Rotherham United

Rotherham Town and Rotherham City combined in 1925 to form Rotherham United, who have been in the Football League ever since – just never higher than 3rd in the second tier, and that was in the 1950s, when they had a long run in the second tier without winning anything.

They made their first trip to Wembley in 1996, beating Shrewsbury Town for the League Trophy, but within 10 years they were losing money and were saved, just, by a group of local businessmen. They were relegated in 2007, and soon after took a 17-point penalty from the league and had to leave their home of 100 years, Millmoor, to play at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. They still managed to stay up, and had a nice run in the League Cup, beating Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, and Southampton on the way to the Fourth Round.

They moved back to Rotherham, and into their current stadium, in 2012, and there’s a great documentary about those days on YouTube called “Rotherham United: Moving a Football Club.” You can view that here.

In 2012 and 2013, in their new home, they earned two straight promotions to make the Championship, where they barely held on twice before finally going back down. They then switched between the Championship and League One six straight seasons. But in 2022 they won the League Trophy while being promoted—but in 2024 they dropped out of the Championship by finishing dead last.

Two things do come up with English people about this club: One, which I assume is having a go at the Yorkshire accent, is that people very often write it as “Rovram.” The other is a comedy act called The Chuckle Brothers, two actual brothers named Barry and Paul Elliott who were from Rotherham. Apparently, the club and their allegiance to it made frequent appearances on their show, ChuckleVision, and when Paul died in 2018 the funeral was held at the New York Stadium. Both are now honorary presidents of the club.

2024-25 SEASON: 13th in League One, 1st Round FA Cup, 2nd Round League Cup

2025-26 SEASON: League One (relegated in 2024)

Barnsley qualify as rivals, as would either Sheffield club—so with Barnsley in League One this season, that would probably be a big day in Rotherham.

Rotherham United Women play in the East Midlands Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division, tier five of the pyramid. Games are at Roundwood Golf Sports and Social Club; fixture info at ruwfc.com.

There is a sort of unofficial anthem called “Drop Me Off in Rotherham,” by a local band called Tivoli. The original version included the lines:

So when I’m old or if I die

or got no money to get me by

when the whiskey’s dripping from my tongue

Do me a favour, drop me off in Rotherham.

Cos even though it’s a shit-hole,

I love my Mum and Dad, and it’s my home.

The songwriter recently redid it to remove the “shithole” reference, but I’m not sure which version they sing at the ground, if any.

This one throws people for a loop, but the place where the stadium is located, where once was a foundry, is called New York. So they named it New York Stadium. It opened in 2012, seats around 12,000, and is a nice, cozy little ground, beside a river. It seems about right for a team between League One and the Championship, and it was built with possible expansion in mind.

It’s an enclosed rectangle of three roughly equal sides plus the larger West Stand, each one nice and steep to offer good views. Officially, it’s the AESSEAL stadium, as it’s sponsored by a local mechanical seals company. Away fans are in the Mears Stand, near the West Stand, so the best atmosphere and views would be in the West Stand over that way.

The old stadium, Millmoor, is still there, by the way; they played there from 1907 to 2008. Look for it on Google Maps; you can actually see into the seating area from a couple of spots.

TOURS: None

GETTING THERE: It’s a 10-minute walk from Rotherham Central Railway Station. Here’s a Google Maps link.

PUBS: In town, a few looked inviting: The Three Cranes offering traditional cask ales; The Forge; the Bluecoat, a Wetherspoon; and the New York Tavern, which serves local ales.

GRUB: There is all the usual stuff in town and at the stadium, although I do recall there being particularly long lines for food inside the ground. Same at the club shop, so maybe it was just an off day.

AROUND TOWN: Put it this way, a Rotherham supporter emailed me with some suggestions and said visitors should probably plan to stay in Sheffield!

He did suggest Wentworth Woodhouse, an 18th-Century estate on the edge of town with gardens, and Boston Castle, which is not a castle at all but a hunting lodge. It was built by the Earl of Effingham and named for the American Boston as a way to protest the British efforts to deny America its independence.

And that would appear to be about it! Rotherham is a nice day out for some football, and if you’re considering it, look for a time when a nearby club is in town, and the New York should be pretty full and loud.

(Thanks to Lee Brook for his help with the above)