F.A Cup 4th Round - Millwall away

[silhillvilla]

I'll be going and will be meeting up with a few Millwall supporting mates probably only after the game. Should be interesting attempting to meet up with them.

Was planning to do the same but now have an excuse not to go. They were looking into security arrangements - genuinely.

[Legion]

Might have known , just checked man city, man utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, spurs !

It's almost like they aren't even interested in shocks anymore. I thought that was what the cup was all about?

Yes, we might win this one.

[nico2708]

Crystal Palace or Stoke City v Manchester City Saturday 26 January at 12.45pm ITV1

West Ham United or Manchester United v Fulham or Blackpool Saturday 26 January at 5.30pm ESPN

Brentford or Southend United v Chelsea Sunday 27th January at 12pm ESPN

Leeds United or Birmingham City v Tottenham Hotspur Sunday 27th January at 2pm ESPN

Oldham Athletic v Liverpool Sunday 27 January at 4pm ITV1

[PONGO49]

After last night, not fancying winner this game as much

[AlwaysAVFC]

I'll be going and will be meeting up with a few Millwall supporting mates probably only after the game. Should be interesting attempting to meet up with them.

Was planning to do the same but now have an excuse not to go. They were looking into security arrangements - genuinely.

Just depends where we arrange, its pretty likely I'll have no choice but to go back to London Bridge. So either round there or on matchdays and fridays actually they usually drink in a pub in Elephant & Castle, so that will be most likely. I'll be stopping at one of their houses in Rotherhithe so worse case scenario will heading back the other way.

[DeKuip]

I wasn't going to bother posting my experience of the New Den as it was 10 years ago, but since our game has been moved to a Friday night it is now a bit more relevant. I went there with Wolves on a Friday night towards the end of the season in 2002. It was a big game as both teams were in or around the play-off places, so tensions were high.

Getting to the ground was OK - train from London Bridge and lots of police all along the short walk to the stadium so not much potential for trouble. Wolves brought a decent following - the upper tier was sold out and they had the middle of the lower tier too. I got the sense that some Millwall fans consider it as some kind of affront or challenge when an away team has fans in the lower tier.

The corner sections of the lower tier had tarpaulins tied across them to prevent fans moving towards the corners, presumably to keep them out of missile range of the Millwall fans. On both sides of the ground the Millwall fans who had chosen to position themselves as close as possible to the away fans were exactly what you'd expect - foul, nose-like urchins who spent the entire 90 minutes baiting the away fans.

Anyway if I remember correctly Millwall won 1-0, which you might expect would lead to a quietish time afterwards ... far from it! The Wolves fans were kept in a pen just behind the away end for what seemed like an eternity. There was a helicopter overhead and you could tell something was going on. A few Wolves fans were giving it the 'let us out' bit to the police but I didn't feel too many were enthusiastic to be let out. Eventually the gates opened and we were walked back towards the station with one of the biggest police escorts I've seen - riot police, mounted police and police vans. Every side street we passed was full of Millwall fans battling with the police trying to get at us. I have to say it was quite intimidating and one of those occasions where I'm not ashamed to admit I was very glad of the police presence.

We did make it back to the station unscathed but I dread to think what would have happened if the Met's finest had not been there in such numbers. It was only a few weeks later that Blues were there in the play-offs and that time the Millwall fans really did go mad after the game.

I've also been to the New Den when they played West Ham but that one didn't seem anywhere near as intimidating, probably as I was in the home end and it was on a Sunday morning rather than a Friday night.

My advice to those travelling to this one would be to take the train from London Bridge and stay with the crowd. I wouldn't fancy making my way back to a car in a small group as they are as bad as the noses for picking on stragglers.

With respect, it's changed a hell of a lot there since then. From the station at South Bermondsy away fans walk through a cage straight into the ground. As a Leeds supporting friend said to me, it's so well policed down there now you won't even see a Millwall fan if you go by train or coach until you're in the ground. If you're seeking the adrenalin rush you used to get by going there he suggests zip-wiring in from the top of The Shard!

[Chico Hamilton III]

Just googled and its about opposing the closure of the hospital.

http://www.savelewishamhospital.com/

It's at the bottom of my road. Both my kids were born there ( as was Bill Wyman, many years before).

Watch Question Time tonight - from Goldsmiths College up the road in New Cross. I expect Lewisham hospital to be mentioned

Anyway, back on topic......

[aev]

Just googled and its about opposing the closure of the hospital.

http://www.savelewishamhospital.com/

It's at the bottom of my road. Both my kids were born there ( as was Bill Wyman, many years before).

Watch Question Time tonight - from Goldsmiths College up the road in New Cross. I expect Lewisham hospital to be mentioned

Anyway, back on topic......

You in Ladywell then? I might get the same train as you.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Live about 200 yards from Ladywell Station.

Although I don't go into Charing Cross from Ladywell any more, I get the DLR to Canary Wharf. I used to see a fella on the Ladywell train with a Villa rucksack, going to Cannon Street. That you?

[damon loves JT]

Now that it's a Friday night game I won't be walking to the ground. I really hope there isn't any trouble but I wouldn't rule it out now. Frankly a `Night Of Shame At The Den' is the last thing our season needs.

[aev]

Live about 200 yards from Ladywell Station.

Although I don't go into Charing Cross from Ladywell any more, I get the DLR to Canary Wharf. I used to see a fella on the Ladywell train with a Villa rucksack, going to Cannon Street. That you?

Nope not me. I think I know the ruck sack bloke He used to get the same early train as me ...the 5.58 from Hayes. I never spoke to him though as he looked so fkn miserable. Mind you we all probably do....

[Meanwood Villa]

Crystal Palace or Stoke City v Manchester City Saturday 26 January at 12.45pm ITV1

West Ham United or Manchester United v Fulham or Blackpool Saturday 26 January at 5.30pm ESPN

Brentford or Southend United v Chelsea Sunday 27th January at 12pm ESPN

Leeds United or Birmingham City v Tottenham Hotspur Sunday 27th January at 2pm ESPN

Oldham Athletic v Liverpool Sunday 27 January at 4pm ITV1

What a sodding joke picking the Man U one is. At home? Against Fulham or Blackpool? Ooh the excitement. If West Ham win at least it might be more competitive but hardly a thrilling prospect either.

[London Villan]

I'm sure it was deal done with the FA to stop manu leaving the FA Cup again that all their ties have to be on TV.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Nope not me. I think I know the ruck sack bloke He used to get the same early train as me ...the 5.58 from Hayes. I never spoke to him though as he looked so fkn miserable. Mind you we all probably do....

Glad it's not you because I did try to strike up a conversation with him once and he was a miserable twat. It was the morning after the Spurs debacle last season. He hadn't been to the game and he hadn't watched it on Sky. Felt like taking his ruck sack off him and telling him he didn't deserve it....

[Clampy]

The game being on a Friday has put paid to me going unfortunatley. Whoever dreamt up football on a Friday night ought to be threatened with a dead fish.