Easter Mondays Of The Past

Rotherham United should have been on their way to Prenton Park to take on Tranmere Rovers this Easter Monday afternoon but circumstances have postponed the game with no idea, yet, whether it will be played at all.

So what happened on Easter Monday’s of the past?

22nd April 2019 – Easter Monday last year saw the Millers at home to Birmingham City. Rotherham were in the last place of the relegation places in The Championship with City seven points better off and four places above them. It was a great start for the hosts when Matt Crooks got his third goal in three games on twenty-two minutes but second half goals from Jacques Maghoma, Jota and Kerim Mrabt gave the visitors the win. After the game Manager Paul Warne said, ‘We won’t give up. This group, I have tried to sign characters and leaders.’

2nd April 2018 – The Millers were on their travels two years ago for an Easter Monday game at The Valley. Just before the half-hour mark Michal Zyro put Charlton in front while Joe Aribo made it three-nil with two second half goals. Richard Wood got a consolation goal for the travelling Rotherham fans thirteen minutes from time.

17th April 2017 – Three years ago saw a nineteenth minute goal from Tom Adeyemi, on loan from Cardiff City, saw the Millers take the lead away at Reading. Rotherham held on until the sixty-sixth minute when former Miller Lewis Grabban equalised and former loanee John Swift scored the winner ten minutes from time sending the Millers home empty handed. After the game Millers Manager Paul Warne said despite the scoreline he was ‘pretty proud’ of his team.

6th April 2015 – Things fared a little better on Easter Monday five years ago when Matt Derbyshire scored the only goal on eight minutes at home against Brighton and Hove Albion.

21st April 2014 – Saw the first Easter Monday game played at the New York Stadium when Port Vale were the visitors. Just before half-time Richie Smallwood blocked a shot from Billy Knott and as Knott fell over like he’d been pole-axed Referee David Coote couldn’t wait to pull out a red card and send the Millers player off. A Kieran Agard goal on seventy-nine minutes gave ten-men Rotherham all three points.

1st April 2013 – 2013 saw the Millers make the long trek to Gillingham where a first half goal from former Miller Deon Burton was the only goal of the game giving the hosts all three points.

9th April 2012 – The game at Don Valley looked like being goalless until skipper Ryan Cresswell jumped higher than anyone else in time added on and put the ball in the back of the net against Cheltenham Town.

25th April 2011 – The Gills were at Don Valley for this Easter Monday game when it was a one-nil victory for the visitors with a goal on seventy-nine minutes from Andy Barcham.

5th April 2010 – Not a good day for the Millers. A long journey down to Aldershot saw them come away with nothing after goals from Dean Morgan, Marvin Morgan and Dean Howell gave the home side a three-nil win. (But a couple of months later the Millers made amends when they were back at the Recreation Ground in the play-offs and won one-nil followed by a two-nil victory at Don Valley).

13th April 2009 – This Easter Monday saw the Millers travel to Vale Park and grind out a goalless draw in a game which saw Micky Cummins stretchered off ten minutes into the second half.

24th March 2008 – The Millers travelled to Rochdale and made a positive start when Marc Joseph opened the scoring on seven minutes. It should have been more with Danny Harrison, Chris O`Grady and Joseph missing easy chances but it was the Dale who equalised on the half-hour mark when Gary Jones slammed the ball into the net past Andy Warrington. The home side were more in the game in the second half and then super sub Chris Dagnall came off the bench and ten minutes later put Rochdale in front. Five minutes later he made it three-one and completed his hat-trick with almost the last kick of the game.

9th April 2007 – The Millers travelled to Nottingham and came away with a point from the City Ground this Easter Monday afternoon. Just ten minutes in and Chris O`Grady skipped past former Miller Ian Breckin and smashed the ball past Forest ‘keeper Paul Smith into the top of the net. Eleven minutes later referee Mike Thorpe adjudged that Craig Fleming had brought down Nathan Tyson in the area and pointed to the spot with Grant Holt giving Neil Cutler no chance with the penalty. Forest, still in with a chance of automatic promotion, were booed off by their supporters at half-time after a lack lustre display which, frankly, didn`t get any better in the second half as both teams defended very deep and it ended one-all.

17th April 2006 – This Easter Monday saw the Millers travel to Wales to the Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea City. A battling performance from the visitors saw them win two-nil with an own goal from Garry Monk when he sliced into his own goal from a Lee Williamson free-kick and a Gregor Robertson goal on the half-hour mark. The three points saw Rotherham pull four points clear of the drop zone in League One.

12th April 2004 – Another away game for the Millers on Easter Monday saw them go to the Britannia Stadium and beat Stoke City two-nil. Jody Morris scored the first on twenty-two minutes with Martin Butler getting the second on sixty-eight minutes.

21st April 2003 – The Millers welcomed Ipswich Town to Millmoor for this Easter Monday clash. The visitors went ahead just after the half-hour mark but goals from John Mullin and Mark Robins in the final ten minutes of the game gave the Millers the win.

1st April 2002 – A goalless draw at Millmoor when Millwall were the visitors.

16th April 2001 – A Mark Robins penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the Millers a one-nil home win over Northampton.

24th April 2000 – The first Easter Monday of the new century saw a two-nil home win for Rotherham. Cheltenham were the visitors but goals from Darren Garner (twelfth minute) and Jason White, White, White (eighty-fourth minute) gave the Millers the win.

5th April 1999 – Swansea City were the visitors at Millmoor when a goal on fifty-one minutes from Leo Fortune-West was enough to give the Millers the win. The Swans day was made worse in the final minute of the game when they saw Nick Cusack get a second yellow card.

13th April 1998 – A long, long trek saw the Millers in Torquay on Easter Monday. But it was a worthwhile trip when Jason White opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark. Andy Roscoe made it two-nil five minutes into the second half and a goal from Tony Bedeau for the home side made the final twenty minutes a bit more exciting.

31st March 1997 – A trip to the seaside was probably the highlight of the day for Millers fans when they went to Blackpool on this day seventeen years ago. David Linighan, Phil Clarkson, Tony Ellis and Andy Barlow scored for the Seasiders with Ian Breckin getting a consolation for the Millers two minutes from time.

8th April 1996 – Blackpool go for it Blackpool – The Millers were at the seaside and came away with a two-one win. John McGlashan and Trevor Berry scored the Millers goals with Andy Preece scoring for the home side.

17th April 1995 – This day saw the Millers make the journey to West Yorkshire to take on Bradford City. It was a good day for the visitors who came away with a three-nil win with goals from Gareth Farrelly, Andy Hayward and Nathan Peel.

So, who will we be playing next Easter Monday (which is 5th April) or should the question be ‘will we be playing’?