‘I don’t feel I’m at my ceiling’ – Millwall’s new keeper Max Crocombe on his rapid rise up the pyramid and his ambitions with the Lions.

MAX Crocombe has risen quickly through the leagues in recent years and is looking forward to another step up with Millwall.

The 31-year-old shot-stopper joined the Lions this summer when his contract with League One club Burton Albion ended. The New Zealand international was playing in the National League for Grimsby Town just four years ago, but after numerous successful seasons at higher levels, he sees the Championship as his next challenge.

“It was an amazing time at Burton,” Crocombe told NewsAtDen. “I suppose after two years of playing almost every week, I felt like I had another level up in me.

I thought that if there was an opportunity to advance my profession, I would pursue it. “When Millwall came in, I was happy and quite excited. Another opportunity to put myself to the test, which is exactly what I’m looking for.” Crocombe’s elevation to SE16 completes a tremendous journey through the levels, made all the more astonishing given his hardships in the early stages of his career.

He joined Oxford United as a seventeen-year-old but struggled to make an impact throughout his six seasons, spending time on loan in the lesser leagues before being released.

He then played for Carlisle United and Salford City before moving to Australia to compete in the A-League. “I went to Brisbane Roar for a season and Melbourne Victory for a season,” Crocombe told the media. “I was simply looking for chances.

Football can be challenging in certain situations, particularly in goal. “I have an Australian passport, therefore I was able to cross. I spent two years there, which was quite enjoyable but sometimes stressful.It was an adjustment. I enjoyed the A-League; it’s a fantastic location to play. I suppose after those two years, I was yearning to return to England.

I had been overseas for a few years and missed English football more than anything. I was thrilled to be back.” When he returned in 2021, he signed with Grimsby Town as a backup custodian before taking up the starting post in November. He started in the National League play-off final as the Mariners won promotion to League Two, and he started every game the next season.

He subsequently moved to Burton Albion in League One in the summer of 2023, where he was crowned Player of the Season in his debut season.

“The rise was quick, but I adjusted quickly to it, to be honest,” Crocombe told reporters. “When I came through League Two, I had to dip down to gain opportunities. It was extremely tough to obtain loan transactions higher up the pyramid. “So I’ve got to prove myself lower down, which I’m glad about.

It’s something I kind of keep with me. I’m not ashamed to having done so. I may not know the names of some others, but I know that I’ve been through some difficult moments and proven myself up the pyramid. I don’t feel like I’m at my limit. Last season, I didn’t believe I had reached my potential. “I felt like I could kick on again.”

Crocombe now confronts his hardest task yet as he prepares to meet the demands of the Championship.

“It’s always a step up, so I’m not naive,” Crocombe admitted. “The shots are quicker, the players move faster, the game is faster, the ball is in play more frequently, and all of that.

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