Having won promotion exactly one year previously to the then Division Two with a plucky 2-1 win at Hartlepool no one could have thought that a win over Brentford and favourable results elsewhere would see Rotherham win their second consecutive promotion and seal a return to the second tier of league football after a 20 year absence.
But when Alan Lee turned and shot in the 89th minute to score the winning goal, Millmoor went crazy and
It had been an enthralling season where after a slow start,
The fans flocked to Millmoor and it was a sea of red and white balloons. It was a nice spring day and the town expected. Inevitably
Half time came and went and as the second half progressed,
As the game headed in to the last few minutes it seemed as if they would have to go to Peterbrough on the last game of the season and get a result. Then Kevin Watson got the ball on the left flank. He fed Alan Lee who had his back to goal. He turned and shot and time stood still. The ball seemed to take an age to beat the goalkeeper and nestle in the bottom left hand corner. The crowd erupted, the pitch was invaded, everybody went crazy.
It is one of the most remembered moments in Rotherham United's history. Alan Lee had just become a legend for that goal alone and he remembers it fondly!
"It's a moment I can tell everyone about for the rest of my life. 10,000 people went wild and they carried me off on their shoulders. It was all so dramatic. To score the goal in the last minute that gets promotion is so unbelievable. I will never ever forget that moment."
Lee, who went on to receive international recognition from the
I had a little tear and I was thinking that I was so blessed to have this job to have scored this goal and to be having this experience. I finally got the chance to stand up and said "thank you".
I remember going out on the Saturday night and somebody said that if they were me they'd be up on the roof. But I was sitting there so relaxed and content. At that moment I was the happiest man in the place."
Rotherham ended up finishing second behind Millwall and were joined in Division One by
Where Are They Now?
Paul Pettinger
This match was one of a few where Pettinger played as first choice keeper in a spell at Millmoor that was mainly in an understudy role to first Bobby Mimms then Mike Pollitt before tussling with Ian Gray for the number one shirt in the promotion season. He was released after the 00-01 season where he went to Lincoln before ending up at non league where he currently keeps for Stalybridge Celtic.
David Artell
Artell was a product of the Rotherham youth team and made his debut earlier on in the season. He established himself as a real warrior at the back and scored some vital goals. He was prolific in the air and strong if not a little clumsy in a tackle. 'Moose' allegedly reported back to life in Division One extremely overweight and unfit and did not grace the first team again. He moved to Mansfield and then Shrewsbury before moving to Chester where he continues to ply his trade. Artell's family still live locally.
Guy Branston
Branston was a real terrace hero at Rotherham and was a focal point of the club's double promotion. Ironically the rise up the leagues was just too much for him as the sharpness of the strikers often caught him out. The bustling centre half begrudgingly left Millmoor to drop a level at Sheffield Wednesday. It wasn't long before he was shipped out on loan to Oldham where he was joined by his former boss, Ronnie Moore. He wasn't offered a permenant deal at Oldham though and joined League Two's Peterborough. Branston still lives locally and rumours are rife that he will be playing at Millmoor again next season.
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Marvin Bryan
The small defender only lasted two years at Millmoor and he spent a lot of both of those on the injury table. Signed from Blackpool ahead of the promotion season, Bryan was a full back who split the fans opinions with some not rating him and some seeing him as a first choice right back. It was eventually the injuries that spoke though as Rotherham were unable to offer him a new deal and Bryan left the club in 2002. He did not manage to sign a new professional deal and he can currently be found occasionally on the rowing machine at Hellaby Hall gym. Other than that he's off the radar.
Rob Scott
The striker turned defender played a huge part in Rotherham's double promotion and then again in the club's survivial in Division One. He was a quick and solid defender but also a great talker with a dangerous weapon in his huge long throw. His long time at Millmoor came to an end at the end of the 2004-2005 season where he joined Ronnie Moore. He fell out of favour with new boss John Sheridan at Boundary Park and joined Macclesfield Town where he is a vital part of Paul Ince's miraculous recovery in League Two.
Paul Hurst
Hurst is a real rarity in football nowadays- one club man! The tenacious defender made his debut in the mid nineties and received his testimonial in 2004. Often starting the season as a reserve for other players Hursty has invariably fought his way in to the side on merit. Injuries have stuttered his appearances over the last two years and the 2007-08 season may be his last in a Rotherham shirt.
Jeff Minton
Minton was signed on loan as emergency cover for Stewart Talbot who was suffering from injuries and incurring regular suspension. He made a sensational debut scoring two goals and looked a class act. However, his time at Rotherham lasted no longer than his loan spell and when his contract was not renewed by Port Vale, the ex Tottenham trainee headed back to London to play for Leyton Orient. Disappointing times at Brisbane Road led to a move in non league where the midfielder played for Grays Athletic and Canvey Island before ending up at Ryman Premier Chelmsford City.
Stewart Talbot
Talbot joined Rotherham after a year out with injury and he was influential in his first season, battling hard for the club's promotion. He was a major asset in Division One as well with his tough tackling and never say die attitude which endeared him to the Rotherham fans. Talbot was injury prone though and a run of injuries and a couple of dodgy knees later he was shipped out to Brentford. An unsuccessful play off campaign at the London club ended with him leaving for Boston where he still patrols the midfield for the financially stricken club.
Kevin Watson
The classy midfielder was signed from Swindon Town by Ronnie Moore and had by enlarge a highly successful time at Millmoor. Made club captain, Watson helped guide the club to successive promotions in his first two seasons and was the first name on the teamsheet. However, he struggled to settle in to life at a higher level and was soon sent on loan to Reading to regain his form, which he did and a return to Rotherham's first team followed. However, Watson was soon hounded out of Millmoor when the boo boys turned on his wife and children and Watson returned to Reading on a permenant deal. Another promotion followed at Reading before eventually moving to Colchester where Watson was instrumental in yet more success as the U's entered the Championship. He remains at Layer Road and is in the chase for a remarkable play off spot.
Alan Lee
Lee wrote himself in to the history books for 'that' goal alone and close to four years after his departure remains in the heart of many Rotherham fans. The Irishman's goal that sealed promotion was a huge stepping stone for him as playing at a higher level really saw Lee improve. When the club refused to offer him a deal that Lee was satisfied with, he handed in a transfer request and left for Cardiff City in a club record transfer.
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Paul Warne
Warne's career at Rotherham is definitely a tale of two halves. The first few years Warne was a vital cog in the wheel scoring many important goals and with it came work rate. He deserved the glory of a double promotion but he was one of the players that struggled to cope with the quick rise and eventually became a bit part player and a back up. He left Rotherham in the huge cull of 2005 after seven years at Millmoor and was one of four ex Rotherham players to join his former boss at Oldham. Warne has been a regular under both Moore and John Sheridan and has scored nine goals in 40 games for the play off chasers this season.
Richie Barker
The Rotherham born striker came to Rotherham just in time to help his home town club reach promotion and scored some vital goals along the way. He unfortunately struggled for the rest of his time at Millmoor as life in Division One did not suit him. He did bag 10 goals in 2002-03 but was generally used as back up to Alan Lee and then Martin Butler. He left the club, on good terms shortly before the 2005 relegation to join Mansfield where he was soon made club captain. He joined Hartlepool in January and his goals have helped ensure a promotion to League One.
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