Millwall FC and Neil Harris hit the jackpot with Wolves transfer – It unearthed a Lions hero
In order to maintain their position in the Championship, Millwall has always had to remain ahead of them in the transfer market. The fact that 13 of the previous 15 seasons were spent in the second division is evidence of the effort put forth there.
As a result, it can be difficult to find gems in the rough, but they truly struck gold when Neil Harris signed Wallace, a winger they had previously loaned twice before deciding to make him a permanent member in 2017.
Wallace’s career began in non-league football, but he first gained recognition with Portsmouth, a team that was still reeling from the 2010 financial crisis, which almost forced them out of business.
In his final season at Fratton Park, he scored 14 goals for them despite them finishing in 16th place in League Two, their lowest standing since they joined the League in 1920, following three relegations in four years, of which he was a part of the last two.
He was transferred to Wolves in 2015 as a result, however he only made 18 appearances in two seasons there due to a lack of success at the Championship club. However, he had plenty of playing experience because Millwall filled in twice and loaned him out, and the second time they did so, they were promoted from League One through the playoffs.
In June 2017, Wallace and fellow former Wolves player George Saville were permanently signed by Millwall from Wolves for an unknown sum.
The results weren’t quite immediate. By the end of November, Millwall were 19th in the Championship, just three places above the relegation spots. However, they took off in the second part of the season, going 17 games without a loss and finishing in eighth place, three points out of a play-off spot. They came within two points of the play-offs in 2020 after finishing ninth the previous season after a near-relegation scare.
And Wallace was gaining himself a reputation as one of the best attacking players in the Championship. Although he did place near the top of their list of top goalscorers in 2020–21, his role as a winger and somewhat of a touchline hugger meant that he wasn’t really there for that. Nevertheless, he scored 38 goals and contributed 41 assists in 225 games during his five years as a permanent member of The Den.
| Jed Wallace’s Five Permanent Years at Millwall | ||
|---|---|---|
| Season | Appearances | Goals |
| 2017/18 | 43 | 6 |
| 2018/19 | 42 | 5 |
| 2019/20 | 43 | 10 |
| 2020/21 | 45 | 11 |
| 2021/22 | 38 | 6 |
Leave a Reply