FIVE Reasons We Hate Millwall

It was Tuesday August 25 2009, a day the Metropolitan police and the FA had dreaded since the Carling cup draw was announced that West Ham United would be taking on Millwall at Upton Park.

But for the fans a game to relish, a chance to settle old scores, which firm could puff their chests out the furthest, who is the harder. To me this seems to be like two brothers, the bigger brother waiting to get revenge on the little brother after being told on. In truth this would be the first time I would understand the pure hatred between the two sides.

At the time of the game I was on holiday in Greece, I could feel the tension from my seat in the sports bar, watching through a tiny black TV, the scenes I saw that day shocked me if I’m honest. I remember thinking to myself “this isn’t why I love football; this isn’t why I love West Ham”. For the first time in my life I found myself embarrassed to support West Ham. But when I heard of the shameful behaviour from the Millwall fans that day, I was more embarrassed for them. I saw one of my favourite players, Jack Collison walk off the pitch in tears, following vile chants of “where’s your daddy gone” just days after the tragic loss of his father.

So just why do they hate each other? I have looked into reasons why West Ham ‘hates’ Millwall. And here are my top 5.

At number 5: I will start with the historical background to why the two clubs have this irrational hatred of each other. It dates back 1926 during the dock strike. Where both rival docks agreed to strike, but it was the blue half of the docks who stopped striking first which led to tension between the two docks.

At number 4: The gang culture of football, during the 70’s and 80’s football hooliganism was at its highest point, and the ICF of West Ham were known as one of the best football gangs. Back in those days football wasn’t just football to be enjoyed as a spectacle for the skill on show; it was a tribal warfare between clubs you had to win on the pitch and off it. The ICF and the bushwackers of Millwall were always battling for supremacy in firm stakes. So when the teams met again in 2009 the fight to settle of scores began again.

At number 3: West Ham see them as a club that’s close to them, close to them place wise and statue wise ( I know that’s going to anger a few hammers but it’s true) both clubs have had their glory, admittedly ours on a bigger stage. But they have had their glory and we see them as an annoying brother. Sometimes we come to blows, take the mickey, however as much as they claim to hate us I believe both clubs respect each other. Respect each other’s firms; respect each other’s teams for what they are.

At number 2: For me personally, why I dislike them so much, is the racist chants and horrible chants towards Carlton Cole and Jack Collison respectively, fair enough abuse opposition fans all you like try to spark a reaction. But to attack a player just because of the colour of their skin or the team they play for. An example of this isn’t West Ham related but Cardiff and Gary Speed related. It was just barely 2 weeks after the death of Gary Speed who tragically killed himself. Towards the end of the game, it was heard that the Millwall fans chanted “Where’s your Speedy gone, Where’s your Speedy gone?” I found that disrespectful and uncalled for and I think that’s why not just West Ham but a fair few clubs dislike them.

At number 1: This is my main reason for ‘hating’ them, the actions of their fans, the way the fans albeit a small minority still have the view of football as hooliganism culture, one team fans have to smash in another teams fans. When I saw the images from 2009 I was shocked, it questioned me to whether this is what I wanted to follow. I admit that day was as much West Hams fault as Millwalls fault. The sheer bloody violence and hatred that masked that day’s victory and the way Millwall just does it wherever they go, smash up the away end, attack fans, is worrying for the game. Thankfully I stuck with it and 2 years on, I’m in my second year of my season ticket and my love for football is stronger than ever before.

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