Rotherham United fans' hopes of Millmoor mementoes dashed
Fans will only have memories after Millmoor is demolished
Veteran Millers fans hoping to grab their own piece of the Millmoor ground - for old time’s sake - have been left disappointed on safety grounds.
The site had been unused and subject to severe deterioration in the decades since Rotherham United moved out to the nearby New York stadium.
It is now being demolished by recycling company Ron Hull, which owns the site and they have been contacted by “thousands” of ardent fans wanting a reminder of the highs - and lows - experienced watching Millers’ games at the historic ground.
However their hopes have been dashed because recovery work would put staff safety at risk.Members of the public are also not allowed on site, on health and safety grounds, meaning there is no option but to allow materials to be recycled.
Fan Kevin Brown, aged 61, of Kilnhurst, said he had 50 years’ experience attending Rotherham United matches and would have liked a memento from the stadium - turf from the pitch or metalwork from the Tivoli stand where he watched his heroes on the pitch - as a farewell gesture.
“My brother started taking me and you get into it. It becomes pretty much like a religion, half football and half social,” he said.
He had hoped some items could be saved and sold to raise money for charity, he said: “I mentioned this to other people at the match on Saturday and they thought it was a great idea.”
But Ron Hull insist they cannot do so because “health and safety has to prevail”.
A spokesman said: “We have had thousands of this type of phone calls, people wanting mementoes of all different shapes and sizes.
“The site is a demolition site, we have machinery that goes on site.
“We have just had to make a policy of ‘no salvage’.
“Safety has to come first and there is no compromising that.
“It is a shame, because people have good memories, but you cannot risk the health and safety of public or staff.”
The condition of the site was such that the company’s insurers had stopped anyone entering the site before the clearance work started.