Blues draw Millwall away

Monday, 7 January, 2019 174comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton have been drawn to play Millwall away in the FA Cup Fourth Round following this evening's draw.

Ties will be played the weekend of 26th January.

 

Reader Comments (174)

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Liam Reilly
1 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:50:12
We get Millwall away!
Steve Ferns
2 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:50:26
Millwall away. Tough game.
Darren Hind
3 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:51:54
Coulda been a better draw...

Coulda been a lot worse!

Steve Ferns
4 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:52:36
Ever been to The Den or the New Den, Darren? Not a ground I’d want to visit.
Brian Hennessy
5 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:53:33
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Brian Patrick
6 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:53:38
Let's give the Millwall... a little bit of knuckle...
Grant Rorrison
7 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:54:42
Did anyone see who Liverpool got?
Jim Bennings
8 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:55:20
One thing we are going to need going the Den is a tough character because they will be bang up for that in a hostile atmosphere.

That’s not gonna be easy!

Steve Ferns
9 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:55:52
Arsenal vs Man Utd – that's another of the big six gone. Both of them will actually take this competition seriously.

Palace v Spurs will be a tough game too.

I think if we can have a bit of luck, play well, and reach the latter stages, then we have a real chance in this competition. I always said this is a more winnable competition than the League Cup. Too many of the big games in the latter stages are inconvenient to the big sides still in Europe and going for the title or securing 4th.

Brian Hennessy
10 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:56:15
Quite a few all Premier League ties – could be our year!
Jamie Crowley
11 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:56:15
The Brawlers! Fantastic! Anyone up for a fight?

Just kidding... fine Club – ask Tim Cahill. Wonder who he'll be pulling for? Surely Everton, but it's got to be a tough one for him.

Well done, Wolves, as well!

Pat Kelly
12 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:56:16
Yes, Liverpool got stuffed.
Christy Ring
13 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:56:19
Not too bad, need to show grit and determination at The Den.
Neil Copeland
14 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:56:44
Grant, that’s just being nasty, ha ha.
Jamie Crowley
15 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:57:35
Grant @ 2,

Shit-Outta-Luck FC!

Paul Birmingham
16 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:58:25
Tough game, and they'll be going for an upset.

Let's hope Marco Silva plays the strongest team.

Derek Knox
17 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:59:10
Grant, Liverpool are on a run at the moment, long may it continue!

Tricky tie away to Millwall, but not insurmountable, let's just hope we can get a bit of a FA Cup run going ourselves. It's all we have realistically unless we go on an unbeaten run in the Premier League, which looks unlikely at the moment but, as always, we live in hope.

Brent Stephens
18 Posted 07/01/2019 at 21:59:51
Likely ticket allocation for away fans for an FA Cup tie at Millwall?
Rob Halligan
19 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:00:01
Probable a coach job down there. Last time we played them there was murder in the station, I think it was London Bridge, when we had to change for the train to Euston. I think the coaches park right outside the away end.

Even now they still remember playing up here in 1973.

Neil Copeland
20 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:02:00
Be great if we can build some momentum with good results against Bournemouth and Southampton, Millwall away is a tough one and a bit of confidence would help. Very winnable even so.
Jim Bennings
21 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:02:52
They've just won three on the spin despite being 19th in the Championship.

It's a one-off cup tie and it's not difficult in terms of Manchester City proportions but it's a hostile nasty environment that I do worry with our fragile mentality in certain players whether they'll be able to handle it.

After the scrappy show on Saturday against Lincoln, I'm not certain of anything.

Steve Ferns
22 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:02:57
My worry will be that we don't like a physical game. Millwall's fans will ensure that it's a blood and thunder game. Dunno if they have a team of bruisers or what, but as we often saw in years gone by, a ferocious crowd can bring that out of timid players, if they are up for it.
Chris Gould
23 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:03:57
A lot of all Premier League ties there. Guaranteed to lose at least 3 more Premier League clubs, on top of the 6 already out. Another top 6 club definitely out in Arsenal vs Man Utd.

This competition could open up for us, with an awful lot of luck.

Mike Doyle
24 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:04:13
Yes, Rob, Millwall 1973. I was at that game. Didn't see anything – but the following day's papers told a different story.
Jamie Crowley
25 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:05:03
Rob @ 12,

I googled that game, but it's a bit all over the place.

If you, or anyone else, can explain what happened in 1973 as it was (well) before my time, I'd appreciate it.

Brian Patrick
26 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:05:06
I seem to remember loads of trouble at a Millwall away game years ago. Was it early or mid eighties?

We were drinking in a pub near the ground and a mate of mine, Sean, who's well hard (now in South Africa) goes to the bogs. So this likely lad follows him in and tries to push his face in the wash basin. Then Sean comes out and says to his Millwall mates, "You'd better go in and help yer mate out..." Classic!!

The good old days...

Tony Abrahams
27 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:05:33
I was just thinking about London Bridge, then Rob, after getting a text saying “get yer crash helmet on!”
Neil Copeland
28 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:05:44
Rob, I remember that game in 1973, we lost 2-0. I was in the Paddock with dad. He saw what was happening and got me out just as the Millwall fans in the Park End started spilling onto the pitch and into the Paddock. Good riddance to those days.
Rob Halligan
30 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:10:22
A load of Millwall fans came into the Gwladys Street through the turnstile on Bullens Road, thinking it was the Paddock entrance. Loads of trouble in the street and with 13 Millwall fans being stabbed.

An ex-sister-in-law of mine married a Millwall fan in the '90s and he told me he was one of the 13 stabbed. Showed me the scar on his stomach.

Brian Williams
31 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:11:08
That's one I'll be watching on the telly. I've still got the scars from the '73 game lol.

Sorry, Rob, I actually posted before your post went up mate.

I was in the Street End that day. Horrible it was!

Chris Hockenhull
32 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:13:39
Dear God... the balls are still warm and just out of the bag and the Merchants of Doom are already at it.. looking for the cracks in the armour within minutes... when we hear the cries of "No Metal or Balls have Everton"... or "Losers Mentality" etc..

I'd start with the fan base first imho...Keep away dear god. and spray your negative waves somewhere.

BTW Mike (17). Same here too. Nothing at the game or outside but, god at the Old Haymarket (where North-based busses terminated) it was rotten, and St Johns Gardens was a war zone. Scarey.

Tony Abrahams
33 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:14:19
Now that Liverpool are out, I expect those fuckin jinxes on BT Sport to put us on live, hoping for an upset, Brian?
Jonathan Tasker
34 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:14:49
I was also at the 1973 game. We lost 2-0. Disastrous day.

I also saw us lose at Millwall against Sheringham and Cascarino.

Denis Stevens
35 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:16:19
My late dad, rest his soul, always liked to share an old story of where he'd had a few ales up West before our away game at West Ham. He gets on the train and nods off shortly after leaving Charing Cross.

Wakes up at the station surrounded by fellas getting off the train wearing blue scarves. This must be the place. He follows them to the ground...

The Den.

Jamie Crowley
36 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:17:59
TY Rob @ 23 and holy crap!

That's a very, very ugly story. I'd echo Neil – good riddance to those days.

I remember many moons ago, I believe I was in my twenties, seeing a piece on 60 Minutes – that's like a news "magazine" show over here on Sunday nights – about the violence in English football.

I had always thought, "I'm going to follow that someday, it looks fantastic", but, after seeing that piece, I thought, "I have no time for that nonsense."

About 20 years later, Everton found me and the rest is history. But I remember at the time how absolutely shocked I was at the roaming bands of thugs just looking to pummel other fans for no reason other than unadulterated violence. It sickened me.

Brent Stephens
37 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:18:09
Yes, Chris, "fragile mentality" of some of our fans!
John Pierce
38 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:21:20
A good draw that. Not just for Everton. With a midweek round of league games to follow, I'd expect several Premier League teams to take chances with their line-ups.

We simply cannot afford to: strong side, get through. We have Huddersfield away. This draw could open up nicely if we take our chance.

Charlie Dixon
39 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:21:59
Great tie. Bring your helmets
Tom Bowers
40 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:23:28
So RS didn't give a monkeys about the FA Cup, as evidenced by the second eleven starting the game.

It is becoming somewhat of a joke – much like the Mickey Mouse League Cup and the powers that be don't seem to give a monkey's either.

Do any fans remember when teams were heavily fined because they fielded second elevens (reserve teams back then) and kept the strongest eleven for the ''more important games''? Everton being a case in question back in the day.

I realize that the top six usually have ''second elevens'' stronger than most teams have starting elevens but it is insulting to their opponents and shouldn't be allowed.

Neil Copeland
41 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:25:36
Jamie, the violence in the 70s was really bad. You could get into serious bother if you managed to get isolated amongst opposing supporters. Obviously it was much worse away from home but neutral venues and even at home could be a problem too.

I can think of countless times when I came close to taking a hiding but somehow managed to avoid it. Very ugly times and great to see supporters mixing much more now – I like to think that everyone has learned the lessons and moved on now.

Darren Hind
42 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:26:40
They still remember '73 alright.

I was drinking with Millwall fans in France a couple of years ago. They hate us. One of them told me he missed the last one but still gets down on his knees before every cup draw and prays for a home draw against us.

The silly fucker was about 70 and walked like a 90-year-old. If a fight breaks out, he'll never get there in time...

Tony Abrahams
43 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:27:44
Not the ones who are actually going to go to Millwall, though Brent.

Brent Stephens
44 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:29:39
Aye to that, Tony. I'll be going!
Denis Richardson
45 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:31:34
Chris 16, was just thinking that myself. Guaranteed 9 prem clubs out by the end of the 4th round, including 2 top 6 sides.

Millwall will be tough, let's not pretend. BUT if we go there with a serious team and are up for it, we should not be losing this. (Big 'but' – I know).

On paper, should be getting by with little fuss but I'm afraid about our mental side. The Den will be mad for it on the day so some experienced old heads needed, possibly a start for Baines again?

The draw's been kind so far so no complaints. Them being out is a nice touch too.

Jamie Crowley
46 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:31:39
Well, with this bad blood, the one good thing to hopefully come out of it is that the game will actually be televised here in the States. :0)

Sounds like their fans will be baying for blood. It'll be one to not miss. I'll probably buy a streaming one game pass if it's not on the TV.

Sir John @ 31 -

If Marco pulls a "League Cup" and doesn't field our strongest team, I'll go mental. We're not going to be relegated, we probably won't finish Top 6, all the ammo needs to be dumped on the FA Cup. Just that simple.

If Marco does anything less, a public hanging will be in order.

Neil Copeland
47 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:32:14
I may go, got a ticket for Southampton (yesssss!) so up to 4 match credits soon – heady heights indeed.
Joe O'Brien
48 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:32:20
Happy enough with this draw. Could have been an awful lot worse. As Chris said @16 There's a few all Premier League ties there and a few of the smaller teams playing each other.

Millwall will be a tough ground to go to... but a few early goals will knock the wind out of them and quieten the crowd.

John Pierce
49 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:32:35
Got to imagine, regardless of being on TV or not, we are kicking off at12:30 on Saturday.
Martin Mason
50 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:33:18
Mike @17,

What happened was some Millwall fans dressed up in Clockwork Orange gear, came into Gwladys Street and a few of them were knifed. They remember it like it was the Boyne. I used to travel by train then and there were some incidents on the way down to Lime Street too.

Jamie Crowley
51 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:33:29
Neil @ 34 -

If it's any indication, I'd have zero issues with taking my family now to see any footy match in England. I'd have no reservations and would not fear for my family's safety. You've moved on in my opinion, quite thankfully.

But I'd probably not take them to Millwall on the 26th...

Tony Abrahams
52 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:33:59
Good man, Brent, I might just make the trip myself, probably depending if it's live on the telly, because of a self-imposed ban that's been running for a few seasons now.
Jamie Crowley
53 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:35:29
But Sir John, what could possibly go wrong with fans pounding beers all day before a late kick-off?
Brent Stephens
54 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:35:38
Well done, Neil. Stick at it. All credit to you!
John Pierce
55 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:40:54
JaC.

If Silva does weaken the side, it always leaves me cold. I abhor it.

The club exists to entertain and win things. It makes it harder to support a manager when he lowers expectations.

We are not a side who can coast against anybody; Saturday shows that.

Tony Abrahams
56 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:40:57
That early kick-off, to stop disorder, John P? Last time was a 3 pm kick-off on a Saturday afternoon, and I don't think I've ever seen so many bizzies for a football game in London before.

Darren Hind
57 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:42:54
Jamie,

A very large group of Millwall fans (I'm talking several hundred) have never moved on from those dark days. They love their thuggish reputation. Geriatric "bovver boys" who have rearranged the furniture in many a stadium.

Comical from a distance, but you still need to be very wary of these silly 'arl fuckers.

Rob Halligan
58 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:44:57
Tony, we could play that game at 3:00am and you could almost guarantee the Millwall fans would be up for it. The kick-off time will be irrelevant for this game.
Neil Copeland
59 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:45:18
Jamie #44, yes reasonably safe now although some of the lower league clubs still have a reputation and Stoke City not the friendliest (they are not biased, seem to hate everyone!).

Millwall away is not an ideal family day out.

Brent #47, cheers mate!

Tony Abrahams
60 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:50:36
I know, Rob, people go on about big stadiums, but the last time we played at Millwall, I was very impressed with their crowd. They made loads of noise, got right behind their team, and I think we were lucky to get a draw that day?

This draw could open right up though, and Evertonians have always loved the FA Cup!

Rob Halligan
61 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:51:14
When I went to the wedding of my ex-sister-in-law, who married a Millwall fan, the wedding was Saturday morning so all the Millwall lads could go to the Millwall v Notts County match in the afternoon, at the old den.

We all went in wedding suits and were on the terrace on the side of the pitch. I asked one of the lads where the toilet was?

He told me at the back of the terrace, but whatever you do, don't open your mouth or you'll be dead. That's how much millwall hate Scousers, especially Everton fans.

Jamie Crowley
62 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:53:17
Darren @ 50,

Millwall's reputation proceeds them, even to the sunny confines of Northeast Florida to silly 'Merican fans. I know they're trouble.

I remember a few years ago – 5 or 6 maybe – in a League Cup game I think (?) they had a brawl break out between their own fans! Pretty sure that was Millwall?

They are, without a doubt, old-school as hell. I hope there's no ugliness. Traveling fans don't deserve to watch a game fearful of their safety. That kind of situation shouldn't ever occur in today's world in my opinion.

Looking at the competition and the draw, a win puts us in the final 16 and there's only five teams I'd pray not to draw in that round.

It's opening up. Go for it Marco! Please, God above, go for it.

Smell that? It's the whiff of hope....

Paul McGinty
63 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:53:49
Ah... the '70s. Memories of getting the crap kicked out of you.

Derby, West Ham, Stoke, Coventry, Tottenham, Chelsea. Getting away from the coach park behind the Kippax Street at Man City – survival of the fittest in those days.

The Millwall game might be a throwback. Let's hope the guys on the field are ready for it.

John Pierce
64 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:58:58
Tony. I ran bars all over the UK. Whilst in Nottingham, we had Millwall up for the Forest game c 2001. The old bill had us close the entire city centre on a Saturday for a 12:30 kick-off.

I've been in some hairy places in the '80s. But that is a day I won't forget.

Tony Abrahams
65 Posted 07/01/2019 at 22:59:32
I was lucky during that last game then Rob. Been on the ale in London, from the Friday night, few hours kip, and back on the ale.

Me, my mate, and his West Ham mate, gets to the ground about quarter past three, and there was a firm of about twenty Millwall, also getting in late.

They never gave us a second glance luckily, especially because the only team they hate more than Everton, is West Ham!

Neil Copeland
66 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:01:05
Paul #56, add to that; Birmingham, Aston Villa, Leeds and even Tranmere! I used to go and watch Tranmere sometimes on a Friday night, getting – sorry, escaping – to the ferry terminal was tricky, to say the least!
John Pierce
67 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:03:04
Birkenhead on Friday. Fond memories from being a kid. Learned a lot about going the match on those Friday nights.

Tricky...

Bill Watson
68 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:03:23
I've never been to The new or Old Den but have been past the old one many times by train. Rusty corrugated iron comes to mind,

I think they were into football violence years before it became popular in the '60s and '70s.

Tony Abrahams
70 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:09:08
They reckon Millwall is the Birkenhead of London, because every time the cup draw comes round, they've got one eye on Everton!
Jamie Crowley
71 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:16:14
Tom,

If Silva holds back at Millwall, then we should hire The Donald as our next manager! At least we'll have an excuse for everything!

I actually liked Klopp in the beginning. But, as time rolls on, he's just excuse after excuse when things don't go his way. Perfect for them, and possibly a Cabinet position here in the States.

My God they do whine. Not a little, but like all the time. It's annoying as fuck.

Jim Bennings
72 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:23:31
We don't need players going down whinging to the referee when we travel to the godforsaken hell hole because, if we do that, then they'll have won the battle.

As Troy Deeney said last year about Arsenal: "To survive the Den, we'll need cajones."

James Doran
73 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:25:42
Going off Saturday, I think Silva will pick a strong side.

Brent @11,

A quick bit of research on the internet leads me to predict either ~2,000 or ~4,000 seats.

Eddie Dunn
74 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:27:07
Haha... Tranmere on a Friday – trouble everywhere in the ground – you could go right round the whole pitch in the 70s. I was threatened with a knife in the Cowshed by a knobhead in the Port Vale gang; he got stretchered out himself later: stabbed.
Brent Stephens
75 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:29:38
James, thanks. You didn’t know a Brian Doran from Netherton many years ago did you?
James Doran
76 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:34:12
Brent,

No problem! I hope we are allocated ~4,000 - I may get a ticket then.

No, I don't know any Dorans who were raised in Liverpool mate.

Danny Broderick
77 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:35:33
The police were in control of everything the last time we played there in the cup, so nothing happened at the ground. A group of their lot (maybe 50 of them?) tried to have a go at the Everton fans at London Bridge as we were being ferried away from the stadium. There was 5,000 of us being brought into London Bridge train by train though, so they were never going to get anywhere. There was a brief clash but their lot soon disappeared!

It should be okay –- just keep your heads down on the trains going to the ground.

Jim Bennings
79 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:40:26
You need to bear in mind that part of London, Bermondsey, is a place that world has left behind.

They are bitter twisted old codgers and the new breed try to live up to the hype still strutting around in their Burberry caps and trying to act it up as the song goes:

“We are Millwall, No-one likes us, We don't care”

It's Millwall, lads – no-one actually gives enough of a shit to like or dislike them, lol.

John Pierce
80 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:41:01
Eddie, that was my play pen before I was allowed to go across the water and away from home. Lordy, what three years ago, over from the States my bro took me down Birkenhead for a bevy.

I woke up on Wallasey Dock Road... no idea how I'd got there. No coat, dead phone – the lot. I'll never learn!

Tom Bowers
81 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:46:48
Klopp beginning to sound like Trump with all the BS. So many RS players had a sore throat, he said on Sky.

Maybe Silva should do the same for the Millwall game rather than risk getting our star players injured before the next big league game.

Bill Watson
82 Posted 07/01/2019 at 23:47:01
Apologies if this has already been posted but the ground capacity is just over 20,000 and the away end holds 4,000.

I think the FA guidance for cup ties is 15% so we should get at least 3,000 but, hopefully, the full 4,000.

Mike Gaynes
83 Posted 08/01/2019 at 00:02:54
Rob, I love your history lessons.

Apparently not all the Millwall fans hold a grudge -- I went on their fan site and found this post from the moderator:

"I, with a bunch of friends, was at Goodison Park, 3 February 1973 when the roaring Lions saw off the Toffees 2-0 in the FA Cup 4th Round. Although disappointed with the result all the Everton fans in the ground were generous with their congratulations to us, as were the Everton fan owners of the Southport Hotel we stayed at overnight."

And this was the best post I found:

"Rather Everton down the Den than those poncing thief's from the red part of the city"

Anyway I'm already a happy boy – the RS are out and the Manure draw Arsenal away... that's both red sides I hate biting the big 'un. Glory hallelujah.

John Pierce
84 Posted 08/01/2019 at 00:50:31
Best quote of the day.

Fook Millwall. I survived Hadjuk Split away!

🤣🤣🤣

Ajay Timothy
85 Posted 08/01/2019 at 01:52:38
I still remember that day. I think some well-traveled player called Harry Cripps scored both goals. Broke my heart. I think Bernie Wright played in that game and I remember thinking what a shit player.
Alan J Thompson
87 Posted 08/01/2019 at 05:45:24
Said it before the last round, it's us and Wolves in the Final.
Chris Keightley
88 Posted 08/01/2019 at 07:27:40
My Family are Millwall supporters and have season tickets and take my niece and nephew regularly, it's nothing like the harrowing day out people are alluding to.

Their team try to play good football – not the blood and thunder insinuated. Millwall will be a good day out and I am looking forward to the game.

Paul Tran
89 Posted 08/01/2019 at 08:03:54
I was living in London that year we played them in the league. Took the train to New Cross and walked into a pub and ordered a Guinness. The whole pub went quiet. Barman said, "Are you a Scouser, what The fuck you doing in here? "Drinking Guinness", I said.

Then a bloke in the corner says "Hey mate, come over here". Told me his sister in law was from Kirkby and that I'd better drink with him and his mates. Said if I'd gone the other pub I'd have been battered. Ended up having a few beers with them. One of them asked if I wanted to know what they took to away games, they showed me a car boot with baseball bats, clubs, etc. They took me to the away end, we said our goodbyes and of course we lost.

Best of luck to all the Blues that go there!

Martin Nicholls
90 Posted 08/01/2019 at 08:41:04
Anyone got any knowledge of what Millwall is like now, rather than many years ago?
Brian Williams
91 Posted 08/01/2019 at 09:04:00
Martin. Scary!
Jim Bennings
92 Posted 08/01/2019 at 09:13:39
It’s still horrible Martin, just ask any Leeds fans.

It is unlike anything in the Premier League.

The surrounding area of the ground itself has this whole unwelcoming and generally nasty feel to it, that’s even before you encounter any of the mutants there looking for trouble.

It’s not a nice place to play football, that’s about as polite as I can put it.

We have obviously got superior players than Millwall but often as we know, football is played in the head and we need mentally tough characters there to keep our Cup hopes going.

My guess is the television companies will be all over this tie in the expectation of an upset.

Jimmy Hogan
93 Posted 08/01/2019 at 09:25:05
If it's anything like 2006, steel alleyway, Herded like cattle by the Police. Fearsome looking police dogs at London Bridge. Just about as intimidating as you can get.
Tony Abrahams
94 Posted 08/01/2019 at 09:27:36
I’m sure they knocked Leicester out the cup, a couple of years ago Jim, after Leicester had knocked us out.

They reckon Chigwell, was to scared to go and get the ball for throw-ins, but I don’t see that being a problem for Coleman, or Kenny, it’s just the rest of them, I’d be worried about.

David Ellis
95 Posted 08/01/2019 at 09:46:55
It would be a surprise if Millwall won this one. For all their aggro their team is basically not very good. And never has been. It's a decent draw for us.
Rob Halligan
96 Posted 08/01/2019 at 09:55:05
In sure I've read somewhere that Richarlison has had a gun pointed to his head in his younger days. Along with Bernard who was also brought up in the tough parts of Belo Horizonte and Mina from the poor parts of Guachene in Colombia, then Millwall away should be a doddle!!
Mike Doyle
97 Posted 08/01/2019 at 10:05:40
Darren #57.

If the geriatric bovver boys are still around, Merseyside Police should bring old 'Black Beard' out of retirement to keep an eye on them. Back in the early 70s when most away fans made for the unsegregated centre of the Park End I recall watching him go over the Park End wall – often on his own (truncheon out) – to sort out fighting fans.

Older fans may remember him.

Jerome Shields
98 Posted 08/01/2019 at 10:18:44
Paul #89,

I went To Millwall accompanying a Sunderland friend. In the pub, a strange type of fight broke out; I realised that a guy had tried to stab someone, but the guy had booted him in the face.

We got to the ground, and thought it would be better to go into the home supporters. . . until Sunderland scored. Of course, the ejits I was with celebrated.

Someone said anything North of The Wash was a gasket, which my friend in his Yorkshire accent reacted to with ‘Bugger You'. Someone then said ‘If only' which defused the situation. Luckily Sunderland got beat, so we where able to get out of the ground.

Everton are going to need to be mentally tough in midfield.

John Raftery
99 Posted 08/01/2019 at 10:32:50
Mike (97) I remember ‘Walrus’ from the late sixties and early seventies. He was the only copper who ever had his nickname chanted by the Gwladys Street.
Derek Knox
100 Posted 08/01/2019 at 10:50:25
Having read all the comments and stories of the notorious Millwall 'fans' which I know to be a bunch of 'psychos' and while I understand the intimidating atmosphere and reputation of the Den.

We are actually playing against Millwall the team, and not the fans, but this is where a good Manager should be able to convince the players to let the football 'do the talking' and ignore the 'animosity' that will no doubt flood down from the partisan supporters.

I just hope that 'our fans' are not at the receiving end of any of their renowned aggression. At the end of the day it is a football match, and not guerrilla warfare.

The players will be well protected, which is why I mentioned the onus is on the Manager to motivate the players, to hopefully get a win and progress to the next round.

Brian Patrick
101 Posted 08/01/2019 at 11:07:16
I wouldn't be too scared of them load of hype I saw a group of them at London Bridge a few years ago scrawny ugly fuckers. And I remember them running down Lime Street from us years ago! They also ran away from the Russian fans. Burberry caps don't make you a tough guy...

Having said that, they go round in large groups often have concealed weapons (but, where they are from, you'd probably need them!).

If you've ever been to a South London council estate, you'll know what I mean: illiterate chavs and bigots. My dad said they used to spray ‘No Irish, No Niggers' on the council estate walls! Real scum – mostly unemployed.

Jim Bennings
102 Posted 08/01/2019 at 11:10:55
Derek,

What you say is so true. But sadly in football it never works like that does it?

Partisan atmospheres do have a big impact on players because some do play up to the fans and react in the wrong way; whether Richarlison, for example, can keep his head is another matter entirely.

Dale Rose
103 Posted 08/01/2019 at 11:16:28
From a Health and Safety aspect, I always find it better to take a disability aid to these events. Not even Millwall would beat a Zimmer user, and if they tried I'd be off like fucking Forrest Gump.
John Maxwell
104 Posted 08/01/2019 at 11:26:40
I remember the FA Cup away game in 2006. Police dogs everywhere at London Bridge then your own walk to the away end to avoid the locals from South Bermondsey station.

To be honest, the atmosphere was amazing, just like the old days you could heard the chants and singing outside the stadium. Proper old school feel, none of the sterilised atmosphere we have these days.

It carried on till kick off and was cracking throughout. Few people thrown out, police punching home fans, then and Evertonian got walked past the home fans for throwing a lighter. About 40 Millwall fans all spat over him and the two coppers at the same time as they walked nearby. It look like Star Wars from my seat.

Zinedane Kilbane missed a sitter at the end.

Never forget it and wish I was going again.

Shaun McGough
105 Posted 08/01/2019 at 12:19:53
I've just seen Duncan Ferguson cartwheeling down Scottie Road in his North Face coat.
Justin Doone
106 Posted 08/01/2019 at 12:22:14
This will be a tough match but should be a good game.

We all like a good atmosphere but the one thing you know about human behaviour is that there will always be people that go to far.

The FA have always been too weak to do anything against the hooligans. A lot less issues in the Premier League these days but last year's headlines re Chelsea and the dark side of Stanley Park show many bad apples still associate with Premier League teams.

Our own fans are not immune. I don't understand the need to throw objects like flares onto the pitch. Whilst I'm rantings clubs should be forced to play behind closed doors over such incidences, this may also encourage fans to point out trouble-causers and force clubs to do more.

One more thing, I do not want to see any form of standing back. People point to Scotland, Holland and Germany as good examples. Dig a little deeper and you soon discover public disorder at football events is on the rise in these countries. More fans packed in simply means a chance of more bad apples who don't follow the rules.

It's like going to a music festival. It's now accepted that you will have pee thrown at you at some point. Sorry but that should never be acceptable. It just causes fights.

[Breathe...]

Steve Carse
107 Posted 08/01/2019 at 12:23:01
Strangely, I don't recall the trouble at Goodison Park in 1973. I do though recall a cup game at Newport in the late '70s or early '80s when the Millwall cup fixture also to be played in Wales somewhere, was called off late.

A gang of around 50 of their fans had decided to 'watch' our game on their way back home. They came into the away end shortly after kick off. Confronted by 4,000 Blues and having taken a, fortunately, brief beating, they were back on the motorway home.

Alan Peake
108 Posted 08/01/2019 at 12:48:21
Steve @107,

I remember the game at Newport to, there was both Millwall and Cardiff fans in the Everton end, as their game as you said was postponed.

Brian Patrick
109 Posted 08/01/2019 at 12:56:10
If there is a replay, can someone please spray ‘Cockneys Die' on the cavernous walls by the railtracks at Lime Street?
Eddie Dunn
110 Posted 08/01/2019 at 13:19:10
Mike, I was a regular in the Park End in the late '70s and I remember Blackbeard well, he gave me a clip round the earhole for just jostling my mate at half-time. It was great fun back in those days, lots of running back and forth. The kids today stuck on their xBoxes haven't got a clue!
Brian Patrick
111 Posted 08/01/2019 at 13:39:21
I remember Blackbeard pulling one of my mates down who was trying to climb up to the Upper Park End to get at the Arsenal fans — pulled his keks right off, it was hilarious!
Nicholas Ryan
112 Posted 08/01/2019 at 14:05:02
If my memory serves, that 1973 game was famous for something else. On the same day, at the same time, Liverpool were playing Manchester City at Anfield in the FA Cup. Both attendances were about 50,000.

Apparently, there were problems in and around both grounds, and the police were overwhelmed. Merseyside Police, said they would never again, allow both teams to play at home on the same day ... and they never have!

By the way, if you look at the team-sheets for that day, Everton had a midfielder called [Mick] Bernard playing!

Dave Abrahams
113 Posted 08/01/2019 at 14:22:20
Mike (83), I bet Klopp and Liverpool are as happy as you to be out of the cup as well.

I wanted them to win, or better still draw, more games for them to play; now they can concentrate on the Premier League and Champions League.

I couldn't understand the red fans cheering their equaliser in Ned Kelly's last night, and they couldn't understand me joining in with them.

Kieran Kinsella
114 Posted 08/01/2019 at 15:42:15
Millwall have done an awful lot to eradicate the trouble. I am not sure who the owner is now but, when I was living in the London area in the 90s, their owner was a Greek guy named Theo. He did all kinds of outreach stuff in the community with low income, disabled fans etc. Trying to turn the negative of a low-income area into a positive by making it more of a community club.

With that said, all it takes is one nutter with a knife to shatter the atmosphere. Hooligans are a strange breed though. I knew some lads who day-to-day seemed decent enough, if not the brightest, and one day I saw them down the pub and they all had black eyes and bruises.

"What happened?" I asked. "We got into it with those paddy police at the England game in Dublin."

It was the infamous Venables era England game that was abandoned in Dublin. These blokes didn't seem to me like the violent psychos who I had seen on TV hurling benches onto fans below, but somehow, in a certain environment, they behaved that way.

Brian Patrick
115 Posted 08/01/2019 at 15:49:23
Kieran, they're very lucky they got away with black eyes and bruises in Dublin especially some of the boys from North. Dublin make the Millwall fans seem like Harry Potter's crew.
Dave Ganley
116 Posted 08/01/2019 at 15:51:10
Eddie #110, crikey, you were one of the ones that used to go in the Park End in the late 70s? I was only a kid then and my dad used to take me in the Enclosure under the Main Stand by the Park End, used to be absolute carnage in the Park End. I used to spend as much time watching the park end as I did the game. Haha, bunch of lunatics in there, mate.

Nicholas #112, I'm pretty sure that when we played stoke around '77 in the FA Cup, I think both us and Liverpool played on the same day both at home although that's the last time I remember that happening. Could be wrong but that's how I remember it.

As to Millwall, well it's a decent draw. i was talking to some Millwall fans when we played them here few years ago; they were okay but are still a bit sore about the '73 game. Hopefully we'll do it and have a nice home draw in 5th Round

Kieran Kinsella
117 Posted 08/01/2019 at 15:58:54
Brian Patrick @115,

No kidding. The irony was that at least two of these lads had Irish Grandparents. Yet here they were hurling benches and singing "No surrender to the IRA" as if "the problems" were in any way shape or form connected to Matt Le Tissier, Niall Quinn or any other footballer out on the field.

Personally I was quite happy the Irish police gave them a good beating – it may have knocked some sense into them.

Eddie Dunn
118 Posted 08/01/2019 at 17:06:46
Dave, yes the Park End was mad back then but you could be in the middle of the mayhem without getting battered.

The nearest I came to a hiding was vs Chelsea when Latchford got his 30th goal. Half-time under the stand, it was carnage as a massive Chelsea mob came through by the bogs – anyone near the front of our much smaller group (the Echo said the Park End would be closed to Everton fans and many regulars were in the enclosure and paddock), tried desperately to get to the back.

I found myself in the front line, staring at big, older men, but the police waded in on us and whacked all and sundry with those big sticks with the brass knobs on.

The St John's ambulance were patching our lads up for ages. In the end, people were jumping over the fence all round the ground to get into the Park End and bolster our meagre lot.

Oh and Dave, I think you are recalling when we played at home in the FA Cup against Stoke and Liverpool played Palace on 8 January 1977, 3rd Round.

Lenny Kingman
119 Posted 08/01/2019 at 17:23:55
I remember being at a game between Wrexham and Millwall about 18 years ago. Millwall needed to get a result to go up. The scenes outside were reminiscent of Apocalypse Now.

Choppers flying over the ground, and scaring off shoppers at Sainsbury's next to the stadium.

Millwall fans without tickets, ie, all of them, had their own way of watching the game. This big docker type, pie in one hand, and a cuppa in the other, just booted the wooden gate, it folded, and in he went. No messing, he was followed by many south Londoners of the same persuasion.

The whole day was a riot and the good people of a small Welsh town were lucky that Millwall got the desired result.

Hardcore then and now. Take the faithful armour with you because, when the day of evil comes, ie, Millwall away, you will need to stand your ground.

Dave Ganley
120 Posted 08/01/2019 at 18:11:09
Eddie, I could never understand why they allowed home fans in the park end. Likes of the Mancs and RS took it over so wasn't a problem but, when Leeds or Newcastle came, there used to be the thin blue line of police separating the fans, well for a short while anyway until the line was broken. Although those police batons, about 2 foot long, you didn't want to be on the receiving end of them.

I was at the Chelsea game in the Bullens Road stand, great day.

Yeah, the Stoke game was played on the same day as Liverpool played Palace. I think that was the Duncan McKenzie show that day.

Tony Heron
121 Posted 08/01/2019 at 18:12:17
God help us if we ever go back to the '70s. I used to be a regular match goer, home and away, in the '60s and '70s.

It was after a home game mid '70s when I saw an away supporter battered outside at the end of Gwladys Street. Completely unprovoked and left me feeling sick. Stopped going then and I've only been to a handful of home games since.

Stephen Meighan
122 Posted 08/01/2019 at 18:17:30
Great reading some of them stories about the Park End in the seventies. I remember it well spent many Saturday afternoons in there. Blackbeard was a fearsome big bastard seen him dish out many a hiding who was unfounded enough to get in his way. Fair play to him. I didn't really see him arrest anyone, just a crack off him was enough.

Good luck to all Blues travelling down to Millwall. I'm sure you boys and girls will be okay. We're no mugs, I just hope we get the job done down there. Don't want no replay with them idiot's coming up here bouncing around in their Burberry and Stone Island clobber.

COYB...

Brent Stephens
123 Posted 08/01/2019 at 18:29:42
Ah, they don't have games like the Millwall ones any more. Lost both my legs in a fight going into the game years ago. Continued fighting once inside and lost both arms. Still managed to nut my way out.

Ah, those were the days. We were hard then.

Phillip Warrington
124 Posted 08/01/2019 at 19:19:29
Perfect draw. If we can't win this game, then whoever is the starting eleven should be sold. Christ, we are a top-ten Premier League team.
Dermot Byrne
125 Posted 08/01/2019 at 19:21:57
#123 yob!
Brian Wilkinson
126 Posted 08/01/2019 at 19:22:08
I remember playing Leeds Utd at Goodson around 1977-78, I remember it being the Just after bonfire night around 6th 7th Nov, I was in the Park End, pretty sure there was small chicken wire type fencing and a line of police, could be wrong, it was so long ago.

Walking back to the coach park, the Leeds fans tried to break into a trot, to which a big ballsy Sgt sat on a police horse said "Hold back!"

A couple at the front ignored the warning, the police then held the rest back with a long-haired guy left stranded in front. A whack on the back of his knees was followed by the Sgt lifting him clean off his feet, throwing him against the wall by Stanley Park, followed by the words, "When I say keep in line you fucking stay in line, move again or fart and you're nicked." Hence to say he stayed in line for the rest of the walk.

Evil in those days, our police.

Brian Patrick
127 Posted 08/01/2019 at 19:24:26
Kieran @117, I was over last weekend for the Leinster v Ulster rugby in the Pro14. I was talking to some Irish guys — they were saying there's more gun crime in Dublin than any time at the height of the troubles.
Dermot Byrne
128 Posted 08/01/2019 at 19:24:44
"Come back, I'll bite yer legs off"
Brent Stephens
129 Posted 08/01/2019 at 19:26:51
... and not a peep out of him, Brian (#126)?

Dermot, say that to my face – if you can get down that low. I've saved quids on gloves and shoes since then.

Gerry Ring
130 Posted 08/01/2019 at 19:39:13
Geez, some riveting stories, guys. Ye should put them together and Netflix would have a blockbuster mini-series on their hands.

Speaking of Netflix, I watched a documentary on hooliganism recently and they featured Millwall. Game of Thrones is only in the halfpenny place! Terrifying stuff. Be very careful any of you planning to travel, coz it's a dangerous spot.

My only experience of football violence was attending an FA Cup game between Man Utd & Nottm Forest in March 1988. The only reason we went was because it was the weekend that we played the Redshite & Wayne Clarke scored the winner, which, if I remember correctly, stopped their record unbeaten run.

When we left OldTrafford the trouble started. We ran to the train station only to meet Man City supporters arriving back from a mornings night game. All hell was breaking loose. Man Utd fans fighting with each other & City fans. We ended up paying £50 for a taxi from Manchester back to Liverpool.

One of the reasons I love Goodison, great genuine fans who know their football & are hugely welcoming to those of us who would love to attend more games but, due to logistics & geography, can't.

Jason Wilkinson
131 Posted 08/01/2019 at 20:23:24
More like North enders (scousers that is) than any other fans I have met. Can't see "Old Bill" taking any shite from them with such a high profile game. Go there with pride, wear your colours and don't be afraid of a few J Arthurs.
Kieran Kinsella
132 Posted 08/01/2019 at 20:28:27
Gerry Ring @130,

I think you're right because if I recall correctly also, the commentators made a big fuss that Wayne Clarke's winner stopped Liverpool from beating the unbeaten record set by a Leeds team featuring his older brother Allan Clarke.

I am pretty sure it was a midweek game on ITV.

Rob Halligan
133 Posted 08/01/2019 at 20:32:02
Kieran, the game was a Sunday afternoon. I clearly remember it because in the morning my Sunday league team played a Liverpool county FA semi final second replay, which we lost. Was so gutted that couldn't even celebrate the goal scored by Wayne Clarke.
Niall McIlhone
134 Posted 08/01/2019 at 20:40:23
Jimmy @93.

I was at the 2006 game at the New Den, and yes, the police were somewhat businesslike in their shepherding of our fans but then there had been serious aggro earlier at London Bridge station.

I recall a bunch of Cardiff fans were on the way to the cup game at Arsenal and came to grief by marauding Millwall thugs (er yes, they hate Cardiff as well!) so the cops were only being cautious. I had no issue with it.

My stand out memory of the 2006 tie was the very raucous support by their fans in the areas either side of the pitch. There were maybe 8 to 10 thousand of their fans but to my ears it was more like 25 to 30,000. Such was the tumultuous noise.

They are what they are, sad to say; they do seem to retain a minority of thuggish types who spoil it for the rest but Millwall as a club are trying very hard, like Everton, to promote themselves as a positive influence in their local community. That said, I hope we stuff them, big time.

Neil Copeland
135 Posted 08/01/2019 at 20:45:11
I remember going to Old Trafford for the League Cup quarter-final in 1977, we won 3-0.

Outside the Scoreboard End, the street was lined either side with Man Utd supporters waiting to kill us. Me and a mate grabbed hold of a police horse tail and followed it right down the middle of them and ran for our lives at the end.

Rob Halligan
136 Posted 08/01/2019 at 20:53:04
I was also at that game, Neil. Came out just before the end with a mate to go and meet me dad and brother. Me mate took a kicking so we just ran, but didn't have a clue in what direction. About 3 or 4 United fans chased us, but dropped off one by one, except for one who was determined to catch us.

We stopped by a police car and told him we needed to get back to the ground to meet me dad. He dropped us right outside scoreboard end!! We feared "here we go again", but made it safely back to the car.

Neil Copeland
137 Posted 08/01/2019 at 22:39:04
Rob, do you remember getting bombarded with coke cans full of piss and coins from the Utd fans in the stand above us? The other thing I recall is the Stretford End in full voice telling us we were going to fucking die – very loud and very intimidating.
Rob Halligan
138 Posted 08/01/2019 at 23:06:40
Don't recall that Neil, but I'm sure it happened as I've been told of something similar happening at games in later years at Old Trafford. I just remember coming out through a small pass out gate to be confronted by loads of United fans. The stewards who let us out might just as well have stamped "Everton fans" on our foreheads as we were let out. They made no attempt to stop us and warn us what was about to occur.
John Raftery
139 Posted 08/01/2019 at 23:12:26
I went to all our matches at Old Trafford in the Seventies. The aftermath of that League Cup tie on 1st December 1976 was frightening. The home crew were waiting to have a go at anyone walking back to Warwick Road station. One of my mates took a thumping.

Even worse was the 1-1 draw in September 1978 when we spent the whole match ducking coins and golf balls thrown from the corner of the South Stand. The police weren't interested.

More sickening was Martin Buchan equalising two minutes from the end with a shot from 25 yards. We had led with a goal by Andy King after five minutes. In those days you did not dare wear colours anywhere near the ground.

Those were the peak years of hooliganism. Gradually things calmed down, more so after the introduction of all-seater stadiums and more effective policing. By 1994 Man Utd fans were applauding us for honouring the minute's silence in tribute to Matt Busby who had passed away two days earlier.

Brian Wilkinson
140 Posted 09/01/2019 at 02:03:47
Boro away was no walk in the park in the late Seventies, over a mile walk back to the transport with a graveyard full of Boro, must have been the chemicals because they were big buggers, you normally get a mix of average size blokes with a mixture of teens, not at Boro.

Another dodgy place was Carlisle.

Leigh Sadler
141 Posted 09/01/2019 at 09:28:40
I've been to the New Den three times, first time was in 1995 for a league cup first leg, midweek game, the crowd was not massive and although a bit scary whilst the police escort held us outside the station for a while nothing major really happened.

A couple of years later, myself and a mate used to do a spot of ground hopping and we decided to go to their home game against Bristol City. The day did not start well as we walked out of South Bermondsey station and a brick came flying over a wall and landed a couple of feet away from us. We got in the ground early when it was empty and stood in some random seats and a steward came bounding over and informed us that we didn't want to stand there as those seats belonged to some pretty hard people, he then informed us that the trouble at the last game was nothing to do with Millwall.

It was at a time when Millwall were going through financial problems and about an hour in a home fan invaded the pitch, took the corner flag and planted it in the centre circle and sat there arms folded. Within a few moments hundreds of fans were on and confronting the away fans that started throwing seats from the top tier. Then several police horses started wading in and the police baton charged the home fans who eventually retreated.

The last time was our cup game in 2006, I stupidly took my then 6-year-old as he used to come to all the London away games with me. The home fans certainly made a loud but poisonous atmosphere but things in the ground are well marshalled. After the game, our fans that had come by train were held for around 45 minutes and eventually a train came in and we were shepherded on it for the short journey back to London Bridge.

When we arrived we were held on the platform for a short while until a load of home fans started shouting and our fans surged forwards towards the concourse and chaos ensued for a short while. My son was understandably shaken so we stood around the back of a portakabin on one of the platforms with other Saturday shoppers with kids that were crying and shaking.

Eventually it died down and we moved into the concourse where the police were filming a lot of our fans going down the escalators to the tube. After this there was no real problem, from experience their fans rarely stray off their manor on at their home games, you are usually fairly safe until you get to London Bridge and then on the way back once you leave London Bridge.

I'm hoping to get a ticket for this depending on the allocation they give us, a winnable game and then hopefully an easy 5th Round tie and we are in the quarter-finals.

Jeff Spiers
142 Posted 09/01/2019 at 12:15:28
Whilst we reminisce past battles, can Evertonians please recall anytime the RS, according to a Kopite friend, gave us a hiding? He is quite adamant they did us in Everton Valley. FFS!
Andy Meighan
143 Posted 09/01/2019 at 13:20:29
Jeff @142,

They've given us enough hidings on the pitch, haven't they?

Dave Ganley
144 Posted 09/01/2019 at 13:20:59
When was that meant to have happened, Jeff? I have to say that up until the 90s I saw little mither with the RS either at Goodison Park or across the park and I went in the Kop couple of times at derby games too.
Ray Roche
146 Posted 09/01/2019 at 13:27:21
Rob & Neil,

I was also at that game and saw loads of trouble outside. We were told at the time that it was a lot of Man City fans, who I think played Aston Villa away that night, who hadn't travelled to the away game and turned up just for some trouble. This may also have been recorded in the Press.

Neil Copeland
149 Posted 09/01/2019 at 19:06:23
Dave #144, other than the odd handbags I don’t remember any trouble between us and them either.

My brother used to manage a Bernie’s Inn in the West End and he remembers the Milk Cup final in 1984. He said both sets of supporters mixed in the bar without any problems.

However, a rival pub told him they were going to play You will Never Walk Alone to welcome everyone! Dave (my brother), said I wouldn’t do that if I were you but they ignored him. Within a few minutes of playing it all hell let loose and the place was trashed. Then The Old Bill turned up and shut it down for the rest of the weekend.

Brian Wilkinson
150 Posted 09/01/2019 at 21:14:26
First I saw was the Glen Keeley Derby, when it kicked off in bullens road paddock, took me totally by surprise watching from the Gwladys Street, been in the Kop a few times and had no trouble likewise with Reds in the Gwladys Street, that was the only time I ever seen Blues and Reds having a go in the eighties.

Used to be great Red and Blue mixed and even travelling together, sadly those Days are long gone.

Just a shame none of our younger fans experienced it.

Brian Denton
151 Posted 09/01/2019 at 21:25:24
Neil #135 - League Cup game at Man Utd where we won 3-0 was late 1976. I well remember watching it in a pub during my first term at Uni.

The Millwall cup tie in 1973 (Feb 3rd to be precise - the wonderful evertonresults.com should be first port of call for people who want to see if their memory is accurate) was the first time I was aware of a stabbing at a football match. Scared me, but not as much as Tommy Wright's Testimonial v Rangers.

Sigh, all this reminiscing about football hooliganism is quite nostalgic. I'm trying to remember what the nickname for the normal train (as opposed to the 'Footy Special') to another city was. Taking the normal train and travelling in civvies showed you were well hard.

Mike Doyle
152 Posted 09/01/2019 at 21:34:39
Brian #151.

I recall the Tommy Wright testimonial (vaguely). Not a massive crowd as I recall but a big Rangers contingent attended. I'm guessing it got lively in town that night. Perhaps those with a better memory than me can fill in the details.

I have a better recall of Mick Lyons's testimonial-and an appearance by celebrity Evertonian, Ed ‘Stewpot' Stewart.

Rob Halligan
153 Posted 09/01/2019 at 21:43:31
Brian, # 151. Wasn't the normal train to aways known as The Ordinary?
Brian Williams
154 Posted 09/01/2019 at 21:51:49
Rob #153.

You're right, mate, it was "the ordinary."

Often a hundred or so of us would get the "ordinary" to arrive before the "specials" and see if we could ambush the ambushers!

Rob Halligan
155 Posted 09/01/2019 at 22:04:59
We went to many London games on the ordinary. Often with these trains though, there were other clubs fans on the same return train, which has in the 70's and 80's was the cue for a potential riot.

I remember we played spurs away, can't remember year, but we caught the last train out of Euston. There were about 50 or so blues on the train, and unfortunately about the same number of Oldham fans. To say it kicked off is an understatement. There were battles on the train and when it pulled into, I think it was Tamworth, when it split into two, half to Liverpool and half to Manchester, the battle continued on the platform. The police were called and we were stuck there for what seemed like hours. I don't think that train ever saw service again.

Brian Denton
156 Posted 09/01/2019 at 22:08:26
Mike 152 - II think the crowd was about 15,000 and I would imagine at least half were Rangers fans. They filled the Park End, and there was a rumour at the end that they had come into the Street End, which emptied very quickly, I can tell you. I don't think I stopped running till I reached The Black Bull!

It was an eye-opener for me seeing that many of the Rangers hooligans were grown men in their twenties and thirties, not the spotty-faced scallies I was used to seeing. I think back in those days the train and coach drivers had to have a decent break between long-haul trips, and a lot of the Rangers fans had been tanking up since very early in the afternoon.

Dave Abrahams
157 Posted 09/01/2019 at 22:16:33
Brian (156), I don't know how many Rangers fans were at the game but I wouldn't mind betting half of them jibbed in. Same as The Celtic fans at the “Rod Stewart” benefit game.

I think those Glasgow fans are the only ones who can match Everton & Liverpool fans for jibbing matches.

Jeff Spiers
158 Posted 10/01/2019 at 07:32:16
Anybody remember ORDINARY TO CHELSEA painted on Lime Street Station? Classic. It was there for years
Charlie Dixon
159 Posted 10/01/2019 at 12:29:43
Rumours are that it's going to be televised at 5:30 pm on Saturday. They also think that we will only be allocated the top stand (2000).
James Doran
160 Posted 10/01/2019 at 12:52:29
Charlie @ 159,

Where did you hear all of this?

Matthew Williams
161 Posted 10/01/2019 at 14:07:29
The nasty club versus the nice club... should be interesting!
Alan McGuffog
162 Posted 10/01/2019 at 14:32:17
Wasn't there something called Blue Streak, or some such, in the late '60s? Supposed to be groovy with music and stuff. Or was I rolling em too thick???
Brian Murray
163 Posted 10/01/2019 at 15:06:02
Yeah, Blue Streak was not your imagination but in 1975 we had over 8,000 going to Plymouth and the same day Liverpool had 4,000 going to Ipswich, Mad Mick's finest hour... Latchford was ruled out but we won — plus Liverpool got knocked out thanks to Mick Mills's last-minute goal.

It was pandemonium at Lime Street around midnight, I've never heard it so loud — plus my arl fella rubbing their noses in it. It was our year, for fuck's sake... then, a Viv Busby double sealed an all Second Division final vs West Ham. "Everton, that" as they say...

Charlie Dixon
164 Posted 10/01/2019 at 15:14:10
A mate who works at the broadcaster. Also the Blue Union tweeted it earlier. Might be wrong
Lenny Kingman
165 Posted 10/01/2019 at 16:16:02
Jeff at #158

Great recall that. It was there for aeons. I'm surprised its not still there now! After all, the wheels of progress grind slowly round the old town.

Brian Patrick
166 Posted 10/01/2019 at 17:17:22
Isn't 5:30 pm a really dumb idea for a Millwall v Everton cup tie?! Deary me...
Kieran Kinsella
167 Posted 10/01/2019 at 17:22:51
Our record v Millwall is pretty bad considering they've had what 1 season in the top flight? Played 11, won 6, lost 4.
Steve Carse
169 Posted 10/01/2019 at 17:44:14
Brian (163),

I remember that weekend very well. The away support was incredible. We'd sold all our 8,000-ticket allocation (for one of the side terraces) but had several thousand more in other sides of the ground.

The game can be found on YouTube; notice the celebratory Blues in all sections of the ground. I seem to recall that the RS had returned several thousand of their tickets to Ipswich, unsold.

Paul Tran
170 Posted 10/01/2019 at 18:12:28
Jeff 158, I remember that well. That hung around for years. Many London mates of mine asked what it meant!
Eddie Dunn
171 Posted 10/01/2019 at 18:29:54
Talking about Glasgow fans, I was a student in Nottingham in the early '80s and Forest got Celtic in the European Cup. I'd say at least 12,000 came down for the game, but a couple of days before there were pissed Jocks hanging around the City centre and, after the game, it took another couple of days for them all to sober-up and head home.
Kieran Kinsella
172 Posted 10/01/2019 at 18:30:24
I have family from Millwall.

Okay, it's been a "few" years. 1850s ropemakers on my Dad's side. So I should be safe if I go to the game.

Eddie Dunn
173 Posted 10/01/2019 at 18:35:46
Kieran- you're on the wrong thread mate!
Rob Halligan
175 Posted 11/01/2019 at 10:44:34
Everton official website confirms the Millwall game is to be shown live on BBC @ 5:30 pm on Saturday 26th January.
Rob Halligan
176 Posted 11/01/2019 at 10:52:46
Also confirms we've been allocated 2200 tickets. So clearly only getting the upper tier. Kind of makes sense when you consider the corners of the lower tier are literally right next to the corners of the stands either side where Millwall fans will be.
Brent Stephens
177 Posted 11/01/2019 at 12:54:34
Saturday 5:30 kick-off televised. Bugger re travel back for me.
James Doran
178 Posted 11/01/2019 at 13:08:19
2,200 is crap.
Charlie Dixon
179 Posted 12/01/2019 at 17:52:04
If anyone has any spares whatsoever please get in touch 07742071385. Willing to pay over the odds for this one
Stephen Tyler
180 Posted 12/01/2019 at 19:37:39
Millwall 0 Blackburn 2

if Blackburn can win at The Den and not be intimidated by the hostile atmosphere then so can we. A northern club nowhere near as big as Everton. Let's do this! Come on blues!

Stephen Tyler
181 Posted 12/01/2019 at 19:46:51
Also a 17:30 kick-off.
Neil Gribbin
182 Posted 13/01/2019 at 08:46:25
Around the ground is still a bit moody, but Bermondsey these days boys has changed beyond belief. It is a very gentrified area now. I still think there will be trouble round the ground, so keep your wits about you.
Chris Grayson
183 Posted 23/01/2019 at 18:22:08
Hi All,

I'm Malmesbury Wiltshire based, I'm going the game on my own as can only get 1 ticket... Anyone know which route is favoured for safety measures?

I'm looking at driving to outer London and picking up the underground, or I can get a train to Swindon then onto Paddington and get on the underground there.

I was going to stop for a beer at London Bridge but now unsure about that move... I may go directly to the Den and have a beer there. I need to stay quiet – my Scouse accent is a dead giveaway.

Can anyone confirm that we the Everton supporters are getting locked in after the game? Is it true and does anyone know how long the lock-in is?

Any tips or advice is appreciated...
COYB


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