"WITHOUT wanting to sound hackneyed and cliched, the club (Millwall) has done a lot of work in promoting its role in the community, and a family spirit amongst the fans."

The above quotation is lifted from John Ladd's usually reliable, "Guide to Football Grounds." Following Saturday's visit to Millwall, I must report Mr Ladd's assessment as being about as well considered as selecting Dennis Wise to play for England.

The first indication that all was not well, was given when I met up with a couple of mates who had decided to spend the weekend in London, rather than face the rigours of a 10-hour round trip in one day.

It had seemed such a good idea at the time. Until they attempted to venture into South East London via the underground. Sharing their particular carriage en route to the Lion's Den, were a number of "boisterous" Clarets. In itself this was no bad thing. Unfortunately, the Millwall supporters in the same carriage didn't share that view.

In fact so vehemently opposed were they to it, that when the train reached its destination the police had to step in to prevent a bout of fisticuffs. My mates, innocently caught up in the melee, attempted to protest their innocence. The police, however, were deaf to said protests. Deaf, but apparently not averse to a spot of threatening truncheon wielding. With the aid of a police escort my friends eventually made it to the ground. But speaking with them it became abdundantly clear they were not anticipating with relish the return journey.

After the match as we left the ground, I wished my mates luck on their travels and headed back to the Supporters Club coach. The news was not good. "When we set off, just watch yourself if you are sat next to a window," said a steward, "there's a bit of a stand-off up ahead. Some of their supporters have got bricks." Sadly he wasnt joking.

Fortunately, the police were again on hand to defuse the situation. Unfortunately, it took them the best part of an hour to make the surrounding area safe enough for us to get under way. The football aside, it had not been what you might call the best of trips. In his book, John Ladd describes Cambridge United, tonight's opponents, as "a fantastic away-day that I would unreservedly recommend that all spectators enjoy." I hope he's got this one right.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.