RUFC - Sixteen years ago today ......

Let me take you back sixteen years to Sunday, 14th April 1996.

Just a normal Sunday for over ninety-nine per cent of the English population, who probably won't even remember what they were doing on that day.

But, for Millers fans it is a date that is imprinted on their hearts.

It started off with thousands of red and white wearing fans travelling out of South Yorkshire, leaving Rotherham like a ghost town, and travelling to London where they joined the blue and white clad fans of Shrewsbury Town as laughing and joking we walked up 'Wembley Way' together discussing football and looking at the famous twin towers.

There was singing, pre-match flag waving, banter between fans, a charity football game that included Chris Evans before both teams took the pitch to take part in the Auto Windscreens Shield Trophy.

Of course, we all know the outcome, Nigel Jemson became part of the Millers history books when he scored in the twentieth and fifty-eighth minute and, after a Mark Taylor goal made it two-one ten minutes from the end, every thirty seconds Millers fans went to the Wembley clock, willing the hands round, until referee Allison finally blew the whistle. Miller`s fans went barmy, hugging people they'd never seen before, singing, crying, laughing and cheering the team as they climbed the steps to collect the Shield.

And, by coincidence, today is the 14th April and, once again, we meet Shrewsbury Town. The Shrews haven't lost at home yet this season and the Millers have never actually won at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium.

But, today is a 'magical' day and it could just be the day that the Millers have their first win at the home of the Shrews, break their hosts record and maybe, just maybe, push their way towards a play-off spot and another Wembley appearance.

You just never know. As a famous former footballer once said, 'Football is a funny old game.'





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