Millwall Bushwackers
Encyclopedia
The Millwall Bushwackers are a hooligan firm associated with Millwall F.C.
.
The hooligan firm still exists today. However, the firm is not as large as it was at its height in the 1980s. This is due in part to ex-Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis
' introduction of a membership scheme following the events outside The New Den
on the evening of the Birmingham City play off semi-final in May 2002. Sergeant Russell Lamb of the Metropolitan Police Service
, a veteran of the May Day
and Poll Tax riots
, described this as the worst violence he had ever experienced.
In January 1988, when Millwall were knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal
in a third round match at Highbury
, 41 Millwall hooligans were arrested after clashing with Arsenal
's firm The Herd
.
In August 1993, Millwall relocated to the New Den and ended that season
third in Division One, entering the playoffs to try and win a place in the FA Premier League
. However, they were eliminated in the playoff semi-finals by Derby County
, and the game at the New Den had to be halted twice due to pitch invasions by Millwall hooligans. There was also widespread fighting in the stands.
On 2 May 2002, after the Division One playoffs brought another semi-final exit for Millwall, almost 100 police officers were injured when Millwall hooligans attacked them with missiles in the stadium and in the streets surrounding it.This was one of several major incidents involving Millwall hooligans during the 2001-02 season
. On 4 August 2001, just before the season began, Millwall hooligans clashed with those of Tottenham Hotspur
outside the Caulkers public house in Bermondsey
, in which there were dozens of injuries; the casualties included 30 police officers, three horses and a man who needed treatment for stab wounds. 17 days later, also in London
, Millwall fans ran riot in the streets surrounding The Den and caused damage to buildings and vehicles, as well as throwing missiles at police officers after a Football League Cup tie with Cardiff City
. Four days afterwards, some 250 Millwall hooligans attacked Burnley fans as they arrived at Bermondsey railway station for a league game. On 31 October, a similar number of Millwall hooligans rampaged in Wolverhampton
before a league clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers
, which resulted in two Wolves fans suffering facial stab wounds. On 13 December, some 100 Millwall and Portsmouth hooligans clashed at the Windmill public house near Waterloo railway station. Every window in the building was smashed and most of the fixtures and fittings were damaged or destroyed, but all of the hooligans escaped before police could arrest them. On 16 March, Millwall hooligans pelted visiting Sheffield Wednesday
fans with bricks and bottles during a league match at The Den; two police officers were hospitalised as a result of the incident.
In October 2004, during a Football League Cup
tie at home to Liverpool
, Millwall fans taunted their Liverpool counterparts with songs making fun of the Hillsborough disaster
which had claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans in 1989. This escalated into violent clashes between fans of the two teams. Seven months later, three Liverpool fans received prison sentences and a further two avoided prison sentences but received banning orders. Three Millwall fans received three-month prison sentences and six-year banning orders.
In February 2011, Millwall fans threw missiles onto the pitch during a Football League Championship
fixture against Middlesbrough
at the New Den, which almost led to the game being called off. A club spokesman warned in a statement released to the national press that anyone found guilty of involvement in the missile-throwing will be banned from the New Den for life.
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
.
Background
The original firm associated with Millwall was known as F-Troop.The hooligan firm still exists today. However, the firm is not as large as it was at its height in the 1980s. This is due in part to ex-Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis
Theo Paphitis
Theodorus "Theo" Paphitis is a retail magnate and British entrepreneur of Greek Cypriot origin. He made the majority of his fortune in the retail sector, and is best known to the general public for his appearances on the BBC business programme Dragons' Den and as former chairman of Millwall...
' introduction of a membership scheme following the events outside The New Den
The New Den
The Den , is a football stadium and the home of Millwall FC. It is situated in South Bermondsey, South East London, almost directly adjacent to the railway line between London Bridge and New Cross Gate, plus the SELCHP incinerator. It is under a quarter of a mile away from original Den...
on the evening of the Birmingham City play off semi-final in May 2002. Sergeant Russell Lamb of the Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
, a veteran of the May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
and Poll Tax riots
Poll Tax Riots
The UK Poll Tax Riots were a series of mass disturbances, or riots, in British towns and cities during protests against the Community Charge , introduced by the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher...
, described this as the worst violence he had ever experienced.
In January 1988, when Millwall were knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in a third round match at Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
, 41 Millwall hooligans were arrested after clashing with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
's firm The Herd
Arsenal firm
There are two Arsenal hooligan firms, named The Gooners and The Herd.The Gooners were a violent football hooligan firm mainly active in 1980s...
.
In August 1993, Millwall relocated to the New Den and ended that season
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
third in Division One, entering the playoffs to try and win a place in the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. However, they were eliminated in the playoff semi-finals by Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, and the game at the New Den had to be halted twice due to pitch invasions by Millwall hooligans. There was also widespread fighting in the stands.
On 2 May 2002, after the Division One playoffs brought another semi-final exit for Millwall, almost 100 police officers were injured when Millwall hooligans attacked them with missiles in the stadium and in the streets surrounding it.This was one of several major incidents involving Millwall hooligans during the 2001-02 season
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
. On 4 August 2001, just before the season began, Millwall hooligans clashed with those of Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
outside the Caulkers public house in Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
, in which there were dozens of injuries; the casualties included 30 police officers, three horses and a man who needed treatment for stab wounds. 17 days later, also in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Millwall fans ran riot in the streets surrounding The Den and caused damage to buildings and vehicles, as well as throwing missiles at police officers after a Football League Cup tie with Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. Four days afterwards, some 250 Millwall hooligans attacked Burnley fans as they arrived at Bermondsey railway station for a league game. On 31 October, a similar number of Millwall hooligans rampaged in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
before a league clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, which resulted in two Wolves fans suffering facial stab wounds. On 13 December, some 100 Millwall and Portsmouth hooligans clashed at the Windmill public house near Waterloo railway station. Every window in the building was smashed and most of the fixtures and fittings were damaged or destroyed, but all of the hooligans escaped before police could arrest them. On 16 March, Millwall hooligans pelted visiting Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
fans with bricks and bottles during a league match at The Den; two police officers were hospitalised as a result of the incident.
In October 2004, during a Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
tie at home to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, Millwall fans taunted their Liverpool counterparts with songs making fun of the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
which had claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans in 1989. This escalated into violent clashes between fans of the two teams. Seven months later, three Liverpool fans received prison sentences and a further two avoided prison sentences but received banning orders. Three Millwall fans received three-month prison sentences and six-year banning orders.
In February 2011, Millwall fans threw missiles onto the pitch during a Football League Championship
Football 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...
fixture against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
at the New Den, which almost led to the game being called off. A club spokesman warned in a statement released to the national press that anyone found guilty of involvement in the missile-throwing will be banned from the New Den for life.