Spirit of the terraces: Millmoor, no less, the former home of Rotherham United, still going.

Words: Glenn Poulton

Images: Glenn Poulton

At first glance you'd think Millmoor Stadium was abandoned and with it being 12 years and counting since Rotherham United last kicked a ball there, even the keenest of groundhoppers would put money on it being off the to do list any time soon.

However, on closer inspection, if you peer over the stands from the Coronation Bridge that runs past, you may notice the pitch has been maintained to a good standard all along.

Originally opened in 1907 for Rotherham County FC, who merged with Rotherham Town to form Rotherham United, the team we now know and currently sit bottom of the Championship table.

After a dispute with the former owners of the club, a decision was made to move to a modern all seater stadium only a stone's throw away after more than 100 years at Millmoor. A few seasons at the Don Valley athletics stadium in Sheffield came in between.

©Glenn Poulton/ Terrace Edition. Millmoor.

With a then capacity of 8,300, Millmoor was in the middle of an upgrade, the main stand was mid-way through being modernised when the plug was pulled and the club decided it was not worth completing as they had decided on a move away and a new era for The Millers.

The Tivoli end, the home supporters section was made all-seater in in the early 2000's, the other two sides do also have plastic seats but it feels like a time capsule of a 'proper' football ground with its four different sized stands and layouts.

The passage that runs full length of the lane to the away end, the clock above the Millmoor Lane stand, old rusting turnstiles and the giants floodlights in each corner are features that football purists love to see and are still intact.

Luckily anyone who wants to take a step back in time for nostalgia's sake can do so on Sunday mornings thanks to Wickersley Youth Junior FC, who are now using the facilities. I was in attendance for their 5-2 home win against Sheffield Allstars in the Sheffield and District Junior Sunday League in February amongst about 100-ish souls wanting to ticks this previously forgot ground off (plus some parents).

Once a ground that could host up to 25,000 spectators and that hosted the first ever League Cup Final (first leg) in 1961, is now home to WYJFC u16's.

Who knows how long it will be around for, so make the most of it while you can.

There are things that elevate us: Sticking by your mates, kindness, football and you can feel the spirit of the terraces at Millmoor.

The u16 team have a great relationship with the stadium owners, The Booth Family, who have been kind enough to let the team use the ground and even supply a groundsman for the pitch so they could get fixtures on after recent weeks of constant rain and postponed games at their main pitch.

Plus, with the help of club volunteers they managed to get a small section of the Tivoli stand up to a safe standard to let people in. This is still on a trial basis, so who knows if this will still be going on next season.

Fingers crossed some funding can be found to upgrade the changing rooms, toilets, etc for the Millmoor legacy to carry on.

Meanwhile, the spirits sweep between the seats.