Amidst much excitement and anticipation, our season got underway against a side that had only recently been competing for promotion to the National League in the shape of Dartford, and in the summer sunshine once the action got underway we did seem a trifle caught in rabbits headlights of the occasion playing at this level for the first time in our history. Perhaps a trifle fortunate to be only 0-1 down at half-time, the Gaffer worked his magic in the dressing room and a much more composed second half performance gave us all cautious optimism that we could hold our own despite the 1-2 opening day reverse

Millers v Dartford 10/8/24

ACT I
“Dismayed Not This Our Captains , Steve and Barry?”
Evidently not, as wins very quickly started totting up to propel the Millers up to a dizzy 2nd place in the table, starting with a great win at near neighbours Cray Wanderers, and another notable away day at Folkestone where those hoping for an August seaside stroll with fish & chips punctuated with 90 minutes of football were dismayed with nigh on horizontal rain ! Other league wins were taken against Cheshunt and Carshalton coupled with an FA Cup win away to Badshot Lea and it seemed all we touched turned to gold

FA Cup - Badshot Lea v Millers 31/8/24

However we couldn’t have it all our own way, and defeats away to Whitehawk and Hendon in the league and a disappointing FA Cup exit at home to Chesham brought a reality check into clear focus

ACT II
“Enter Stage Right : Tom Beere”
Cometh the hour ; Cometh the man. Following injuries to several key players , Tom was the perfect tonic to become an anchor point in the midfield, and those hardy few who braved the October elements on a wet and windy Tuesday night at Canvey Island were treated to goal glut as our rejuvenated squad came back from a 2 goal deficit to draw 4-4. Home wins against Chichester, Cray Wanderers, Horsham and Bowers & Pitsea coupled with a Freddy Parker hat-trick firing us to a great win on the road at Bognor Regis and Michael Ademiluyi scoring the decisive winner away at Hastings fired us back up to 2nd place in the league again and a mouth watering top of the table clash with the then leaders Dover Athletic at the end of November.

Bognor Regis v Millers 19/10/24

Millers v Horsham 9/11/25

Despite trailing for much of the game, a late equaliser from Matty Vigor left us thinking we’d take a share of the points back up the A2 only for Dover to nick a goal in time added on …… but the men in Green hadn’t read the Dover script and still found time to restore parity as Kiki Oshiliaja had the nous to back heel a cheeky one to level again ; and now we knew we could go toe to toe with anyone in this league

ACT III
“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood leads onto fortune”
More breath-taking drama marked the onset of December when trailing 2-3 at home to Wingate & Finchley, 3 late goals down at the Quaggy End including a peach from club stalwart Denzel Gayle sparked wild celebrations. High scoring draws , firstly at home to Chatham and then away to Cheshunt saw out 2024

Millers v Chatham Town 26/12/24

A New Year’s Day win at Carshalton was followed by a sobering 1-5 defeat at home to Hashtag, but the team dug deep from such disappointment to eke out a morale lifting win at lowly Bowers & Pitsea, and January was rounded off with wins at home against Bognor Regis and Canvey Island

ACT IV
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, Once More !!!”
We knew February was going to be tough with away trips to Billericay and Horsham on the menu ; not only are these big and established clubs, the league table had now shaped up and these two were now clearly in the title race. Both fixtures in front of 4 figure vocal crowds ended with 2-1 reverses for The Millers , but the delight evident in the Horsham players’ faces at the final whistle was a consolation that they knew they’d had to be at their best to prevail ……. and we were clearly regarded as a footballing force to be reckoned with
And so, following disappointing home draws against Hastings and Hendon that left us 4th in the table manager Steve McKimm rallied his troops with 2 fresh faces and implored them to rally much as Shakespeare’s King Henry V did at the siege of Harfleur . . . . and the stage was set for the final act !

Millers v Hastings United 1/3/25

ACT V
“This story shall the good man tell his son!”
As daffodils bloomed in the March sunshine, so did the fortunes of The Millers who returned to winning ways at Potters Bar , followed with a crucial 2-1 win at home against Dover with key second half goals from Marcel Barrington and Tom Beere

Potters Bar Town v Millers 8/3/25

A 4-1 reverse away at Lewes proved only a temporary blip, as 5 consecutive wins followed including 2 great team performances at home over Dulwich Hamlet and Whitehawk rounded off with a gritty hard fought win away at Chatham confirmed a place in the promotion play-offs for the Mighty Millers

Chatham Town v Millers 21/4/25

EPILOGUE
“Would that it were day !!!”
The final drama in this amazing season is still to be played out , firstly with our final game today against our visitors from Folkestone , followed by the potential ecstasy and agony of whatever the play-offs may bring

What cannot be in dispute however is the remarkable season we’ve been privileged to enjoy here at the Artic ; it’s been a period of amazing progress both on and off the pitch. The match day squad has been tweaked and improved along the way to add strength in depth and with 3 new stands erected during the season together with new turnstiles we should all be supremely proud of our little club and to make the play-offs in our debut season at this level is an achievement that merits superb accolades to everyone involved

C’mon Yoouuuuu Millers !!!!!

Photos courtesy of Romana at Inspire Socials