West Ham vs Millwall is one of the longest-standing, most violent football derbies not just in the UK but across the world.
It’s a game that no matter how well policed, violence will always get the better of the occasion.
Better known as the ‘Dockers Derby’, West Ham and Millwall have been locked in battle for ever since their first meeting against each other in the 1899/1900 season.
How was the rivalry formed?
The Dockers Derby title the game is given was invented off the back of trouble in 1926.
In that time, a strike was observed by workers, mainly whom were West Ham supporters. It is then reported that a Millwall-heavy shipyard of workers failed to lend their support to help continue work there, which led to outrage between the two shipyards.
Whether that was the real cause of the derby or not, it certainly intensified a lot more and adopted different reasoning in later years.
The rivalry, began due to the close proximity of the two sides and then because of shipyard disputes. Though during the 1970’s and 1980’s, when football hooliganism was at its peak, the two were renown for having firms at the forefront of all trouble.
Both being London clubs and both having notoriously troublesome firms, their rivalry reached a new level entirely.
West Ham’s firm was better known as the ICF – Inner City Firm and Millwall’s – Milwall Bushwackers.
Despite the infrequency of meetings on the pitch, off it, they continually clashed and in 1976, a Millwall fan died as a result of fighting with a group of West Ham fans.
Prior to their next meeting over two years later, Millwall fans distributed leaflets which stated: “A West Ham fan must die to avenge him”.
Unsurprisingly as a result of the threat, the police presence was unprecedented as 500 officers heavily segregated the two sets of supporters and stopped any potential violence that was destined to occur.
After meetings in the 93/94 season and the 2004 campaign, the next time the two sides met was in 2009, a game known now as the “Upton Park Riot”.
Millwall took the lead in the League Cup tie but West Ham equalised just minutes before the final whistle with youngster Junior Stanislas scoring.
West Ham then went on to win the game 3-1, as Stanislas scored a second and Zavon Hines secured progression for the Hammers.
The game was marred by violence before, during and after the game, as after every West Ham goal, fans entered the pitch. A total of 20 fans were injured and one was stabbed.
The police concluded that the violence was premeditated and arranged, which equated to the FA charging both clubs with misconduct.
Head to head
The two sides have met a total of 99 times since their first meeting in 1900. Millwall edge more victories, with 38, whilst West Ham have 34 wins to their name.
Despite their superior record, Millwall haven’t been in the top flight for over 20 years and West Ham are now fighting for a place in Europe and have been trying to progress ever since their move to the London Stadium.
The two sides were close to meeting in the FA Cup this season and if it wasn’t for West Ham’s shock loss to League One minnows Wimbledon, Millwall and West Ham would have faced each other in the fifth round.
As the wait goes on, it’s hard to predict when the next time these two hated rivals will face-off.
Depending most likely on age, the prospect of these two playing is either exciting or very nerve-wracking.
Where does it rank in our top ten?
As voted by our twitter followers, the Dockers Derby sits in 1st place, largely we believe, down to the extreme violence and hatred the two sides share.
It’s a match that hasn’t been contested since 2012 but the history between the two sides will always mean it ranks high in people’s mind as one of the biggest football rivalries in the world, not just the UK.
Do you agree that the Dockers Derby is the most violent UK rivalry… Let us know!
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