Still second class, that's the First Division

The First Division is not what it used to be. Those of us who discovered football before the money men from television moved in remember the First Division as being called the Second Division and this is what it still is.

Watching yesterday's game between Millwall and Grimsby hard on the heels of Saturday's encounter between Chelsea and Manchester United was to be reminded that the distance between the two is to be measured in interplanetary terms.

The Millwall match was entertaining in its way. They needed the points to reach the play-offs. Grimsby had already made themselves safe from relegation and were thus free to play without constraint.

The Den is a fine football ground, with the pitch mowed in a circular pattern. If anyone had tried that at the old ground in Cold Blow Lane, they would have been tarred and feathered. The sun was shining and the Millwall support had seemingly cast off their role as the most reviled supporters in the land.

My first ever experience of a live match was at the original Den. Millwall were entertaining Wolves and the game was settled by a goal from the Wolves centre-forward Derek Dougan. He celebrated in front the home supporters but his cavorting was cut short by one of that number who vaulted on to the pitch and laid out the Doog with a straight right.

This was my abiding memory of Millwall until yesterday.

Watching the match, it was apparent why the ITV Digital experiment has failed. Too much money was paid to broadcast football of a standard which will not tickle the fancy of the modern armchair viewer.

As discerning customers we demand quality goods. Until he retired at half-time, the game was dominated by Dion Dublin, a player who has spent his time in the sun and is now happy to do a decent job and pick up a fat pay packet.