Millmoor
Encyclopedia
Millmoor is a stadium in Rotherham
, England
. It was built and was used for football
matches, and until the end of the 2007–08 season was the home ground of Rotherham United F.C.
, until a dispute over ownership forced them to move to the Don Valley Stadium
in nearby Sheffield
.
The stadium was built in 1907 on the site of a flour mill, and presently holds around 8,300. Redevelopment work was started on the ground, with a new main stand being built in place of the previous wooden main stand which was built in the 1950s. The new stand was planned to contain corporate facilities and bring the capacity back to over 10,000. The work was scheduled to finish in 2006, but has faced a series of setbacks, one of which was Japanese Knotweed
being found on the site. Rotherham United now plan to move to a new community stadium
. In May 2011 Rotherham Titans and Rotherham Council
announced a plan to allow the rugby union
club to move into Millmoor.
.
The railway referred to in the stand's name is the now closed line to the former Rotherham Westgate railway station.
, it was a special day to celebrate 100 years at Millmoor. The game ended 1–1, with Peter Holmes
scoring for the Millers. There were special articles in the matchday programme and a commemorative cover. There were balloons all around Millmoor, with the Millers badge, and the words '100 Years at Millmoor'. Fans were urged to wear retro Rotherham United shirts, and if you wore a retro shirt you would be entered into a raffle. Many fans were seen with new scarves with Rotherham United F.C on one side, and 1907-2007 on the other side.
as talks with Ken Booth, owner of Millmoor, broke down. The team has played at the stadium in Sheffield
since July 2008. The stadium is currently unused, and the club intend to build a new community stadium
rather than return to Millmoor in the future.
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was built and was used for football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches, and until the end of the 2007–08 season was the home ground of Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, until a dispute over ownership forced them to move to the Don Valley Stadium
Don Valley Stadium
The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...
in nearby Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
The stadium was built in 1907 on the site of a flour mill, and presently holds around 8,300. Redevelopment work was started on the ground, with a new main stand being built in place of the previous wooden main stand which was built in the 1950s. The new stand was planned to contain corporate facilities and bring the capacity back to over 10,000. The work was scheduled to finish in 2006, but has faced a series of setbacks, one of which was Japanese Knotweed
Japanese knotweed
Japanese Knotweed is a large, herbaceous perennial plant, native to eastern Asia in Japan, China and Korea...
being found on the site. Rotherham United now plan to move to a new community stadium
New Rotherham United Stadium
Rotherham United are due to relocate to a new all-seater stadium in Rotherham town centre, after the chairman Tony Stewart bought the former Guest and Chrimes foundry site...
. In May 2011 Rotherham Titans and Rotherham Council
Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham
The Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham is a metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. It is named for its largest town, Rotherham, but also spans the outlying towns of Maltby, Rawmarsh, Swinton, Wath-upon-Dearne, as well as a suburban and rural element composed of hills, escarpments and...
announced a plan to allow the rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club to move into Millmoor.
Tivoli End
The Tivoli was a favourite amongst the fans. The stand holds up to 2,700. It was a former terrace but was later seated during the club's time in the Football League ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
Railway End
The Railway End is the away fans section where over 2,000 fans can be accommodated. This end is covered and all seated. An unusual feature is that away fans can only access this end by going down Millmoor Lane which is a narrow alleyway. The acoustics on the railway end are said to be some of the best and fans can generate a lot of noise. If needed, away fans can be given additional seats in a section of the Millmoor Lane stand.The railway referred to in the stand's name is the now closed line to the former Rotherham Westgate railway station.
Mainstand
Redevelopment work was started on this stand, however that work has now ceased and in November 2007 the club confirmed that they have no intentions to complete this stand or modernize any part of the stadium due to the difficulty in reaching a deal to purchase the land surrounding Millmoor from the previous Chairman. This dispute later led to Rotherham United moving away from the stadium. The stand remains half-finished.Millmoor Lane End
Opposite to the Main Stand is the Millmoor Lane side of the ground. It is split up into three sections:- Tivoli end/Uncovered end - before the ground was all-seated in conformity with the rules of the Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, the corner of the ground underneath the floodlights was a continuation of the terraces of the Tivoli End. When the section was all seated, the Tivoli End was split up into two parts for safety reasons: the part of the stand segregated from the Tivoli Stand is now simply called "The Uncovered End" due to the fact there is no roof over the heads of the home supporters housed there. - Millmoor Lane - in the middle of the Millmoor Lane side is the Millmoor Lane, which is a small stand for home supporters.
100 Years at Millmoor
On the 22 September 2007, for Rotherham United's game against Notts County F.C.Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, it was a special day to celebrate 100 years at Millmoor. The game ended 1–1, with Peter Holmes
Peter Holmes
Peter James Holmes is an English footballer who plays for Dunstable Town as a midfielder.Holmes started his career with Sheffield Wednesday and after failing to make any first team appearances he joined Luton Town. He was released by the club due to financial reasons in the summer of 2003, but was...
scoring for the Millers. There were special articles in the matchday programme and a commemorative cover. There were balloons all around Millmoor, with the Millers badge, and the words '100 Years at Millmoor'. Fans were urged to wear retro Rotherham United shirts, and if you wore a retro shirt you would be entered into a raffle. Many fans were seen with new scarves with Rotherham United F.C on one side, and 1907-2007 on the other side.
Move from Millmoor
In May 2008, Rotherham United were forced to move to the Don Valley StadiumDon Valley Stadium
The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...
as talks with Ken Booth, owner of Millmoor, broke down. The team has played at the stadium in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
since July 2008. The stadium is currently unused, and the club intend to build a new community stadium
New Rotherham United Stadium
Rotherham United are due to relocate to a new all-seater stadium in Rotherham town centre, after the chairman Tony Stewart bought the former Guest and Chrimes foundry site...
rather than return to Millmoor in the future.