To Be A Miller

`84 has been a Miller for thirty two years and, in all that time, has only missed a handful of games, these being:

76-77 CRYSTAL PALACE (home/away) a disgrace I know

78-79 EXETER (away)

79-80 SOUTHEND (away)

80-81 BRENTFORD (away)CARLISLE (away)and SHEFF U won 2-1 I think?

86 DARLINGTON (away) work

88-CARLISLE (away) Again! work

2000-2001 CAMBRIDGE (home) holiday

2003-2004 COLCHESTER GILLINGHAM STOKE ALL AT HOME holiday
a disgrace, I know, missing home games!

Millers 1884 takes up the story:

My family are all from Swinton, Rawmarsh and Conisborough but I was brought up in Edlington a small village near Doncaster.

I started going to Millmoor in 1975 because my brother took me - to be honest I wasn`t that keen but it was a free day out. We stood on the Tivoli and I was totally bemused by the noise and singing, which I tried to join in but didn`t know the words. The most terrified I`ve been was being threatened, or so I thought, for not singing by Dozy, a well known Miller to all who go (I was only nine don`t forget).

After that my brother took me to every home and away game until I was old enough to take my self. Each weekend that loomed became a time of excitement as I knew I was going to the game, a feeling I still feel to this day (without this feeling it wouldn`t be worth it).

Win - I would feel on cloud nine
Lose - I would blame everyone except my beloved team
Draw - I would just accept they were lucky

I have seen us going up and down the leagues, playing in some appalling freezing cold grounds; getting hammered and generally looking sh1*e but still the excitement was there the next weekend.

One of the worse grounds I`ve been to has to be Wigan`s Springfield on a freezing Tuesday night in contrast to the JBB which is one of the best, though my favourite has to be the Madjeski.

Some of the great times for me were the 1980/81 season which, although cost us dearly afterwards, gave us a carnival of pleasure and a pride to belong to RUFC. Another great time was 1996 and the Wembley Final - an ambition I never thought I`d see. My beloved Rotherham stepping onto Wembley turf.

Dare I say that Ronnie Moore gave me some great times and the visit to the Isle of Man Tournament, although sh1*e was a great time spent in great company.

The loss of fellow Millers, former managers and relegations we have had to endure are always the most upsetting but, as a Miller, you learn to accept and move on in the hope that we will get our act together and bounce back to our rightful place.

For me, being a Miller is a way of life, the excitement and pleasure of the company of fellow Millers, especially Zip, Dave R, Mexxy, Dave Chamberlain, Scott, Hos, Railly and a host of fellow postees makes it all worth while. We aren`t, and never will be, an Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U, but what we are is a close community of passionate football fans who follow the best football team in the World

ROTHERHAM UNITED

That is good enough for me - U.T.M.

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