Millwall & West Ham: A Century of Hate Explained

Two clubs. One city. And a rivalry so fierce it’s been etched into history through film, literature, and countless police reports. Welcome to the world of Millwall vs. West Ham—a clash where football is just the surface of a much deeper story.

In this video, we’ll unravel the complex web of history, culture, and tension that fuels this notorious rivalry. We'll explore how economic hardship, territorial pride, and media sensationalism have shaped this conflict across generations.

From the dockyards to the bright lights of the Premier League, we’re diving into every layer of this intense feud—a place where the beautiful game collides with the darker side of human nature.

🎥 FOLLOW OUR TIKTOK

📲 FOLLOW OUR X

Chapters
0:00 Intro
00:48 The Dockyard Origins
02:48 The Rise of the Firms
05:30 Pop Culture & Violent Encounters
07:16 Modern Day Challenges and Unexpected Unity

#westham #millwall #westhamunited #millwallfc

---------------------

[sportstoriez]

Hey guys, a different style of video than normal, more motion graphics (attempting to anyway), let me know what you think of it! If you've enjoyed the video, please do consider subscribing to the channel and give that like button some love. Helps the channel massively!

[alex-EWHU]

But, when there's a sickly child in need of a charity fundraiser, both sets of supporters will gladly come together and help out, regardless of any historical grievances. West ham and Millwall are pretty much like squabbling brothers. Also a lot of respect for Charlton and orient.👍⚒️

[moodyblue]

I went to that game in 1978 as a neutral. I was only 15 and completely unaware of the history. To top it all, I was taken to the game by two Millwall fans into the away end. I have to say I had never been so frightened in my life. I don't remember if the segregation was just a police line or a fence. I certainly remember almost being crushed. I also remember seeing a parting of the crowd and seeing fans going like hell at each other. I can't remember how I got out of that but I did. The two girls that took me were taken out of that end and put into a stand running alongside the pitch along with me. Needless to say I had no issues after that.
I wasn't aware of this video quoting that game from 1978 until now.
I've never forgotten the scenes I saw that day.

[billlecky]

I'm from West London but have been a West Ham fan all my life. Back in 2014, i was driving to a pre season friendly against either Sampdoria or Fiorentina at Upton Park, when i hit Parliament Square it was all cordoned off and rerouted, for a cycling race, traffic was heavy and i was a bit pushed for time, i thought I'd nip over Lambeth Bridge and go along the South Bank then back into East London via the Rotherhithe tunnel. Silly me didn't think Millwall might be playing at home today, i drove into a traffic jam on Jamaica Road surrounded by thousands of Millwall fans, i had a new West Ham shirt on and my 2 year old boy in his West Ham kit. It was a hot day so i quickly took our shirts off, I've got a West Ham tattoo on my left arm, thankfully, so wasn't visible on drivers side. Thankfully got away unscathed, would like to think had i been caught, having my little boy present might have saved me, but whilst that's probably true for most, there's bound have been some who'd still want to kick you half to death. On way home in Chiswick, some Chelsea lads in a van started giving me grief on seeing my shirt, i just laughed it off, after what I'd been through earlier, it was nothing, ironic perhaps, because i never wear West Ham colours in West London for that very reason, and i get sprung straight after a close shave with Millwall. I nearly drowned in Australia, frost bitten in Canada, surrounded by Indians in Mexico angry at me filming them, nicked and deported in America and Jailed here, but i can honestly say that all of the above were nowhere near the fear i felt for about 10 to 15 minutes with thousands of Millwall fans around me on Jamaica Road, Bermondsey, that Saturday in August 2014.

[markyboy]

Strange one for me.
Born & raised in Upton Park
Followed West Ham home & away
Was an apprentice footballer for Millwall
Tough times with my own friends not talking to me 🙄

[Gary-si]

I hate West Ham, especially on match days. Which are very far apart these days. Every time we play them away you know it could kick off anywhere on the away. And in the ground you can feel the hatred on both sides. But I've got a lot of West Ham mates and have a laugh with them when they lose and we both say maybe we'll play each other next season. I'm 60 now. The 70's and 80's were really bad. But the youngsters haven't had those experiences. And it doesn't kick off half as much around London anymore when you're travelling to away grounds or around Kings Cross or Euston for the journeys up north.
And in the rave scene in the late 80's Millwall and West Ham took E's and frequented a lot of the same clubs and parties. Made a lot of friendships through that that could never be broken by football anymore. Well just on match days.

[AnthonyInglis-zg]

It hasn’t diminished, we’ve just not had the opportunities to get at each other. If a game was announced next week all the old boys would be back out.

[Millwalldan]

Not playing each other for decades has dampened the rivalry. But dont get me wrong, fa cup draw or we end up in same league, it will blow up like TNT. 100%
Mmmiiillwwaaalll

[essexmat]

Any real West Ham fan (like me) of a certain age know it's ALWAYS Millwall. The younger fan seems to think its Spurs, it isn't. As much as we hate each other there is also mutual respect and yes I've been amongst it in the 80s and 90s

[robdent]

Enjoy the rivalry.. but it’s going to come to all us English working class men joining together against the people who want to destroy our way of life ..

[leebadenoch]

My generation of west ham fans (I was born in 88) don't really count Millwall as our main rivals don't get me wrong we enjoy playing them, the atmosphere cant be described and if we beat them it's great but we didn't play them from 1990 till 2003 and that was my main years getting into football and over that time I counted Tottenham and Chelsea as the teams I hated the most and always wanted to beat especially spuds, we just didn't play Millwall enough for my a lot of my generation to care about them.

[tomworthington]

Back in August, the Catholics and Protestants were marching side by side, arm in arm and hand in hand for some good reason and was beautiful to see. Hopefully these two firms will come together for similar reasons and will work towards more peace and less violence.

[dakers]

Big Millwall supporter due to their signing in 1992 of a young American goalkeeper by the name of Kasey Keller. He was instrumental in Millwalls rise, but more importantly, helped pave the way for other Americans to play in Englands domestic leagues. Kudo's!

[GlennBowers-djpp]

Never had an issue with Milwall. Prefer them to teams like Spurs and Chelsea. ⚒️

[StevenBrennan-oh]

The rival started because of fighting between each other for work. Football further brought the anger from the early days

[highpark]

A literal rivalry . From The Latin Rivalis for people who are on opposite sides of the same stream or river .

[paulc]

I’m a West Ham fan and growing up in the 80’s and early 90’s it was Millwall and to me they still are our traditional rival
I’m from Essex have worked in London previously and not met to many Millwall fans those I have, have been fine
Over the years Tottenham & Chelsea took over really as football changed and the gap between us and Millwall widened
My great great grandfather actually worked on Millwall Docks it’s fascinating what you find out . Many relatives living in the Isle of Dogs, Poplar, Limehouse areas . Plus many in Bow, Stepney etc on my other grandparents side
Such a lovely history of East London but funnily enough none followed football as far as I’m aware certainly not when I was a kid
I had an Uncle who was West Ham and me and his son my cousin that was it
Even though my dad side he was Liverpool and his father Ipswich supporter

No real issues with Millwall just wouldn’t want them to win anything

[JoeAdams-owwj]

What a great video, really interesting and very well researched. I have always known about the Millwall West Ham rivalry but had no idea why, but now I do. Keep up the brilliant work.

[stevecooksley]

They'd hate to admit it, but both sets of fans have a lot in common (I was born and raised in SE London but I'm a West Ham supporter).

[LEE_MASON_]

People pretend they hate other teams more they actually do. Old school football culture is finished, and it's never coming back. But I'd have more in common & more to chat about with a Millwall fan who was going in the old days & knew the culture than any West Ham supporter who goes nowadays. I feel lucky i started going in the 70's. Can't relate to none of it nowadays. They can poke it.