The Den | |
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Full name | New Den Stadium SE16 3LN |
Former names | Senegal Fields / The New London Stadium |
Built | 1993 |
Opened | August 4th, 1993 |
Surface | Grass |
Scoreboard | Yes |
Capacity | 20,146 |
Field dimensions | 105 x 68 yards (344 × 223 ft) |
Tenants | |
Millwall F.C. |
The New Den is the home of Millwall F.C. (originally called The New London Stadium). The ground is referred to by Millwall supporters as The Den. It is situated in Bermondsey, South East London, almost directly adjacent to the railway line between London Bridge and New Cross Gate, plus the SELCHP incinerator. It is under a quarter of a mile away from the original Den. Built on the site of an old church at Senegal Fields, it has an all-seated capacity of 20,146, although the average attendance for the 2005-06 season was just 9,529. The local press and fans groups argued that this was due in part, to the "Membership Scheme" introduced by former club Chairman Theo Paphitis. Toby Porter, Chief Sportswriter of the South London Press, argued that the scheme whilst detering the "hooligan element", also deterred decent law abiding fans who were reluctant to hand over sensitive personal information in order to watch a game of football.
The scheme introduced by Paphitis now only applies to certain 'high risk' away games, with the average attendance increasing to 10,835 in the 2009/10 season, up 1,895 from the previous year.
Contents |
History
The New Den was the first new all seater stadium to be completed after the Taylor Report on the Hillsborough disaster. It was designed with effective crowd management in mind (given Millwall's crowd problems at the Old Den), with the escape routes being short and direct.
After chairman Reg Burr decided that it would not be viable to redevelop The Den as an all-seater stadium, he announced during 1990 that Millwall would be relocating to a new stadium in the Senegal Fields area.
Originally, it was planned to have a seating capacity of between 25,000 to 30,000. Millwall however, could not meet the additional cost. [1]
Millwall played their final game on 8 May 1993 at The Den after 83 years, and moved to the new 20,000 all-seater stadium a quarter of a mile away from Cold Blow Lane at Senegal Fields. The £16 million New Den was opened by John Smith MP (leader of the Labour Party and Opposition at the time) on 4 August 1993 prior to a prestigious friendly against Sporting Lisbon. The New Den was the first new football stadium constructed for a professional team in London since 1937.
They have experienced mixed fortunes since relocating to the New Den. Their first season at the stadium (1993-94) saw them finished third in Division One - their highest finish since relegation from the top flight four years earlier. However, their dreams of Premier League football were ended by a defeat in the playoffs and they were relegated to Division Two in 1996, not winning promotion from that level until 2001. They came close to reaching the Premier League again in 2002, finishing fourth but once again losing in the playoffs. The Lions reached the FA Cup final for the first time in 2004, and despite a 3-0 defeat by Manchester United they qualified for a European competition for the very first time (although their UEFA Cup campaign was short lived). Relegation from the newly-named Football League Championship (second highest division in England) followed in 2006 and they have yet to win promotion.
The New Den is the sixth ground that Millwall have occupied since their formation as a Football Club in Millwall on the Isle of Dogs in 1885.
On 1 May 2006, the New Den hosted the FA Women's Cup Final between Arsenal L.F.C. and Leeds United L.F.C.. Arsenal Ladies won the Cup 5 - 0.
On 11 February 2009 an international match was hosted at the stadium between Jamaica and Nigeria the game ended 0-0.
On 21 August 2007 an international match was hosted between Ghana and Senegal the game ended 1-1.
In Drama
The New Den doubles asThe Dragons Lair home ground of Harchester United in the TV series Dream Team. It also appeared in an episode of the ITV show Primeval.
The Base is used on a regular basis by the TV and film industry. It was used to film an episode of "The Bill" during the home game against Leyton Orient in March 2008 (aired on ITV in June 2008). Sportswear giant Nike filmed their Take It To The Next Level advertistment over a period of three days and nights at The Den also in March 2008. In 2010, Kit Kat made their own cross your fingers advert using clips from Arsenal, West Ham and also Millwall's Den[2]
Celebrity Soccer Sixes
The New Den hosted the Samaritans Celebrity Soccer Sixes on 18 May 2008. Film and Telelevison Stars played at The Den, the first time the event has not been hosted by a Premier League Club. Babyshambles failed to retain the trophy, losing 3-2 to dance act Faithless.[3]
The winners of the women's trophy were Cansei de Ser Sexy. Around 150 celebrities took part including, McFly, Tony Hadley, Amy Winehouse and ex Millwall fan favourite Terry Hurlock to raise money for the charity[4]
Average attendances
- 2009-2010: 10,835
- 2008-2009: 8,940
- 2007-2008: 8,669
- 2006-2007: 9,452
- 2005-06: 9,529 (Football League Championship).
- 2004-05: 11,656 (Football League Championship).
- 2003-04: 10,497 (First Division).
- 2002-03: 8,512 (First Division).
Details
Pitch
- Length: 105 yards
- Width: 68 yards
Address
- Zampa Road
- Bermondsey
- London
- SE16 3LN
Transport Connections
London Buses | Stop IB and Stop IN | 0.1 mile walk Millwall Football Ground P12 [5] |
London Overground | 0.9 mile walk Surrey Quays [6] Newly opened in April, 2010 | |
National Rail | South Bermondsey |
Notes
- ^ Moving On: The New Den
- ^ Location location | Millwall | News | Breaking News | Breaking News
- ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Doherty swaps music for football
- ^ Celeb spotting | Millwall | News | Breaking News | Breaking News
- ^ http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Rotherhithe%2FSurrey+Quays,+Millwall+Football+Ground+(Stop+IB)&daddr=Millwall+Football+%26+Athletic+Co+PLC&geocode=CYNCCm0EDsDyFTqdEQMdRCv__yEQiAYoRBSg1w%3BFc6fEQMdlDj__yGBYi6C03w12w&hl=en&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=51.48634,-0.052756&sspn=0.013415,0.027595&ie=UTF8&z=18 Walking directions to The New Den from MillWall Football Ground bus stop
- ^ http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Surrey+Quays+Station,+London+Underground+Ltd.,+Lower+Rd,+London,+SE16+2UF+(Surrey+Quays)&daddr=Millwall+Football+%26+Athletic+Co+PLC&geocode=FUq5EQMdZUb__yGdHgf0JCOZYQ%3BFc6fEQMdlDj__yGBYi6C03w12w&hl=en&mra=mr&sll=51.488705,-0.047765&sspn=0.006707,0.013797&ie=UTF8&ll=51.48602,-0.052378&spn=0.003354,0.006899&z=17 Walking directions to The New Den from Surrey Quays raily station
External links
- Millwall's official site
- The New Den at the Internet Football Ground Guide
- Picture Gallery Den on londonfootballguide.com
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Coordinates: 51°29′9.43″N 0°3′3.42″W / 51.4859528°N 0.05095°W