Capacity: 20,146 (all seated)
Address: Zampa Road, London SE16 3LN
Telephone: 020 7232 1222
Fax: 020 7231 3663
Ticket Office: 0844 826 2004
Pitch Size: 105 x 68 yards
Pitch Type: Grass
Club Nickname: The Lions
Year Ground Opened: 1993
Undersoil Heating: Yes
Shirt Sponsors: DCS Building Contractors
Kit Manufacturer: Errea
Home Kit: Blue With White Trim
Away Kit: White with Blue Trim
Third Kit: Black with Gold Trim
The Den
Dockers and North Stands
Dockers Stand
Cold Blow Lane End
North Stand
The Club moved the relatively short distance to then was called the New Den after leaving their original Den ground which was their home for 83 years. This was first new major football ground to be constructed in London since before the Second World War. The stadium is made up of four separate two-tiered stands that are of the same height and look fairly similar. On one side is the Barry Kitchener Stand (named after a former player) which has the players tunnel and team dugouts at its front. This simple looking stand, has the same characteristics as both ends with windshields to either side in the upper tier and with the upper tier slightly overhanging the lower tier. The Dockers Stand on the other side, is slightly different having a row of executive boxes running across its middle. Between the East & North Stands in one corner is a large video screen.
Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the North Stand (usually in the upper tier only). Around 4,000 away fans can be accommodated in this end. Like the general improvement in football, a trip to Millwall is not as threatening as it once was. However, it is hardly a relaxing day out and I found the Den to be quite intimidating. The large police presence at the match I attended did nothing to dampen this feeling. I would advise that you exercise caution around the ground and not to wear club colours. Food on offer inside include a range of pies from the 'Pie Factory' including Steak & Ale and Chicken Balti (£3.40). There are also Cheese & Onion Pasties (£3.40), Sausage Rolls (£3.10), Burgers (£4) and Chips (£2.10).
The most popular method of travel for away fans to the Den, is by official club coach, or by train from London Bridge. The Police are well drilled in dealing with the coaches and supporters arriving by train. Once inside the ground you will generally find the stewards helpful and friendly.
Richard Langran a visiting Leicester City fan adds; 'We chose to drive down to Millwall and park away from the stadium. It was somewhat intimidating walking to and from the ground and the Leicester fans were kept back inside the stadium for quite a long time after the final whistle'. Luke Fern a visiting Bolton Wanderers fan informs me; 'Inside the ground the concourse is mostly concreted and looks very dull. It is also very cramped with little space available for fans to get around those queuing for food and drinks. However the view from our seats was excellent and the stewards were very tolerant and friendly. We had traveled by official Club coach and had to wait 45 minutes after the game had ended before we were allowed to exit the stadium car park'.
There are not many pubs located near to the stadium and those should be avoided by away supporters. If travelling by train then it is probably best to grab a beer around London Bridge before moving onto the ground. I would advise keeping any colours covered, even when drinking in the London Bridge area. Inside the ground alcohol is available in the form of; cans of Tetley's Smooth (£4.10), plus plastic bottles of Carlsberg (£4.10) or Somersby Cider (£4.60).
Chris Lynskey a visiting Scunthorpe United fan recommends; 'The Shipwrights Arms on Tooley Street, near London Bridge. Come out of London Bridge tube station, turn right and its only 200yds down the road on your right hand side. A lovely little pub which also serves food. We left the pub at 2.15pm to go and catch the train to the stadium and made it comfortably for kick off'. Also close to London Bridge Station on St Thomas Street is the Bunch of Grapes pub. Also not far from these pubs on Tower Bridge Road is the 'Pommelers Rest' a Wetherspoons outlet.
On the Borough High Street by London Bridge is the Barrow Boy & Banker, which is a Fullers pub and has the benefit of a large screen showing Sky Sports. Further down the High Street is the Borough Market, which on nearby Stoney Street is situated the legendary Market Porter pub. This pub is also a regular listing in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and always has 9 real ales on tap. Mick Hubbard adds; 'Also on Borough High Street is the George Inn, which is owned and leased by the National Trust. It is an outstandingly beautiful building, and the pub itself retains its wooden flooring and wall panelling. It serves its own ‘George Ale’ which went down nicely.'
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. The A2 actually passes the ground. Once you go past New Cross Gate tube station on your right the ground is about a mile further on. The only awkward bit is about half way in-between New Cross Gate and the ground where the road splits into two. Keep to the right following the signs A2 City/Westminster. You will come to the ground on your right. Street parking can be found on the small estate on your left just past the ground, otherwise, be wary of on street parking restrictions around the area of the ground so check lamp posts for signage. There are no sizeable car parks around the ground (typical British Planning!). There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the Den via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Post Code for SAT NAV: SE16 3LN
It is probably best to go by rail, as South Bermondsey Railway Station is only a few minutes walk from the ground. There is a direct walkway specifically built for away fans which takes you directly to the away end and back to the station afterwards. This has made the Police's job of keeping rival supporters apart so much more manageable. As you exit the station turn right for the visiting supporters walkway. If your team brings a sizeable following, then an 'away fan' football special may be laid on from London Bridge. In these instances, the Police are well drilled in getting away fans into the ground from the special train and safely away afterwards. Although don't be surprised if you are held in the stadium for sometime after the final whistle, before being allowed back up the walkway to the station. You may also then be held for a while at the station itself, so please bear this in mind when booking the time of your return journey home.
You can also reach near the ground via New Cross or New Cross Gate Stations, however they are around a twenty minute walk away from the Den and is not really recommended for away fans to use.
Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:
Like a number of Clubs, Millwall have a category system (A & B) for ticket pricing, whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Category A prices are shown below, with Category B tickets in brackets:
Home Fans*
Barry Kitchener Stand (Upper Tier):
Adults £30 (£27), Over 60's £20 (£17), Under 16's £13 (£10), Under 12's £7 (£5)**
Barry Kitchener Stand (Lower Tier):
Adults £29 (£26), Over 60's £19 (£16), Under 16's £13 (£10), Under 12's £7 (£5)**
Dockers East Stand (Upper Tier):
Adults £29 (£26), Over 60's £19 (£16), Under 16's £13 (£10), Under 12's £7 (£5)**
Dockers East Stand (Lower Tier):
Adults £29 (£26), Over 60's £17 (£14), Under 16's £13 (£10), Under 12's £7 (£5)**
Cold Blow Lane (South) Stand:
Adults £26 (£23), Over 60's £17 (£14), Under 16's £13 (£10), Under 12's £7 (£5)**
West Stand (Zampa Lower Family Area):
Adults £25 (£22), Over 60's £17 (£14), Under 16's £11 (£10), Under 12's £7 (£5)**
Away Fans
North Stand: Adults £26 (£23), Over 60's £17 (£14), Under 16's £13 (£10), Under 12's £7 (£5)**
* Fans who become Millwall Club Members can gain further discounts on these ticket prices.
** Under 12 tickets available only when purchased with an adult or senior ticket.
Official Matchday Programme £3
No One Likes Us (NOLU) Fanzine £1
The Lion Roars (TLR) Fanzine £1.50
Millwall FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Record Attendance
At the Den; 48,672 v Derby County, FA Cup 5th Round, February 20th, 1937.
At the New Den, 20,093 v Arsenal FA Cup 3rd Round, January 10th, 1994.
Average Attendance
2016-2017: 9,340 (League One)
2015-2016: 9,108 (League One)
2014-2015: 10,902 (Championship League)
If you require hotel accommodation in London then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going.
Access their London Hotels pages.
Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, at home or abroad.
Booking.comOfficial Web Site: www.millwallfc.co.uk
Unofficial Web Sites:
House Of Fun
Millwall Online (Vital Football Network)
Millwall Supporters Club
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: duncan@footballgroundguide.com and I'll update the guide.
Millwall v Nottingham Forest
Football League Championship
Friday 30th March 2018, 1pm
Simon Bartlett (Nottingham Forest fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
I had been to the old Den in the 1980’s. Now living close to London I had done all away games in the area so Millwall was another reasonable close ground to get to.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A couple of trains. Came in from Redhill so not the normal away fans route until hitting London Bridge.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
An early kick off kind of scuppered much drinking. I stopped in Redhill at a Wetherspoons for breakfast. The home fans seemed fine. My experience of Millwall fans is that if you fine with them, then you won’t have a problem.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
The Den is a tidy looking ground. A change from the identikit bowls that were also built in that era. The concourse area was okay, with beer at just over £4 a pint. No problems with excessive queues for the toilets. Stewarding was friendly.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was good. Millwall fans were passionate and mounting a play off run. Forest didn’t take too many fans (around 1300) and the season is petering away with nothing but pride to play for. From a Forest perspective, the game was nothing to write home about. Forest conceded a goal after just 22 seconds and then another later in the first half. Lots of huffing and puffing by Forest, but no end result, which saw a 2-0 defeat. Still lots of singing and banter with the Millwall fans in the ground.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
One of the easiest. Away walkway to South Bermondsey and a dedicated train which was shared with Millwall fans. No signs of any trouble whatsoever.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
As with many times watching Forest, a good day out spoiled by the 90 minutes of football. Millwall fans are old school and create a good atmosphere.
Millwall v Sunderland
Championship League
Saturday 3rd March 2018, 3pm
Jeff Davison (Sunderland fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
I had never been to the Den and my team needs as much support as it can get. Also going for the experience of visiting one of football's more "notorious" venues. The snow did not put off the 2000 strong expected away support.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
With some forward planning, weighing up driving, parking and train ticket prices I decided to book in advance for a cheaper ticket and let the train take the strain for this journey. 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. Big tick!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I was bit pushed for time so had a couple in the Pommelers Rest pub at London Bridge before jumping on the train to South Bermondsey. I bypassed the Bermondsey "crawl" and took advantage of the fayre on offer on the concourse. Any home support were friendly enough, taking pity I expect given our lowly position. It may have been different with Irons on my shirt!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
A typical older English Championship stadium it looking uncompromising but on reflection when getting inside, the away end is well served with excellent sight lines with decent seating for a really good full view of the pitch for the entire match. Well worth the £26 ticket price.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The match itself was a game of two halves. For once Chris Coleman picked an attacking line up and we were at it from the off scoring with a screamer from Oviedo. After half time, however, it was a different story. Millwall upped their tempo, we retreated to virtually on top of our keeper and the inevitable equaliser duly arrived and 1-1 it stayed with some good defending from us. The atmosphere was proper with non stop singing for the entire 90 minutes from the 2000 strong Red n White army. This seemed to engage the Millwall support who resembled as an extras list for Peaky Blinders. The stewards were a friendly bunch with no issues to speak of. There was plenty of kiosks for supporters along the concrete concourse serving the usual fayre with a decent pint at more than reasonable prices so no need to take your own. There's plenty of provision for after a few bevvies and there were televisions to watch too.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was just as easy as getting into it. Reversing the walk back up the pathway to South Bermondsey station and getting the short ride back to London Bridge. If anything on the day resembled a throwback it was the attitude of the Police. To say they were objectionable was putting it mildly. 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. It was like exits from any event, a big rush, everyone trying to get on a train but at a small station so everyone was packed in like the proverbial sardines. If you are not in a major rush or with children best to wait for the next one.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a great day out as all away games are more especially as I hadn't been to the Den before. If you haven't then please do go. There are a lot worse grounds to go to. I would definitely go again!
Millwall v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Football Championship League
Tuesday 26th December 2017, 1pm
Aimee Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
I can’t think of a better way to spend Boxing Day than watching the Wolves! We’re having a superb season, and the chance to ‘tick off’ another of the 92 really appealed, despite The Den’s, ahem, ‘reputation’ for being a place away fans fear to tread. That said, the inevitable hostile atmosphere and the presence of ex-Wolves players in the Millwall line-up meant it promised to be a tough afternoon for Nuno’s men. Whilst we’ve proved the “cold Tuesday night in Barnsley” cliché to be a load of nonsense, Millwall away is, and always will be, a test of anyone’s mettle!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
After weighing up the options, we decided to use the club’s official travel. To be fair, those other options consisted of train (none running on Boxing Day), and driving (no one fancied a sober Boxing Day)! It meant an early start of 8am outside Molineux. We arrived in the capital at around 10:45, and eventually reached the Den at 11:15, a journey time of 3 hours and 15 minutes. I tried to spot car parks in the vicinity, but didn’t see any. The coaches are parked right outside the away end, in an enclosed, fenced off compound.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As it was still early, my dad and me decided to brave a walk round the ground. Perhaps it was the early kick off time, or the fact it was Boxing Day, but there were very few home supporters around. Perhaps just as well! I bought my programme, as I always do, and once the turnstiles were open, we went into the ground. The concourse was a little confined, and service was slow, meaning quite lengthy queues. They were showing the early Sky kick off though, as Harry Kane broke Alan Shearer’s calendar year goal record. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they sold Somersby Cider, albeit bottled, as it is one of my favourites! At £4.70 a pint, it’s a little more than I pay back home, but then again, London prices! They had one beer on tap, but everything else was bottles, poured into plastic pint pots for you. I also had a tray of rather nice chips for £2.20!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
I think The Den is very much deserving of its reputation. Its location and proximity to other buildings make it seem almost claustrophobic, and to be honest, a refreshing throwback, compared to many modern grounds built in the middle of nowhere, or at the back of a retail park. The stands were neat, and the two-tiered away end was certainly not the worst we’ve had this season.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc...
As expected, Millwall provided our lads with one of our tougher tests so far in the season. After keeping 4 clean sheets in a row, we were surprised and disappointed to find ourselves a goal down quite early on. 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. We responded well, and Helder Costa missed a great chance to equalise, pulling down Ruben Neves’ pass superbly, only to blast the ball at the goalkeeper Jordan Archer. As well as playing with a high tempo, Millwall weren’t afraid to get stuck in, and saw two players booked for challenges we shall politely describe as ‘robust’! Just when we felt we’d be going into half time behind, we levelled with virtually the last kick of the half. Costa did brilliantly down the right, shimmying his way past a challenge from the left back. He burst into the area and rolled the ball across the six-yard box for Diogo Jota to flick in his 10th goal of the season. 1-1.
Wolves came out for the second half in better shape than Millwall, and we were delighted when we took the lead through an unlikely scorer. Costa was again the architect, holding the ball up superbly, before laying it off to Romain Saiss, the Moroccan midfielder. With 2 goals in 50-odd games for Wolves, when he shaped up to shoot, few people, myself included, expected the ball to fly into the top corner. But it did, and Wolves led at The Den!
But, the drama wasn’t finished there, and we were unable to hold onto the lead, Millwall equalising to claim, in fairness, a deserved share of the spoils. A corner was flicked back across goal from the far post, and centre half Jake Cooper rose highest to nod it into the net, with Ruddy unable to get across to make a save. We almost, almost nicked it at the death though. Scottish left-back Barry Douglas had a free-kick 30 yards out, 92nd minute. He hit the target, but keeper Archer pulled off a fine save to push it wide and keep his side's point.
To be quite honest, and without wishing to upset anybody, I was slightly disappointed by the atmosphere amongst the home fans. 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. Whilst I wasn’t 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.
I thought the stewarding was fine, they were a visible presence without getting unnecessarily involved, which is how it should be in my view. Facilities wise, as I mentioned above, the concourse wasn’t particularly spacious, but served a purpose. I didn’t have a pie, I am on a self-imposed ban from all meat products at football, following a very unsavoury incident at a game last season. But that’s a story for another day! As I say, the chips were nice, and selling Somersby cider gets anyone some extra thumbs up from me!
The programme at £3 was decent value, and full of good features, including a few pages of Wolves stuff, and a brilliant interview with ex-Millwall midfielder and Wolves legend Alex Rae.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The game finished just before 3pm, and we were leaving the Den at 3:15. Unfortunately, our driver took a wrong turn somewhere, and took us right into the middle of London traffic. Having taken just a smidgeon over 3 hours to get from Molineux to London, the return journey took over 4 and a half, with us arriving back at Molineux just before 8pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Anyone that knows me, knows I love football, and love Wolves! The thought of spending 12 hours on Boxing Day travelling to, watching, and travelling back from, Millwall v Wolves might not be to everyone’s taste, but I enjoyed it. Not the best performance or result we’ve had in a fantastic season so far, but there will be plenty of teams who will come unstuck against a dogged, spirited Millwall side. The Den is a small, compact, claustrophobic ground, with at times the atmosphere to go with it. Sometimes you see a team and a stadium match each other perfectly, and that was certainly the case with the Lions and their ground.
The only thing which spoilt the day was some rather vile chanting from a small section of home support, directed towards several of our players. There is simply no place for that kind of behaviour in our society, and whilst I don’t expect anything to be done about it, I do hope that eventually, more is done to make sure this is stamped out of football for good. Having travelled up and down the country following Wolves, from Newcastle to Plymouth and everywhere in between, I know that supporters can create a fantastic, intimidating cauldron of noise, without lowering themselves to the kind of behaviour.
Millwall v Middlesbrough
Championship League
Saturday 16th December 2017, 3pm
Shane (Middlesbrough fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
It was my first visit to the Den. I was looking forward to adding a new ground to my list. myself, my mrs, my mate & his mrs made the trip by car.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We left Middlesbrough at 6.30am and stopped off at the A1 truck stop at Colsterworth, Grantham. Had a cracking full English breakfast there to set us up for the day, Arrived at Camberwell where we were staying at midday. Our rooms in the hotel were not yet ready so parked the car there and left our bags at reception.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We jumped on a bus outside the hotel (no cash taken for fares, so use contactless bank card or buy an oyster travel card) and headed for "The Bunch Of Grapes" pub on St Thomas St in the London Bridge area. 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. I wore my Middlesbrough scarf and I was asked by the bouncers to take it off to go into "The Barrow Boy & Banker"....(pricey drinks as always in London). We then got the train from London Bridge to The Den. The area is policed very well. As I mentioned earlier I didn't see a Millwall fan other than in the ground, designated walk-way straight to the away end. No problems at all.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den Stadium?
The Den ground is small but holds a good atmosphere, the Millwall fans were very loud when they scored. We had a few beers on the concourse, which were a little bit cheaper than the pubs earlier. As usual, only the top tier of the away end was opened, but it offered a decent view. The match tickets were very reasonably priced at £26.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Where do I start? As I mentioned it was a good atmosphere and a good view. Boro started off well, but that was very brief, Millwall got a goal, (great through ball to set it up) and then added a second, which was embarrassing from our point of view. In the end we did well not to concede a few more, Stuart Downing gave us some hope when his effort was helped in by the keeper, but overall not a great performance from eith team.Millwall held on to win 2-1, taking all three important points
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
All the Middlesbrough fans were held back for approximately 30 minutes (which is the normal procedure)and escorted back to the platform to get on trains, again policed very well, not a Millwall fan in sight, Jumped into a taxi at London Bridge and ended up in a Wetherspoon pub, "The Pommerlers Rest" for the remainder of the evening. We then had a nightmare getting back to Camberwell as NO taxis would stop. It took us over an hour to find the right bus that took us 25 minutes walk past our hotel. Finally made back to the digs 1.30am.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The whole day was very enjoyable, all apart from the football (that we didn't play). I wore my Boro scarf all day/night & never attracted any unwanted attention. Will definitely visit the Den again.
Millwall v Leeds United
Football Championship League
Saturday 16th September 2017, 3pm
Shaun (Leeds United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
It was to be my first time to the Den and so I was interested to see what the atmosphere would be like.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The only real option for away fans is by train. Parking is limited at the ground and it's not a place to wear your teams colours. However, by train means you can meet in a pub at London Bridge and then take the train to South Bermondsey.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As above, we joined some other fans at the Bunch of Grapes pub near London Bridge. There was a cordon of about 20 police keeping an eye on proceedings which turned it all into a tourist attraction for passing tourists. At about 2.15 we were marched by the police to London Bridge station which was all very efficient until they took us to the wrong platform! After that hiccup, we got the right train, and then led down the separate entrance to the away end. As a result of this we didn't meet any home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
As I always say to my wife size isn't everything! The Den is a small modern ground but is different to most other new grounds in that it has four distinct stands rather than one big continuous loop of a stand. The four stands are identical and unremarkable, however by keeping it small means only about 10,000 home fans are required to pretty well fill the home end and so give the place plenty of atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Most Leeds fans enjoy being hated (Dirty Leeds!) and in Millwall we've met our southern equivalent. Millwall fans clearly revel in being hated and this made the Den one of the most atmospheric grounds I've been to. 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. It was the poorest performance from us this season and Millwall fully deserved the win. The stewarding I found surprisingly relaxed and no issue at all while as for the pie price you have to pay London prices. No meal deal so a pie and a pint is about £8.80 from memory.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The police will keep you in for about 1/2 hour to get the home fans away. Then you're herded to the train station. We went back to London Bridge and here there was just a few police and we were able to get our train to Gatwick to fly home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
If you want a friendly experience in the Capital go to Brentford or Fulham. If you want that Eastern Europe intimidating atmosphere then this away day is for you, and as the police have got keeping the two sets of fans apart down to a fine art I might even bring my scarf next time!
Millwall v Norwich City
Championship League
Saturday 26th August 2017, 3pm
George Crisp (Norwich City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
This was my first visit to Millwall, and it is somewhere I had always been intrigued about going to. I had heard a lot of bad things about the Millwa ll supporters but I wanted to see what they were really like.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I have to admit, I cheated on this one. I stayed with my aunt and cousin for the week, who live about eight miles from The Den. It was simply a 40 minute train journey with one changeover.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went to this game with my cousin, who is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter who also wanted to go to Millwall. We decided to take a train into London Victoria to go to a pub. We were not able to get to London Bridge from our starting point as there were multiple train works taking place over the weekend. The pub we went to was fantastic. The food was reasonably priced and so were the beverages. The day seemed to be looking up.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
The Den is quite an interesting stadium to travel to. If you are travelling on train, I do not recommend wearing colours, as you will meet some of the home supporters. I experienced no issues at this point, and we met some home fans who all seemed friendly. If you are traveling on coach, wear your colours. The coaches park literally about 5 metres from the turnstiles, so you will not have any problems. The Den is separated into four stands, and the away fans are situated in the upper tier of the North Stand. The lower tier is usually empty. Be prepared to fork out, as a pie and a pint will set you back about £7-8. The concourse is rather narrow, especially when there is a large away following. The view from the away end is one of the best I have ever experienced. We were right behind the goal, a couple of rows from the back. The home fans are extremely loud, and so is the PA system. I still wonder if this is because they wanted to drown out the away fans.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
This is by far the most tragic performance I have ever seen. We were arguably the better side for the first 10-13 minutes, then Millwall piled on the pressure. Out of nowhere, on 15 minutes, a long ball cut our defence in two and Lee Gregory was there to make it 1-0. Two minutes later, once again we were cut open down the left hand side, and an over hit pass was rolled back to George Saville who struck down the middle to make it 2-0. Three minutes before half time, Jed Wallace went on a run through the middle of our defence, struck from 25 yards and straight past a despairing Angus Gunn. On 72 minutes, a corner was floated in and was met by Shaun Hutchinson for 4-0. There was an extremely loud boo from the remaining Norwich fans at full time, after what was a dreadful atmosphere from us away fans. The support from the home fans was absolutely fantastic and is still the best home support I have seen. The stewards were mostly tolerable but mainly very helpful and friendly.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Normally, as far as I am aware, the away fans are kept behind. To be honest, there were not rea lly many away fans left at full time so they just let us all go. We boarded the train after a 20 minute wait in a queue full of Millwall fans who were very friendly and sympathetic towards us, but also in high spirits because of their fantastic win. Before we know it, we were back at my cousins, and I was picked up the next day.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A fantastic day out spoiled by 90 minutes of shambolic football. Millwall is not as threatening as it once was, however it is not for the faint hearted. I strongly recommend The Den to anybody who gets a chance to go.
Millwall v Ipswich Town
Football Championship League
Tuesday 15th August 2017, 7:45pm
James Sibley (Ipswich Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
It's an away day who doesn't enjoy them? I was looking forward to the experience of a new ground as I haven't visited the Den before. After hearing so much about Millwall I was intrigued to visit for myself. The match was a league game so held some importance.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on one of the official club coaches. It wasn't a bad drive up to the ground, taking just over two hours. When approaching the ground there were stewards ushering our coaches into the away end. We arrived in plenty of time.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the match, I went and had a look around the outside of ground and popped into the club shop as I had some spare time before the gates opened. I was clearly wearing my teams' shirt, but I wasn't made to feel uncomfortable whatsoever by any of the home fans. One Millwall fan even complimented me upon my tattoos on my leg and stopped for a chat. There were a lot of food places available but I didn't wish to have anything.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den Stadium?
The Den has a decent traditional football ground feel to it. All the stands looked impressive.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
There are plenty of facilities available and they accept card payments so that is a bonus. The game itself was electric as it was a 3-4 win to us, with a decent amount of atmosphere from both the home and away fans, with the home fans open to some friendly football banter. I would say they're one of the best home fans I have witnessed. The stewards were pretty relaxed and laid back.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We were locked into the ground after the match to let the home fans leave, once the gates had finally opened it was fairy quiet and easy to get out of. With a nice tour of London on the way home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The day out was good. I completely enjoyed the whole Den experience.
Millwall v Ipswich Town
Football Championship League
Tuesday 15th August 2017, 7:45pm
Kieran B (Ipswich Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
Ipswich Town had got off to a very strong start, and were looking very positive. 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.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Me and a few lads got the 13:09 service from Ipswich to London Liverpool Street. There we took the underground circle line to Moorgate, and then the Northern Line to London Bridge. We were there just before 3pm. We would head to the ground later on.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Once we got to London Bridge, we met up with a few mates at the Bunch of Grapes pub. We stayed there for about an hour or so before making our way to the Kings Head just around the corner where we met up with more town fans. A few Millwall fans were there, but there wasn’t any trouble. After a couple of hours and many pints later – we then made our way to London Bridge Railway Station for the overground train to South Bermondsey.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
The Den isn’t anything too special. You can see the ground on approach from the train and then the designated away walkway. You can tell the architects weren’t feeling too adventurous when they designed it – but it suits its purpose very well I guess. Each two tier stand must be the same inside, and unlike most two tier stands, there is only one concourse inside, so you have to descend three flights of stairs to get to the bar. I couldn’t complain about my view in the upper tier however.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Considering our train from London Bridge to South Bermondsey was ten minutes late, myself and about 300 other Ipswich fans missed the opening five minutes. We heard Millwall score after 45 seconds just as we got off the train, and then on four minutes (whilst we were queuing up at the turnstiles) Garner made it 1-1 – to our delight! Waghorn scored twice either side of a Millwall goal to put us 3-2 up at half time in what was a complete goal fest of a match so far. The second half held out until Millwall made it 3-3 in the 80th minute, but Jordan Spence popped up in the 88th minute with a header for Ipswich to win it 4-3, to send me and 2,000 town fans into hysterics!
That’s how it finished, and we celebrated our third win in three! The atmosphere was electric from the Ipswich fans, the best I’ve known it for a while. The home fans got the occasional ‘MILLL-WALLL’ going but that was about that. The stewards were fine and didn’t have any bother. Facilities were basic but very cramped. I headed downstairs to grab a pie on 43 minutes, but saw the queue and decided against it and returned to my seat. That turned out to be a huge blessing in disguise as Waghorn made it 3-2 moments later. I’d have been even more annoyed had I missed another goal.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
What a nightmare! Millwall clearly weren’t 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. By the time we made it back to Stratford it was 11:15pm. In the end, I got home at just gone 1am instead of 12 as expected. Worth it I guess though!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I doubt I’ll see a game like that for a very long time! Four Away goals, and a late winner to top off a class outing on the beers with the lads. Up there in my top three away days I think. I love football! I just hope we can keep this momentum going for the next few games at least.
Full time result: Millwall 3 Ipswich Town 4
Match Rating: 10/10
Match Rating: 10/10
Millwall v Bolton Wanderers
Football Championship League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Andy Scott (Bolton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting The Den?
A trip to Millwall is always a tough test and takes me back 30 years to my visit to the old Den. Hopefully, things have changed much for the better since then?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Although we were on an official supporters coach, our journey was made longer by a series of roadworks on going into London, which caused delays. On arriving at the Den the coaches parked right behind the away stand, so in and out with no trouble. However, the parking area was very small and I reckon you wouldn't be able to get any more than 6-8 in.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There was no access to any pubs near the ground and if you go by coach you are locked in a caged enclosure as soon as you get off the bus. I did manage to get out as we were without colours and I noticed that the Millwall café had reasonably priced meals including fish chips.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of The Den?
It was a tight area at the entrance but once inside the facilities were good as well. The pies, drinks on offer were on the expensive side. It was a good view of the game and the end was well covered.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The volume of the home fans is amplified by a large set of speakers, which I guess are there to try and dampen out the noise from the away support. The stewards were friendly and helpful.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The traffic was a bit of a nightmare around the ground as were leaving. There was some intimidation by home fans as we passed and surprisingly we were not given a Police escort.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
We I still found the Den intimidating and I certainly wouldn't take my grandson to Millwall. I like my football but it is a long way to go to be hustled in and out of ground after six hours on a coach still its football and we love it.
Millwall v Northampton Town
Football League One
Friday 14th April 2017, 3pm
Alex Compton (Northampton Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
It was my son's first visit to the New Den but apart from that I wasn't looking forward to it as Millwall are doing really well this season and we are at the wrong end of the table.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey down to London was good, we travelled on the supporters coach. We didn't hit any traffic until we got into London but even then it wasn't that bad.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As we left early enough we had a couple of hours in Blackheath. we headed for O'Neils and had some really nice food and expensive drinks. We also drank in The Crown and Zerodegress which was a micro brewery/pub/restaurant, once again the drinks were really expensive.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
The Den from the outside looks very impressive. 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 ground looks pretty much the same all round but it is a really nice looking stadium.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was terrible from our point of view as we were 3-0 down at half time and that was the final score. The stewards were really friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was quite good from both sides. Unfortunately a Millwall supporter was taken seriously ill early in the second half and after that all fans around the stadium were very quiet as a mark of respect to the poor supporter, To be honest the game really should have been stopped at this point but it continued until the 90th minute at this point a few fans came on the pitch to get the game finished and the referee blew his whistle immediately. Football really doesn't matter when something like that happens.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was really easy but we did have to wait for all the home fans to disperse. 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.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A really good but strange day at the football just a shame we didn't get the result we needed.
Millwall v Bradford City
Football League One
Saturday 3rd September 2016, 3pm
Chris Richards (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Den?
A free weekend and shamelessly snubbing Non-League day, son and I headed to South London and a visit to The Den. We were both looking forward to this trip with me being a little apprehensive due to the clubs' reputation.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Drove down from Worcestershire via M40/A40 and parked at Ickenham Tube station (£2 for all day parking). It was then a 45 minute trip to London Bridge Station and a short five minute shuttle to South Bermondsey. As always in London, public transport is not a problem. The ground is a five minute walk from South Bermondsey Station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We visited The Millwall Café before the game. Cup of tea for £1. They were doing chips, burgers etc.. as well but didn't indulge. Sat outside the ground and found everyone in good spirits due to The Lions good start to the season. Saw a few Bradford fans outside the ground and not a hint of any aggression. The atmosphere was relaxed and we encountered friendliness and good humour from everyone we met. The Club Shop was visited and the obligatory club pin badge purchased.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
The Den has now weathered itself into it's surroundings and has lost all appearance of a new stadium. It's neat, functional and surprisingly welcoming. 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. We sat in the top tier of The Barry Kitchener Stand where the view was excellent.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Stewards - Friendly and personable. Chicken Balti Pie - Delicious. The game was a cracker with Bradford taking a first half lead and Millwall equalising in the second half. The language wasn't for your Nan and young children but I seem to think that they take the attitude that this is a football ground and the working man must let off steam. I was quite amused by the stick given out to the referee for every decision against the home side. It took about 20 minutes for the atmosphere to heat up but the Millwall fans were behind their side 100%. The few hundred Bantams who attended were vocal throughout and added to the general feel of the match.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
An easy walk back to South Bermondsey station and a 15 minute wait for a train back to London Bridge. It was crowded but acceptable for a short journey.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
We both really enjoyed our day at The Den. The people were friendly, the ground neat with good views and a great game. Millwall does have a reputation and I'll be silly to write it off as a myth but fans were mingling together before and after the game with no trouble at all. The majority of Lions fans are loyal, passionate and support their club in a positive way. I'm looking forward to another visit before this season is out.
Millwall v Oxford United
Competition Johnson paint trophy
Thursday 14th January 2016, 7.45pm
Chris Carpenter (Oxford United fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Den football ground?
I was very keen to go game as it was the Southern final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, with Oxford having a real chance at reaching the final at Wembley Stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Decided that the easiest way of getting there would be public transport. So we got the coach from Oxford to Baker street then tube to London Bridge followed by one stop on the overground train to south Bermondsey. All very easy with no delays.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As we didn't have to drive, a few cheeky Thursday night beers were in order. Had a couple of pints at the classic Wetherspoons Metropolitan Bar at Baker Street, before journeying onto London Bridge. On arrival at the station we came across the Barrowboy and Banker pub, which looked to be packed with Oxford fans but with a large number of coppers on the door, we wasn't allowed in. However we came across another local pub nearby which was nice.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
After leaving South Bermondsey station there is a direct walkway to the away end so you have no contact with home fans. From the walkway, the Den Ground looks quite tidy with four stands of similar size. The area is quite industrial with not much to see with the ground surrounded with metal fences and razor wire.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
For a Thursday night game which was being televised by Sky, then there was a excellent turnout from Oxford with over 1200 there and we created a good atmosphere. I think the Millwall fans were too spread out to really make much noise. I didn't think that the a stewarding was that bad they mostly left us alone to stand and enjoy the game. The biggest surprise of the night for me was how good the pies were!! Very tasty, but the beer is the standard plastic bottles of Carlsberg.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the match had ended all away fans were held in the ground for what seems like forever, but is probably about half hour. Once allowed out the journey back was simple and quick.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
With Oxford winning 2-0 and having one foot in a Wembley final it was a cracking evening. I found Millwall to be one of the better London away days and well worth the trip and encountered no problems at all.
Millwall v Southend United
League One
Saturday 29th September 2015, 3pm
John & Stephen Spooner (Southend United fans)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Den?
First visit to Millwall and the New Den, with mixed feelings about potential for trouble from local fans. Neil Harris the Millwall manager finished his career at Southend. Millwall had been relegated last season and despite back to back away wins coming into this game they had lost 3 home games. Southend had lost 3 home games but were unbeaten away with 3 draws.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We live in North Wales so it was a round journey of nearly 500 miles rather than Southend locals only travelling 80 miles. Left at 7am and travelled via M6, M1, M25, M11 and A12 via Blackwall tunnel to meet up with relatives in Lewisham and then taxi ride of about 4 miles that took 30 minutes due to traffic congestion.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We left Lewisham at 2pm and traffic was so busy on a warm sunny day we only arrived 25 minutes before kick off, so straight into the ground after meeting more family. There was a visible police presence at the turnstiles to help prevent any problems. We did not meet any locals but once inside, the Millwall fans nearest to our stand were vociferous and a few were offensive but too far away to pose any real threat.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The ground is quite impressive and modern. We were seated in the upper North stand which appears to be a bit remote from the the two side stands. Seating was adequate and there is a good view. The floodlights are built into the side stands roof and the pitch was in pristine condition.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A crowd of 10,228 including 1,097 Southend fans generated a good atmosphere and the acoustics of the North away stand is good. Stewards were easy going, and fans were allowed to sit where they wanted. Southend managed to take the lead with a Mooney header at the home end after 37 minutes. Half time entertainment consisted of Millwall and Southend youngsters pedaling inside a plastic transparent sphere in a race from penalty area to penalty area. The entertainment was heightened when the pitch sprinklers were set off and nearly drowned one of the boys trapped inside the ball! Southend scored a second after 49 minutes with a Barrett header in front of the Southend fans to ensure a happy afternoon.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We walked out of the away stand onto the street outside the main entrance and after a few minutes took our taxi back to Lewisham and an easier but long journey back to North Wales.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good win at a ground that we thought would be a tough fixture. Fans are well supervised to ensure safety, but I would still advise to be cautious at this ground. Traffic congestion is a factor if travelling by car.
Millwall v Chesterfield
Football League One
Saturday 29th August 2015, 3pm
David Oliver (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Den?
I was in London for the Notting Hill Carnival and keen to continue my exploration of the capital's league clubs. Millwall away sounds like a bit of a challenge and a rite of passage for football fans. Over the summer it seemed that Bradford's James Hanson was joining Millwall which added some interest when I planned the trip, as I support Bradford City. The transfer did not happen in the end but prior to the game the Bantams were linked with Millwall's defender Mark Beevers (again nothing came of it) It was certainly an interesting experience.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got the tube to Canada Water at this point there were enough Millwall colours to follow to the New Den. It is a bit of a trek but incredibly interesting, railway arches, scrapyards, garages and probably the biggest traveller site I have ever seen. Although I would like to avoid stereotyping it did feel a bit like being on the set of a Guy Ritchie film. Saying that the only "naughtiness" we saw on the way came from a small gang of youth from Chesterfield who were a bit full of bravado and lager! I hope they got home safe and sound! Great to see a real part of London with warts and all only half a mile or so behind the polished glass towers of the River Thames.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had eaten before the game and had a Brick Lane curry planned for later so just had a pint before kick off.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den?
I thought the Den ground was great. 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. Glad I hadn't taken the kids! The ground has open corners with a railway line running the length of one stand and the away end. It was quite distracting/amusing when trains appeared behind the corner flags - maybe just me!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Game was a bit dull with Chesterfield winning 2-0, a very professional away performance. 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.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Brisk walk back to the tube station and off to Brick Lane for that curry..
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
We had a great day and it was good to add another ground to my list.
Millwall v Coventry City
League One
Saturday 15th August 2015, 3pm
Alex Smith (Coventry City Fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the Den (or not as the case may be)?
This is quite an awkward one to answer - On the one hand the Den is a new ground for me to visit that I need to tick off! And the fact my club had a great start to the season. But on the other hand you have with Millwall a reputation tarnished by a history of hooliganism and a hostile welcoming to away fans, But I decided I had to go someday so why not now?
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We left Coventry station on the 08:51 train to London Euston and arrived just before 10am. We then took a tube journey on the Northern Line to London Bridge where we stopped for a few drinks. We left London Bridge for South Bermondsey at around 1.45pm as it is only one stop down the line, As you may know away fans have their own walkway from South Bermondsey Station, directly to the away end, so finding the ground was no problem.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?
As mentioned previously, we spent most of our time around London Bridge and got a drink in a Wetherspoons pub called the Pommelers Rest. The pub was Football Shirts and Kids friendly and was only a two minute walk from Tower Bridge. So be sure to go there if you want to grab a drink before leaving for The Den! When we arrived at South Bermondsey the Millwall fans we encountered kept themselves to themselves but were not as hostile as expected!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Den Stadium?
The Den is a neat little ground that is ideal for any League One team and most sides are almost identical to each other. - Although the barbed wire outside the away end was unnerving to say the least! The concourse was a bit dull and could do with a lick of paint. There were no stanchions inside the ground to restrict the view from your seat and there was plenty of leg room.
The Teams Line Up Before Kick Off
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc...
With 1,500 traveling Sky Blue Army and a load of noisy South Londoners the atmosphere was optimistic and very loud! I did not purchase refreshments at the ground so can't comment. As for the match Millwall started the game the brightest eventually winning a penalty gifted to them by City keeper Lee Burge, although he redeemed himself by saving Lee Gregory's penalty which sent the away fans into raptures - From hear on in Coventry's dominance began and we soon took a lead in the 6th minute through a Adam Armstrong wonder goal, Ruben Lameiras soon doubled the lead in the 19th minute - we ended an unbelievable 25 minutes of football by making 3-0 through Armstrong again! 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. 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
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After such a resounding victory the Police decided it was appropriate to keep us in for 20 minutes after the final whistle, just to let the understandably annoyed home support leave the area. Most City fans were in buoyant mood and did not seem to mind - so no issues!
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Brilliant day out! 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. They are trying to build a positive reputation which is unfortunately tarnished by a handful. Good Luck to them!
Millwall v Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday February 15th, 2014, 3pm
John Power (Bolton Wanderers fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
As a visiting Bolton Wanderers supporter the trip to the new Den was eagerly awaited as I had missed the previous seasons fixture.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We had chosen to drive down to West Ruislip and then jumped on the overland train which connects through to Central London and the tube network. After arriving at London Bridge Railway Station, we discovered that South Bermondsey station was closed and a replacement bus was provided.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?
With time to kill we had a couple of drinks in the big pub opposite London Bridge station that was showing the early game on television. Food was also served and some good cask ciders were available. No issues with opposing groups of supporters with everyone mingling happily.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Having got off the replacement bus service at South Bermondsey, we were surprised to see that there were no Police to be seen. It appeared quite okay for both home and away fans to be walking down the same road to the ground, amazing considering that they usually they have you in a covered walkway from the station which is segregated completely and under CCTV. Seems like rail works override all this!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
No issues getting to the ground though, the actual structure was visible a good way off and away supporters entrances well marked. Plenty of " football factory" comments as we saw both of the tunnels though. 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.
The game was great if you were a neutral a one all draw with us missing a penalty, having a goal disallowed but also clearing off our own goal line twice!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Although we never saw any trouble and we walked back to Surrey Quays tube station in the midst of all the Millwall supporters, we were always on our guard. This is a spooky place and the locals are hostile believe me. I don't think many small groups go there and give it " large" you will come unstuck.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The ground atmosphere was really good. It is evident that the Millwall supporters both young and old have no problem letting the opposing fans, players, officials and anyone else that is remotely outside their clique, know exactly what they think about them. Overall a great day.
Millwall v AFC Wimbledon
Capital One Cup, 1st Round
Tuesday August 6th, 2013, 7.30pm
James Anstee (AFC Wimbledon fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to going to the Den as I had never been before due to the fact that the paths of our respective clubs had only crossed once since our inception. I had heard many rumours regarding the reputation of the club and in particular the Millwall fans so that was something that slightly concerned me, but the fact that it was a Capital One Cup tie I thought it may be much quieter than usual (a point that was proved to be right).
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I found the journey very pleasant as I took the official supporters coach. The journey itself was good, seeing different parts of London for different angles was great and found the atmosphere in the coach extremely pleasant. However the only down point to the travel had to be that we left Kingsmeadow at 4:30pm, which is only about 40mins to and hour away from The Den so unfortunately we were there around 5:30pm for a match that started at 7:30pm. This meant that we had to hang around at the back of The Den waiting for the turnstiles to open so that was a bit of a pain, however that’s something to do with the organisation of the coach not the ground itself.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?
I had eaten prior to getting the coach so I didn’t 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 café or from inside the ground when we were finally let in. The range of food seemed good looking at the menu board with pies, burgers and chips all making an appearance. As for what I did before the match was mainly hang around the outside areas designated for away fans but so others braved the outside of the away fan compound to buy a programme and have a look round. The home fans were few and far between when we arrived due to the fact that we arrived at 5:30pm but although many stared at the coach nothing was shouted or gestured towards us.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
When you initially arrive into the away end there isn’t much there only the turnstiles and the away exit from the train station, however when you get into the ground itself there is plenty of toilet facilities and an area to buy food which was handy for many of the fans who hadn’t eaten prior to getting the coach. The area under the stand were these are situated is very dark and mainly made of concrete but as soon as I took my seat in the North Stand (upper tier) I was really impressed with the view as well as the turn out from the rest of the Wimbledon fans.
View From The Away Section
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc...
The game itself was fairly poor from our point of view due to the fact we failed to really make an attacking movement until the last twenty minutes. Millwall looked to make so decent passages of play and tested our keeper Worner on a number of occasions. In the second half Worner slipped leaving Andy Keogh to score and we conceded a second after another mistake. Luke Moore pulled one back and nearly grabbed an equaliser in the last minutes. The atmosphere from us was brilliant and we sung from the first until the last minute even if the Millwall fans didn’t really get behind the team. There was a little trouble in our end with some flares being let off during the last ten minutes which were dealt with very well by the stewards. The toilets were nice and there was no trouble getting around the ground.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As for getting away from the ground, there was no trouble at all in fact I was out of my seat and into my seat onto the coach within about three minutes which was a huge positive. As the Millwall fans were few and far between throughout the match itself there was really no fans around to cause any trouble which was great.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I had a great night out at Millwall, and despite the result which left us out of the cup it was a decent match overall and was nice to get such a warm welcome from the AFC Wimbledon players as they came out to begin a warm up. Overall a lovely looking ground that I’m sure on a Championship match day its buzzing.
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Updated 19th April 2018
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