwall pub last time I went past, which was during the last year. They were doing chips, burgers etc.. as well but didn't indulge. The away fans are put in the top tier of the away end which I don't really like but I understand why they do it. The Lion Roars (TLR) Fanzine 1.50. The Dens wide variety of renting spaces, many of which overlook the pitch, provide a comfortable environment for groups of various sizes. There are a number of ways of getting to the ground, but the most straightforward, if not the shortest in distance is to follow the A2 into London from Junction 2 of the M25. Average Attendance Whilst there were occasions where they got right into the game, and right behind their players, there were large periods where they were very quiet. We had plenty of time to kill and we headed for a German bar called Katzenjammers, which is a tad pricey (that's London for you) but certainly quieter than other pubs in the vicinity and enjoyable nonetheless. The Council are expected to make a decision on whether to go ahead with the Compulsory Purchase Orders in early 2017. We live in North Wales so it was a round journey of nearly 500 miles rather than Southend locals only travelling 80 miles. Had a few beers there, then made our way over to "The Barrow Boy & Banker" pub across the road, for a few more, I never saw any Millwall fans before the game. After about a mile take the first exit at the roundabout onto the A2. A great game for Preston. I play soccer for Leigh Genesis FC and support Man Utd. It was an atmosphere Id not experienced before, remembers one of those policemen, James Bannon. Despite this the atmosphere was generally good, with the top 2/3 rows of the upper tier of the stand to our left (South stand upper tier) making a good go of things. The home fans are extremely loud, and so is the PA system. Canning Town is only a 7-minute Docklands Light railway journey away, with regular Jubilee Line connections to London Bridge. The journey down to London was good, we travelled on the supporters coach. Pre-match we ate at the Globe Theatre Cafe and wandered around Borough Market. There are quite a large number of home fans up for 'banter' As for the game itself we lost 1-0, a score line that quite honestly flattered us. A couple of trains. Even better result, Don't believe what you read and see on TV about Millwall They are a club who receive a lot of poor press when in reality safety of all fans is their number one priority. The Den first opened its doors on August 4, 1993, with a friendly match between Millwall and Sporting Portugal from Portugal. What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? I travelled from Doncaster by Grand Central. Great service. 1993 Undersoil Heating: The Council are wishing to push forward a regeneration plan for the local area, part of which currently is used by the Club. In the second half Worner slipped leaving Andy Keogh to score and we conceded a second after another mistake. The first thing to go wrong did so almost immediately, when Chris (not his real name) ordered them both half-pints of lager. Didn't feel threatened at all. Millwall broke at pace from a Wolves corner, and ex-Wolf Jed Wallace provided the assist for striker Lee Gregory to poke the ball past John Ruddy. Running with the Firm (Ebury, RRP 14.99) by James Bannon is out now. I ended up at South Bermondsey Station via some cancellations due to the weather and with a quick step down the well thought out pathway for away support to the away end at the ground in less than five minutes. Millwall clearly werent happy with that result, so we were kept behind for about half an hour after the game, and then a further half hour at South Bermondsey station. Cold Blow Lane (Upper Tier): After about 4 miles, turn left into Ilderton Road and left into to Zampa Road. WebMillwall need to start thinking about some good transfers like Akpom and a suggestion is Liel Abada from Celtic as I've seen some of his performances and he is really good. Steyn on Britain. June 7, 2017. Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! It was mainly Villa fans in the pub although there were a few Millwall fans in there too. I punched and kicked a few people. Tweet. Millwall has two price structures. Adults 30 (B 27) (C 25), Over 61s 20 (B 17) (C 15), Under 18s 16 (B 14) (C 12), Under 16s 14 (B 12) (C 10),Under 12s 9 (B 7) (C 5)** It was my first visit to the Den. A friend whod joined the police cadets told him how exciting it was. It had all the hallmarks of an early season game, Millwall seemed to be suffering a relegation hangover and yet to find their true form. I tried to spot car parks in the vicinity, but didnt see any. This seems to happen every time I go to a Charlton match. Visiting fans report that the New Den is a dramatic improvement on the foreboding old ground. Also going for the experience of visiting one of football's more "notorious" venues. Breakfast at London Victoria station and then got the Underground to London Bridge. It still happens, he says, but more covertly, away from the grounds. The people were friendly, the ground neat with good views and a great game. Until Chris told them, Well you better watch it because were f------ Millwall. To test how f------ Millwall he really was, the drinkers began interrogating Chris on his knowledge of the team. Sat outside the ground and found everyone in good spirits due to The Lions good start to the season. From Elephant & Castle, take the A2 into Old Kent Road. We sat in the home end behind the goal with a very vociferous group of home fans who thoroughly got into the game and let their opinions be known. My husband's normal wing man Del Boy was away for the weekend so as per usual I stepped up, as I usually do. (opens in a new tab). myself, mymrs, my mate & hismrsmade the trip by car. They are trying to build a positive reputation which is unfortunately tarnished by a handful. At the end of the game, we were then held in for an hour. We parked at the O2 Arena (which is not cheap at 11!) The reason is very similar to that of their rivalry with Charlton as there are just six miles between the two grounds. Blue With White Trim Away Kit: There was a visible police presence at the turnstiles to help prevent any problems. The Wickham Arms, Brockley - pub details the way it goes here abouts, most of the locals Very easy to get away from the ground as the crowd was only 3,600 though we caught a lot of traffic in Central London. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den Stadium? It wasn't a bad drive up to the ground, taking just over two hours. To say they were objectionable was putting it mildly. In the second half we never took our foot of the gas and truthfully it could have been about 5 or 6 but Millwall's defence drastically improved. Its in his barrelling shoulders and his face, which looks as if its had years of sorry wisdom beaten into it. There were some chants and threats by the oyster machines at the station entrance, but nothing serious. Im looking at what trainers theyre wearing, their trousers, who theyre talking to, what theyre drinking. Not the best performance or result weve had in a fantastic season so far, but there will be plenty of teams who will come unstuck against a dogged, spirited Millwall side. We walked around the stadium, under the tunnel through Zampa Road and then up Ilderton road to South Bermondsey train station. 6. If travelling by train then it is probably best to grab a beer around London Bridge before moving onto the ground. Scores of innocent people had been injured. Judging by the reaction of my fellow fans it also happens every time they play Millwall. He had these thick glasses on. It gave Bannon an idea. We support responsible gambling, so in case you require information about gambling addiction or need support please use the link GeGambleAware. When we arrived at South Bermondsey the Millwall fans we encountered kept themselves to themselves but were not as hostile as expected! I appreciate this would be different for our friends from West Ham but for the general League One fan they shouldn't encounter too many problems at the ground. 20,146 (all seated) Address: This has made the Polices job of keeping rival supporters apart so much more manageable. Their general surliness was topped by two burly uniforms refusing point blank to help an elderly disabled gent in a chair up the steps to the station platform leaving supporters to clear a path and lift him up to the top. Heading down to London on a Tuesday night is always, very appealing, and the added fact t hat The Den would be my second new ground in a week with Ipswich gave me even more of a reason to look forward to it. Because of this, he had to work extra hard to win the trust of his mates in his estate in the London suburb of Belvedere. As with the pub there didn't appear to be any threat of trouble. There's plenty of provision for after a few bevvies and there were televisions to watch too. Brown broke down the left and squared the ball into the box for Chaplin to scoop the ball across the keeper inside the far post. Cup of tea for 1. Not a bad ground apart from being kept back afterwards waiting on our very own train. Our train was delayed for an hour and when it did come about 800 people tried to clamber on! However we came across another local pub nearby which was nice. It was only in the last 10 minutes where Leicester started to play again, and on the 82nd minute substitute Danny Drinkwater finished well into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. WebI would strongly advise you to do what most travelling fans do and drink in the London Bridge Area. I found Millwall to be one of the better London away days and well worth the trip and encountered no problems at all. There we took the underground circle line to Moorgate, and then the Northern Line to London Bridge. Reversing the walk back up the pathway to South Bermondsey station and getting the short ride back to London Bridge. The home fans got the occasional MILLL-WALLL going but that was about that. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Considering we'd been in London since 10am and hadn't planned to go to the game, we all really enjoyed our day out apart from walking through Bermondsey! Eventually, we were lead up the path to the very crowded station. Food was also served and some good cask ciders were available. With not a hint of the hostile atmosphere, I was expecting. Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras | Website care by mintWP, calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras, user reviews of the Golden Lion, South Bermondsey. Hilton London Docklands, 265 Rotherhithe Street, London SE16 5HW is situated on the South bank of the River Thames, with stunning views across to Canary Wharf. I had eaten prior to getting the coach so I didnt get a chance to sample to Millwall food, but due to the fact that we were so early I know plenty of us did grab something from either the Millwall caf or from inside the ground when we were finally let in. Saw a few Bradford fans outside the ground and not a hint of any aggression. They have excellent transportation links from all across London, Kent, and the surrounding areas, as well as enough parking for your guests. Inside the ground alcohol is available in the form of; cans of Tetleys Smooth (4.10), plus plastic bottles of Carlsberg (4.10) or Somersby Cider (4.60). Whilst I wasnt expecting a 90-minute wall of noise, I did think there were spells in the game, largely when Wolves were on top on the pitch, that the stands were very muted. For the rest of the half Leicester had a lot of the ball but didn't do much with it, and Millwall were battling away creating a few chances. Posted February 10, 2015. 020 7231 3663 Ticket Office: Stewarding was friendly. Drank in London Bridge at the Bunch of Grapes, where there was a great atmosphere Very friendly staff but the pub is a little small for a large away following. A 1978 riot had begun at Millwalls ground, The Den, and spread into the surrounding streets. My first trip to a competitive match this season saw me making the journey to Bermondsey to see Millwall play Nottingham Forest in the Championship. They were showing the early Sky kick off though, as Harry Kane broke Alan Shearers calendar year goal record. The A2 actually passes the ground. The 'Market Porter' is frequently featured in London's Best Pubs guides and features 9 real ales on tap. London Bridge seems the best place to go. I think the Millwall fans were too spread out to really make much noise. We then took a tube journey on the Northern Line to London Bridge where we stopped for a few drinks. In these instances, the Police are well drilled in getting away fans into the ground from the special train and safely away afterwards. I had cuts and scrapes, hurt my rib and all sorts. In addition, Millwall's ground was the only stadium in the top two tiers of the Prem/EFL that I had not visited before. Otherwise, New Cross Gate and Surrey Quays tube stations, both on the East London Line, are a 15-20 minute walk from the ground. The Den from the outside looks very impressive. Yes Shirt Sponsors: Therefore, it was a 'low pressure' game for us which we could watch without any nerves/worries about what the result might be. As you exit the station turn right for the visiting supporters walkway. It was a great day out as all away games are more especially as I hadn't been to the Den before. Into the ground easy enough. It was announced many times during the second half that we would be shut in from 4.35. The view from the away end is one of the best I have ever experienced. Bannon, 48, asks to meet at a caf around the corner from the now-empty Brockley police station, above which his small team was based in its earliest weeks. I don't think many small groups go there and give it " large" you will come unstuck. However inside the station, it was packed with football fans making their way to their respective games in London, plenty of West Ham fans were there especially. At 7pm on Friday April 3 1987, two novice undercover police officers left Brockley police station for a drive down the Old Kent Road in south London. Even the concourse feels tight, cramped and dingy compared to most other grounds. West Stand (Zampa Lower Family Area): One journalist who witnessed the event described scenes of open bloody warfare. Forest didnt take too many fans (around 1300) and the season is petering away with nothing but pride to play for. Having got off the replacement bus service at South Bermondsey, we were surprised to see that there were no Police to be seen. Was I a football hooligan? Bannon asks of himself. I've been before and knew what to expect. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den Stadium? Big tick! To be honest, there were not rea lly many away fans left at full time so they just let us all go. If I pick a bat up and run at a load of West Ham fans, theres no justification in that, he says. The toilets were nice and there was no trouble getting around the ground. We sat and waited in the stand and watched the players warm down. There was a cordon of about 20 police keeping an eye on proceedings which turned it all into a tourist attraction for passing tourists. The corners of the ground are open, apart from one corner where there is a large video screen. The Council would sell off the purchased land to a developer. The atmosphere was good. What have other Away Fans said about their trip? Seating was adequate and there is a good view. Similarly is the Shipwright Arms, not far from Spoons. No issues with opposing groups of supporters with everyone mingling happily. I must admit I didnt do much hanging around before going into the ground, but I didnt feel I had the time to as I had to collect my ticket from the box office first which actually didnt take long at all and buy a programme for 3, the Millwall version of which is a very smart and well-designed small glossy magazine. A great day out. Having arrived back at London Bridge and it was still baking hot we decided to go for a couple more beers. The atmosphere was relaxed and we encountered friendliness and good humour from everyone we met. 5. The concourse area was okay, with beer at just over 4 a pint. Millwall is not as threatening as it once was, however it is not for the faint hearted. North Stand: Went in there after the 4-4 a few years ago, as it was the nearest pub that was open on my way home - gents was Sadly the Barrow Boy and Banker were not allowing football fans into the pub any more, so we went to the Southwark Tavern (also near to London Bridget station) instead to quench our thirst. He apologised for his colour blind friend. Numerous Barnsley bottom of the league and without an away win and having picked up only two points on the road. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. An easy walk back to South Bermondsey station and a 15 minute wait for a train back to London Bridge. I was in London for the Notting Hill Carnival and keen to continue my exploration of the capital's league clubs. Ipswich Town had got off to a very strong start, and were looking very positive. The support from the home fans was absolutely fantastic and is stillthe best home support I have seen. it's a short hop (10 mins) on a train from there to South Bermondsey. I was looking forward to adding a new ground to my list. I have, up to now, found watching Charlton both home and away a fairly pleasant past time. The home fans that we passed stood and clapped the fans in the coaches (As we showed so much respect to the ill fan) which is certainly a first for me in 30 years of following the Cobblers and I'm sure not many fans get a round of applause from Millwall fans when they leave the New Den. I'm looking forward to another visit before this season is out. Will never return. Away walkway to South Bermondsey and a dedicated train which was shared with Millwall fans. 4. The only thing I was looking forward to was meeting my Romford based pal for a few pre-match ales. The stewards were relaxed, the food at the ground was well priced and varied and much better than a lot of Premiership grounds I have been to. Also close to London Bridge Station on St Thomas Street is the Bunch of Grapes pub. From a Forest perspective, the game was nothing to write home about. It's only the American melts of r/soccer that stigmatize When the man beside him was badly cut by a 50p piece, Bannon complained to the officers, only to be threatened with arrest. Our first away win of the season and back to back wins. After keeping 4 clean sheets in a row, we were surprised and disappointed to find ourselves a goal down quite early on. Matt Smith came on as a sub for Millwall. Millwall fans clearly revel in being hated and this made the Den one of the most atmospheric grounds I've been to. Read reviews and see photos of the pubs, clubs and nightlife venues near you, get directions and opening hours and submit your own review. 3. After 3 minutes Millwall took the lead via a poorly defended corner. We went by National Express Coach to London Victoria and then made our way to South Bermondsey via London Bridge by London Underground/Overground. Having identified their Pal they proceeded to wave at her in a rather strange way. To be quite honest, and without wishing to upset anybody, I was slightly disappointed by the atmosphere amongst the home fans. Once allowed out the journey back was simple and quick. Away fans driving from the South should follow the A20 / A21 into London. That turned out to be a huge blessing in disguise as Waghorn made it 3-2 moments later. Millwall were relying more on the long ball. The Shipwright Arms, on Tooley Street, about Sports Where I Am is a registered trademark of Where I Am Group 2023 WhereIam Group Pty Ltd. Prices may be higher or lower than face value. It was an easy drive down from Norfolk and there were very few traffic issues on the road. Chicken Balti Pie Delicious.