I would like to start by expressing my delight at the success our U21 squad has achieved this season, culminating in beating Sheffield United in the Professional Development League National Final last Monday night.
To win the Southern Division is one thing – a fine achievement – but to go on and get one better with that overall trophy is truly fantastic. I’d like to pay tribute to Kevin Nugent, Paul Robinson, the rest of the staff, and of course, all the players, who have demonstrated their outstanding potential over the course of the campaign.
Congratulations are also extended to Larry McAvoy, Chris Perry, and their U18 squad, who also enjoyed another superb season reaching their Play-Off Semi-Finals. Twice winning having scored seven, and with several other high-scoring victories and matches over the course of the season, there was certainly no shortage of entertainment following the U18s and everyone involved can be very proud of another season of progress.
It’s great that such a bright light has been shone on the Academy – not forgetting of course the emergence of Romain Esse within the first team – and long may that continue as it is so important for us as a club to see players working their way through the age groups and into the senior squad.
The dust is beginning to settle on what was ultimately a very painful end to a season that so promised so much. There is no hiding from the fact that what happened in that second half against Blackburn badly hurt us all, but what I’m focused on is ensuring that those negative emotions we’re collectively experiencing are channeled in the right way – and that’s by growing further, getting better, and going again next season.
There is so much to look back on with such pride and joy, not least the quite incredible atmosphere and feeling within The Den during the early stages of that final game. It was better than anything I’ve seen and experienced during my association with the club and what we’re focused on as a club is continuing to try and harness that type of environment as often as possible in 2023/24 and beyond.
Last season we had a series of sell-out crowds, including the biggest ever one in the League and our highest average attendance at the current stadium. I believe that is a testament to the way in which supporters have embraced our progress and rallied behind Gary Rowett, his staff, and the players, and backed them through highs and lows.
Our objective for this summer is no different from any other in that we are going to do absolutely everything we can to help strengthen the squad as much as possible. In recent years we feel that we’ve shown progress on and off the pitch each season and our aim is to do that again. It’s not easy, certainly not so early in the summer, but Gary, Alex Aldridge, and the recruitment department are working incredibly hard to secure the players who can help take us to that next level. I’m certainly very excited and enthused by that challenge and have every faith that come the end of the window we’ll have a team and squad ready to compete strongly once more.
I’d like to finish firstly by thanking all the staff throughout the club for their continued hard work, passion for Millwall, and desire to take us to the next level. I’m proud to represent the team behind the team, and while a lot of their work is unseen, I know it will be appreciated by you all.
Finally, and most importantly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude on behalf of the Board of Directors and everyone else at the club for your amazing support over the course of the season just gone. You excelled yourselves again both in the stands on match days and in all your various fundraising and charitable endeavors. We came so close and we’ll need what you give us again to go that one step better.
I hope you all enjoy your summer and I look forward to seeing you all when the fixtures recommence.
