After five years in the Sky Bet Championship, Millwall will drop down to League One for the 2015/16 season.
Millwall Football ClubName:
Nickname: The Lions
Stadium: The Den
Founded: 1885
How They Got Here
Millwall started the 2014/15 campaign impressively under former Blackpool boss Ian Holloway with wins over Leeds United, Wycombe Wanderers and Fulham.
But, following a run of just three wins in 24 games, the 52-year-old left the club in March.
In the aftermath of Holloway’s departure, former fans’ favourite Neil Harris took charge of the Lions for the rest of the season.
However, Harris could not prevent the club from being relegated into the third tier. Their drop to League One was confirmed following Rotherham United’s win over Reading in April.
That result left the Lions four points adrift of safety with just a single game to play. They rounded off their season with a disappointing 4-2 loss to Wolves at Molineux.
The Man In Charge
Current Millwall boss Neil Harris’ affiliation with the club started around 17 years ago when he signed at the Den from Cambridge United.
He scored just shy of 100 goals in all competitions during his first spell with the Lions before leaving for Nottingham Forest in 2004.
However, he returned to Millwall just three years later and continued his good form in front of goal in a Lions shirt, netting 40 goals.
Harris hung up his boots in 2013 and embarked on his coaching career, taking over as Millwall’s under-21s manager.
Once Ian Holloway left the club’s first team managerial role in March of the 2014/15 season, Harris was given the job as caretaker.
During his time in temporary charge the 37-year-old led the club to wins over Charlton Athletic and fellow relegation contenders Wigan Athletic.
He was given the job on a permanent basis towards the end of April just a day after the club’s drop into League One was confirmed.
Stadium
The Den, previously called The New Den, has been the home of Millwall since it opened in 1993. The ground was built as a direct replacement for the club’s previous stadium, also known as the Den.
It has an all-seated capacity of around 20,150 and is located 175 miles from Vale Park – around a three-and-a-half hour drive, making it one of the Valiants’ longest journeys of 2015/16.
To get to the Den from Stoke-on-Trent, follow the M6 southbound before joining the M42 and then taking the M40 south into London.
Head into the city centre on Westway and take the A4206 past Paddington station until you come to Hyde Park. Turn left onto Bayswater Road, keeping Hyde Park on your right, and then turn right onto Park Lane.
At the following roundabout, take the second exit onto Constitution Hill, then the third exit on the Buckingham Palace roundabout and turn left onto Birdcage walk.
Continue over Westminster Bridge with Big Ben on your right, make your way onto the A302 and take the third exit on the St George’s Circus roundabout, onto the A201.
Continue along this road before taking a left onto Rotherhithe New Road. Turn right onto Ilderton Road and then take a left onto Bolina Road and The Den will be in front of you.
Previous Meetings
The last time Vale locked horns with Millwall was during the 2007/08 Sky Bet League One season.
The Valiants ran out 3-1 winners at Vale Park with Dean Whitaker and Keith Lowe (2) bagging the goals after Gary Alexander had put the Lions ahead.
Millwall returned the favour when Vale visited the Den as Lewis Grabban, Marc Laird and Dave Martin all scored in a 3-0 victory for the hosts.
Overall, the Valiants have won 21 of the 46 meetings between the sides, while Millwall have come out on top on 15 occasions.