Millwall away 4th October

A, V and I went on the train, though some people thought we were mad, given the reputation (for violence) of the Millwall fans.

Glad we did. Winning 4-0 away to Millwall - who are above us in the league. It doesn't come much better than that! The first goal - in front of us - was nothing special, but the second was a delight. Baldock rounding the goal-keeper and calmly slotting it in from a tight angle. Our third was an embarrasing (for them) own goal, and the Millwall fans were non-too-happy by then. A small group of youngsters who'd been trying to intimidate us now took to keeping the ball when it went out (or maybe they didn't start that 'till we'd got our 4th?). Time wasting when your team is losing!

Part of the experience of going away to Millwall is the intimidation, and they didn't disappoint! There's a fenced walkway from the station to the ground, so it is pretty intimidating even when the Millwall fans are not there. On the way out, they let us know how they felt, from behind a line of police, making it clear they intended to 'get us' on the train. In the end I wasn't aware of anything actually taking place - except that one of them threw a coin at us - and I expect for most of them it is all part of the theatre.

Still, it was nothing like I've encountered anywhere else. Contrary to what might be the not-football-watching-public might expect, I've never felt seriously threatened anywhere else, and at most places felt positively welcomed ("hope you have great day but lose").

Looking in on one of the Millwall fans forums though, they did not come across at all pleasant. Stuff like the damage they'll do to our stadium on the return match, and some thinly-disguised racism. The club itself have obviously been working hard to move on, but 'unreformed' still seems a good label for at least some of their fans.