April 17 2003

The Den

It's like Serbia and Croatia in what was recently Jugoslavia. The Millwall- Palace confrontation is based on decades of intolerance on both sides of the south-east border. Jamesey, as ever, has a strong view

I very much enjoyed Gordon Law's admonitory article on our lack of enthusiasm to attend Easter Monday's Millwall derby.

It was well written and argued and almost but not quite made me regret my decision never to go to the New Den in the foreseeable future.

Many acres of wordage have been written on the HOL message boards on the Millwall situation and I have no wish to tread the same ground yet again.

Especially as some young squirt had the temerity to accuse me of being an alcoholic, pipe-smoking hater of youth and a shouter of the expression 'muddy hoodlums' at youthful enthusiasts who stand up.

Well, as a moderate drinker, non-smoker and sympathiser with the youth view (why would I be bothering to write on this site where most readers are a third of my age otherwise?)

I was terribly hurt by that. To quote Margaret Thatcher (anyone old enough to remember her?), it was like being savaged by a dead sheep!

I don't really know what 'muddy hoodlums' means but if any moron stands up in front of my seated body, far worse than that will be said.

Anyway, I've got tired with going to Millwall because I am fed up with the possibility of being physically attacked for no reason, as I was in 1996. OK, I can see that younger supporters regard that as a cop-out but that is the way I feel.

And I know that Millwall have allegedly cleaned up their act in recent years but I still don't believe it.

A recurring sentiment on the message boards has also been that we ought to be ashamed for not going and risking assault.

I am afraid the shame really rests in Cold Blow Lane. If normal and decent football supporters don't wish to come anywhere near that horrible ground, who should be ashamed?

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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