Dreams turned to reality for Millers new stadium

 

The Millers, who have been playing at Don Valley in Sheffield for the last four years, where the Shrimpers have a pretty decent record, will move into their new home in time for the 2012/13 season.

 

Work has been ongoing on the project, less than a mile from their old Millmoor home, since the summer and chairman Tony Stewart has opted for the name as the £20million project is in the area of town that used to be known as New York while also the site of a former steelworks that exported metal across the Atlantic.

 

Stewart said:"The new stadium name is strongly rooted in more than 150 years of Rotherham's proud history of industry and enterprise. After careful consultation and detailed research into the local history of the site, we felt that New York was the perfect name for our new stadium."

 

Club ambassador and Premier League referee Howard Webb added: "The Millers are responsible for my interest in the game. To become involved with the club was a huge honour and to be here whilst the club stands on the verge of this momentous new era gives me a sense of great pride."

 

 

Millers Chairman Tony Stewart believes Rotherham's new ground - The New York Stadium - will bring pride to the town.

 

Stewart said: "You get a sense of pride when you pass the site, and being able to put a name to it will add a huge amount of character to what is shaping up to be a stadium the club, the town and our supporters can be proud of. The location is perfect for people travelling into Rotherham, and I want it to be something that turns heads and makes people stand up and realise where we are going as a football club, and a town."

 

And the South Yorkshire club have already announced Paul Davis as their new stadium manager.

 

Davis is also part of the stadium team at Sheffield Wednesday but is keen to tackle his new role.

 

He told www.themillers.co.uk: "This is a very exciting time for all connected with Rotherham United and an excellent opportunity for me to put together a new stadium operations team that will oversee the 24/7 running of the stadium, as well as the matchday safety and security operations. The New York Stadium designs look fantastic and it will be a venue that Rotherham will be proud of."

 

The new purpose-built stadium is on course to be completed in July next year in time for the Millers to move in for next season.

 

In the meantime, we can only keep dreaming.