The Den Millwall Memories

[NL Claret]

Just finished reading James Bannon's book running with the firm. Think it's what the film ID was based on. Quite a good tbh (only took a day to read).

Never went to the Den, was it as bad as it is made out?

He also talks about getting pelted with rocks and coins throughout a game at Ayresome and the police were not bothered at all.

[todclaret]

I loved the Old Den. It was a mix of odd terraces covered by small roofs, with a stand down one side. it was a far cry from the gentrified stadia produced these days.
Always remember my first trip there, think it was our first ever Sunday fixture.
Tube with Selwyn to New Cross/New Cross Gate with neither of us daring to say a word whilst walking down the road before and after the game lest someone clocked the accent. Then fearing the worst as we were cornered in a pub by a Millwall fan who wanted to do nothing more than have a pint with us a tell us how good a player Martin Dobson was.

[Culmclaret]

You certainly had to watch yourself, but it was not alone in that back in the 80s. I remember that Sunday game in 83. We were awful; none more so than Andy Wharton who had a total shocker.

[spadesclaret]

I went to The Den in 1958. It was the first evening match I had attended. I remember looking across the pitch to the stand at the other side and seeing hundreds of tiny flickering lights. I had no idea what they were and had to ask my cousin. He told me they were matches being struck to light cigarettes and that the people over there would be seeing the same from our stand. It was quite mesmerising. I can't remember anything of the football

[todclaret]

There used to be a similar effect in the Longside as I looked over from the Bee Hole. Lots of bright orange lights winking in and out of existence as smokers took a drag.

[tybfc]

I once drove to the Den and parked in a housing estate between the home / away ends.

Once the lovely home fans had stopped throwing bottles and bricks at us the police let us out of the ground about 20 minutes after the game.

I asked a copper what the safest way was back to my car to which he replied "there isn't one".

By the way spades what is an evening game - did they not have night matches in 1933?

[Ptangyangkipperbang]

I never went to the Den but would say Ayresome park was the worst ground I went to for trouble where also we were pelted with bricks inside the ground while the police did nothing

[Claretforshaw]

I do remember going to the Old Den to watch the Clarets, maybe 72/73, I think it was before I married in 1974, it was the last football match my Wife attended, I don't know why!
I remember having to keep a low profile but I know my Wife to be enjoyed the language used on the terraces.....not. Also I recall that a smallish group of Millwall Supporters, all wearing Surgeon type "J Cloths" on their heads walking from one end to the other at half time. Or is my memory playing tricks?

[happyclaret17]

only went once...not sure what year it was but we were stuck in a corner and the natives were trying to climb the fence to get at us...we lost 2-1 I think....Kevin Hird scored for us...thinking it was early eighties.

[Culmclaret]

84/5 Kevin Hird pulled one back with a characteristically crisp finish, but we never looked like salvaging a point. Our last match at the original Den.

[Jamesy]

I never went to the Den but would say Ayresome park was the worst ground I went to for trouble where also we were pelted with bricks inside the ground while the police did nothing

Gotta agree with you there. Ayresome park and the surrounding area was indeed a scary place at times.

[spadesclaret]

By the way spades what is an evening game - did they not have night matches in 1933?

Evening is before you go to bed. Night is after you've gone to bed. Or maybe I'm just posh.


I've no idea what they had in 1933!

[Dark Cloud]

Never went to the original Den, but my Mrs and me did go to the night game back in about '94? at the new ground which we won 3-2 with Winstanley scoring 2, I think? Absolutely bizarre outside afterwards with a police cordon totally surrounding ALL away fans and telling us all to "stick together and don't leave the group whatever happens" as we were escorted along a road away from the ground and police outriders were clearing the overhead walkways ahead of those dark, shadowy silhouettes waiting to drop stuff from above. Eventually we told one of the coppers that our car was parked in another direction to the way we were taking and he detailed 5 men to escort us all the way to it and see we got in. Their final words were don't stop and don't get out! Still one of my most weird times watching footy!

[claretbob]

My only visit to the old Den was that Sunday game in 83 as well. I remember asking a copper which was the best place for away fans and he simply replied”home!”. Andy Wharton did indeed have a shocker with every pass of his being cheered by the home fans because more often than not they went straight to a Millwall player!

[Buxtonclaret]

Went to the old Den a couple of times when living in London in the early 80s.
We were poor though that Sunday game.

[SlidingTackle]

Memory plays tricks, but when working in London I went to a Millwall v. Liverpool midweek game with a colleague. We went in the away end (I am not sure why??).

Don't remember the game or the result particularly, but do remember leaving the away end along a narrow walkway with high brick walls either side (like around the back of the old Beehole End). I don't remember any particular hostile atmosphere but I do remember thinking the crush along the walkway as we left was an accident waiting to happen. Seems this was Liverpool's last game before Hillsborough..... .

[IanMcL]

Went to old Den once as a young lad. Harry Cripps was playing for them.
Ended up in the midst of the Millwall fans but pleased to say that, although they took the mickey throughout, they were good (adults). They certainly loved Harry Cripps!

Exited the ground and along the road, was set upon by about half a dozen young lads, who wanted my Burnley scarf....no way!
Just beginning to wonder what was going to happen, as the kicks began, when a car stopped and shouted, "jump in".

I have been a sex slave ever since. (Scrub that!)

The young lads watched as I did jump in and the driver took me to the tube. So overall - the good guys outweighed the bad guys and I discovered Harry Cripps.

[boiledclaret]

Never went to the original Den, but my Mrs and me did go to the night game back in about '94? at the new ground which we won 3-2 with Winstanley scoring 2, I think?

He did, although I often forget that myself. Old Bill seemed on extra alert after the McMinn mix up. The ref showed him a red thinking he'd already booked him, then changed it to a yellow. Tinman then set up the winner before grinning from ear to ear at the home fans.

The Millwall fans just couldn't seem to understand what had happened, electing instead for 'no one likes us' and 'cheat!'

After the game was one of the few occasions when you're happy to be surrounded and bossed around by the police.

[Silkyskills1]

I do remember going to the Old Den to watch the Clarets, maybe 72/73, I think it was before I married in 1974, it was the last football match my Wife attended, I don't know why!
I remember having to keep a low profile but I know my Wife to be enjoyed the language used on the terraces.....not. Also I recall that a smallish group of Millwall Supporters, all wearing Surgeon type "J Cloths" on their heads walking from one end to the other at half time. Or is my memory playing tricks?

I went in the 72/73 season. I was a student in West London and got my timing horribly wrong, arriving there well before one o'clock. Found a pub and sat quietly in the corner but wasn't really enjoying the experience and so decided to get on the ground as soon as the gates opened. A long afternoon in Autumn sunshine and courtesy of a goal from Paul Fletcher we managed a 1-1 draw. At least for a while I was on a train with Millwall fans and again literally kept my head down until I felt safer. All that just for a point.