Millmoor

This may be of interest for a walk down memory lane or your RUFC mates……Millmoor is open to the public tomorrow https://www.facebook.com/1000640722...bhLRxPQonHV4nAVseQR9DB3cJvzNha2B3AJFS5daK4l/?

 

Will you people be trying to spit on you as you walk behind the away end to make it an authentic trip?

On a serious note it's great that people will be able to take their kids to a ground they have never visited, as a lot of younger fans will only know their current ground.

 

That ally way at the side of Boothies and the smell of stale p 1ss wafting through your nostrils was something to behold.

 

My biggest memory is massive crushing at a Cup game. Only a couple of turnstiles open & massive bottleneck down that lane, ouside the ground.

We played them off the park, but lost. (It was Man City in the 3rd round for whoever won). Peter Springett saved two penalties...

 

Was that the replay that was postponed a couple of times? If it is I remember being a small 14/15 year old being crushed against the middle of some bloke’s back and barely being able to breath. If I’d lifted my feet off the ground I’m sure I’d have been carried along anyway lol.
Strangely don’t remember Springett saving two pens though. Lost 1-2 if it was the same game.

 

Yeah, that was the one from memory. Mine is bad too, but sure it was a replay...

 

Definitely postponed at least once. We all got on the special train, it set off about 100 yards then stopped and reversed back into the station. Word got round that it had been postponed for a frozen pitch I think.

 

You’ve filled in a blank there for me mate, cheers! The Worksop & Millers cup ties were my first two games at Oakwell.
I’ve never heard anyone mention the details of the replay though, just knew we’d lost 2-1.

 

I think Springett saved two penalties later on in the season at Huddersfield. Another game that was postponed two or three times.
It was quite a harsh winter that year.

 

I'll stand corrected. I think the replay was to be played on a tuesday. Called off for fog. Played next day. I seem to remember going to ambulance room on both occasions around tea time at the pit feigning illness. (I was on afters,) to be able to get to the game.

 

Glad to be of assistance mate. Don’t ask me owt that has happened in recent times though

 

It was. I remember Springett saving two pens at Huddersfield. I think we could have clinched promotion that night if I remember right. Thousands made the trip and even took over the ‘Cowshed’ home end. We lost 1-0 though.

 

We went to Portsmouth three days later and won courtesy of another Derek Bell goal. Two coaches set off from the Social Club at midnight.
That was quite a lively day!

 

Does that mean you all got down there at about 5am for a 3pm kick off? What is there to do in Portsmouth (or any town) at that time!?

 

We landed at 6am. It was planned as a day out on the coast. I can well recall up too people walking around in search of cafes lol.
Some fans went over to the Isle of Wight whilst others paid HMS Victory a visit.

 

My favourite memory of Millmoor was the day the Ronnie Moore song was invented!

 

I was on that train Dave as I recall when we ask the guard what the position was he said that if the train moved a few inches we lost our fare so they held it til it was confirmed as on then set off helter skelter down thru Stairfoot Wombwell Wath etc and as as I remember got there for kick off

 

Sounds awesome tbf, proper full away days out are the best

 

Remember that well, surprised nobody got injured that day. I was crushed against a wall about 10 feet from the turnstiles but could not move towards them. Even now after all these years thinking back it gives me a slight feeling of panic.
If I remember correctly it was pre Hillsborough so was accepted as being perfectly normal. A disaster just waiting to happen. For those that haven't been, it was an alleyway that ran the length of the ground down to the away end. At the far end there was a dead end wall and two turnstiles on the right. So close to kick off you had thousands of fans pushing down the alley towards the turnstiles and those at the bottom getting crushed &nowhere to go.

 

Just as I remember it. Well before Hillsboro that cup game, think it was 78/79.
Whilst it was never great down Millmoor Lane I never recall it being as bad again as that night.