Millers tale Rotherham Utd v Darlington Coca-Cola League Two Tuesday 28th October, 2008, 7.45pm Since we enjoyed a hard-fought win at Rotherham last September, the Millers' continued run of bad luck off the field returned with another financial crisis, the loss of 10 points and real fears of liquidation. It stalled their promotion push, they survived but they look to be spending the new season in a temporary home thanks to a row with their landlords, the Booth family over their entitlement to privileges at the club. The new owners have taken a drastic, but some would say, principled step to move to Don Valley in Sheffield. Man to watch Derek Holmes Well-travelled Scottish striker, who arrived from Carlisle over the summer. Full match previews on the D@rlo Uncovered website. Rotherham expect to be playing their matches at the Don Valley Stadium near Sheffield for the 2008-2009 season, thanks to a dispute with the owners of their ground. The ground has a reduced 25,000 capacity, which may be set for the Millers at 14,000 - all in the main stand! Tickets in the upper tier are £20 adults, £12 (OAP, student, disabled), £8 (ages 13-15) and £5 (12 and under); lower tier tickets cost £18 (£10 concessions and £6, ages 13 to 15, £5 under 12). At Millmoor: Away fans are given the Railway End, with plenty of room (for 2,000) in covered seating behind the goal. The new main stand was nearly completed on our visit, with half the seats put in, otherwise the ground was much as we remember. The away end is still in front of the scrap yard and railway line. The refreshment kiosk had the usual Pukka Pie range at £2.20 each - tasty and well cooked with fluffy pastry. The toilet block was sizeable and clean. Stewarding was unobtrusive and the PA announcer had a good taste in oldies, including punk.

Rotherham United FC: c/o Don Valley Stadium (2008-2009) Millmoor, Masbrough St, Rotherham, S Yorks, S60 1HR Tel: 01709 512 434; ticket office 0870 443 1884 History: The Rotherham (Town) club was formed in 1870 and elected to Div 2 in 1893. But it became United after a merger in 1925 between Town and Rotherham County. In common with many, it became professional in 1905. The club's high point was reaching the Championship under Ronnie Moore in 2001. Record Attendance: 25,170 v Sheffield Utd, Div 2, 1952. Capacity: (Millmoor) 9,707 Last season: 9th Honours: Div 3 champions 1980-1981, Div 3 North champions 1950-1951, Div 4 champions 1988-1989, Auto Windscreens Shield winners 1996, League Cup runners-up 1961 Record victory: 8-0 v Oldham Athletic, Division 3N, 1947 Defeat: 1-11 v Bradford City, Div 3N, 1928 Nickname: The Millers Colours: Red and white Manager: Mark Robins Owner: Tony Stewart Players in: Mark Burchill (Dunfermline), Mickey Cummins (Darlington) Players out: Chris O'Grady (Oldham) Famous fans/players/connections: The Chuckle Brothers (fans), Jack Shaw (scored a club record five goals v Darlington in 1950), Mike Pollitt (played for both clubs), Gladstone Guest, Danny Williams, Shaun Gioater, Peter Eustace (players) Click for Streetmap of ground

From North - Millmoor: Leave the M1 at junction 34 and take the A6109 towards Rotherham. At the roundabout turn right onto the A629 - then at the second larger roundabout, take a right and the ground is found on the right. Millmoor Parking: If room there is a carpark behind the main stand, or use the match-day carpark behind the Zone nightclub on Main Street (then walk to the ground via a subway). Or there is street parking. Alpine Taxis 01709 552777 A1 Taxis 01709 555555 Bluebird Taxis 01709 528528 Millennium & Tiger Taxis 01709 382838 Darlington FC Supporters Club Coach TBC. Contact: 01325 243911. See Supporters' Club website for more details.

The Don Valley Stadium is easy to reach by tram from the centre of Sheffield. For Don Valley and Sheffield: The stadium is on the tram link, so any Sheffield city centre pub (below) is accessible by public transport. Fsres are currently £1.70 single from city centre, or £3 all day-ticket for all tram routes Trains: (TIMES TO BE UPDATED):. Darlington 10.01-Doncaster (10.54) 11.02 arr 11.26 or 10.27-Doncaster (11.50) 12.02 arr Rotherham Central 12.26. Rtn 15.37-Doncaster (16.04) 16.17-arr Darlington 17.12 or 17.38-Doncaster (18.02) 18.23-19.14. Fares from £20.50, saver return £36.10. London Kings Cross 08.00-Doncaster (09.37) 10.02 arr 10.26 or 09.05-Doncaster (10.47) 11.02 arr Rotherham Central 11.26. Rtn: 15.10- Doncaster (15.36) 15.55-arr 14.45. Or 17.10-Doncaster (17.35) 17.55-arr 19.51 or the 18.10 via Doncaster arr 20.45. Fares: £63.80 saver return. Birmingham New Street 09.03-Sheffield (10.15) 10.25-arr 10.37. Or 09.30-Sheffield (10.51) 11.14 arr 11.26. Rtn: 15.27-Sheffield (15.41) 15.53-17.04. Or 17.27-Sheffield (17.41) 17.53-19.04. Fares from £17, saver return £30.80. For Millmoor - walking from the station: From the railway station, turn left into College Rd and follow the pedestrian signs to take you to stadium - left into Masborough Street and via a subway under the main road as it continues to the ground. Less than 10 minutes walk. Bus: Services No 8 ( Kimberworth) and 14 (Meadowhall) go past the ground from Rotherham bus station

Real ale in Rotherham The Rhinoceros, 35–37 Bridgegate, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S60 1PL (01709 361422) A Wetherspoon pub a couple of minutes' walk from the railway and bus stations, popular and busy on matchdays. Near Millmoor Moulders Rest, 110-112 Masborough Street, Tel: 01709 560095 Local pub, with away fans welcome. Also does accommodation. Real ale limited to Black Sheep, although none on our visit. This is the nearest pub to the away end, with visiting supporters given a warm welcome. The Kingfisher, 17 Mary Street Quieter and friendly pub, close to the station - under the subway and left on the corner. One real ale, plus pool table and Sky. Blue Coat, The Crofts, S60 2JD A Wetherpoon's which has won CAMRA awards for its consistency, with a good choice of ales - found behind the town hall. There's a larger, family room and dining room downstairs too. One real ale was off on our visit, but the beer quality otherwise was pretty good. Sky Sports screens and an oddly large police presence "intelligence gathering" outside, considering this was a low key. Click for Streetmap

Other local pubs The Tabard, Herringthorpe Valley Road, S65 3BA (01709) 364761 - Mansfield brewery owned, family friendly and pub food of above-average quality. Real ale in Sheffield Suggested particularly if the Millers are playing in "exile" at the Don Valley. Kelham Island Tavern, 62 Russell St, S3 8RW A regular award-winner with a huge choice of beers. Corner Pin, 231-233 Carlisle St, S4 7QN Back-street boozer on the corner with guest ales. Also is the renowned Devonshire Cat, Devonshire Green (off West Street near the West Street tram. It was famously built as the part of the ground floor of a privately developed student hall of residence. For a more "traditional" setting, try the The Red Deer, , also near the West Street tram. If you don't want to wander too far from the station, then The Red Lion 109 Charles Street is the best of the bunch. A separate snug and Black Sheep and Taylor's among the ales. Near Don Valley The Cocked Hat, 75 Worksop Road Attercliffe, S9 3TG Next to the stadium (Attercliffe tram stop), a Marston's pub with Pedigree. Serves food and has Sky TV. If you're driving in, Liz of London Millers suggests a detour to The Tabard, Herringthorpe Valley Road, S65 3BA (01709) 364761 - (see Other local pubs - above). There are also a couple of restaurants on the High Street if people are looking for something a bit more extensive - the Dragon Pearl chinese (23 High Street 01709 374994) and the Italian Pizza Oven (Unit 2, Essoldo Buildings,High Street, 01709 382100) - otherwise it's the legendary Eric Twigg Pukka Pies in the ground itself!

Rotherham Visitor Centre, 40 Bridgegate Rotherham S60 1PQ Tel: 01709 835904 There are accommodation details on the council website. One place we recommend is just outside Rotherham off the M1, the Red Lion at Todwick, which has a hotel extension and does good food in the pub. Between the bus station and the railway station is Chantry Bridge, the site of one of only four remaining chapels built on bridges in England. The chapel is still used for regular services. Clifton Park Museum - recently refurbished, and best known for locally Nelson, a stuffed lion Boston Castle, built in 1776 in the grounds of Boston Park, in sympathy for the American War of Independence. Apart from the Chuckle Brothers (see famous fans above), famous local people include: Lynne 'Ivy Tilsley' Perrie and Paul 'Hi-de-hi' McShane Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map Hotels/B&Bs Rotherham council/ Sheffield Star, Rotherham Unofficial Surfing there... There's the official website, and the Rivals site MillersNet and of course that self-help exiles group, London Millers Next away match: Grimsby (Sat 1st November, 3pm) No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling. © DAFTS 2008 Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions. Back to index page Thanks to Liz Coldwell of the London Millers and Brian Elsey If you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then E-mail DAFTS