Fans at Millwall’s the Den. Pic: Jon Candy
The only professional football club in Lewisham, Millwall FC, could be forced to relocate to Kent if a controversial planning scheme goes ahead.
Lewisham Council wants to compulsorily purchase areas around Millwall FCs home ground the Den in order to sell it on to developer Renewal.
Millwall FC has played at the Den since 1993. A potential move has caused a wave of protests by fans who would need travel outside the capital for home games.
The outrage among fans is evident in a tweet from writer/broadcaster and prominent Millwall fan Danny Baker, which sparked outrage over the choice of words:
I hereby bring a hex down on @LewishamCouncil & Renewal their greasy vampiric partners. May you be ill. May you have cancer as I had cancer.
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) January 5, 2017
The Lions fear that they might have to move out to the North Kent coast, being one of several rumoured relocation options. In this case Millwall would be relocated more than 75 miles from its historic home.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed his interest in keeping Millwall in Lewisham.
A spokesman said: “The area around the stadium is currently a run-down, under-used light industrial 30 acre site that needs to work much better for the borough. Renewal has assembled most of the land needed for the project. The prospective CPO will enable the acquisition of the remaining interests required so this important scheme can be delivered.”
Councillor Alan Hall told The Sun: “Millwall Football Club are part of the cultural history of London and Lewisham with over 100 years in the borough.”
