Rotherham United F.C.

Rotherham United Football Club, nicknamed The Millers,[1] is a professional association football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The team compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, following their promotion from League One in the 2019–20 season.

Rotherham United
Full nameRotherham United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Millers
Founded27 May 1925 (27 May 1925)
GroundNew York Stadium
Capacity12,021
ChairmanTony Stewart
ManagerPaul Warne
LeagueChampionship
2019–20League One, 2nd of 23 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

Founded in 1925 as a merger between Rotherham County (1877)[2] and Rotherham Town (1899), the club's colours were initially yellow and black, but changed to the red and white around 1930.[3] Rotherham United play their home games at New York Stadium, a 12,021 capacity all-seater stadium, having previously played since its foundation at Millmoor for 101 years. Joining the Football League back in 1925, Rotherham spent the first 25 years of their time in the Third Division North, the lowest level of the Football League, finally gaining promotion to the Second Division at the end of the 1950–51 season.[4]

The Millers featured in the inaugural League Cup final in 1961,[5] won the 1996 Football League Trophy and the 1946 Football League North Cup. They also achieved two separate back to back promotions in 1999–2001 under Ronnie Moore and 2012–2014 under Steve Evans.

History
Main article: History of Rotherham United F.C.
For a statistical breakdown by season, see List of Rotherham United F.C. seasons.
The first Rotherham United kit (1925)

The club's roots go back to 1877, when the club was formed as Thornhill Football Club (later Thornhill United).[2] George Cook was the trainer around this time. For many years the leading team in the area was Rotherham Town, who spent three seasons in the Football League while Thornhill United were still playing in the Sheffield & Hallamshire League. By the turn of the century, however, Town had resigned from the Football League and gone out of business; a new club of the same name later joined the Midland League.[2] Meanwhile, Thornhill's fortunes were on the rise to the extent that in 1905 they laid claim to being the pre-eminent club in the town and changed their name to Rotherham County. For a period both clubs competed in the Midland League, finishing first and second in 1911–12. Rotherham County became members of the second division of the Football league in 1919 whilst Rotherham Town failed to become elected to the third division northern section the following year. By 1925 County's fortunes had declined and they had to seek re-election to the third division. By this time it had become clear that to have two professional clubs in the town was not sustainable. Talks had begun in February 1925 and in early May the two clubs merged to form Rotherham United. Days later the reformed club was formally re-elected to the Football League under its new name.

The red and white kit was adopted around 1930 after playing in amber and black, but there was no improvement in the club's fortunes: in 1931 they again had to apply for re-election. Immediately after the Second World War things looked up. The Millers won the only post-war edition of the Football League Third Division North Cup in 1946 beating Chester 5–4 on aggregate. They then finished as runners-up three time in succession between 1947 and 1949 and then were champions of Division Three (North) in 1951. Rotherham reached their highest ever league position of third in the Football League Second Division in 1955, when only goal average denied them a place in the top flight after they finished level on points with champions Birmingham City and runners-up Luton Town. During that season they had notable results including a 6–1 win over Liverpool. In 1961 the Millers beat Aston Villa 2–0 at Millmoor in the inaugural League Cup final first leg; they lost the second leg 3–0 however at Villa Park. The second leg was played the season after due to Villa having a 'Congested Fixture List'. The club held on to its place in Division Two until 1968 and then went into a decline that took them down to Division Four in 1973. In 1975 they were promoted back to the Third Division finishing in the 3rd promotion spot in the Fourth Division. The Millers won the Division Three title in the 1980-81 season, and missed out on a second consecutive promotion by four points, finishing seventh In the second tier (then Division 2) 1981-82. They have not finished this high since.[6] This season also saw Rotherham accomplish their highest-scoring second-tier league double, beating Chelsea 6-0 at home (31 October 1981) and 4-1 away at Stamford Bridge (20 March 1982).[7]

During the 1990s Rotherham were promoted and relegated between the Football League's lowest two divisions and they slipped into the Fourth Division in 1991, just two years after being promoted, but reclaimed their status in the third tier (renamed Division Two for the 1992–93 season due to the launch of the FA Premier League) by finishing third in the Fourth Division in 1992. They survived at this level for five years, never looking like promotion contenders, before being relegated in 1997. In 1996 Rotherham United made their first trip to Wembley, beating Shrewsbury 2–1 to win the Football League Trophy, with two goals from Nigel Jemson giving Rotherham the win, with over 20,000 Rotherham United fans following them. In 1997, just after relegation to Division Three, Ronnie Moore took charge of Rotherham United. His first season ended in a mid-table finish and then his second in a play-off semi-final defeat on penalties to Leyton Orient. In 1999–2000 as Rotherham finished as Division Three runners-up and gained promotion to Division Two, where they finished runners-up and won a second successive promotion.

Chart of historic table positions of Rotherham United in the League.

Rotherham managed to remain in Division One for four seasons, and after relegation to League One in 2005, Mick Harford took over as the Millers' manager, but was sacked after a run of 17 games without a win. Harford was replaced by youth team coach, Alan Knill. Early in 2006 it was announced that the club faced an uncertain future unless a funding gap in the region of £140,000 per month could be plugged. An intervention at the latest possible time by a consortium of local businessmen kept them in business.[8] The final match of the 2005–06 season, home to Milton Keynes Dons, was a winner-take-all relegation showdown where a scoreless draw kept Rotherham up. Rotherham United began their second successive year in League One with a 10-point deficit as a result of the CVA which saved the club from liquidation. The club initially pulled the points back but, after losing key playmaker Lee Williamson and star striker Will Hoskins in the January transfer window, the Millers sat 13 points adrift of safety, making the threat of relegation inevitable. This resulted in Knill being sacked on 1 March, with Mark Robins becoming caretaker manager.

Robins's position was made permanent on 6 April 2007,[9] but he was not able to save Rotherham from relegation. The Millers spent the majority of the 2007–08 season in the automatic promotion places but in mid-March 2008 it was revealed that Rotherham had again entered administration and would be deducted 10 points. Local businessman Tony Stewart then took over as chairman for the 2008–09 season and took the club out of administration via a Creditors Voluntary Agreement, resulting in a 17-point deduction.[10] The Millers were subsequently forced to leave Millmoor, their home of over 100 years, for the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, after disputes with the landlords.[11] The Millers had a successful season under the new regime, wiping out the point deficit and being in contention for a play-off place. Rotherham were also involved in two cup runs, reaching the Football League Trophy Northern Final and the League Cup last 16. This included victories over higher league opposition in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City and Leeds United.

Mark Robins kept the majority of the team together from the 2008–09 campaign, whilst bolstering his squad with high calibre signings in the form of Nicky Law and the prolific goalscorer Adam le Fondre. The 2009–10 season started well until Mark Robins controversially departed to rivals Barnsley in September, leaving the Millers at the top of the league. Former manager Ronnie Moore replaced him and led the club to their first ever play-off final and first trip to the new Wembley Stadium, where they lost 3–2 loss. In March 2011, following poor form he left Rotherham by mutual consent, and Andy Scott replaced him until he was sacked in March 2012. Steve Evans succeeded him, in the first season at the New York Stadium, and won promotion by finishing second in League Two. In the 2013–14 League One season, Rotherham gained a place in the League One play-offs, where they defeated Preston North End in the semi-finals to set up a second play-off final at Wembley Stadium in four years.[12] In the final against Leyton Orient, the game went to a penalty shoot-out, where two saves from Adam Collin secured a second successive promotion for the club.[13]

In the 2014–15 Championship season, Rotherham's first after a nine-year absence, their survival was jeopardised by a points deduction for fielding the ineligible Farrend Rawson during their home win against Brighton & Hove Albion,[14] Farrend Rawson's loan had expired two days prior to the match, and despite the club insisting it was an external administrative error, they were subsequently thrown back into a relegation battle with Wigan Athletic and Millwall.[15] but safety was secured in the penultimate game of the season, a 2–1 home victory against Reading.[16] Rotherham sold key players from their promotion winning campaigns before the 2015–16 season, including Ben Pringle, Craig Morgan and Kari Arnason. Evans left the club in September[17] and former Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn was appointed as his replacement,[18] being sacked in February 2016 after a run of six defeats in eight games.[19] Neil Warnock was appointed as manager for the rest of the season,[20] and the club stayed up, finishing 21st. Warnock left the club in May 2016 after not agreeing a contract extension.[21] Alan Stubbs became the new Rotherham boss in June 2016,[22] His first win came on 20 August 2016, with Danny Ward scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win over Brentford.[23] but was sacked in October.[24][25] Rotherham replaced Stubbs with Kenny Jackett,[26] who himself was replaced with Paul Warne, as Rotherham finished the season bottom of the league and were relegated to League One.[27] At the first attempt, Rotherham returned to the Championship, defeating Shrewsbury in the play-off final.[28]

Stadium
Main articles: Millmoor, Don Valley Stadium, and New York Stadium
New York Stadium in mid-construction (4 Feb 2012).
New York Stadium

The club's traditional home was Millmoor in Rotherham where the team played from 1907 to 2008. On one side of the ground is the site of the new Main Stand which remains unfinished. It was hoped that the 4,500 capacity stand which is single tiered, all seated and covered, would be completed sometime during the 2006–07 season, but this had not come to fruition by the time the ground became disused in 2008. On the other side of the ground is the Millmoor Lane Stand, which has a mixture of covered and open seating. Roughly each section on this side is about a third of the length of the pitch. The covered seating in the middle of this stand looks quite distinctive, with several supporting pillars and an arched roof. Both ends are former terraces, with several supporting pillars and have now been made all seated. The larger of the two is the Tivoli End, which was used by home fans. It was noticeable that the pitch slopes up towards this end. The ground also benefits from a striking set of floodlights, the pylons of which are some of the tallest in the country at approximately 124 feet high. Following the failure of the owners of the club and the owners of Millmoor to reach a lease agreement the club left for the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield in 2008.[29]

Whilst a new purpose-built community stadium was being built in Rotherham, the club relocated to the Don Valley Stadium in nearby Sheffield for four seasons from 2008–09 to 2011–12.

In January 2010 the club announced that their new stadium, later named the AESSEAL New York Stadium, would be built on the former Guest and Chrimes foundry site in Rotherham town centre.[30] Preparation work on the site began in February 2010 to make way for the foundations to be put in place and for the old factory to be knocked down to make way for the stadium. Construction started in June 2011 and the first game played at the stadium was a pre-season match between Rotherham and Barnsley, held on 21 July 2012.[31] The Millers won 2–1; the first goal in the stadium was scored by Jacob Mellis of Barnsley, and David Noble scored Rotherham's first goal in their new home.[31] The New York Stadium made its league debut on 18 August 2012, in which Rotherham beat Burton Albion 3–0,[32] Daniel Nardiello scoring the first competitive goal in the ground.[33]

Rivalries

According to a survey conducted in August 2019, Rotherham supporters consider fellow Yorkshire clubs Doncaster Rovers, Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Leeds United their biggest rivals.[34]

Players

Current squad
As of 1 February 2021.[35]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  SWE Viktor Johansson
3 DF  ENG Joe Mattock
4 MF  WAL Shaun MacDonald
5 MF  ENG Lewis Wing (on loan from Middlesbrough)
6 DF  ENG Richard Wood
8 MF  ENG Ben Wiles
9 FW  ENG George Hirst (on loan from Leicester City)
10 FW  ENG Freddie Ladapo
11 MF  IRL Chiedozie Ogbene
15 DF  SCO Clark Robertson
16 MF  SCO Jamie Lindsay
17 MF  IRL Kieran Sadlier
18 DF  IRL Trevor Clarke
19 DF  ENG Wes Harding
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF  ENG Michael Ihiekwe
21 DF  ENG Angus MacDonald
22 DF  USA Matthew Olosunde
24 FW  ENG Michael Smith
25 MF  ENG Matt Crooks
26 MF  ENG Daniel Barlaser
27 GK  ENG Jamal Blackman (on loan from Chelsea)
28 MF  NED Florian Jozefzoon (on loan from Derby County)
30 MF  ENG Ryan Giles (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
31 GK  ENG Josh Vickers
33 DF  IRL Jake Southern-Cooper
34 FW  ENG Jacob Gratton
35 DF  ENG Jake Hull

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  ENG Billy Jones (On loan to Crewe Alexandra)
7 FW  NIR Kyle Vassell (On loan to Fleetwood Town)
14 MF  ENG Mickel Miller (On loan to Northampton Town)
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 DF  ENG Curtis Tilt (On loan to Wigan Athletic)
29 FW  ENG Jamie Proctor (On loan to Wigan Athletic)
32 FW  IRL Joshua Kayode (On loan to Carlisle United)

Staff

Current team management
As of 24 September 2020[36]
  • Manager: Paul Warne[37]
  • Assistant Manager: Richie Barker[38]
  • Goalkeeping Coach: Andy Warrington[39]
  • First Team Coach & Head of Academy Coaching: Matthew Hamshaw[40]
  • Head of Performance: Ross Burbeary[41]
  • Head of Medical Services: Stephen Gilpin
  • Head Physiotherapist: Mark Hoy
  • Head of Talent ID: Rob Scott[42]
  • Chief Scout: Chris Trotter[42]
  • Lead Technical Scout: Warren Spalding
  • Academy Manager: Richard Hairyes
  • Academy Head of Coaching: John Williams
  • Development Phase Lead Coach: Ciarán Toner
  • Youth Phase Lead Coach: Rob Poulter
  • Foundation Phase Lead Coach: Dave Atkinson
  • Head of Academy Physiotherapy: Jessica Shaw
  • Head of Academy Recruitment: Scott Duncanson

Managerial statistics
As of 27 May 2020
Name Nat From To Record
PWDLWin %
Billy Heald 1 August 1925 1 March 1929 165 55 38 72 033.33
Stan Davies 1 March 1929 31 May 1930 59 18 12 29 030.51
Billy Heald 1 August 1930 31 December 1933 150 49 27 74 032.67
Reg Freeman 1 January 1934 1 August 1952 523 252 97 174 048.18
Andy Smailes 1 August 1952 31 October 1958 278 109 50 119 039.21
Tom Johnston 1 December 1958 1 July 1962 174 63 47 64 036.21
Danny Williams 1 July 1962 1 February 1965 125 53 21 51 042.40
Jack Mansell 1 August 1965 31 May 1967 96 34 27 35 035.42
Tommy Docherty 1 November 1967 30 November 1968 52 16 17 19 030.77
Jim McAnearney 1 December 1968 1 May 1973 240 92 66 82 038.33
Jimmy McGuigan 1 May 1973 13 November 1979 341 131 91 119 038.42
Ian Porterfield 30 December 1979 30 June 1981 71 32 21 18 045.07
Emlyn Hughes 1 July 1981 21 March 1983 84 31 21 32 036.90
George Kerr 21 March 1983 31 May 1985 124 44 30 50 035.48
Norman Hunter 18 June 1985 9 December 1987 137 43 41 53 031.39
John Breckin 9 December 1987 23 December 1987 2 0 0 2 000.00
Dave Cusack 23 December 1987 1 April 1988 17 5 8 4 029.41
Billy McEwan 1 April 1988 1 January 1991 147 54 42 51 036.73
Phil Henson 1 January 1991 14 September 1994 199 75 55 69 037.69
John McGovern / Archie Gemmill 14 September 1994 31 July 1996 104 36 31 37 034.62
Danny Bergara 1 August 1996 24 May 1997 50 7 14 29 014.00
Ronnie Moore 24 May 1997 31 January 2005 398 143 121 134 035.93
Alan Knill (Caretaker) 31 January 2005 7 April 2005 74 20 19 35 027.03
Mick Harford 7 April 2005 10 December 2005 26 5 8 13 019.23
Alan Knill 10 December 2005 1 March 2007 64 18 17 29 028.13
Mark Robins 1 March 2007 9 September 2009 129 56 30 43 043.41
Steve Thornber (Caretaker) 9 September 2009 26 September 2009 3 1 2 0 033.33
Ronnie Moore 26 September 2009 21 March 2011 87 36 21 30 041.38
Andy Liddell (Caretaker) 25 March 2011 15 April 2011 4 1 1 2 025.00
Andy Scott 16 April 2011 17 March 2012 46 15 14 17 032.61
Darren Patterson (Caretaker) 19 March 2012 11 April 2012 5 4 0 1 080.00
Steve Evans 9 April 2012 28 September 2015 173 72 45 56 041.62
Eric Black (Caretaker) 1 October 2015 9 October 2015 1 0 0 1 000.00
Neil Redfearn 9 October 2015 8 February 2016 21 5 2 14 023.81
Neil Warnock 11 February 2016 18 May 2016 16 6 6 4 037.50
Alan Stubbs 1 June 2016 19 October 2016 14 1 3 10 007.14
Paul Warne (Caretaker) 19 October 2016 21 October 2016 0 0 0 0 !—
Kenny Jackett 21 October 2016 28 November 2016 5 0 1 4 000.00
Paul Warne 28 November 2016 Present 176 63 37 76 035.80

Club honours

League

Third tier of English football (EFL League One since 2004)

Fourth tier of English football (EFL League Two since 2004)

Cup

FA Cup

  • Fifth round: 1952–53, 1967–68

Football League Cup

Football League Trophy

Football League Third Division North Cup

  • Winners 1945–46[43]

Club records

Board of directors and ownership
See also: List of English football club owners

Sponsorship

Since 2015, the naming rights to the stadium are currently owned by local multimillion-pound company AESSEAL[55] The home kit is sponsored by local shopping centre Parkgate.[56] Both the away kit and third kit are sponsored by Balreed.[57][58]

On 16 May 2016, the club announced that the Handsworth-based firm Hodge Clemco are to be the home shirt sponsor for the 2016–17 season, replacing Parkgate Shopping who are now the back of shirt sponsor.[59]

In the tv series ChuckleVision There are often references made to the club, whom the brothers support in real life.[60] In "Football Heroes", Paul and Barry play for Rotherham after a mix-up with two former players of the club, Paul scores an own-goal and thinking it was a genuine goal, celebrates with Barry.

See also

References
  1. Rotherham history at talkfootball. Talkfootball.co.uk.
  2. "Rotherham United". 14 May 2011.
  3. Rotherham United kit history. historicalkits.co.uk.
  4. Rotherham League History 1925 – Present. rotherhamunited-mad.co.uk.
  5. League Cup history Archived 27 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. capitalonecup.co.uk.
  6. Rotherham United. 360Football (6 April 2007).
  7. Rotherham United v Chelsea history http://www.11v11.com/teams/rotherham-united/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Chelsea.
  8. Millers survival likely as new group takeover Rotherham United FC
  9. Millers name Robins as new boss BBC Sport, 6 April 2007
  10. Rotherham accept points penalty BBC Sport, 7 August 2008
  11. Troubled League Two clubs on the brink The Guardian, 6 August 2008
  12. "Rotherham heading to Wembley". BBC Sport.
  13. "Rotherham promoted to the Championship". BBC Sport.
  14. "Rotherham charged by Football League with fielding ineligible player". The Guardian.
  15. "Rotherham deducted 3 points by the football league". BBC Sport.
  16. "Rotherham secure Championship survival". BBC Sport.
  17. "Evans calls time on illustrious Rotherham spell". BBC Sport. 28 September 2015.
  18. "Redfearn appointed new Millers boss". BBC Sport. 9 October 2015.
  19. "Neil Redfearn: Rotherham United sack manager". BBC Sport. 8 February 2016.
  20. "Neil Warnock named Rotherham manager until end of season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  21. "Neil Warnock: Rotherham United contract will not be extended". BBC Sport. 18 May 2016.
  22. "Alan Stubbs: Rotherham United appoint Hibernian boss as their new manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  23. "Rotherham United 1–0 Brentford". BBC Sport. 20 August 2016.
  24. "Birmingham City 4–2 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 October 2016.
  25. "Rotherham United Club Statement". Rotherham United FC. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  26. "Kenny Jackett: Rotherham United appoint ex-Wolves boss as manager". BBC Sport. 21 October 2016.
  27. Davis, Paul (1 April 2017). "Rotherham United: Warne ... Blame me for Millers relegation". Sheffield Star. Johnston Press. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  28. Scott, Ged (27 May 2018). "Rotherham United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  29. "End of an era: Millmoor farewell for Rotherham". Yorkshire Post.
  30. "Guest and Chrimes site confirmed". MillersMad. 27 January 2010.
  31. "New Rotherham United stadium hosts first football match". BBC News Online. BBC. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  32. "Rotherham beat Burton in first home league game at the New York Stadium". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012.
  33. "Rotherham 3–0 Burton". BBC News Online. BBC. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  34. "The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs have been revealed". GiveMeSport. 27 August 2019.
  35. "READ | 2020/21 squad numbers confirmed". Rotherham United F.C. 17 October 2020.
  36. "Who's Who: Club Staff". Rotherham United Official Site. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  37. "Paul Warne: Rotherham United appoint interim boss as manager". BBC Sport. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  38. "Rotherham:Richie Barker appointed assistant manager at Championship club". BBC Sport. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  39. "READ | Andy relishing coaching opportunity in Rotherham return". Rotherham United F.C. 6 December 2019.
  40. "Former player Pugh joins Academy staff". Rotherham United F.C. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  41. "Millers appoint new fitness coach". Rotherham United F.C. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  42. "Straight down to work as Rob Scott heads double Rotherham United recruitment arrival". Rotherham Advertiser. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  43. "Chester Fixtures 45–46". Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  44. "footballsite - Football League Division 2 table 1954/55". www.footballsite.co.uk.
  45. "Rotherham United football club: record v Oldham Athletic". www.11v11.com.
  46. "Football Club History Database - Spennymoor United". www.fchd.info.
  47. "England - FA Challenge Cup 1985-1986". www.rsssf.com.
  48. "FA Challenge Cup 1997-98 Second Round". www.nozdrul.plus.com.
  49. "Rotherham 1–11 Bradford". Bradford City MAD. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  50. Rotherham United Football Club Archived 24 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Themillers.co.uk.
  51. "100freemb.com Is For Sale". johndoxey.100freemb.com.
  52. "Freddie Ladapo: Rotherham United sign Plymouth Argyle striker for club-record fee". BBC Sport. 25 June 2019.
  53. "Danny Ward: Cardiff City sign striker from Rotherham United". 23 June 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  54. The Board Archived 17 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Rotherham United FC
  55. Stadium Naming Deal. themillers.co.uk.
  56. Home shirt on sale. themillers.co.uk
  57. Millers announce Balreed as away shirt sponsors. the millers.co.UK
  58. Third shirt announced. the millers.co.uk
  59. "Millers strike Hodge Clemco deal - News - Rotherham United".
  60. "The Chuckle Brothers". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
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