ROTHERHAM UNITED’S former Millmoor home will be largely demolished if plans submitted to local councillors are approved.
The project, if given the green light, is set to see two of the ground’s stands torn down, in addition to some surrounding buildings.
Rotherham’s former Millmoor home was allowed to fall into disrepair over many years Credit: Mark Robinson – The Jattvibe
The Millers left their historic home 18 years ago Credit: Mark Robinson – The Jattvibe
The Millers left Millmoor in 2008 after new owner Tony Stewart failed to agree a deal with former chief Ken Booth.
Booth had saved the club from financial turmoil in 1987 but decided to depart in 2004 amid rising debts following the ITV Digital collapse that crippled much of the EFL.
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The Booth family gave the club away to a supporter group for £1, while also writing off its overdraft.
But in the deal they insisted on keeping several assets; the club’s Hooton Lodge training ground, land on which stood the Tivoli nightclub and even priority ticket access among them.
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The stadium was in a poor state after being left to rot in the years following Rotherham’s departure Credit: Mark Robinson – The Jattvibe
Rotherham tried to stay at Millmoor in 2008 but to no avail Credit: Mark Robinson – The Jattvibe
Most significantly, the deal saw the Booth family retain ownership of Millmoor.
A turbulent few years followed, as the club edged closer to oblivion.
When Stewart rescued Rotherham after they’d been plunged into ruin once again, he was unable to secure Millmoor as part of his deal to acquire the Yorkshire club from the Booth family, despite his best efforts.
As a result, the Millers spent four years at the Don Valley athletics stadium in Sheffield before moving into the swanky modern New York Stadium a stone’s throw from Millmoor.
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Millmoor is not far from Rotherham’s current New York Stadium home Credit: Mark Robinson – The Jattvibe
At the time of Rotherham’s exit they had been halfway through a rebuild of the club’s main stand… a rebuild that would never finish.
For more than a decade after the Millers’ exit, Millmoor was left largely to rot.
Rotherham Titans, a second-tier rugby club, had shared the ground with United on occasion during the early 2000s.
In 2011 they attempted to strike a deal to use Millmoor, three years on from the football club’s departure.
But like Stewart, they could not strike a deal with the Booth family.
The ground began to fall into a state of disrepair, with its stands growing ever more dilapidated.
Rotherham played at Millmoor until having to depart in 2008 Credit: PA:Press Association
The Millers spent four years at the Don Valley athletics stadium Credit: PA:Empics Sport
Remarkably, much of Millmoor did actually stay relatively intact down the years, with its pitch somewhat maintained, its goals still standing and most of its signage remaining.
In a further twist, Millmoor was partially restored in 2024 following a financial injection by Ken Booth Jr, the former Rotherham owner’s son.
Then 78, Booth Jr told the Rotherham Advertiser at the time: “The place was in a sad state. We had kids breaking in, trying to rip seats out, climbing the floodlight pylon, kicking a ball about.
“It was time for something to be done.”
Following restoration work, Millmoor was able to open its doors once again, with matches taking place on the hallowed turf.
Local junior teams were able to play there, relishing the opportunity to compete at a ground that first opened its doors in 1907 and that had housed a 25,170 crowd in its heyday.
In the summer of 2025 it was confirmed that Millmoor would become the new home of former WSL side Doncaster Belles.
This marked the return of regular senior football at the ground for the first time since 2008.
Millmoor temporarily reopened its doors to the public in 2024 Credit: Getty
Enough restoration work was done to make the stadium usable two years ago Credit: Getty
But it wasn’t to last… as in earlier this year the Booth family business went into administration.
CF Booth and its assets, including Millmoor, were subsequently acquired by the Ron Hull Group.
Following news of CF Booth’s demise, Doncaster Belles left Millmoor, moving to the SL2 Rail Stadium in Retford for the remainder of their season.
A statement by the Ron Hull Group, as shared by Rotherham Business News in May, read: “The buildings and structures selected in the current application to demolish are all in a poor condition due to years of neglect and are suffering from a general lack of maintenance, specifically elements like roof finishes and the structures themselves.
“It is assumed this situation accelerated in the period since Rotherham United football Club vacated the site.
“The current main stand is only partially completed, and has been exposed to the elements since at least 2007.
“The high cost of repair, yet alone proceed to complete this stand would be excessive given that there are very limited numbers of possible users of the ground. Thus meaning it is unbuyable.”
Plans submitted to local councillors involve demolishing the Millmoor Lane Stand and Railway Stand – in addition to removing pitch lighting columns and various other buildings.
If approved, demolition work is targeted to be completed by January next year.
It then remains to be seen what will become of the site, which meant so much to so many people for the best part of a century up to 2008.
Rotherham now play at the swanky New York Stadium Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The Millers moved to their current home in 2012 following years in the wilderness Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
