Over the next week or so, we will look at the 7 teams who are new to League One and will be taking their place in the division for 2015-16, having spent last season in either The Championship of League Two.
We begin the feature by first looking at one of three Championship teams to drop into League One following relegation last season, Millwall. The Lions are no stranger to League One, but haven’t kicked a ball in the third tier since 2010 – that season they were promoted via the play-offs, beating Swindon Town 1-0 thanks to a Paul Robinson goal.
Bantams’ duo Alan Sheehan and Stephen Darby were in the Swindon squad that day, as well as former Bantam loanee Billy Paynter, and sought after QPR frontman Charlie Austin.
Millwall
1885Formed:
The DenGround:
20,146Ground Capacity:
22nd in The ChampionshipLast Season:
Betting Odds for 2015-16: 3/1 to be promoted - 3rd favourite, behind Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic.
Odds courtesy of skybet.com
Manager – Neil Harris
Aged just 37 years old, Millwall legend Neil Harris will take on his first full managerial challenge as manager of the Lions. He was given the role shortly after Ian Holloway’s dismissal in March following a poor run of form. Harris himself has only managed 2 wins from 10 so far and couldn’t keep the South London club from falling back into League One after a 5 year spell away.
Harris joined Millwall in 1998 as a player and made 233 league appearances (93 goals) before a move to Nottingham Forest in 2004. He couldn’t for one reason or another, find his best form for Forest and after a loan stint at Gillingham, he returned to Millwall in 2007. Harris spent another 4 years with the Lions, racking up another 147 league appearances (32 goals), before a June 2011 move to Southend United. During his final two years as a professional footballer, he made 40 league appearances (8 goals), before retirement in June 2013 after failing to recover from an injury.
He may have a lack of experience in his current field of football management, but he will certainly bring passion back into the equation. A legend around those parts, he is likely to be expected to mount at least a play-off challenge.
Key Player – Lee Gregory
There has been a bit of a clear out down at Millwall in terms of players leaving the club, but Lee Gregory will feel he is only just getting started, after signing a three year deal with Millwall last summer, arriving from FC Halifax Town.
Gregory arrived from the Shaymen, having caught the attention of many Football League clubs with some terrific goal scoring displays. During three years in West Yorkshire, the Sheffield born forward scored 89 goals in 135 league appearances having arrived from Mansfield Town following a successful loan stint where he scored 5 times in 10 league appearances. Prior to that, he had had spells with Harrogate Town, Glapwell, and Staveley Miners Welfare – the latter being the club where his career began, back in 2008. Still only 26, Lee performed admirably in the Championship considering his lack of Football League experience, and will be expected to shine in League One this coming season.
Head to Head
Bradford wins: 9
Draws: 14
Millwall wins: 15
Last Meeting
Bradford City4-0Millwall
14/01/15 Date:
The Coral Windows Stadium Venue:
FA Cup 3Competition:rdRound (Replay)
Scorers:Hanson (8), Stead (17), Halliday (39), Knott (57)