Millers Memoirs - Lincoln City

[Hazza Has A Gazza]

Saturday 9th of August 2008. A significant date in the history of RUFC in more ways than one. It was the first game of the 08/09 season, which we would start with a 17 point defecit. And if that wasn't bad enough, it was the first game of many at the Don Valley Stadium. 'Home of Sheffield Eagles' it said, on the faded signs above the rusty disused turnstile blocks around the outer perimeters of the stadium.

So, on a warm sunny day, Rotherham supporters descended on the seedy wasteland on the outskirts of Sheffield known as Attercliffe, and sampled the hospitality around the imposing but unimpressive stadium. Coach load after coach load of Millers fans arrived to breath life back into the run-down boozers - the C ocked Hat was heaving, the Brittania was bustling and the one across the road (anyone remember the name?) had taken more in an hour than it had in the previous 12 months combined.

An healthy following of Lincoln supporters had come to join the party too, around 1100 from memory.
After a few shandys we made our way to the turnstiles.. wtf! A queue?! This place holds 25000, there's a million turnstiles, how can there be a queue? Two queues in fact, and after standing in the wrong one for 10 minutes (tickets only), I joined the back of the queue for the cash turnstile.
After finally entering the premises, we began the 10 mile trek to the actual stand. Trams rattled by as the we approached the large steel and glass structure that which would become a familiar sight for the next four years. Over the little bridge, through the glass doors and we were in. Wow, huge concourses, well staffed refreshment kiosks aplenty, weird toilet arrangements but nemind, let's find our seats.

We sat in the lower block nearest the away section as we figured that's where the atmosphere will most likely be. Wrong. The Tivoli Quire had all bought season tickets at the opposite side of the stand, ensuring there would never be any kind of atmosphere at any game for the next 4 years. I blame Deano for this. The Lincoln fans were loud and lively though.

One thing that was noticeable was the climate. It was a good 10 degrees cooler inside the stadium, with rain clouds gathering above. We didn't know it at the time but this was a permanent phenomena.
The view wasn't really that bad though, considering. We could see the goal posts nearest to us and could just about make out the ones at the other side.

I'd like, at this point, to talk about the match itself, but 11 years, a playoff final defeat, three promotions, two relegations and a new stadium have clouded the memory of events on the field. All I know is we won the game 1-0 thanks to a goal just before half time from new signing and live wire Reuben Reid.

It was the start of a four year adventure that quickly lost its novelty appeal. Our suffering would eventually be rewarded in spectacular style with back to back promotions and a steady flow of Championship football in a new stadium.
Don Valley Stadium is no more.

[PerigordMiller]

Thanks for that Hazza.

That was the last time, I think, I did back-to-back home games. The last one at Millmoor (against Barnet?) and the first at Death Valley.

Like you, don't remember much about the game, it was all about getting the first 3 points. I think Reid broke away for a 1 on 1 with the keeper and chipped him?

[sawmiller]

Interesting read that thanks for posting - where did we finish that season when we started on -17 just be interested to know where we did actually finish and where we would have finished without that huge deduction ?

[Townerslovechild]

Ah, Death Valley.....nice warm bogs, alcohol on site, plenty of leg room, I'm struggling with any more positive now.

[wrinkly]

When NYS was being built I spent hours wandering round the site, taking 100s of photos of the development.

I thought I was pretty familiar with the place by the time it opened but I wasn't prepared for the massive buzz when I walked up for the first match. I struggled to hold back the tears when I walked into the stadium. I could hardly believe that this was now home for little old us. I'm still in awe of the place now.

I was also close to tears when I first walked into DVS. I had gone for a pre season visit to pick out my seat before purchasing my season ticket. Certainly Millmoor was knackered but what sort of place was this to watch footie? What level had we sunk to?

A necessary evil though to help us on our path to what we have now. Turned out well.

[Scum-Triumphant]

Faras

[frogmiller]

Interesting read that thanks for posting - where did we finish that season when we started on -17 just be interested to know where we did actually finish and where we would have finished without that huge deduction ?

If memory serves we'd have finished just outside the play offs but we were well clear of relegation.

[frogmiller]

ah, death valley.....nice warm bogs, alcohol on site, plenty of leg room, i'm struggling with any more positive now.

alf

[Scum-Triumphant]

https://www.11v11.com/matches/rother...t-2008-281456/

Check out the Irish lad that came off their bench. Whatever happened to him?

[sawmiller]

If memory serves we'd have finished just outside the play offs but we were well clear of relegation.

Thanks frog appreciated your memory working better than mine with this one before your pain of being located in that place was worth it looking at where we are now and what we have now much to be grateful for with Tony Stewart in charge