Millwall Legend: Neil Harris

Last night, Neil Harris became the highest goalscorer in Millwall’s history by scoring his 112th goal for the club. His 1st came on 19th September 1998 against Northampton Town. His 112th came on the 13th January 2009 against Crewe Alexandra. Without any irony, Neil Harris is a true football legend.

During his two spells at Millwall, Haris has experienced many ups and downs. In his first season, he scored an amazing 25 goals having joined the club from non-league Cambridge City, playing part time whilst holding down a full time job in a Japanese insurance company.

In his second season, he won the ‘Golden Boot’ as League One’s top goalscorer with 28 goals helping Millwall win the League at the same time.

In the same year, Harris was also diagnosed with testicular cancer. He fought against it having undergone intense treatment and surgery to return to the first team little more than a year later. In the process, he set up the Neil Harris Everyman Appeal.

Things the Year 2008 has Taught Me…

So here goes, 2008 has taught me (relevant links added where appropriate…) that:

My life has been in a constant state of flux – something that doesn’t (yet…?) appear to be changing…!

A lot of nastiness, rubbish and nonsense has been thrown my way

You shouldn’t ever get comfortable and think that things are getting better as there’s always something else just around the corner

People get offended about almost anything and everything, here

The weight of expectation resting on the shoulders of Barack Obama seems to be beyond the capabilities of any one human being, here

At the same time, Barack Obama is also (allegedly) the Anti-Christ, here

Ernie Allen: My Grandad, My Millwall

I’m re-publishing this short piece that I wrote for Millwall Football Club as it was printed in the programme from yesterday’s 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers FC. As invited guests to the match by the Millwall Press team (thanks Neil), we had a great day and enjoyed the match.

I can’t reminisce about Millwall’s first season in the top flight of English football without remembering one person: my grandad, Ernie Allen.

Happy 1st Birthday ‘Walls Come Tumbling Down’…!!!

‘Walls…’ is one year old today (or thereabouts). Happy 1st Birthday.

It was about a year I took advice from others and merged my original website with a very poorly written and haphazard blog. Out of this came ‘Walls…’ in its current incarnation, give or take a few colour, style and layout changes.

Before ‘Walls…’ my old static website had 25,878 visitors in just under five years. On something of an unprecedented scale, in the first year of ‘Walls…’ the number of visitors has grown to (as at midnight on the 30 November 2008) 35,462.

But this only presents half the picture.

Last December – the first full calendar month that the site was up and running – ‘Walls…’ had 925 visitors. In November 2008, the number of visitors reached a new high, totalling 4,290.

In December 2007, the average number of visitors per day was 30. Last month, this figure had reached 143.

And just last week, the number of weekly visitors reached a new high with 1,297 people visiting the site.

In the first year I have written 190 posts, many of which have focused on: Muslims/ Islam and/ or Islamophobia in various guises; Gordon Brown and the Labour Party; Millwall Football Club; the BNP; and more randomly – organised using 1,959 different tags – 2 Tone, 70s British sitcom and the hymn, ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful‘ amongst others.

From these posts, visitors have made 248 comments, all of which have been posted without edit. On numerous occasions, comments have suggested that I have been too critical or unfair. To balance this, I approve ALL comments irrespective of whether they criticise, condemn or – as is sometimes the case – congratulate.

For those who have been less than complimentary read (some) Millwall fans, the BNP (unsurprisingly) and a handful of individuals (see example here): for those more congratulatory, read Mr Moo, Julaybib Ayoub (sometimes…!!!) and an equally large handful of other very nice and kind individuals (see example here).

More recently, nominations for ‘Best Blog’ – in one form or other – have come from Brass Crescent as well as Asia Viz, both of which are great honours. Massive thanks to both organisations for the recognition your nominations afford.

The success of the site though is down to the growing number of people that visit ‘Walls…’. So to all of them (you?), I thank each and every one of you: whether you’ve visited, read and/ or responded to something on this site your support is greatly appreciated and never underestimated. Keep on reading and keep on feeding back – it keeps me on my toes…!!!

I also thank all those who have come and never returned: long may they continue boosting the figures for ‘Walls…’ and make the second year even more successful…!!!

THANKS…!!!

Chris

This Week I’ve…(1st December 2008)

This week I’ve…

…watched some film trailers that Nixon has composed the music for (aka Scott Nixon – spent the weekend with him, his wife and little girl)

…listened to Morrissey’s “National Front Disco” and “We’ll Let You Know” (from “Your Arsenal!)

…read Rennie Sparks’ “Evil” (Rennie Sparks is one half of The Handsome Family)

…laughed at how those who are driven by greed have suddenly seen that same greed come back and bite them on the arse…!!!

…despaired at saying the wrong thing at the wrong time…sorry

…had hope about London – I want to move back there !!!

…been completely random about the last of the international playboys (Morrissey) being a Millwall supporter – random in the extreme !!!