Millwall FC – The Connection to Football and the Millwall Memorial Garden

Researched and written by Professor Leif Stenberg, Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, London. June 2024

Millwall Football Club, originally founded as Millwall Rovers among factory workers on the Isle of Dogs, London, in 1885, now resides in the southeast London area of Bermondsey. The community is known for landmarks like the “Bermondsey beer mile” and the fierce loyalty to Millwall FC, affectionately nicknamed “The Lions” for the men’s team and “The Lionesses” for the women’s team. Bermondsey itself is recognized as a working-class neighborhood, not typically associated with affluence.

The club’s stadium is called “The Den”. The football ground was relocated a quarter mile from the original site in 1993 and stands as one of the first post-World War II stadiums in England. Initially designed as an all-seater venue, its current capacity is approximately 20,146 supporters, though operational constraints limit seating to around 18,000 for safety and segregation of visiting fans. Plans under the “new Bermondsey redevelopment” aim to modernize the stadium, potentially expanding seating to accommodate up to 34,000 fans, while also transforming the surrounding landscape.

Millwall FC competes in the second division, the Championship, drawing strong local support and pride. The club holds deep-rooted connections within the community, with generations of families staunchly supporting the Lions. While the club has had a notorious past with hooliganism, notably with groups like the Millwall Bushwackers, such incidents have diminished over time. Despite economic challenges and changing demographics in Bermondsey, the fervent fans remain united by the iconic chant heard at The Den: “No one likes us, we don’t care, we are Millwall, Super Millwall, we are Millwall from the Den.” This rallying tune symbolizes solidarity amidst the pressures of living in a historically economically disadvantaged area, where many residents feel the strain of rising living costs in a changing landscape. Supporting Millwall FC serves as a unifying bond among friends and family.

In many of the fans I have met and spoken to, pride in their families’ strong and enduring connection to Millwall FC is evident. One woman shared about the deep ties spanning three generations with the Lions. She recounted that during her grandmother’s Christmas dinners, it was a tradition that all attendees had to declare their support for Millwall FC; those who weren’t fans were not allowed to participate. The football club’s administration recognizes the importance of these connections with their fans. Founded in 1985, the Millwall Community Trust plays a pivotal role. It offers support in sports, football development, education, employability, health, mental health, disability, and food assistance to both male and female members of the local community. Notably, local sports figures serve as ambassadors, actively raising funds for the Trust.

Like many clubs in the UK, Millwall Football Club has a club chaplain. The current chaplain is Father Owen Beament MBE of the Church of England. He served as the vicar emeritus of All Saints Church in Deptford, southeast London, until his resignation in 2019 after more than 30 years as the Lions’ chaplain and director of the Millwall Community Trust. Father Owen is a well-known supporter who regularly attends matches at The Den to support Millwall FC. In addition to chaplains, many football clubs in the United Kingdom also have club historians who together preserve the club’s history and serve the needs of its community.

One of Father Owen’s responsibilities is tending to the Millwall Memorial Garden. Memorial Gardens or Grounds are quite common among football clubs in England and hold significant emotional ties for club supporters, linking personal memories and club history. This connection is often linked to the experiences of World War I and World War II. Today, the Millwall Memorial Garden serves as a place where families can connect their deceased loved ones with Millwall FC. Families have the option to scatter or inter ashes and place memorial stones in the Garden, which is located within 30 meters of The Den stadium, symbolizing a lasting tribute to their connection with the club.

Father Owen Beament emphasizes the importance of maintaining connections between the football club and the community. He supports families who have lost mothers and fathers that were fans of Millwall FC by joining them in the Garden. Father Owen conducts burials, reads from scripture, and recites selected prayers. He remains with the families, offering support before they depart from the Millwall Memorial Garden together. According to Father Owen, Millwall holds a significant place in the lives of Bermondsey families. Many residents endure challenging circumstances, and their bond with Millwall FC, through its triumphs and setbacks, transcends mere survival, intertwining football and religion in their existence. He observes how this relationship shapes their societal identity, suggesting that without this connection, life in relation to Millwall or to religion would feel incomplete.

Looking ahead, developments in Bermondsey may impact the broader fan base and their relationship with Millwall FC. While football clubs like the Lions must evolve to thrive, many current fans may view these changes unfavorably. Despite this, Father Owen believes Millwall FC’s efforts to remain in the Championship and maintain ties with the people of Bermondsey are crucial. However, he acknowledges that such optimism might be overly hopeful, speculating that changes could eventually silence the music that celebrates Millwall victories today. He muses on the reluctance of supporters to abandon the tradition of singing along to Status Quo’s “Rocking All Over the World” after a win.