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By Ian Malin FIGHTING Fisher could face an FA Cup showdown with Bristol City. Following their war of words with Millwall over the weekend, Bristol City may now return to South London on November 17. Yesterday's first round draw paired the Docklands min- nows with City — provided Fisher can win tonight's replay against Folkestone. The dream tie could see Southern League Fisher facing their first competitive game against a Football league side. Millwall, meanwhile, travel to Alliance Leaguers Weymouth in the first round. The draw is sure to boost tonight's gate at Fisher's Salter Road ground for the Folkestone replay following Saturday's 2-2 draw. General manager Les Rowe said, “We are delighted with |
the draw but we have a lot to do tonight. Folkestone are a good side. “We have done the hard work though and are looking very impressive at home.” Defender Dennis Sharpe is the only injury doubt for tonight's clash. Sharpe has a bruised shin but is expected to recover. MILLWALL boss George Graham will send his spies to watch Weymouth before the Lions' FA Cup trip. Graham insisted, “We will prepare for this game in the same way as if it was against a First Division club.” Meanwhile goal-scoring sensation Steve Lovell has a hamstring strain and defender Dave Cusack needed four injections in his left leg |
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By BRIAN STATER
WALES soccer chief Mike England
has a string of South London players
in the frame for this month's World
Cup qualifier with Iceland. Wimbledon's Glyn Hodges and Crystal Palace, midfielder Peter Nicho- las are joined by Millwall duo Steve Lovell and Steve Lowndes. But only Nicholas is a certainty to be named in the squad on Monday. Speaking from his Prestatyn home, England admitted, “I have been kept fully informed on all these players and: they have all been watched for me.” “Steve Lovell is going extremely well at the moment. He's hit nine goals in seven games and on that sort of form I've obviously got to consider him.” “But he is up against some stiff competition.” |
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By Maurice Woolf MAN of the moment Steve Lovell is in line for another Welsh cap. The Millwall striker, who has discovered the happy knack of knocking them in, went on as sub against the Soviet Union two years ago. He could strike up an exciting combination with Liverpool's scoring sensation Ian Rush. Millwall face two tough fixtures at Bradford City, on Saturday, and Rotherham on Tuesday. The team lies third and fourth respectively. Manager George Graham is very happy with a chairman who never interferes with his way of running the club. He has Anton Otulakowski and Dave Cusack on the injured list while Nicky Chatterton sees England physio Fred Street today (Thursday). Chatterton's injuries usually keep him out for a long time — and usually when he's playing well and scoring. Better news is that Dean Neal is fully fit again and likely to take over from young Alan McLeary. Bradford are unbeaten at home, winning four of their six games with a goal difference of 8-2. |
The Lions have won two and drawn two of their six away matches with a goal difference of 11-9. If they can hold the Yorkshire side they will have done very well. Rotherham are also undefeated at their own ground and a point from them would also be acceptable. One sad blot at the Den is hooliganism, even though nothing takes place inside the ground. Chairman Alan Thorne has threatened to quit, but he loves the club too much to do so except under extreme provocation. He is putting forward ideas of banning all away fans and admitting Millwall supporters only with a club card. The FA Cup draw hasn't been kind to them. They're at Weymouth, which holds 10,000 people but only has a seating capacity of 520. They sold Graham Roberts to Spurs for a record fee of £70,000 and bought young Andy Townsend, a midfield player, for £125,000 from Welling — their record fee. Brian Carnaby, the Millwall physio, has left the club to take up a position with a health and leisure club. ● The special train to Bradford on Saturday leaves Kings Cross at 10.30am. Fare £10. |
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By Jack Steggles MILLWALL hove made a dramatic move to get away tans banned from soccer matches. They have sent their revolutionary proposal to the FA and the Canon League and are awaiting their reaction. The Third Division leaders, who have a sad history of crowd trouble are taking no tickets for their FA Cup-tie at Weymouth and urging fans not to travel. But chief executive Tony Shaw stressed this had no bearing on the club's move to outlaw all travelling fans. “We had made up our minds before the Cup draw,” he said “We have been monitoring the situation for some time because we are so concerned about it.” “Hooliganism Is caused by aggression directed towards visiting supporters. if you take away the source of that aggression, you might Just cure the problem.” |
“I agree it seems a bit drastic, but the problem Is so severe that measures like this are called for. Someone has to make a stand. It just cannot be allowed to go on.” Added Shaw: “Don't forget that hooliganism is kept under control at the moment only by a massive police presence at our grounds.” “We want to be known as Millwall Football Club, proud leaders of the Third Division, not a club renowned for having tearaways as followers.” “It's a big sacrifice to take no tickets for the match at Weymouth. But we are prepared do It to play our part in trying to cure the problem After careful consideration, we believe our plan is the only answer.” “Obviously, we can't do It on our own. We need the backing of everyone else in the game — and for the sake of football, I hope we get it.” |
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by BRIAN STATER MILLWALL have issued a stay-away plea to their fans before the FA Cup first round trip to Weymouth on November 17. The Third Division leaders will refuse to take up their allocation for the all-ticket match with the Alliance Leaguers. Chairman Alan Thome said yesterday, “We would urge every fan who has the best interests of Millwall at heart not to go to Weymouth. ” “We don't imagine this will prevent every possibility of crowd trouble at Weymouth, but we wish to disassociate the club from any trouble that may occur. ” Tickets “A minority of supporters bring the club's name into disrepute and some sections of the Press link Millwall with hooliganism. ” In line with the appeal to supporters the Millwall board will only have a token presence at Weymouth and manager George Graham will refuse the players access to any tickets for friends and family. Graham said, “The lack of any vocal support will be a handicap for us. But we are prepared to put up with this if it i helps the club as a whole. ” Thorne insisted, “This is not a slight on Weymouth but their ground cannot ensure that fans will be adequately segregated. In view of this I wish to avoid trouble if at all possible. ” Meanwhile, Millwall have written to the FA and the Football League asking for observations on their plan to ban away fans from other games. |
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MILLWALL chief George Graham faces a tough choice tomorrow. . His table-topping Lions travel to third-placed Bradford for a Divsion Three showdown. And Graham must decide whether to bring back fit-again striker Dean Neal at the expense of hard-working Kevin Bremner. Graham insists that free-scoring stand-in Steve Lovell will keep his place, saying, “Steve is the man in form at the moment. I can't drop him. All the players are fighting for their places at the moment — it's a very nice problem. ” The gutsy Bremner has endured a lean spell — he is without a goal in seven matches — but his bustling style has certainly taken the load off Lovell, who has hit nine goals in seven games Midfield man Alan McLeary's place could also be in danger. |
Graham added, “Either Bremner or Neal will start the game, but the other will be substitute. ” Meanwhile, skipper Les Briley is undergoing treatment Millwall drew 1-1 in a friendly at Gillingham following the postponepent of their reserve clash with Reading. Teenage midfield ace Darren Morgan gave an impressive performance. Millwall's scheduled Third Division trip to Rotherham on Tuesday has been postponed as the Yorkshire side are involved in a Milk Cup replay with Grimsby. ● The Millwall supporters' train leaves King's Cross at 10.30 a.m. for Bradford tomorrow. |
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by BRIAN STATER Award Winning Millwall boss George Graham will use his side's two-week break to step up his search for a striker. Graham, who has been named the Third Division manager of the month after steering the Lions to the top of the table, saw Saturday's game at Bradford rained off, and tonight's trip to Rotherham has been postponed due to a Milk Cup replay. He said, "It means that we won't have played for two weeks, but it gives us a chance to get some of the injured play|ers fit. "And it's a very good opportunity to get out and check on some other players. I'm still interested in signing a striker Meanwhile free-scoring Steve Lovell has been named London's player of the month by the Evening Standard. ● An Army free-fall parachute team will drop in at The Den before Saturday's clash with Preston. |