Mid table

[Nardendee]

Thank you all for your comments.
Yes 1972/73 really was a season for all seasons, a once in a lifetime season you would think but for all the wrong reasons.

Everything conspired to relegate us that season. The point made about our goal average taking a beating by Bournemouth that season is a good one. In fact we lost 11-2 over the two games with them. I am struggling to recall much about that game. I was there but vaguely recall us scoring first but lost one or maybe both goalkeepers to injury, but remember an outfield player going in goal, so there were mitigating circumstances to a point. Bournemouths last game of the season was at Halifax who had to win (Bournemouth had nothing to play for and it showed). It finished Halifax Town 2 Bournemouth 0.

I already mentioned the fiasco at Bolton and at home to Oldham and York plus Halifax achieving safety after the regular season had finished for most teams.
I went to most games at home that season and quite a few away.

We played in the fourth division for the first time in 1973/74. The fourth level was introduced for the first time in 1958 to replace the old Division 3 North and South divisions.
In that first season in League 4 and the season after, I went to most games home and away. One particular game was a major highlight. September 8th 1973. Crewe Alexandra 1 Rotherham United 8.
Crewe scored first but we managed to lead 2-1at half time. We went on Riley?s and had the window smashed coming away from the ground. In typical Rotherham fashion, the return game at Millmoor finished 1-1.

Yes I went to many classics of the lowest kind that season. The highlights ?.sorry lowlights of the season were the following:

First ever game in Div. 4 :
Northampton 3 Millers 1

My first ever visit to Somerton Park:
Newport County 1 Millers 0. A speedway track surrounded the ground with all 4 corner arcs on the track. Welcome to Division 4. A flying winger called Harold Jarman terrorised us which was odd because, with great respect he must have been about 70.

I was also in attendance at 3 games within a week, bizarrely featuring just two opponents, ie opponents in the first game featured also in the second game who played opponents who played us in the third game. They featured three x 1-0 wins. Two at home and one away, none of which produced a goal for us. The team that beat us also lost by the same score that very weekend.

The games were :
Sat.23rd February 1973
Millers 0 Darlington 1. I seem to recall a terrific 30 yard own goal by Trevor Swift but this blurs a little.

Sun.24th February 1973 - one day after the above
Barnsley 1 Darlington 0

Sunday. 3rd March 1973
Barnsley 1 Millers 0

It was the time of power cuts & Darlington wanted to save travel costs by playing two games in the same area over 2 days.

Other classics:
Rotherham 1 Workington 1
Rotherham 1 Doncaster 2

In fact reminiscing of this period has rejuvenated my passion for this great club and reminded me it is my team win lose or draw, and, even though we are having a none event of a season, things like the above, could be worse?..much worse.

Win lose or draw it is our team. United we stand divided we fall. Lets work together. Oddly enough that used to be our run on tune years ago, It might have replaced Mighty Quinn but my memory fades in the mists of time.

Up them Mighty Millers.

[CAMiller]

Thank you all for your comments.
Yes 1972/73 really was a season for all seasons, a once in a lifetime season you would think but for all the wrong reasons.

Everything conspired to relegate us that season. The point made about our goal average taking a beating by Bournemouth that season is a good one. In fact we lost 11-2 over the two games with them. I am struggling to recall much about that game. I was there but vaguely recall us scoring first but lost one or maybe both goalkeepers to injury, but remember an outfield player going in goal, so there were mitigating circumstances to a point. Bournemouths last game of the season was at Halifax who had to win (Bournemouth had nothing to play for and it showed). It finished Halifax Town 2 Bournemouth 0.

I already mentioned the fiasco at Bolton and at home to Oldham and York plus Halifax achieving safety after the regular season had finished for most teams.
I went to most games at home that season and quite a few away.

We played in the fourth division for the first time in 1973/74. The fourth level was introduced for the first time in 1958 to replace the old Division 3 North and South divisions.
In that first season in League 4 and the season after, I went to most games home and away. One particular game was a major highlight. September 8th 1973. Crewe Alexandra 1 Rotherham United 8.
Crewe scored first but we managed to lead 2-1at half time. We went on Riley?s and had the window smashed coming away from the ground. In typical Rotherham fashion, the return game at Millmoor finished 1-1.

Yes I went to many classics of the lowest kind that season. The highlights ?.sorry lowlights of the season were the following:

First ever game in Div. 4 :
Northampton 3 Millers 1

My first ever visit to Somerton Park:
Newport County 1 Millers 0. A speedway track surrounded the ground with all 4 corner arcs on the track. Welcome to Division 4. A flying winger called Harold Jarman terrorised us which was odd because, with great respect he must have been about 70.

I was also in attendance at 3 games within a week, bizarrely featuring just two opponents, ie opponents in the first game featured also in the second game who played opponents who played us in the third game. They featured three x 1-0 wins. Two at home and one away, none of which produced a goal for us. The team that beat us also lost by the same score that very weekend.

The games were :
Sat.23rd February 1973
Millers 0 Darlington 1. I seem to recall a terrific 30 yard own goal by Trevor Swift but this blurs a little.

Sun.24th February 1973 - one day after the above
Barnsley 1 Darlington 0

Sunday. 3rd March 1973
Barnsley 1 Millers 0

It was the time of power cuts & Darlington wanted to save travel costs by playing two games in the same area over 2 days.

Other classics:
Rotherham 1 Workington 1
Rotherham 1 Doncaster 2

In fact reminiscing of this period has rejuvenated my passion for this great club and reminded me it is my team win lose or draw, and, even though we are having a none event of a season, things like the above, could be worse?..much worse.

Win lose or draw it is our team. United we stand divided we fall. Lets work together. Oddly enough that used to be our run on tune years ago, It might have replaced Mighty Quinn but my memory fades in the mists of time.

Up them Mighty Millers.

That's the spirit Nardendee.

I think Carl Gilbert went in goal for part of that Bournemouth game and he also scored one or maybe both our goals. Trevor Womble might also have gone in goal but I could be mixing that up with another game where I think he went on goal and we kept a clean sheet (or he could have done both I suppose?).

I was trainspotting at Crewe the day of the 8-1 win and listening to the game updates on the radio (and directly from the cheers that could be heard from the ground).

[Nardendee]

That's the spirit Nardendee.

I think Carl Gilbert went in goal for part of that Bournemouth game and he also scored one or maybe both our goals. Trevor Womble might also have gone in goal but I could be mixing that up with another game where I think he went on goal and we kept a clean sheet (or he could have done both I suppose?).

I was trainspotting at Crewe the day of the 8-1 win and listening to the game updates on the radio (and directly from the cheers that could be heard from the ground).

Carl Gilbert. Now there?s a player. Do you remember him scoring all 4 goals against Swansea in 1971/72. He got a shed load of goals that season.

[mellowmiller]

Carl Gilbert. Now there?s a player. Do you remember him scoring all 4 goals against Swansea in 1971/72. He got a shed load of goals that season.

The game against Bournemouth was surreal.
I remember Carl Gilbert scored 2 but then went in goal when Jim McDonagh got injured and conceded 3.
I'm pretty sure we had another change of keepers but can't remember who the third one was.

[mellowmiller]

The game against Bournemouth was surreal.
I remember Carl Gilbert scored 2 but then went in goal when Jim McDonagh got injured and conceded 3.
I'm pretty sure we had another change of keepers but can't remember who the third one was.

Think the third keeper might have been Mick Leng.

[avondalemiller]

Think the third keeper might have been Mick Leng.

Yes, it was Mick Leng. Their CF was Mcdougall(?) but it was their other forward who scored 3 of their goals, all against a different keeper. Brian Clark.......not heard it come up in a quiz yet......
..........Strange game.

[Jocksgloves1]

Think McDougall had just been sold to Man Utd, and his replacement Brian Hughes got four, but of course it was a long time ago.
Curiously, their 7 goals were the most we conceded in a game at Millmoor. Our record goals against at NYS is 5. Guess which team achieved that?

[CAMiller]

Think McDougall had just been sold to Man Utd, and his replacement Brian Hughes got four, but of course it was a long time ago.
Curiously, their 7 goals were the most we conceded in a game at Millmoor. Our record goals against at NYS is 5. Guess which team achieved that?

I am useful for something then. I was at both those games. I'll make sure to let it known when I next make an appearance

[avondalemiller]

Think McDougall had just been sold to Man Utd, and his replacement Brian Hughes got four, but of course it was a long time ago.
Curiously, their 7 goals were the most we conceded in a game at Millmoor. Our record goals against at NYS is 5. Guess which team achieved that?

Thanks Jock, it was a long time ago so i'll stand corrected.......utm.

10th October was the 2-7 game........and we lost the return 4-0 on 3rd Feb 1973.

[avondalemiller]

Jock, he signed for Man Utd 27th Sept just before we played them.