Abandoned ‘ghost stadium’ of EFL club gets new lease of life with fans given once-in-a-lifetime chance to play on pitch
SUPPORTERS longing for yesteryear can step back into the past on Friday as a “Ghost ground” re-opens its doors.
Millmoor was the home of League One Rotherham United for 83 years until 2008.
Following a row over rent, the Millers moved out as their famous old ground was left desolate and decrepit.
Rotherham now play in the 12,000-seater New York Stadium, which opened in 2012, and is situated just yards away.
However, it is impossible to miss their former home on any visit to Rotherham and now you can take a look inside it from 2pm.
After years of being known as the “Ghost ground”, long-standing landlords, the Booth family, have overseen the refurbishment to restore it to its former glory and bring it back to life.
And now the doors will be opened for visitors to see the old stands, take a walk on the pitch – which is now being put into use for hire by local teams – and reminisce about the glory days.
A host of the club’s heroes will also be in attendance to add to the nostalgic event.
It is in conjunction with Millers legend John Breckin, 71, as part of his dementia awareness work.
A spokesman said: “This is a chance for older Millers supporters to re-visit a place where they spent so many happy times and for the younger generation who have no doubt heard all about Millmoor, to get a better idea of what it is actually like.
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“Hopefully, there will be a good turnout.”
Millmoor was first used in the 1890s when it was used by the Rotherham Church Institute in the Sheffield Association League, before then being used by Rotherham County before United.
It was home to seven promotion campaigns, eight relegations and also staged the first League Cup final in 1961 when Rotherham beat Aston Villa 2-0 in the first leg.