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

Join us for a fun and informative walking tour exploring the early years of Millwall FC existence on the Isle of Dogs, before moving south. Join us for the Millwall FC History and Heritage Tour - The First 25 Years (1885-1910)! Join us to explore the early years of one of the most iconic football clubs in London. Discover the roots of Millwall Football Club 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 esplanade at West India Quay, 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 2026. Come and join us on our 12th 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 many Testimonials: "A great walking tour bringing Millwall's early history to life Really enjoyable few hours around the Isle of Dogs. Rob and Mike are great guides and really help bring the history to life Tour is wider than purely club history and talks about the changes in that part of London and the fascinating history in this once vital world port. Learnt a lot but all done in an enjoyable and interactive way" - Mark Fairbrother ( Managing Director Millwall Football Club) “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 Millwall 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) “So what did you do during the international break? In my case, it was to go on a walking tour around the docks on the #Millwall history and heritage tour. Fascinating stuff, well worth a wander!” - Karl Bates (BBC Radio and Millwall TC Commentator) "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) “Great day yesterday, very informative about Wall's history thanks for coming to my East London Manor!” - Barrie Stadling (Author of ‘I Was Born Under the Cold Blow Lane') “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 Sardi (Millwall Community Trust Ambassador) “Had a great time, very informative, well worth doing. And huge thanks for being so considerate with Pete being in a wheelchair" - Dawn Madock “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 Johnson “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 “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 White “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.