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Beyond the big matches being played tomorrow, one fixture that is expected to attract plenty of attention is the clash between Millwall Athletic 🆚️ West Ham United. One of the many London derbies, but perhaps the fiercest of them all — and one that returns after 14 years. In 1885, Millwall Rovers were founded by workers, mainly Irish and Scottish, at the J.T. Morton canning factory on the Isle of Dogs. Ten years later, in 1895, just a few miles away, Thames Ironworks FC was formed — the club that would eventually become West Ham United. 🏭 “The Dockers’ Derby” was born from an economic rivalry between workers and companies, which later developed into a fierce sporting rivalry. 🌁 The first meeting took place in 1897, in a friendly match that Millwall won 2–0 in front of around 1,200 supporters. The first official meeting between Millwall Athletic and Thames Ironworks came on 9 December 1899. But the rivalry became even more intense for a reason beyond football. In May 1926, London workers joined a general strike against the government. The rivalry is also associated with claims that workers linked to Millwall crossed the picket lines and returned to work. However, the exact role of workers from the two clubs and the extent to which this contributed to the rivalry remains disputed. During the 1970s and 1980s, both clubs had two of the strongest hooligan groups in England, and whenever the sides met, clashes were common — sometimes with tragic consequences. In 1976, Millwall supporter Ian Pratt was killed, while in 1986, 19-year-old West Ham supporter Terry Burns was killed. The last major clash came on 25 August 2009, when a mass confrontation took place, with supporters invading the pitch. Tomorrow, the two sides will meet in the 100th competitive meeting between the clubs, with the historical record currently standing at: 🔵 Millwall: 38 wins ⚒️ West Ham: 34 wins 🤝 27 draws Authorities have prepared heightened security measures for tomorrow, with the Metropolitan Police reportedly planning around 400 officers to manage the situation around the stadium and supporter areas. 14 years of waiting. 100 meetings. A rivalry that has gone beyond football. THE DOCKERS’ DERBY IS BACK! #Millwall #WestHam #MillwallWestHam #DockersDerby #LondonDerby #EFL #Championship #Football