RUFC - A Millers Memory

Another Millers Memory

My earliest clearish memory of going away to a big Millers match was a cup game - Manchester United (Law, Charlton, Best etc) v MY TEAM, Rotherham United, in February 1966 when I was a boy of fifteen. I remember going to Masborough railway station (now an oriental restaurant)but I cannot for the life of me remember who I went with although I suppose we were all together.

When the steam train pulled into the station there were that many carriages that it overlapped the length of the platform and it seemed like all of Rotherham were getting on this special excusion train (where are they all now? Bramall Lane? Pigsborough? Dinglewell? Emmerdale Road? Crooked Spire Field? Or are you all just sat at home pretending to support Arsene's A**eholes, Alex's Moaners or Chelsea's Divers?)

Anyway, enough of my envy!

We got on the train and were packed in like sardines but we didn't even think about that we just sang and made merry (remember these were the days before you could actually get merry 24/7!)

When we got off the train we were met by loads of Police some of whom were mounted on horses - not because we were hooligans but because, believe it or not, there were thousands of us! They walked with us to Old Trafford and the comedians amongst us had a good time.

We got to the ground and when we got in it was awesome. There was red and white everywhere but just things like bob caps, scarves, rosettes, rattles - none of this designer gear in the mid 60's (years later I said to my kids 'if ever I get my hands on the person who invented designer labels I'd string him up by .... yes well. I mean, how stupid are we? If we buy a plain red T shirt it costs £3 if someone puts Ted Baker on it it magically shoots up to £25-£30? - Please tell me it's not just me who moans about millionaire designers???)

Back to the game - the teams came out, Manchester United in their red and my team Mansells Marvelous Millers in the unfamiliar white with red collar and cuffs. End to end football was played with the Millers giving as good as they got. I can't honestly say I remember too much about the game though Harold Wilcoxson chested one of the line, controlling the ball, no panic and calm as you like passing to a team mate to clear and set up an attack for us. At the other end, Keith Pring missed what looked like a sitter to put us one up but the game ended nil-nil.

We got back to the railway station safely and on the way home I could only think of two things -
1 I would have to have the day off school on Monday to queue for the replay ticket and

2 This superstar Georgie Best, I couldn't remember seeing too much of him and in Manchester's 'pink 'un' that I was reading he was hardly mentioned, which must have meant that Colin Clish did an excellent job on him!

I often wonder what the players of this era would think if they could look back on the TV footage of yesteryear and see what had been achieved in those days - unlike a lot of today's posers.

The replay? Well, that's a different story . . .

Danny B
Kimberworth Miller

Miller till I die