Latest news with #RotherhamUnited
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
The Rotherham club aiming to 'make football fun again'
A former lawyer determined to "make football fun again" has launched a community club aimed at players who find formal leagues too competitive or Evans originally opened the All About Football club in Burton Upon Trent in 2022, after he felt "too old and unfit" to join a local moved to South Yorkshire, he has teamed up with Rotherham United Community Trust to set up another group at Parkgate Astroturf, where everyone is welcome regardless of their fan Joe said: "When you're a kid football is fun then you join a team, you get coached, you get shouted at and it becomes a chore." The 37-year-old said the inspiration for starting the project came when he moved to Staffordshire three years ago."I was determined to find somewhere to play," he said."But everywhere I looked, the options seemed impossible."I either had to know loads of people to form a team or be good enough to join an existing one."I didn't tick either box, so once again I found myself on the sidelines."Honestly, it felt pretty rubbish and over time it really affected my physical and mental health."Over the years, I tried joining teams but I wasn't fit enough or good enough to keep up, and eventually, I stopped trying."After taking matters into his own hands and initially organising his own causal kick-about in 2022, All About Football has grown considerably over the last three years with more than 200 members signed up to sessions in Burton, Derby and said he was "always determined" to start sessions in his home town. The new 4G facilities for the Rotherham sessions are managed by the Rotherham United Community manager Johnny Allen said getting involved was a "no brainer"."We want everyone in Rotherham to be healthy and successful and unite the community," he said."I think you get to a certain age and have other priorities."You don't want time off work when someone's put a horrible two-footed tackle on you on a Monday night." More than 20 players signed up for the first hour-long session in said they had felt "uncomfortable" in other competitive Meakin admitted he had not stepped onto any sort of football pitch for 10 years."I did training as a kid and I loved it, but my head and feet had two different ideas," he said."I was never good enough to get into a team so there didn't seem many options but this is perfect for me." Dan Fox has a young son who plays football, but thought his "playing days were over"."It was a really good atmosphere, none of us had played together before so to have 20 lads with a range of abilities playing together was fantastic," Dan now has ambitious plans to expand the network into other areas of North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, before setting his sights on Maltby and Chesterfield. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Abandoned EFL stadium still standing and has sign showing how cheap football was
Football has become increasingly more expensive for working class supporters and that's summed up by one stadium which stood abandoned for more than a decade Modern football stadiums dominate vast landscapes and can be seen for miles on end - but one former EFL ground that was abandoned for close to two decades offers a flashback to a cheaper past. For many fans, gone are the days when an afternoon watching a 3pm kick-off with your friends and family was a cheap pastime. Now they must pass the expensive gauntlet of matchday programme sellers, novelty souvenir stalls and food and drink stands before they even get to their stadium. While grounds have never been as modern and slick as they are now, many long for the days of stadiums being tucked within rows of houses, nestled in the heart of the community. When they reflect back, many will remember the Millmoor Ground, home of Rotherham United from 1925 to 2008. They departed the spiritual home of the club after talks about extending the lease with owner Ken Booth broke down. The League One side last kicked a ball at Millmoor 17 years ago and from that point onwards, it was abandoned and left to the mercy of time. However, the former beating heart of Rotherham has been resuscitated courtesy of the work of Wickersley Youth JFC and other volunteers around the area. The team, who play in the Sheffield and Hallamshire women and girls league, moved into the stadium in 2024 and made it their home. The South Yorkshire Women's Football (SYWF) page, which does fantastic work promoting women's football in their area, had a look around the ground in a video that was uploaded to their TikTok page. Various parts of the stadium had paint peeling off the walls, ivy and knot weeds suffocating the grounds and rust eating up some of the stands, while the seats were turned black and green from dirt and mould. One of the most spectacular throwbacks was within the concourses, where signs advertising pies depicted prices for as little as £2.20, compared to current clubs like Manchester United, who sell the classic football snack for around £4.70. It was a reminder of how cheap football used to be for supporters. Millmoor was once one of the most bustling grounds in the EFL. In 1952, 25,170 fans packed into the ground to watch Rotherham take on local rivals Sheffield United, while usual attendances were around 8,300. Since Wickersley Youth moved into the stadium, Millmoor has gone from being completely abandoned to becoming the largest dedicated women's football stadium in the country. At present, fans can only sit in the Tivoli Stand, with the rest of the stadium closed off. Wickersley also have Booth Jnr, the son of ex-Rotherham chairman Ken, to thank, as he plunged into his own pocket to help fix the pitch, the changing rooms and many other parts of the stadium that were damaged as a result of its abandonment. Last year, he told the Rotherham Advertiser: "The place was in a sad state. "We had kids breaking in, trying to rip seats out, climbing the floodlight pylon, kicking a ball about. It was time for something to be done." When the changes were complete, he offered the stadium's use for free, which Wickersley gladly accepted. Speaking to Shefnews in March 2024, Robert Peace, the Girls' Secretary and Development Officer of the club, said: "We jumped at the opportunity, especially with Millmoor sat there in good condition. It gave our kids and parents an experience they will never forget." If there are ambitions to restore Millmoor to what it used to be, then plenty more investment and work will be required. However, a classic and historic football stadium that was seemingly dead and buried now has a pulse. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I've been paying for therapy ever since Leyton Orient's last play-off final, admits legendary Barry Hearn
THREE times during his 19-year Leyton Orient ownership, Barry Hearn went through the play-off final emotional wringer. Two were at Wembley, one at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - all three were heartbreaking experiences. 4 4 4 The most recent, exactly 11 years ago tomorrow, still gives him sleepless nights. Orient led the League One play-off final by two goals but were pegged back to 2-2 by Rotherham United and then lost 4-3 on penalties, despite leading in the shootout. Hearn - now 76 and no longer in charge - believes it will be fourth time lucky when the club face Charlton at Wembley tomorrow. It is 43 years since Orient were last in England's second tier. And for Hearn, as well as wife Susan, victory would help banish the demons of previous near-misses. Britain's leading sports promoter told SunSport: "I've been paying for therapy ever since that day against Rotherham! "I get nightmares about it. This is my opportunity to cleanse myself, take away my therapist bills, go back to normal sleep patterns. "It's a great London derby. South London versus East London always stirs the emotions. It's a 50-50 call. "It's about who handles the nerves best on the day. It's so exciting. "Me and Susan will be there. Mrs Hearn, the Queen of the Orient, and the previous King of the Orient. Pep Guardiola preview Man City's tasty clash against Leyton Orient "My family has always come first - but Orient are a close second." Hearn's love affair with the club began on January 30, 1960 when, aged 11, he attended his first match at Brisbane Road - a 2-2 friendly draw with Scottish side Falkirk. His hero was Tommy Johnston, "a rough and tough merchant, an old school centre-forward". The decision to buy the club in March 1995, having earned millions promoting snooker and boxing, came via a call from chairman Tony Wood, who was in a desperate financial state after the Rwandan Civil War decimated his fortune. Hearn acquired 243,000 shares for £2.43 but took on £2million of unpaid debts. If they were successful they'd need a bigger ground. If the day comes that they want to move, I'll ensure they're very well looked after. Barry Hearn Fans may have wanted him to spend more money but Essex-based Hearn tried to run the firm prudently. Hearn said: "My life has been built, on a personal and company basis, on sustainability. I don't want to be a quick shot in the dark. "With Orient, I set about trying to make them a sustainable business. I failed really. I cut everything, maximised all my revenues and there was still a gap that was insurmountable — that's football. "I had 19 years of aggravation, frustration, grief, threats, all sorts of stuff . . . and you know what? I wouldn't swap a day of it. "That's the bizarre thing about football. You do things you wouldn't do in any other business. You make decisions based on your heart. But my wallet was always saying, 'Don't get carried away.'" Becoming owner was always a "family investment" and the decision to sell his stake to madcap Italian Francesco Becchetti was made in 2014 over Sunday dinner. Son Eddie, now Matchroom Sport chairman, wanted him to keep it but daughter Katie disagreed. Susan gave the deciding vote: 'Get rid.' Hearn did buy their Brisbane Road ground - ensuring Orient a home for the foreseeable future. He said: "They've got a 20-year lease with a 20-year extension. They're totally protected. "If they were successful they'd need a bigger ground. If the day comes that they want to move, I'll ensure they're very well looked after. "Because that would be my legacy to the club." Hearn, Orient's honorary president, heads to Wembley tomorrow with a strong feeling the club can finally win a play-off final. He said: "The boys have all played great. I do believe they can do it. "I have a good feeling that my years of therapy will no longer be necessary." 4
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reading linked with Portsmouth defender as Mousinho makes McIntyre call
Reading have been linked with former Portsmouth and Rotherham United full-back Cohen Bramall. The 29-year-old made almost a century of appearances for Rotherham United before moving to Championship Pompey in January, where he made just 12 appearances. John Mousinho's men survived in their first year back in the second tier, but Bramall is one of five players released at the end of their contracts. According to The Deck, Reading and Colchester United- the League Two side where Bramall made over 50 appearances five years ago- are keen on acquiring the free agent. Left-back is an area in which Noel Hunt's side needs strengthening, with 17-year-old Andre Garcia the only contracted left-back in the squad. Jeriel Dorsett, who plays there frequently, has been offered a new deal, one of 11 players out of contract who has been offered a deal. In other Reading-related news coming out of Fratton Park, Tom McIntyre is likely to depart this summer. The 26-year-old Academy graduate made over a century of appearances for his hometown club but opted to move to Portsmouth in 2024. Finding gametime hard to come by ever since, the former Scotland youth international is on loan at Charlton Athletic, but again is failing to nail down a starting space for the League One play-off finallists. According to the Portsmouth News, Mousinho feels his side is too 'top heavy' and will look to move McIntyre on if an acceptable offer is made, with the versatile defender still under contract beyond the summer.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Odoffin leaves Millers after rejecting new deal
Rotherham United defensive midfielder Hakeem Odoffin has left the club after rejecting a new 27-year-old, who won their supporters' and player's player of the year awards this season, made 117 league appearances in four seasons with the League One side."We're really disappointed that Haks sees his future away from Rotherham, but we also understand it for all the reasons he has detailed in the many discussions we have had about his future," boss Matt Hamshaw told the club website., external"He has been first class for this football club both as a player and an ambassador in the community and I am 100% confident that you won't find anybody who has encountered him throughout the last four years that says otherwise."
