News: Historic Rotherham football ground is now home to famous women's team
Millmoor football stadium in Rotherham has new tenants for this season - the Doncaster Rovers Belles.
The home of Rotherham United until 2008 was abandoned but has been used for charity games and youth football in recent years. It will welcome one of English women's football's most famous and successful clubs for the first "home" fixture on Sunday August 24.
Doncaster Belles were one of the founding members of the inaugural National Division in 1991, which they won twice, along with the FA Cup six times. Also a founding member of the Women's Super League (WSL) in 2011, the team has dropped down the leagues at the same time as women's professional football has grown.
The team, now part of Club Doncaster, the same organisation that owns the men's team, plays in Division One North - Tier 4 in the women's football pyramid.
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Chris Wood, CEO of Doncaster Rovers Belles, said: "Our focus is simple - build a sustainable club that wins matches and makes Doncaster proud.
“In order to achieve those goals we need a stable home for the next two seasons, while we complete the upgrades to our long-term home at the Eco-Power Stadium main 3G pitch.
“Millmoor gives us that stability, with excellent facilities and strong transport links for welcoming in supporters, plus a rich history. Even as we work towards a permanent home, we cannot afford to stand still and I believe having the base at Millmoor will allow us to progress.
“It’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly. As always, we worked closely with supporters in making this choice. Understandably there were some concerns about playing outside Doncaster but the feedback was clear - given the alternatives, Millmoor was the best solution.
“Denaby served us well but lacks floodlights, Retford’s pitch was superb but travel was an issue for supporters and Thorne has infrastructure challenges. We explored the possibility of using the athletics stadium next to the Eco-Power Stadium but the cost of renovating the pitch to bring it up to standard would be significant and ultimately it is not our property.
“Millmoor stands out as the only venue that meets our needs and supports our ambition at this level.
“This move is temporary but allows us to keep growing our attendances, which are already among the highest in tier four. And it will allow us to give the players and fans the platform they deserve until we do return home.”
Rotherham United fell into administration for the second time in 2008 having previously been owned by the Booth family, owners of Millmoor and the large scrap business that surrounds it.
Local businessman Tony Stewart of ASD brought the club out of administration via a Creditors Voluntary Agreement but then came the decision to play home games at the now demolished Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, after working hard to get a deal to carry on playing at Millmoor, the club's home for over 100 years.
The club was charged with returning to play home games in its home town within four seasons by the Football League and the £20m AESSEAL New York Stadium, on the edge of Rotherham town centre and in view of Millmoor, hosted its first Millers game in 2012.
Tier 5 Rotherham United Women currently play home games at Roundwood Sports Complex, the location for the men's training facilities.
Doncaster Rovers Belles website
Images: DRFC
The home of Rotherham United until 2008 was abandoned but has been used for charity games and youth football in recent years. It will welcome one of English women's football's most famous and successful clubs for the first "home" fixture on Sunday August 24.
Doncaster Belles were one of the founding members of the inaugural National Division in 1991, which they won twice, along with the FA Cup six times. Also a founding member of the Women's Super League (WSL) in 2011, the team has dropped down the leagues at the same time as women's professional football has grown.
The team, now part of Club Doncaster, the same organisation that owns the men's team, plays in Division One North - Tier 4 in the women's football pyramid.
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Chris Wood, CEO of Doncaster Rovers Belles, said: "Our focus is simple - build a sustainable club that wins matches and makes Doncaster proud.
“In order to achieve those goals we need a stable home for the next two seasons, while we complete the upgrades to our long-term home at the Eco-Power Stadium main 3G pitch.
“Millmoor gives us that stability, with excellent facilities and strong transport links for welcoming in supporters, plus a rich history. Even as we work towards a permanent home, we cannot afford to stand still and I believe having the base at Millmoor will allow us to progress.
“It’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly. As always, we worked closely with supporters in making this choice. Understandably there were some concerns about playing outside Doncaster but the feedback was clear - given the alternatives, Millmoor was the best solution.
“Denaby served us well but lacks floodlights, Retford’s pitch was superb but travel was an issue for supporters and Thorne has infrastructure challenges. We explored the possibility of using the athletics stadium next to the Eco-Power Stadium but the cost of renovating the pitch to bring it up to standard would be significant and ultimately it is not our property.
“Millmoor stands out as the only venue that meets our needs and supports our ambition at this level.
“This move is temporary but allows us to keep growing our attendances, which are already among the highest in tier four. And it will allow us to give the players and fans the platform they deserve until we do return home.”
Local businessman Tony Stewart of ASD brought the club out of administration via a Creditors Voluntary Agreement but then came the decision to play home games at the now demolished Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, after working hard to get a deal to carry on playing at Millmoor, the club's home for over 100 years.
The club was charged with returning to play home games in its home town within four seasons by the Football League and the £20m AESSEAL New York Stadium, on the edge of Rotherham town centre and in view of Millmoor, hosted its first Millers game in 2012.
Tier 5 Rotherham United Women currently play home games at Roundwood Sports Complex, the location for the men's training facilities.
Doncaster Rovers Belles website
Images: DRFC
12 comments:
It's a pity they didn't let them have New York Stadium
Why is it a pity?
Because then we wouldn't have to watch United
The Belles would certainly be more entertaining.
Nice to see that a bit of new life is being generated at Millmoor. It gave thousands some very fond memories.
Entertaining in a funny way?
That's really patronising. Don't you think women should be playing football?
Not at all, I'm all for it. But to say 4th tier amateur womens football is more entertaining than professional Mens football in League One is ridiculous. It can't be more entertaining in a quality of football way so I got the impression the poster meant it must be more entertaining in some other way and I was merely asking what they meant by it. I think you've misconstrued the way my post was meant, but I accept I could've worded it better.
I accept your apology.
It's not at all ridiculous and you would know this if you've attended NYS regularly over the past 3 seasons.
I’m a season ticket holder and while it’s been dire at New York, it’s still of a much higher standard than amateur women’s football and to say otherwise is just stupid.
In the run up to the recent Euros the Switzerland Women lost 7-1 in a friendly against an under 15s boys team.
There is more to entertainment than quality standards. Most women play football for the sheer joy of doing so and often for no or little financial reward. For now at least they rarely dive, feign injury or commit cynical fouls. So just like the men eh?
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