Millwall and West Ham renew rivalry as police step up

Millwall and West Ham clash at the Den this Saturday for the first competitive meeting in 14 years, and The Guardian warns it won’t be a friendly reunion. The focus, the paper says, will be keeping the attention on the match rather than what happens away from the pitch.

The Metropolitan Police will have special powers to tackle violence as both sets of supporters are brought together in south-east London, with additional measures designed to reduce contact between rival fans, according to The Guardian. The article stresses that this is a rivalry with deep roots beyond football.

Rivalry marked by incidents

A key reference point is the League Cup tie in August 2009 at West Ham’s old ground, Upton Park. The Guardian describes severe disorder inside and outside the stadium, including a brief suspension after a pitch invasion following a West Ham goal, with riot police struggling to maintain order. It also notes that a 44-year-old man was stabbed in the chest during the chaos.

The paper adds other examples from earlier years, including police horses on the pitch during fan riots in the Den in March 2004, and the fact that away supporters were not allowed into the lower tier when West Ham returned eight months later.

Security plans for the day

For Saturday’s fixture, The Guardian reports that West Ham have 1,774 tickets available and that measures will be in place to keep opposing supporters apart. One of those arrangements is a dedicated walkway linking South Bermondsey station to the away end, presented as a way to limit the mixing of crowds.

It also underlines the sporting contrast around the matchup: Millwall have a five-match unbeaten home record against West Ham since 1988, while West Ham head in on a four-game winning run in the league and top the Championship after a 6-0 win over Wrexham last weekend.