This week in Millwall history: The Lions sign striker from Gillingham

 

This week in Millwall history: The Lions sign striker from Gillingham

 

 

THIS week in Millwall history, the Lions signed striker Tony Cascarino from Gillingham for £225,000 on June 26, 1987.

 

Cascarino would soon prove to be a bargain, scoring 23 goals in 46 appearances as he helped fire Millwall to the Division 2 championship and promotion to the top flight of English football for the first time in their history.

 

The Irish international adapted quickly to Division 1, scoring eight goals in the Lions’ first six league games as they got off to a lightning-fast start – topping the league in October.

 

While Millwall could not maintain their title charge, they still finished a respectable tenth with Cascarino bagging thirteen league goals in 38 appearances.

 

 

The Lions struggled in their second season in Division 1, with legendary manager John Docherty departing mid-February, and Millwall were eventually relegated after finishing 20th.

 

Cascarino did not finish the season with the Lions, joining Aston Villa for their club-record fee of £1.5 million on March 16, but still topped the club’s scoring charts with nine league goals, joint with fellow strike partner Teddy Sheringham.

 

Cascarino finished his Lions career having scored 49 goals over three seasons. He went on to play for Celtic, Chelsea, Marseille, Nancy, and Red Star 93 before hanging up his boots in 2000.

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