Dean Hall column: Happy memories of other magical Millers milestones

It's been a week of celebration and fond reflection for Millers fans.
Survival celebrations at WolvesSurvival celebrations at Wolves
Survival celebrations at Wolves

After securing Championship safety at Wolves last weekend with another gutsy away performance, and equalling an 11-game unbeaten run at this level last achieved in 1966, many of us will have also taken time to reflect on other successful milestones.

Wednesday saw the three-year anniversary of the season finale against Aldershot that secured promotion to League One, which marked the start of the current rollercoaster journey, while just yesterday saw the 15-year landmark of THAT goal - Alan Lee’s stoppage-time winner against Brentford at Millmoor needs no explanation.

A battling away display at MolineuxA battling away display at Molineux
A battling away display at Molineux
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I happened to pass the site of the Don Valley rubble yesterday, under dreary skies, and you have to pinch yourself as to just how low we fell as a football club. To me, though, those four years of hell make looking back on the good times even sweeter.

Another bright note this week saw chairman Tony Stewart drop the biggest hint yet about manager Neil Warnock’s future. Sir Neil signing a new contract would put the gloss on a superb couple of months, and the challenge now is to stay unbeaten for the remainder of the season, finishing as high as possible. I understand the players and staff enjoyed four days off this week, which will have been welcomed following the effort and determination put into the survival mission.

Personally, I’m relieved we’ve no late drama to contend with this time around, and I’ll try to enjoy the last two matches against Blackburn and Hull as much as possible. However, as always when you set foot on the terraces, you want your team to compete and win. As someone who kicks every ball and is quite tense and vocal during a match, I’ll probably end up feeling no different than in any other game.

Away from the Millers, I think the majority of the country hope Leicester City can seal the Premier League title on Sunday. Everyone loves a good underdog, but this season’s story at the King Power Stadium is more like a fairytale that we might not see again for many a year.

A battling away display at MolineuxA battling away display at Molineux
A battling away display at Molineux
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The battle for promotion places in all three divisions of the Football League could well go into the final day too, and the other stand-out achievements of the season, in my view, are at Burton Albion and Accrington Stanley - two clubs operating on a low budget with less than 4,000 average attendances, showing what can be achieved with team spirit, hard work and organisation.

As well as watching the football, the rest of my bank holiday will probably be spent putting the finishing touches to our plans for the Euros and spending some quality time with the family.

Enjoy your weekends. Up the Millers.