Rotherham United are spending time at a training camp in Croatia before the start of the next season and one game they will be involved in is a behind closed doors game against Fleetwood Town.
Originally established in 1908 Fleetwood FC were founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968. 1976 money troubles saw the club fold but 1977 saw Fleetwood Town FC take their place in Division One of the Cheshire League but nineteen years later the club folded again.
This current Fleetwood Town club was formed in 1997 as Fleetwood Wanderers and were placed in Division One of the North West Counties Football League immediately changing their name, due to a sponsorship deal, to Fleetwood Freeport FC. Promotion to the Premier Division of the North West Counties League in 1999 saw them become Fleetwood Town again.
The Trawlermen had a few successful years and the end of the 2011/12 season saw them promoted to the Football League. The 2013/14 saw them get to the League Two Play-Off Final at Wembley beating Burton Albion one-nil to get into League One.
After various managers and interim managers in the last four years or so Joey Barton took up the reigns for the beginning of the 2018/19 season leaving in January 2021 with the club in tenth place. At the end of the month Simon Grayson was appointed manager leaving ten months later the job then falling to Stephen Crainey their U23 manager. May 2022 saw former Scotland International Scott Brown taking over the reins.
The Millers and Fleetwood have met nine times in all competitions in the past, the Trawlermen winning four of those to Rotherham’s three. Last season the game at the New York Stadium was a four-two win for the visitors and they were also the winners in January at the Highbury Stadium with a last minute goal.
This game takes place on Thursday, 7th July with a UK kick-off time of 6pm – but, as stated earlier, it is behind closed doors.
