Millwall FC have been a football club since 1881, but it is only since the 1980s that they have made a name for themselves. It was the arrival of former Arsenal great George Graham as manager in time for the 1982-83 season that sparked the Lions into life.

Pairing a young Teddy Sheringham with the experienced Tony Cascarino up front was a masterstroke as the pair spearheaded Millwall FC climb from Division Three in 1985 to Division One in 1988, by which time John Docherty had replaced Graham at the helm.

In the Millwall FC's first season in the top flight they came 10th, but it all went wrong the following campaign and they were relegated.

The Lions went on to spend six seasons in the second tier and in 1996 they dropped a further level, into the new Division Two, after coming third from bottom.

Things were no better off the pitch either, as shares in Millwall FC's holding company were suspended and the administrators were called in.
In 1997 a rescue package was put in place and four years later Millwall FC stormed to the Division Two title under Mark McGhee with a club record 93 points.
In 2003 former England midfielder Dennis Wise replaced McGhee and he steered Millwall to the FA Cup final for the first time in their history in the 2003-4 season.

Manchester United dashed the Lions' dreams of a first major trophy by winning the final 3-0, but the London club at least made their debut in European football the following campaign, losing to Ferencvaros in the first round.

However, in 2006 Millwall were relegated back to League One and have been unable to climb out since.
Millwall FC had been founder members of Division Three South in 1920, going on to win the title twice before the Second World War (1928 and 1938) and becoming the first Third Division team to reach an FA Cup semi-final in 1937.

After the War, though, the Lions struggled and in 1958 they were placed in the new Fourth Division following the League's reorganisation.

Millwall spent the first half of the 1960s switching between Divisions Three and Four until they made a breakthrough in 1966 with promotion to Division Two as runners-up,but it was Graham's appointment that heralded the greatest period in their history.