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 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 1893. 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 100 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.[1] Their lowest league finish is 9th in the founding season of the Fourth Division in 1958–59.[2] Millwall were Second Division champions in the 2000–01 season, when they finished with their highest ever points total of 93. Millwall have been promoted eleven times (five as champions) and relegated nine times.[3][4] Millwall have reached the Football League play-offs nine times. They were play-off semi-finalists in 1991, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2026, finalists in 2009 and 2016, and they were promoted as winners in 2010 and 2017.

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 have also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals on eleven occasions, and the semi-finals four times; in 1900, 1903, 1937 and 2013. Millwall have reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup on three occasions, in 1974, 1977 and 1995. The Lions won the Football League Group Cup in 1983 and were runners up in the Football League Trophy in 1999.

Teddy Sheringham, Peter Burridge, and Richard Parker hold the record for most goals scored in a season with 38, which they set in the 1990-91 season, 1960–61 season, and 1926–27 season respectively. 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.[5]

Seasons

Overall

As of the 2026–27 season, Millwall have spent 100 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: 50
  • Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 43
  • Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 5
Season∆DivisionPos∆PldWDLGFGAGDPtsLeague Cup[6]FA Cup[7]Other competitionsManager(s)[8]Top goalscorer(s)[9][10]Att.[11]
1885–86East London FA CupWCommittee / Captain[a]
1886–87East London Senior CupW
1887–882QEast London Senior CupW
1888–891QEast London Senior CupW
1889–901QFred Kidd(s)
1890–911Q
1891–922Q
1892–933Q
1893–943Q
1894–95SL1st1612406829+39281RArchibald McKenzie215,375
1895–961st1816117516+59331RCharlie Leatherbarrow203,444
1896–972nd2013526324+39311RUnited League1stJohn Calvey333,350
1897–989th2282124845+3183QUnited League7th183,454
1898–993rd2412665935+24304QUnited League1st335,292
1899–19007th28123133637-127SFSouthern Combination1stEdward Stopher(s)Herbert Banks266,821
1900–014th2817295532+23361RWestern League7thGeorge Saunders(s)256,286
1901–026th30136114831+1732IntWestern League4thBen Hulse225,167
1902–037th30143135237+1531SFWestern League5th326,533
1903–047th34168106442+22401RLondon League1stWilliam Maxwell346,882
1904–0515th34117163847-9291RWestern League6th235,941
1905–0612th341111123841-3332RWestern League6thPercy Milsom176,588
1906–077th38186147150+21422RWestern League6thAlf Twigg286,632
1907–083rd38198114932+17461RWestern League1st307,368
1908–0912th40166185962-3383RWestern League1st177,000
1909–1016th42157204559-14371RJack Martin125,857
1910–1115th38119184254-12311RBert Lipsham1410,611
1911–128th381510136057+3401RWally Davis1512,021
1912–136th38197126243+19451RSouthern Alliance4th3315,684
1913–1415th381112155156-5343R2815,642
1914–158th381610125051-1423R237,789
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War.
1919–20SL14th421412165255-3401RBob HunterJimmy Broad3312,952
1920–213Div 37th51st421811134230+12471RWilliam J. Keen1018,762
1921–22Div 3(S)12th56th421018143842-438QF1617,524
1922–236th50th421418104540+5462RHarry Morris1717,238
1923–243rd47th422210106438+26541R1916,671
1924–255th49th421813115838+20491RAlf Moule1815,286
1925–263rd47th422111107339+24535R1914,953
1926–273rd47th42231098951+3856QFRichard Parker3814,173
1927–281st ↑45th42305712750+77653RLondon Challenge CupWJack Landells3417,690
1928–292Div 214th36th42167197186-15394RJack Cock2920,306
1929–3014th36th421215155773-16395R1818,685
1930–3114th36th42167197180-9393R1514,455
1931–329th31st42179166161+0433RLeslie Smith1714,073
1932–337th29th421611155957+2434RGeorge Bond1713,807
1933–3421st ↓43rd421111203968-29334RBilly McCrackenJimmy Yardley914,377
1934–353Div 3(S)12th56th42177185762-5414R1811,021
1935–3612th56th421412165871-13403RJimmy McCartney1310,561
1936–378th52nd421810146465+1046SFCharlie HewittKen Burditt2519,010
1937–381st ↑45th42231098337+46563RDave Mangnall2022,756
1938–392Div 213th35th421414146453+11424RSid Rawlings1427,373
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended during the Second World War. The FA Cup returned in 1945 and League football in 1946.
1945–464RJack Cock
1946–472Div 218th40th42148205679-23363RJohnny Johnson1022,211
1947–4822nd ↓44th42911224474-30293RWillie Hurrell721,748
1948–493Div 3(S)8th52nd421711146364-1452RCharlie HewittJimmy Constantine2524,644
1949–5022nd66th42144245563-8321R1420,883
1950–515th49th462310138057+23564R2820,078
1951–524th48th462312117453+21582RFrank Neary1520,184
1952–532nd46th46241488244+38623RJohnny Shepherd2119,114
1953–5412th56th46199187477-3472RGeorge Stobbart2013,484
1954–555th49th462011157268+4513RDennis Pacey1513,921
1955–5622nd66th461562583100-17361RCharlie Hewitt,
Ron Gray
Johnny Summers249,191
1956–5717th61st461612186484-20445RRon GrayJohnny Shepherd2411,443
1957–5823rd[b]67th46119266391-28312RRon Gray
Jimmy Seed
1212,257
1958–594Div 49th77th462010167669+7502RJimmy SeedRon Heckman1211,647
1959–605th73rd461817118461+23531RReg SmithAlf Ackerman1814,447
1960–616th74th46218179786+11501R1RReg Smith,
Ron Gray
Peter Burridge389,544
1961–621st ↑69th442310118762+25561R1RRon Gray2411,583
1962–633Div 316th60th461513188287-5431R2RPat Terry1913,206
1963–6421st ↓65th461410225367-14384R1RRon Gray,
Billy Gray
1310,443
1964–654Div 42nd ↑70th46231677845+33622R4RBilly GrayHugh Curran199,178
1965–663Div 32nd ↑46th46271187643+33654R2RLen Julians2413,919
1966–672Div 28th30th42189154958-9451R3RBenny Fenton1716,112
1967–687th29th421417116250+12454R3RKeith Weller1413,474
1968–6910th32nd42179165749+8433R4RDerek Possee1616,343
1969–7010th32nd421514135656+0442R3R1911,672
1970–718th30th42199145942+17473R3R179,835
1971–723rd25th42191766446+18552R4R1716,210
1972–7311th33rd421610165547+8424R5RGordon Bolland
Alf Wood
1910,258
1973–7412th34th421414145151+042QF3RAlf Wood239,486
1974–7520th ↓42nd421012204456-12321R3RBenny Fenton,
Gordon Jago
Phil Summerill78,550
1975–763Div 33rd ↑47th462016105443+11562R2RGordon Jago107,667
1976–772Div 210th32nd421513145753+443QF3RJohn Seasman1610,590
1977–7816th38th421214164957-8383RQFGordon Jago,
Theo Foley(c),
George Petchey
Ian Pearson138,096
1978–7921st ↓43rd421110214261-19322R3RGeorge PetcheyJohn Seasman107,021
1979–803Div 314th58th461613176559+6451R4RJohn Lyons216,000
1980–8116th60th461414184360-17421R2RGeorge Petchey,
Terry Long(c),
Peter Anderson
Nicky Chatterton94,495
1981–829th53rd461813156262+0672R3RPeter AndersonDean Horrix184,625
1982–8317th61st461413196477-13551R1RFootball League Group CupWPeter Anderson,
Barry Kitchener(c),
George Graham
Dean Neal254,010
1983–849th53rd461813157165+6672R2RAssociate Members CupRUGeorge Graham194,384
1984–852nd ↑46th46261287342+31902RQFAssociate Members Cup3RSteve Lovell276,467
1985–862Div 29th31st42178176465-1592R5RFull Members Cup2R195,474
1986–8716th38th42149193945-6513R3RFull Members Cup2RJohn DochertyTeddy Sheringham164,460
1987–881st ↑22nd44257127252+20822R3RFull Members Cup3R248,433
1988–891Div 110th10th381411134752-5533R4RFull Members Cup3RTony Cascarino
Teddy Sheringham
1515,468
1989–9020th ↓20th38511223965-26263R4RFull Members Cup2RJohn Docherty,
Bob Pearson(c),
Bruce Rioch
Teddy Sheringham1212,427
1990–912Div 25th25th462013137051+19733R4RFull Members Cup2RBruce RiochTeddy Sheringham3810,841
1991–9215th37th461710196471-7612R4RFull Members Cup2RBruce Rioch,
Mick McCarthy
Jamie Moralee157,907
1992–93Div 1[c]7th29th461816126553+12702R3RAnglo-Italian CupGrpMick McCarthyAlex Rae109,189
1993–943rd25th461917105849+9742R3RAnglo-Italian CupGrp139,823
1994–9513th35th461614166060+062QF5R107,687
1995–9622nd ↓42nd461313204363-20523R3RMick McCarthy,
Jimmy Nicholl
169,559
1996–973Div 214th58th461613175055-5611R1RFootball League Trophy2RJimmy Nicholl,
John Docherty
Stephen Crawford157,753
1997–9818th62nd461413194354-11552R1RFootball League Trophy2RBilly BondsPaul Shaw137,022
1998–9910th54th461711185259-7621R1RFootball League TrophyRUKeith StevensNeil Harris186,958
1999–20005th49th462313107650+26831R1RFootball League Trophy1RKeith Stevens & Alan McLeary259,262
2000–011st ↑45th4628998938+51932R2RFootball League Trophy2RKeith Stevens & Alan McLeary,
Steve Gritt(c) & Ray Harford(c),
Mark McGhee
2811,442
2001–022Div 14th24th462211136948+21772R4RMark McGheeSteve Claridge1813,380
2002–039th29th46199185969-10661R4RSteve Claridge
Neil Harris
128,512
2003–0410th30th461815135548+7691RRUMark McGhee,
Dennis Wise
Tim Cahill1210,500
2004–05Champ10th30th461812165145+6663R3RUEFA Europa League1RDennis WiseBarry Hayles1211,656
2005–0623rd ↓43rd46816223562-27402R3RSteve Claridge,
Colin Lee,
Dave Tuttle,
Tony Burns(c) & Alan McLeary(c)
Ben May119,529
2006–073Lge 110th54th46199185962-3662R3RFootball League TrophyQFNigel Spackman,
Willie Donachie
Darren Byfield169,234
2007–0817th61st461410224561-16521R4RFootball League Trophy1RWillie Donachie,
Richard Shaw(c) & Colin West(c),
Kenny Jackett
Gary Alexander
Jay Simpson
88,669
2008–095th49th46257146353+10821R4RFootball League Trophy1RKenny JackettGary Alexander158,940
2009–103rd ↑47th46241397644+32852R3RFootball League Trophy1RSteve Morison2310,835
2010–112Champ9th29th461813156246+14673R3R1712,438
2011–1216th36th461512195557-2573R5RDarius Henderson1911,484
2012–1320th40th461511205162-11561RSFChris Wood1110,559
2013–1419th39th461115204674-28482R3RSteve Lomas,
Neil Harris(c) & Scott Fitzgerald(c),
Ian Holloway
Martyn Woolford910,848
2014–1522nd ↓42nd46914234276-34412R3RIan Holloway,
Neil Harris
Lee Gregory910,902
2015–163Lge 14th48th46249137349+24811R3RFootball League TrophyF(S)Neil Harris279,009
2016–176th ↑50th462013136657+9732RQFFootball League Trophy2RSteve Morison199,339
2017–182Champ8th28th461915125645+11722R4RLee Gregory
George Saville
1013,368
2018–1921st41st461014224864-16443RQFLee Gregory1313,624
2019–208th28th461717125751+5682R4RNeil Harris,
Gary Rowett
Matt Smith1413,734
2020–2111th31st461517144752-5623R4RGary RowettJed Wallace112,000[d]
2021–229th29th461815135345+8693R3RBenik Afobe1312,970
2022–238th28th461911165750+7681R3RTom Bradshaw1714,767
2023–2413th33rd461611194555-10591R3RGary Rowett,
Joe Edwards,
Neil Harris
Zian Flemming816,540
2024–258th28th461812164749-2662R5RNeil Harris,
David Livermore,
Alex Neil
Mihailo Ivanović1315,339
2025–263rd23rd462411116449+15833R3RAlex NeilFemi Azeez1117,135
Season∆DivisionPos∆PldWDLGFGAGDPtsLeague CupFA CupOther competitionsManager(s)Top goalscorer(s)Att.

Key

English Football League tier:

FirstSecondThirdFourthSouthern League (non-league)

Finishing position and cup competitions:

1st or Winners2nd or Runners-upThird-placePlay-offsPlayoff winners↑ (Promoted)↓ (Relegated)
Key to league record
  • ∆ = Tier on Football League pyramid
  • Pos = Final position
  • ∆ = Final league placing in pyramid
  • Pld = Matches played
  • W = Matches won
  • D = Matches drawn
  • L = Matches lost
  • GF = Goals for
  • GA = Goals against
  • GD = Goal difference
  • Pts = Points
Key to divisions
Key to rounds
  • Grp = Group stage
  • 1Q = Qualifying round 1
  • 2Q = Qualifying round 2
  • 3Q = Qualifying round 3
  • 4Q = Qualifying round 4
  • 5Q = Qualifying round 5
  • Int = Intermediate round
  • 1R = 1st Round
  • 2R = 2nd Round
  • 3R = 3rd Round
  • 4R = 4th Round
  • 5R = 5th Round
  • 6R = 6th Round
  • QF = Quarter-finals
  • SF = Semi-finals
  • F(S) = Southern area final
  • RU = Runners-up
  • W = Winners
Key to managers
Key to Average attendance
  • Avg. Att. = Average attendance for all home league games only.

See also

Notes

  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

  1. ^ Lindsay. Millwall: A Complete Record, 1885–1991. p. 310.
  2. ^ Lindsay. Millwall: A Complete Record, 1885–1991. p. 250.
  3. ^ "England : All Time Table". Statto.com. Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  4. ^ "England – Professional Football All-Time Tables 1888/89-2009/10". The Rec. Sports Soccers Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Millwall Stat Zone". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  6. ^ "England League Cup Full Results 1960-1996". Rec Sports Soccers Statistics. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  7. ^ "The FA Cup Archive". The Football Association (The FA). Retrieved 27 March 2011. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  8. ^ Tarrant. Millwall: The Complete Record. p. 208.
  9. ^ "A Season by Season Diary of Millwall FC". Millwall FC Museum, Eddie Tarrant. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Top Goal Scorers". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  11. ^ "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.