Millwall FC History and Heritage Tour - The First 25 Years (1885-1910)

Join us for the Millwall FC History and Heritage Tour - The First 25 Years (1885-1910)!

Come and explore the early years of one of the most iconic football clubs in London. Discover the roots of Millwall FC and learn about the key moments that shaped the club's history during its first quarter-century.

This in-person event will start from the Docklands Diner, conveniently located near the West India Quay DLR Station. Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Millwall FC with our knowledgeable guides.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to delve into the past of a beloved football institution. See you there!

Have you Walked the Walk yet?

Why not do it during the next international break of 2025.

Come and join us on our 13th Out of the Blue event - a special trip back in time to discover all of the key highlights of our famous old football club’s early existence on the Isle of Dogs (1885-1910).

Discover the very place where we were founded, the pub culture instilled from day one, the workplaces of our fan base, our club headquarters, plus all 4 sites of our very first football grounds in that 25-year time space before we moved across the river.

This is a history and heritage tour which explores Millwall’s life on the Isle of Dogs - the early days, the rapid progress, the highs and the lows of the once leading light of London football.

Learn how an amazing FA Cup run led to our old nickname ‘Dockers’ would lead to us being known as the ‘Lions’.

The Isle of Dogs has an interesting history too which is interwoven into the very fabric of our DNA, you will hear some myths debunked, some less known secrets plus plenty of amusing anecdotes to keep you smiling!

We finish in a pub which was our previous HQ, and have a quiz (with prizes) which is always great fun.

Anyone who ‘Walks the Walk’ will also receive a souvenir booklet, and if you join us on this tour we shall endeavour to provide you with both a memorable London tour experience, but also a unique insight into the history and heritage of Millwall Football Club.

Let ‘em come!

Check out our Testimonials:

“I really enjoyed it. You were a brilliant guide. You and Mike cleared up my confusion over ‘Rear of Lord Nelson'and Millwall Park" - Jeff Burnige (former Club Chairman)

"Thank you for a really great day, from Linda and myself. Enjoyed it, and were great hosts" - Bryan King (Legendary Goalkeeper making 380 appearances 1967-1975)

“Great day, great people, thanks to Mike and Rob" - Phil Coleman (Ex-player and Captain of the FA Youth Cup Winners in 1979)

“A great tour yesterday, very interesting, and with a great bunch of people made it an enjoyable afternoon, rounded off with a couple of pints in the Nelson!” - Dave Sullivan (Millwall Stadium Tour Historian and Author of ‘Millwall in the FA Cup - The Road to the Millennium)

“Great day, and thanks for all your hard work" - Chris Bethell (Club Historian and Co-Author of 'Millwall Football Club 1885-1939'

“This tour shines more light on the life of the fan base in the docks and gave a great insight to our club history back then” - Micky Simpson (former Fan on the Board)

"It was an excellent experience. Supported the club since 68/69 and learnt found out some new stuff today. A great few hours and a must for Lions fans" - Adrian Wisson (former Millwall Kit Man)

"A great time was had by all. It was really informative. I would recommend that Millwall supporter’s when you get the opportunity to go make sure you do” - Stan Godwin (No One Likes Us Talkin' show pundit)

"This is a terrific walking tour of the original sites from which Millwall FC began in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. A very absorbing and entertaining mix of social and football history, this will interest any Millwall fan who wants to understand the industrial and dockland origins of our great club. Highly recommended" - Nick Hart (Auctung! Millwall Podcast)

"Thank you for a great day, learnt a few things and had a drink in a pub my Grandad Tiny Joyce may have had the odd pint or three! The tour was well presented and we had a few laughs.I'm more than happy to recommend to anybody interested in Millwall or football history. Thanks for being so understanding with me being in a wheelchair" - Peter Manock (Grandson of former Goalkeeper, Assistant Trainer and Caretaker Manager John 'Tiny' Joyce)

“Had a great time, very informative, well worth doing. And huge thanks for being so considerate with Pete being in a wheelchair" - Dawn M

“Highly recommended walking tour for Millwall fans of all ages. I have now done this tour a couple of times and hope to do it again - introducing friends and family to the history and heritage of our great club. Qualified tour guide Rob and his companion Mike are great hosts - They are informative and entertaining, humourous and always happy to answer questions. An end of tour refreshments stop and a quiz and an accompanying tour booklet was a bonus. Five star tour. Highly recommended.Thanks again Mike and Rob for a great day full of laughs, entertainment and informative content. It was nice to meet fellow members and I'm certain everybody left the tour very happy indeed" - Stan J

“Rob thank you and your team for a very interesting day last Thursday I enjoyed the day and thank you for all of the hard work that you and the team had put in to getting Millwall history and heritage tour completed it was a good day the pub the food was very good .I hope that you have success if you do any more of your Millwall history tours" - Clive W

“Just want to say a massive thanks for today. The tour was excellently done and your knowledge of Millwall and the island was outstanding” - Paul S

“Great day yesterday, very informative about Wall's history thanks for coming to my East London Manor!” - Barrie S

“Thanks to Rob and Mike for making yesterday so enjoyable, it really was an excellent day” - David F

“This tour shines mo Me and my old man come from a long line of supporters, and took a lot away from the last tour” - Paul C

"It was a great walk, and interesting to hear so much of the club history that many say they hadn’t heard before, plus you will have a good laugh" - Chrissie W

“Excellent tour - learnt alot about Millwall history and roots. Presented in an informative and fun engaging way. Nice crowd on the tour too. Really informative- great to learn about heritage and culture of the club in its early years. Inspired me to learn more about our own family roots. Thanks for organising- highly recommend others to go on this tour too" - David B

“Great Millwall history walk yesterday. Heard some great stories of the early years of our club and some of its players. I now know why it's called Milwall. You'll have to go on the next walk, highly recommended" - Harvey K

“Really informative- great to learn about heritage & culture of the club in its early years. Inspired me to learn more about our own family roots. Thanks for organising- highly recommend others to go on this tour too" - David B

“Just wanted to say a big thank you to you both. Really enjoyed it. Can see it getting bigger and bigger. I have already given details of the next one to 8 people" - John D

"I thoroughly enjoyed my day on Saturday, I learnt a lot. It was also really good chatting with fellow fans. Thanks very much for a very good day" - Andrew W

"Great tour. Loved it. A must for Millwall supporters" - Eric B

"I would recommend to any Millwall supporter to take the tour. It's informative, interesting and a good laugh with like minded people. A great day! A big thank you to Michael, Chris and Rob" - Gary W

“Absolutely great day out. Delicious breakfast at the meeting point (Docklands Diner). Wonderful guides, both have Millwall blood running through their veins, loads of very interesting info on the club and its very rich history A great group of wonderful people, all a fine example of this great club and its family traditions! A trip down memory lane for me as I lived and worked on the Isle of Dogs for 7 years. I shall be there for the next one. A big shout out of much appreciated thanks to Rob and Mike (and of course his lovely wife)" - Paul E

“The tour was excellent from meeting in the Docklands Diner for a great breakfast right through to a beer or two in The George. The knowledge of the organisers was extensive, in fact mind blowing at times. With plenty of humour thrown in to lighten the day. Great to see a few of the sites from our history of over a hundred years ago still around. If your thinking of attending don’t hesitate as I’m 100% sure your find it enlightening and definitely entertaining. For those who are thinking about booking the tour I’d say book it because you won’t be disappointed. I went some months back and thoroughly enjoyed it. Mike and the other hosts were so knowledgeable, able to answer any questions, added some humour throughout" - Pete B

“Brilliant day, brilliant tour thank you so much! I would recommend any Millwall fan this tour. When I did it I met Phil Coleman, a great bloke” - Joe M

“Just completed the Heritage Tour - thoroughly recommend and getting more insight to the start of the club. Thanks to Mike, Christine and Rob" - Richard S

“Very insightful, good tour, really enjoyed the day. Well worth doing" - Dedge K

“Brilliant day. Thank you for yesterday, my Dad and I had a fantastic day" - Jamie K

"A great tour with two very knowledgeable guides . It was good to learn more about our clubs early history. Three generations of our family went and all enjoyed it equally" - Danny K

“I cannot express how much I enjoyed today, you entertained us royally. The knowledge imparted was very impressive and enlightening" - Steve L

“Just wanted to thank you, Mike and Chrissie for the Tour last Saturday. It was very interesting listening to the history and anecdotes on Millwall. In some ways it was humbling thinking back to the origins of our Club. What the players went through, some working and playing, then becoming fulltime professionals, also the supporters. Working and living conditions back then, were very different to today. Think living there in that era make its mark on a person, toughen up and survive or not. And I think that got into our DNA and made us what we are today" - Tim D

"This was a brilliantly presented walk by Rob & Mike who really knew their Millwall History. The walk was nicely paced (it is a lot of walking!) and blends in Millwall's early history with that of the docks.....both subjects were fascinating and would be enjoyed by anyone, Millwall fan or not" - Paul B

"I booked this tour not sure what to expect as I grew up on the Isle of Dogs so knew the history and I was also a lifelong Millwall supporter. I was pleasantly surprised, the operaters where very knowledgeable and backed up their knowledge with photographic evidence. We visited the site of the original firm where the team was formed, the 4 sites where they played (a couple of which I played on myself when I was younger), where they used to live, and loads of other anecdotes. We were lucky we had a lovely day for the walk not sure it would have been as good if it was raining. They welcomed questions and made it a fun tour. I've done the stadium tour but if you want the real nuts and bolts of the original formation of Millwall F.C. then this is the tour you should go on" - Dagdiner

"Thoroughly enjoyed learning about how Millwall started (and where they got their name too!). I knew nothing of all this before the walk. Rob & Mike were great guides, with a wealth of knowledge and many old photos to check out. Definitely a ‘must do’ for any Millwall fan! The walk was also enjoyable, and seeing what the initial grounds they played at have now become was also interesting. Well worth it, and a very friendly group of folks who also enjoyed the walk" - Christine

We went to the areas where the old grounds situated and it was an amazing tour! Rob also told us so many wonderful stories about the good old days of our famous old football club. Absolutely recommended" - Gianluca S

"Had a Great tour around our old manor. Learnt a lot on our clubs history, was much more than I could ever have expected. Mike and Rob are a great double act/presenters, full of information, content and laughs along the way. Fantastic value for money, and I'd definitely do it all over again. Good meet up with friends, and met some interesting Millwall fans on the day. PERFECT tour for Lions of any age I would highly recommend the History and Heritage tour" - Jacqui K

An excellent few hours spent exploring the roots of Millwall football club, Rob is extremely knowledgeable and we all learnt so much about the Club we know and love, indeed it has a very eventful history, particularly during the period it was based on the Isle of Dogs. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough and encourage anyone interested in our Club to take the tour, your time will be very well spent" - Archie

"Great day out. East London's a dump but the tour was brilliant! Very interesting and the guys running it were spot on! Great ending in the Lord Nelson for a few beers! COYL!!!" - Stay

"Brilliant walking tour, Rob and Mick know their Millwall history very well. Incredibly insightful and a great few hours spent learning about the history of our club and the area we were formed in. The route was well thought out and was a comfortable walk for those of all ages that attended. Recommend for any Millwall fan or anyone that would like to learn more about the docklands in general" - Moj

"Excellent 2.5 hours with 2 very knowledgeable tour guides that were wall through and through. Suitable for all ages interested in how Millwall started. Also had ex Millwall player Phil Coleman on the tour. Finished with a quiz and few pints in the Lord Nelson to round off nicely" - Steve R

"Great day with great people. Mike and Dan a good double act, very knowledgeable and informative. Loved seeing where my family and club originated. Enjoyable day alongside fellow lions" - PC

"Thanks Mike and Rob for a fantastic tour. We learnt so much about the club and its story from the early days, as well as the social history of the area, and it was all told with passion and love for the subject. We loved the anecdotes and historical details and pictures. It was great to chat to fans, and listening to them made me feel part of the Millwall community. You don’t have to be a Lions fan to enjoy the tour but you might wish you were by the end!" - Lesley G

"Great trip, Mike and Rob knew a lot and I learned a lot more today, would highly recommend this tour for Millwall supporters or even other supporters, ended with a well earned drink in The Nelson" - Paul H

"Fantastic few hours. The team have really made an effort to do theirresearch, with lots of great facts and stats to share. I know a few fans that would really enjoy this! Great job Rob, Mike and Chrissie" - Rob J

"Great tour!! Very interesting to see the club’s history and London history intertwined. My Dad grew up on the Island and it was great to see and hear him remember people, events and places from 70+ years ago!! Well worth the trip over from Texas. Cheers Y’all!!" - Lee K

"Mike and Rob take you on a fun and informative historical journey through the first 25 years of Millwall FC. Guests are shown many different places of historical and cultural interest and given insightful anecdotes connected not only to the club but the wider social history of the area. A tour not to be missed for any Millwall fan or someone with an interest in London's rich history" - William P

"A must for any wall fan imo, superb knowledge and facts and ends with a quiz and a beer" - Stuart H

"First class tour by very knowledgeable guides who will take you to the key locations in the birth/early history of Millwall FC - a must for every true Lions supporter!" - Travis B

"What an amazing tour. To see the sights of Millwall FC history was so good. Tour guides were informative and funny. Loved every minute. If you are a true Millwall fan then you need to do this tour. Excellent day with brilliant company and top guides" - Dan