Lions make history – South London News

After an eventful week for Millwall Football Club, who secured a 999-year lease at their ground The Den, the South London Press looks back at one of the best days in recent Lions history, the game their 1-0 League One… final victory over Bradford City which secured promotion to the Championship in 2017.

On 20 May 2017, Millwall manager Neil Harris and his team wrote their name in the history books and set their fans in celebration as they secured promotion with victory in the League One play-offs.

The 1–0 win at Bradford City secured the club’s ninth promotion from the third to the second tier of English football – a club record.

Around 200 Lions fans flooded the Wembley pitch at full-time after Steve Morison’s 85th-minute winner fired the club back into the Championship.

Although a small number of supporters confronted Bradford’s dejected players, there appeared to be no signs of serious trouble.

Lions chief executive Steve Kavanagh assured there was no violence, with 27,000 fans booing and chanting for the pitch invaders to leave.

Talking to South London Press after the game, Morrison said: “I’ve scored in three out of four club games at Wembley.

“I pulled the knee slide back out, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get up!

“From the outside, it might have looked like we were right up against her, but we knew what we were doing there. We’ve been doing it all season.”

The win came after a season full of uncertainty as Millwall looked like they might lose their home – a seemingly unstoppable march of gentrification threatening to drive them out of The Den.

In 2016, Lewisham council voted to sell the land surrounding the stadium to property developers.

The New Bermondsey development would result in around 2,400 homes around The Den.

The cabinet voted 6-1 to approve the compulsory purchase order, which would see land used by the club, including a car park and the Millwall Community Trust, taken over by developers.

Former chairman John Berylson pushed back, saying the club had its own plans and would not “give in”.

He said: “This will now be a long process before our land can be taken. And it can still be stopped.”

Looking back now, a week after Millwall FC and Lewisham council reached a landmark agreement on a 999-year lease, the game against Bradford wasn’t just Championship promotion for the Lions, it sustained the club in the fight to protect itself. The home.

Following the decision, Millwall chairman James Berylson paid tribute to his father’s vision for the club and the surrounding community.

He said: “My family’s involvement with Millwall goes back nearly 20 years. My father, John Berylson – who tragically passed away last year – had a vision and ambition for the football club and the local community from the start.

“It took us a long time to reach this turning point, but my father’s passion and determination never waned and it is with great sadness to all of us that he is not here today to witness this milestone in the club’s history.”

Pictured above: Millwall captain Tony Craig lifts the League One play-off trophy at Wembley surrounded by team-mates (Picture: Brian Tonks)

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