Millmoor to the extreme

About a year or so ago there was a healthy debate on the Millersmad message boards about the home crowd at Millmoor and the reception that they give to returning players and managers. The general consensus seemed to be that we are too bothered about giving them a rapturous reception rather than supporting our team and had to be the only set of fans in the country that welcomed old faces back in the way we do.

Now that got us thinking and we reckon that it's not always as nicey-nicey as these people were suggesting it to be and in fact when a player that we have particular dislike for returns he gets a reception that is relentless in it's hostility. The point is that we can go either way depending on the person returning but when we do go, we go to the extreme. Let us give you some examples.

In our last season in the Championship when we played Preston, in what was Mick Harford's first game at the helm, we saw Chris Sedgwick return for the first time. All very welcoming; clapping when his name was read out as you would expect for a player who had served the club as well as Sedgwick had. Perfectly respectable you may think. However, when Sedgy proceeded to score to give his team a 2-1 lead, with a sort of goal he oddly enough never used to score for us, it went to the extreme.

As he was taking up his position for the restart he received a round of applause from the then Enclosure. A player, former hero or not, has just scored against us to give his team the lead and virtually nailed on our relegation and he gets clapped?? That can't be right. Of course when he was subbed he also got his mandatory standing ovation just to make it even more cringe worthy for the normal spectators!

Nobody loves Alan Lee more than us at Millersmad. He was a great idol for all of us and will always live in the memories of Roth fans. So upon his first return in 2004 when playing for Cardiff yes, we cheer him when his name is read out, maybe clear out the lungs and give one final rendition of the 'Oh Alan Lee' song, we can even wait for him after the game and have a chat with him and get his autograph if we want. But please when our current heroes have just fought back from a 2-0 deficit and produced what at the time was their most stirring display of that season, don't all sing his song at full pelt when the players who needed our support more than anyone trudge off without a clap!

Legend

We are sure you all agree that that's going to the extreme when welcoming back old heroes. But fear not we go just as far the other when old foes return. Who can forget the most famous instance of this: The return of the Mike Pollitt! Leaving in such acrimonious circumstances back in 1999 always left him vulnerable to a hostile response should he ever return. And that's what he got and then some. It all started off in standard fashion. Resounding boo's and "one greedy b*stard" greeted him whenever he touched the ball. He didn't mind though as he was safe in front of his Chesterfield fans at the Railway End and went in for his half time cuppa 3-0 up!

Then the boys in the Tivoli decided to turn it up a notch. As soon as he passed the halfway line to make his way to his goal it all began. The loudest boos you have ever heard in your life. 75% of all the pies in Millmoor hurtling towards him. Coins been chucked at him (surprisingly he didn't pick them up). Bottles flying through the air in his direction. He refused to enter his penalty area and the game was delayed. Kick off eventually took place but that didn't stop the abuse or Pollitt being the target practice for the blood hungry Millers! He even asked on several occasions to be subbed.

Legend or Greedy?

The abuse died down a bit as we got back in to the game scoring three goals of our own. He eventually had the last laugh as his team won with a golden goal, but he was at the half way line before he dared to turn round and salute the Tivoli! Totally extreme you have to say but utterly hilarious nonetheless?

Another example was way back in 98-99. Leo Fortune-West had a highly productive loan spell with us before being nicked in front of our noses by Brentford. He returned with them a couple of months later, to a particularly unsavoury reception. A loud chorus of boos and chants of "Leo takes it up the arse" greeted him when he came on as sub. It was a little bit unnecessary given the fact that we didn't bid for him when Brentford signed him. Of course, that abuse stayed firmly in Leo's mind when he signed for us a few weeks later and refused to acknowledge any of the fans for a long time whilst playing for us!

So we think that proves that we aren't just a set of fans who only remember the good players and managers! And it also proves that we do take it to the extremes!!

Any other examples of extreme welcoming of returning players that you can remember? Discuss them here.