After a run of Scottish football grounds it seemed beyond temptation to continue the run of stadiums that don’t actually host any football. And so, for your enjoyment, is Millmoor.
The club left its home in 2008 after playing there for over a hundred years after a dispute over rent with the Booth family, who actually own the stadium. That meant the club spending several years playing in Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium before moving back to the town in 2012.
We’ll cover Rotherham’s New York Stadium (yes you read that right) some time soon but for now let’s focus back on Millmoor. After a rugby team’s proposed tenancy fell through it makes the place really weird that it’s still empty.
Even stranger is its condition. Although the ground had been falling apart for years, it hasn’t been left to rot. The pitch appears to be kept neat and whilst most of the stadium is out of bounds it doesn’t look like re-opening it would be a major issue.
There’s not a lot to see apart from what’s visible from the main road (access to the away fans is down a quite awful looking back lane) but thankfully you’re afforded a decent view. The away entrance also gives nerds a little peak inside some neighbouring railway sidings.
Most noteworthy of all has to be the main stand though. Construction was halted in 2007 after the discovery of Japanese knotworm amongst a variety of setbacks and with the club moving out shortly afterwards there was little reason to continue.
And so the structure stands, half-finished and a wonderful pointless beacon of nothingness. Although the stand itself is almost certainly out of bounds, I suspect the security guards protecting the site may oblige polite visitors with a peak inside but I didn’t fancy chancing my arm.
I’ve no idea why the stadium is still standing but I’m definitely glad that it is. It’s a curious and fascinating visit that I suspect ranks highly with how little there is to see in comparison to how much I’d endorse a trip there.
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Football Grounds I Can Be Bothered To Visit 