List of Millwall F.C. seasons

This is a list of all seasons played by Millwall Football Club from their early beginnings in the Southern League, to their inaugural season in the English Football League and up to their last completed season. It details their record in the FA Cup, the League Cup and other major competitions entered, as well as managers, top goalscorers and average home attendance for each season.

Millwall Rovers in 1887, the first season they entered the FA Cup.[1]

Millwall were founded in 1885 and for the first nine years of their existence did not compete in league football. They first entered the FA Cup in 1887, turning full-time professional as a club in 1890. They were founding members of the Southern League in 1894, which they competed in for 22 seasons, claiming the title twice in 1895 and 1896. They left to join the Football League in the 1920–21 season. Millwall have played in all four divisions during their 97 consecutive seasons in the league, including the Third Division South, which they won twice, in 1928 and 1938. They were Fourth Division champions in 1962. The 1988–89 season stands as The Lions most successful when Millwall reached the top tier of English football, where they finished 10th in their first ever season in the First Division, after being promoted as champions of the Second Division in 1988.[2] Their lowest league finish is 9th in the founding season of the Fourth Division in 1958–59.[3] Millwall were Second Division champions in the 2000–01 season, when they finished with their highest ever points total of 93.

Millwall Performances from 1920 until 2023

Millwall have been promoted eleven times (five as champions) and relegated nine times.[4][5] They reached the 2004 FA Cup Final, losing to Manchester United, but still qualified for the UEFA Europa League the following season, playing in Europe for the first time in their history. They've also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals on eleven occasions, and the semi-finals four times; in 1900, 1903, 1937 and 2013. Millwall have also reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup on three occasions, in 1974, 1977 and 1995. Millwall have reached the Football League play-offs eight times. They were play-off semi-finalists in 1991, 1994, 2000, 2002, finalists in 2009 and 2016, and they were promoted as winners in 2010 and 2017. The Lions won the Football League Group Cup in 1983 and were runners up in the Football League Trophy in 1999. Richard Parker holds the record for most goals scored in a season with 38, which he set in the 1926–27 season. Millwall's highest average home attendance is 27,373, which they set in the 1938–39 season just before the Second World War broke out.[6]

Seasons

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Overall

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As of the 2024–25 season, Millwall have spent 98 consecutive seasons in the Football League.

  • Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 2
  • Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 48
  • Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 43
  • Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 5
Season Division Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts League Cup[7] FA Cup[8] Other competitions Manager(s)[9] Top goalscorer(s)[10][11] Att.[12]
1885–86 East London FA Cup W Committee / Captain[a]
1886–87 East London Senior Cup W
1887–88 2Q East London Senior Cup W
1888–89 1Q East London Senior Cup W
1889–90 1Q Fred Kidd(s)
1890–91 1Q
1891–92 2Q
1892–93 3Q
1893–94 3Q
1894–95 SL 1st 16 12 4 0 68 29 +39 28 1R Archibald McKenzie 21 5,375
1895–96 1st 18 16 1 1 75 16 +59 33 1R Charlie Leatherbarrow 20 3,444
1896–97 2nd 20 13 5 2 63 24 +39 31 1R United League 1st John Calvey 33 3,350
1897–98 9th 22 8 2 12 48 45 +3 18 3Q United League 7th 18 3,454
1898–99 3rd 24 12 6 6 59 35 +24 30 4Q United League 1st 33 5,292
1899–1900 7th 28 12 3 13 36 37 -1 27 SF Southern Combination 1st Edward Stopher(s) Herbert Banks 26 6,821
1900–01 4th 28 17 2 9 55 32 +23 36 1R Western League 7th George Saunders(s) 25 6,286
1901–02 6th 30 13 6 11 48 31 +17 32 Int Western League 4th Ben Hulse 22 5,167
1902–03 7th 30 14 3 13 52 37 +15 31 SF Western League 5th 32 6,533
1903–04 7th 34 16 8 10 64 42 +22 40 1R London League 1st William Maxwell 34 6,882
1904–05 15th 34 11 7 16 38 47 -9 29 1R Western League 6th 23 5,941
1905–06 12th 34 11 11 12 38 41 -3 33 2R Western League 6th Percy Milsom 17 6,588
1906–07 7th 38 18 6 14 71 50 +21 42 2R Western League 6th Alf Twigg 28 6,632
1907–08 3rd 38 19 8 11 49 32 +17 46 1R Western League 1st 30 7,368
1908–09 12th 40 16 6 18 59 62 -3 38 3R Western League 1st 17 7,000
1909–10 16th 42 15 7 20 45 59 -14 37 1R Jack Martin 12 5,857
1910–11 15th 38 11 9 18 42 54 -12 31 1R Bert Lipsham 14 10,611
1911–12 8th 38 15 10 13 60 57 +3 40 1R Wally Davis 15 12,021
1912–13 6th 38 19 7 12 62 43 +19 45 1R Southern Alliance 4th 33 15,684
1913–14 15th 38 11 12 15 51 56 -5 34 3R 28 15,642
1914–15 8th 38 16 10 12 50 51 -1 42 3R 23 7,789
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War.
1919–20 SL 14th 42 14 12 16 52 55 -3 40 1R Bob Hunter Jimmy Broad 33 12,952
1920–21 3 Div 3 7th 51st 42 18 11 13 42 30 +12 47 1R William J. Keen 10 18,762
1921–22 Div 3(S) 12th 56th 42 10 18 14 38 42 -4 38 QF 16 17,524
1922–23 6th 50th 42 14 18 10 45 40 +5 46 2R Harry Morris 17 17,238
1923–24 3rd 47th 42 22 10 10 64 38 +26 54 1R 19 16,671
1924–25 5th 49th 42 18 13 11 58 38 +20 49 1R Alf Moule 18 15,286
1925–26 3rd 47th 42 21 11 10 73 39 +24 53 5R 19 14,953
1926–27 3rd 47th 42 23 10 9 89 51 +38 56 QF Richard Parker 38 14,173
1927–28 1st ↑ 45th 42 30 5 7 127 50 +77 65 3R London Challenge Cup W Jack Landells 34 17,690
1928–29 2 Div 2 14th 36th 42 16 7 19 71 86 -15 39 4R Jack Cock 29 20,306
1929–30 14th 36th 42 12 15 15 57 73 -16 39 5R 18 18,685
1930–31 14th 36th 42 16 7 19 71 80 -9 39 3R 15 14,455
1931–32 9th 31st 42 17 9 16 61 61 +0 43 3R Leslie Smith 17 14,073
1932–33 7th 29th 42 16 11 15 59 57 +2 43 4R George Bond 17 13,807
1933–34 21st ↓ 43rd 42 11 11 20 39 68 -29 33 4R Billy McCracken Jimmy Yardley 9 14,377
1934–35 3 Div 3(S) 12th 56th 42 17 7 18 57 62 -5 41 4R 18 11,021
1935–36 12th 56th 42 14 12 16 58 71 -13 40 3R Jimmy McCartney 13 10,561
1936–37 8th 52nd 42 18 10 14 64 65 +10 46 SF Charlie Hewitt Ken Burditt 25 19,010
1937–38 1st ↑ 45th 42 23 10 9 83 37 +46 56 3R Dave Mangnall 20 22,756
1938–39 2 Div 2 13th 35th 42 14 14 14 64 53 +11 42 4R Sid Rawlings 14 27,373
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended during the Second World War. The FA Cup returned in 1945 and League football in 1946.
1945–46 4R Jack Cock
1946–47 2 Div 2 18th 40th 42 14 8 20 56 79 -23 36 3R Johnny Johnson 10 22,211
1947–48 22nd ↓ 44th 42 9 11 22 44 74 -30 29 3R Willie Hurrell 7 21,748
1948–49 3 Div 3(S) 8th 52nd 42 17 11 14 63 64 -1 45 2R Charlie Hewitt Jimmy Constantine 25 24,644
1949–50 22nd 66th 42 14 4 24 55 63 -8 32 1R 14 20,883
1950–51 5th 49th 46 23 10 13 80 57 +23 56 4R 28 20,078
1951–52 4th 48th 46 23 12 11 74 53 +21 58 2R Frank Neary 15 20,184
1952–53 2nd 46th 46 24 14 8 82 44 +38 62 3R Johnny Shepherd 21 19,114
1953–54 12th 56th 46 19 9 18 74 77 -3 47 2R George Stobbart 20 13,484
1954–55 5th 49th 46 20 11 15 72 68 +4 51 3R Dennis Pacey 15 13,921
1955–56 22nd 66th 46 15 6 25 83 100 -17 36 1R Charlie Hewitt,
Ron Gray
Johnny Summers 24 9,191
1956–57 17th 61st 46 16 12 18 64 84 -20 44 5R Ron Gray Johnny Shepherd 24 11,443
1957–58 23rd[b] 67th 46 11 9 26 63 91 -28 31 2R Ron Gray
Jimmy Seed
12 12,257
1958–59 4 Div 4 9th 77th 46 20 10 16 76 69 +7 50 2R Jimmy Seed Ron Heckman 12 11,647
1959–60 5th 73rd 46 18 17 11 84 61 +23 53 1R Reg Smith Alf Ackerman 18 14,447
1960–61 6th 74th 46 21 8 17 97 86 +11 50 1R 1R Reg Smith,
Ron Gray
Peter Burridge 38 9,544
1961–62 1st ↑ 69th 44 23 10 11 87 62 +25 56 1R 1R Ron Gray 24 11,583
1962–63 3 Div 3 16th 60th 46 15 13 18 82 87 -5 43 1R 2R Pat Terry 19 13,206
1963–64 21st ↓ 65th 46 14 10 22 53 67 -14 38 4R 1R Ron Gray,
Billy Gray
13 10,443
1964–65 4 Div 4 2nd ↑ 70th 46 23 16 7 78 45 +33 62 2R 4R Billy Gray Hugh Curran 19 9,178
1965–66 3 Div 3 2nd ↑ 46th 46 27 11 8 76 43 +33 65 4R 2R Len Julians 24 13,919
1966–67 2 Div 2 8th 30th 42 18 9 15 49 58 -9 45 1R 3R Benny Fenton 17 16,112
1967–68 7th 29th 42 14 17 11 62 50 +12 45 4R 3R Keith Weller 14 13,474
1968–69 10th 32nd 42 17 9 16 57 49 +8 43 3R 4R Derek Possee 16 16,343
1969–70 10th 32nd 42 15 14 13 56 56 +0 44 2R 3R 19 11,672
1970–71 8th 30th 42 19 9 14 59 42 +17 47 3R 3R 17 9,835
1971–72 3rd 25th 42 19 17 6 64 46 +18 55 2R 4R 17 16,210
1972–73 11th 33rd 42 16 10 16 55 47 +8 42 4R 5R Gordon Bolland
Alf Wood
19 10,258
1973–74 12th 34th 42 14 14 14 51 51 +0 42 QF 3R Alf Wood 23 9,486
1974–75 20th ↓ 42nd 42 10 12 20 44 56 -12 32 1R 3R Benny Fenton,
Gordon Jago
Phil Summerill 7 8,550
1975–76 3 Div 3 3rd ↑ 47th 46 20 16 10 54 43 +11 56 2R 2R Gordon Jago 10 7,667
1976–77 2 Div 2 10th 32nd 42 15 13 14 57 53 +4 43 QF 3R John Seasman 16 10,590
1977–78 16th 38th 42 12 14 16 49 57 -8 38 3R QF Gordon Jago,
Theo Foley(c),
George Petchey
Ian Pearson 13 8,096
1978–79 21st ↓ 43rd 42 11 10 21 42 61 -19 32 2R 3R George Petchey John Seasman 10 7,021
1979–80 3 Div 3 14th 58th 46 16 13 17 65 59 +6 45 1R 4R John Lyons 21 6,000
1980–81 16th 60th 46 14 14 18 43 60 -17 42 1R 2R George Petchey,
Terry Long(c),
Peter Anderson
Nicky Chatterton 9 4,495
1981–82 9th 53rd 46 18 13 15 62 62 +0 67 2R 3R Peter Anderson Dean Horrix 18 4,625
1982–83 17th 61st 46 14 13 19 64 77 -13 55 1R 1R Football League Group Cup W Peter Anderson,
Barry Kitchener(c),
George Graham
Dean Neal 25 4,010
1983–84 9th 53rd 46 18 13 15 71 65 +6 67 2R 2R Associate Members Cup RU George Graham 19 4,384
1984–85 2nd ↑ 46th 46 26 12 8 73 42 +31 90 2R QF Associate Members Cup 3R Steve Lovell 27 6,467
1985–86 2 Div 2 9th 31st 42 17 8 17 64 65 -1 59 2R 5R Full Members Cup 2R 19 5,474
1986–87 16th 38th 42 14 9 19 39 45 -6 51 3R 3R Full Members Cup 2R John Docherty Teddy Sheringham 16 4,460
1987–88 1st ↑ 22nd 44 25 7 12 72 52 +20 82 2R 3R Full Members Cup 3R 24 8,433
1988–89 1 Div 1 10th 10th 38 14 11 13 47 52 -5 53 3R 4R Full Members Cup 3R Tony Cascarino
Teddy Sheringham
15 15,468
1989–90 20th ↓ 20th 38 5 11 22 39 65 -26 26 3R 4R Full Members Cup 2R John Docherty,
Bob Pearson(c),
Bruce Rioch
Teddy Sheringham 12 12,427
1990–91 2 Div 2 5th 25th 46 20 13 13 70 51 +19 73 3R 4R Full Members Cup 2R Bruce Rioch Teddy Sheringham 38 10,841
1991–92 15th 37th 46 17 10 19 64 71 -7 61 2R 4R Full Members Cup 2R Bruce Rioch,
Mick McCarthy
Jamie Moralee 15 7,907
1992–93 Div 1[c] 7th 29th 46 18 16 12 65 53 +12 70 2R 3R Anglo-Italian Cup Grp Mick McCarthy Alex Rae 10 9,189
1993–94 3rd 25th 46 19 17 10 58 49 +9 74 2R 3R Anglo-Italian Cup Grp 13 9,823
1994–95 13th 35th 46 16 14 16 60 60 +0 62 QF 5R 10 7,687
1995–96 22nd ↓ 42nd 46 13 13 20 43 63 -20 52 3R 3R Mick McCarthy,
Jimmy Nicholl
16 9,559
1996–97 3 Div 2 14th 58th 46 16 13 17 50 55 -5 61 1R 1R Football League Trophy 2R Jimmy Nicholl,
John Docherty
Stephen Crawford 15 7,753
1997–98 18th 62nd 46 14 13 19 43 54 -11 55 2R 1R Football League Trophy 2R Billy Bonds Paul Shaw 13 7,022
1998–99 10th 54th 46 17 11 18 52 59 -7 62 1R 1R Football League Trophy RU Keith Stevens Neil Harris 18 6,958
1999–2000 5th 49th 46 23 13 10 76 50 +26 83 1R 1R Football League Trophy 1R Keith Stevens & Alan McLeary 25 9,262
2000–01 1st ↑ 45th 46 28 9 9 89 38 +51 93 2R 2R Football League Trophy 2R Keith Stevens & Alan McLeary,
Steve Gritt(c) & Ray Harford(c),
Mark McGhee
28 11,442
2001–02 2 Div 1 4th 24th 46 22 11 13 69 48 +21 77 2R 4R Mark McGhee Steve Claridge 18 13,380
2002–03 9th 29th 46 19 9 18 59 69 -10 66 1R 4R Steve Claridge
Neil Harris
12 8,512
2003–04 10th 30th 46 18 15 13 55 48 +7 69 1R RU Mark McGhee,
Dennis Wise
Tim Cahill 12 10,500
2004–05 Champ 10th 30th 46 18 12 16 51 45 +6 66 3R 3R UEFA Europa League 1R Dennis Wise Barry Hayles 12 11,656
2005–06 23rd ↓ 43rd 46 8 16 22 35 62 -27 40 2R 3R Steve Claridge,
Colin Lee,
Dave Tuttle,
Tony Burns(c) & Alan McLeary(c)
Ben May 11 9,529
2006–07 3 Lge 1 10th 54th 46 19 9 18 59 62 -3 66 2R 3R Football League Trophy QF Nigel Spackman,
Willie Donachie
Darren Byfield 16 9,234
2007–08 17th 61st 46 14 10 22 45 61 -16 52 1R 4R Football League Trophy 1R Willie Donachie,
Richard Shaw(c) & Colin West(c),
Kenny Jackett
Gary Alexander
Jay Simpson
8 8,669
2008–09 5th 49th 46 25 7 14 63 53 +10 82 1R 4R Football League Trophy 1R Kenny Jackett Gary Alexander 15 8,940
2009–10 3rd ↑ 47th 46 24 13 9 76 44 +32 85 2R 3R Football League Trophy 1R Steve Morison 23 10,835
2010–11 2 Champ 9th 29th 46 18 13 15 62 46 +14 67 3R 3R 17 12,438
2011–12 16th 36th 46 15 12 19 55 57 -2 57 3R 5R Darius Henderson 19 11,484
2012–13 20th 40th 46 15 11 20 51 62 -11 56 1R SF Chris Wood 11 10,559
2013–14 19th 39th 46 11 15 20 46 74 -28 48 2R 3R Steve Lomas,
Neil Harris(c) & Scott Fitzgerald(c),
Ian Holloway
Martyn Woolford 9 10,848
2014–15 22nd ↓ 42nd 46 9 14 23 42 76 -34 41 2R 3R Ian Holloway,
Neil Harris
Lee Gregory 9 10,902
2015–16 3 Lge 1 4th 48th 46 24 9 13 73 49 +24 81 1R 3R Football League Trophy F(S) Neil Harris 27 9,009
2016–17 6th ↑ 50th 46 20 13 13 66 57 +9 73 2R QF Football League Trophy 2R Steve Morison 19 9,339
2017–18 2 Champ 8th 28th 46 19 15 12 56 45 +11 72 2R 4R Lee Gregory
George Saville
10 13,368
2018–19 21st 41st 46 10 14 22 48 64 -16 44 3R QF Lee Gregory 13 13,624
2019–20 8th 28th 46 17 17 12 57 51 +5 68 2R 4R Neil Harris,
Gary Rowett
Matt Smith 14 13,734
2020–21 11th 31st 46 15 17 14 47 52 -5 62 1R 3R Gary Rowett Jed Wallace 11 2,000[d]
2021–22 9th 29th 46 18 15 13 53 45 +8 69 3R 3R Benik Afobe 13 12,970
2022–23 8th 28th 46 19 11 16 57 50 +7 68 1R 3R Tom Bradshaw 17 14,767
2023–24 13th 33rd 46 16 11 19 45 55 -10 59 1R 3R Gary Rowett,
Joe Edwards,
Neil Harris
Zian Flemming 8 16,540
2024–25 Neil Harris
Season Division Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts League Cup FA Cup Other competitions Manager(s) Top goalscorer(s) Att.

English Football League tier:

First Second Third Fourth Southern League (non-league)

Finishing position and cup competitions:

1st or Winners 2nd or Runners-up Third-place Play-offs Playoff winners (Promoted) (Relegated)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Millwall's first team manager was director Fred Kidd in 1890, during the first five years of their existence from 1885–1890 the team captain and committee of directors were considered joint managers.
  2. ^ Millwall were placed in the newly formed Fourth Division for the 1958–59 season due to the Football League restructering and de-regionalisation of Third Division North and Third Division South.
  3. ^ Upon its formation for the 1992–93 season, the FA Premier League became the top tier of English football; the First, Second and Third Divisions then became the second, third and fourth tiers, respectively.
  4. ^ Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the UK, Millwall played 21 of their 23 home games behind closed doors without fans. They only played two games with fans, and there was a limit of 2,000 allowed to attend.

References

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  1. ^ Lindsay. Millwall: A Complete Record, 1885–1991. p. 9.
  2. ^ Lindsay. Millwall: A Complete Record, 1885–1991. p. 310.
  3. ^ Lindsay. Millwall: A Complete Record, 1885–1991. p. 250.
  4. ^ "England : All Time Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  5. ^ "England – Professional Football All-Time Tables 1888/89-2009/10". The Rec. Sports Soccers Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  6. ^ "Millwall Stat Zone". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  7. ^ "England League Cup Full Results 1960-1996". Rec Sports Soccers Statistics. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  8. ^ "The FA Cup Archive". The Football Association (The FA). Retrieved 27 March 2011. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  9. ^ Tarrant. Millwall: The Complete Record. p. 208.
  10. ^ "A Season by Season Diary of Millwall FC" (PDF). Millwall FC Museum, Eddie Tarrant. Retrieved 28 March 2011.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Top Goal Scorers". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Millwall Attendances". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
Bibliography
  • Tarrant, Eddie; Richard Lindsay (2010). Millwall: The Complete Record. DB Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85983-833-4.