VENUE #89 MILLWALL The Den

THE DEN

Nearest Railway Station

     South Bermondsey station is at the back of North stand designated to away supporters.  There is a path leading up from the bridge on Bolina Road that takes you directly to the station or so I'm informed.

The Den

      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 for most people find the Den to be quite intimidating.

Ground Layout

BARRY KITCHENER STAND

DOCKERS STAND

COLD BLOW LANE END

NORTH STAND (away)

Today's Opposition  BURY had a bit of a dodgy start to the season but picked up in the month of September winning six on the bounce but went backwards losing every game in October.

    The shakers are having a revival of form coming into this year beating Peterborough inJanuary and Swindon plus Coventry last month and on Tuesday night entertained Bristol Rovers at the JD stadium winning 3-0 all goals coming in the second half after Rovers were reduced to ten men with the sending off of Stuart Sinclair in the 39th minute.

     Bury before this game were six points clear of the league one drop zone although have played three games more than Port Vale in 21st position and will be trying to avoid defeat again against the Lions after losing 3-2 at the JD at the end of November.

MILLWALL ... 0   BURY ... 0

     Been dreading going to this ground since it was pulled out of the bag last June although I must say people were quite friendly and it wasn't what I was expecting at all.  You got the odd one or two "D" heads but you get that where ever you go in the UK.

     The ground is stunning although the setting could be a bit more pleasing to the eye with small garage work shops strung together down Bolina Road and railway lines at the back of the Dockers stand and the North stand and as you enter via Zampa Road through the railway tunnel which is littered with dismembered cars and such it does make you wonder what kind of an afternoon are you in for.

     The game was very scrappy and looking at the two teams from the heights of the Barry Kitchener stand it seemed to me that The Millwall side looked a lot older than their opponents, older but wiser maybe for they did seem to be more experienced against a quicker more agile Bury side which meant they just cancelled each other out.

     The Lions played long balls over the top of the Shakers defence in hope that Lee Gregory could latch onto one or two but with the outstanding Joe Murphy in goal playing sweeper and heading the ball wide for his defence to mop up the Millwall faithful were getting frustrated and were baying for their team to change tactics which they did trying to use the wings to cross the ball into the box but it was all bread and butter to the Bury back line and keeper.

     Bury had the best chance of the first half with Millwall pushing forward looking for the first goal they left themselves a little light handed at the back and James Vaughan broke through from his own half and was about to strike the ball past Tom King in goal for the Lions when the Millwall skipper Tony Craig made a wonderful last ditched recovery tackle to keep the scores level at half time.

     In the second half with the wind at their backs Millwall looked a much better side keeping the Shakers glued to their own half for the first ten minutes or more but lacking the much needed penetration which the home fans were crying out for.

     Jed Wallace had a fine attempt well saved by Bury's man of the match keeper in the 51st minute and seventeen minutes later Millwall had the ball in the net when a swift counter attack saw Steve Morison played through and the 33 year old striker thought that he had given his side the lead but the linesman's flag was raised ruling the goal to be off side.

     Millwall applied more pressure in the final stages of the game but there was no way that they were going to beat Murphy on this day and so the spoils were shared a point a piece leaving the Lions in seventh place a point behind Southend with two games in hand over them and Bury now in 17th place 4 points clear of the drop zone and with Lee Clark's unbeaten away record in tact.

     One last thing that has to be said WELL DONE MILLWALL for having the best pies in "English" football that I've ever had up to yet.

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