The Den

Last weekend I went to London the city of my birth. I incorporated a trip to the dentist as well as a visit to the last home game of the season at the Den to see Millwall beat Bristol City.

After having my teeth cleaned after the annual checkup I took a walk around Lewisham, which hasn't changed much since I was a kid, except the road layout and the market stalls now sell yams as well as traditional veg. Sign of a multi-cultural society?

Spent the afternoon sitting in the park, Manor House Gardens to give it its full title. I spent most of my formative years in this park as I had to go through it to get to primary school, and everybody I knew as a child used to hang out there. Seeing all the little kids playing there took me back to my youth and some of the escapades. I remember when I was at the primary school we had to wear caps and blazers as well as short trousers and ties. One day a lad called Sean threw my friend Joe's cap into the duck pond, why I am not sure and didn't really care as we picked him up and threw him in to retrieve it. Later that evening Sean's mum went round to see Joe's dad to complain about Sean's dunking. When Big Joe found out that we had thrown Sean in to fetch little Joe's cap he told couldn't see a problem and told Sean's mum to go away. Over the years nearly everyone was thrown into the pond at one time or another. I was never actually physicall thrown in but jumped in on many occasions during the long hot summers of yesteryear, especially the summer of '76 which was spent almost entirely in the park. Lazy hot summer days hanging around on the grassy hill until being chucked out at closing time then waiting for the parkie to lock up and leave we would then climb the fence and hang out there for the night. At least it kept me off the streets.

Saturday was my first visit of the season to the Den to watch Millwall. Living in Cornwall and working all over the world I do not get there as much as I would like but try to get there at least once a season. After a few seasons of turmoil the club seems to have turned itself around and the future looks bright after an investment from an American and a property tycoon from the Isla of Man. The team looked good for a third division outfit and with a couple of new players in the summer we should challenge for promoyion next season. As for the game it was a typical end of season fare although Bristol City were looking to gain promotion they did not seem to want it enough and were easily contained with Millwall nicking the winner 10 mins from time.