2012–13 Rotherham United F.C. season
# 2012–13 Rotherham United F.C. season

In the 2012–13 season, The Millers competed in League Two-the fourth tier in the football league. It was the 142nd season for the club since forming in 1870 as Thornhill and the fifth season in a row that Rotherham have been in League Two. It was a commemorative season for Rotherham United and a new chapter in the history books, as they returned home to Rotherham. They played their home games at The Don Valley Stadium in nearby city Sheffield, of which they had been shadowed by for 4 years since the dispute with Ken Booth, the owner of traditional home Millmoor-which forced them to leave. Rotherham's first game of the season was played on 18 August 2012, versus Burton Albion, in their new home; which was requested by chairman Tony Stewart because of the homecoming occasion. They came out victorious 3–0. Before the season began, the club were tipped by many bookies to lift the League Two title, leaving newly promoted Fleetwood Town and local rivals Chesterfield in their tracks. United were also tipped to be one of numerous favourites to contest the Football League Trophy, however they were out in the first round prior to a 1–0 defeat to York City.

Just one week prior to the first league encounter, Rotherham faced a trip to Yorkshire rivals, Hull City, in a League Cup first round fixture. They were knocked out 7-6 on penalties.

Rotherham United won promotion to League One after finishing second in the league.

## Kit

Rotherham wear traditional colours red and white as their home kit. On the right shoulder, there is a solid white bar, with the black Puma logo on it, due to them being the kit manufacturers. Below it is the town crest, put on as a symbolic representative of the move back to Rotherham. It retains the sponsorship of local shopping centre Parkgate. The away kit is an amber and black coloured strip. The reason behind the chosen colours is that in 1925, when Rotherham Town and Thornhill United merged to become Rotherham United, their first ever kit was amber with a black rugby-like 'V' design on the chest. However, this season's away top is a thick, black bar across the chest, with the badge on the left, Puma logo in the centre and the town crest on the right. This kit also retains sponsorship from last season, with One Town One Community.

## Season fixtures

### Pre-season

The first training session of the season was held on week commencing 2 July 2012, 13 days previous to the first pre-season fixture against local team Parkgate. It was a vital time, as the players got a long jog and light training to get back into the football routine; as well as meeting the summer recruitments. On 14 July 2012, a few hours after the 0-6 victory against Parkgate, The Millers flew out to a training camp in the Algarve District of Portugal. On 18 July 2012, Rotherham locked horns with nearby training Oldham Athletic. Managed by Paul Dickov, Oldham were a stature of whom were a League One side. Surprisingly, Steve Evans' men came out on top 3–1. The players returned home the next day to prepare for the upcoming pre-season.

For Rotherham, not just the club but the fans too, this was a special pre-season. The first ever match at their new home venue The New York Stadium would be staged during this period of time. However, this match was just one quarter of stadia safety certificate matches. The opponents in these games, of which were two Yorkshire rivals in Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers, would stage 6,000 and 9,000 maximum capacity matches respectively. The 2012 Scottish Cup champions Hearts, and local rivals Sheffield United would both stage maximum (12,000) capacity matches, also respectively. These fixtures were simply to ensure that the facilities of the ground were able to cope with match-day standards.

Other games included away trips to Mansfield Town, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Stamford, a short journey to local lads Dinnington Town, and an encounter at Nene Park against Kettering Town.

Rotherham fans grew ever confident that the club would be successful this year. The performances were "too good for the league" according to many fans, and it was justified with victories over higher league outfits Oldham, Doncaster and Barnsley. Comments from other supporters suggested that the players brought in were Championship quality, and would tear other teams such as Barnet and Accrington Stanley to pieces.

## Squad statistics

Everything below is not up-to-date

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Andy Warrington |
| 1 | GK | SCO | Scott Shearer |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Josh Morris (on loan from Blackburn) |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Ian Sharps (C) |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Dale Tonge |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Nicky Hunt |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Lawrie Wilson |
| 20 | DF | WAL | Craig Morgan |
| 14 | DF | WAL | Mark Bradley |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Gareth Evans |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Jason Taylor |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Ben Pringle |
| 31 | MF | ENG | Courtney Cameron (on loan from Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 27 | MF | IRL | Lee Frecklington |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Mitch Rose |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Lionel Ainsworth |
| 4 | MF | ISL | Kári Árnason |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Luke Rooney (on loan from Swindon) |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Nicky Walker |
| 10 | MF | NIR | Michael O'Connor |
| 19 | MF | ENG | David Noble |
| 17 | FW | WAL | Daniel Nardiello |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Alex Revell |
| 25 | FW | ENG | Alec Denton |
| 16 | FW | NGA | Kayode Odejayi |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Kieran Agard |

### Out on Loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Johnny Mullins (at Oxford United) |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Danny Schofield (at Accrington Stanley) |

### Goals, Appearances and Disciplinary

    As of 8 November 2012

| No. | Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 21 | GK | Andy Warrington | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | Scott Shearer | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | Craig Morgan | 12+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Johnny Mullins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Ian Sharps | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Dale Tonge | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | Nicky Hunt | 6+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6+2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Laurie Wilson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Mark Bradley | 7+3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10+3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Gareth Evans | 9+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11+3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Jason Taylor | 8+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9+5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | Nicky Walker | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | Danny Schofield | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | David Noble | 5+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Ben Pringle | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 19+1 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Mitch Rose | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Lionel Ainsworth | 6+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7+6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Kári Árnason | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Michael O'Connor | 11+2 | 4 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12+3 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | Daniel Nardiello | 8+4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 9+5 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Alex Revell | 9+4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11+4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | FW | Alec Denton | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | Kayode Odejayi | 13+3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15+3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | Kieran Agard | 0+10 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Players played for Rotherham this season on loan who returned to their parent club: ||||||||||||||
| 23 | DF | Robert Harris | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Jamie Devitt | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players on loan at Rotherham: ||||||||||||||
| 23 | DF | Josh Morris | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Lee Frecklington | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | Courtney Cameron | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

Key

* x+x
* Starts plus substitute appearances

### Top scorers

    As of 3 November 2012

| Place | Position | Name | League Two | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | FW | Daniel Nardiello | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | MF | Michael O'Connor | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| = | MF | Ben Pringle | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| = | MF | Lee Frecklington | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| = | FW | Alex Revell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | FW | Kayode Odejayi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| = | MF | Gareth Evans | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | MF | Lionel Ainsworth | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | Jason Taylor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | DF | Robert Harris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | Kieran Agard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | DF | Mark Bradley | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | Kari Arnason | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | TOTALS | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 32 |

## Transfers

    As of 29 October 2012

Players transferred in :

| Date | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 May 2012 | FW | | Daniel Nardiello | Exeter City F.C. | Free | |
| 15 May 2012 | FW | | Kayode Odejayi | Colchester United | Undisclosed | |
| 22 May 2012 | DF | | Ian Sharps | Shrewsbury Town | Free | |
| 22 May 2012 | DF | | Nicky Hunt | Preston North End | Free | |
| 24 May 2012 | GK | | Scott Shearer | Crawley Town | Free | |
| 30 May 2012 | DF | | Michael O'Connor | Scunthorpe United | Free | |
| 7 June 2012 | MF | | Kári Árnason | Aberdeen | Free | |
| 18 June 2012 | MF | | Lionel Ainsworth | Shrewsbury Town | Free | |
| 20 June 2012 | DF | | Lawrie Wilson | Morecambe | Free | |
| 13 July 2012 | MF | | David Noble | Exeter City | Free | |
| 27 July 2012 | FW | | Kieran Agard | Yeovil Town | Free | |
| 7 September 2012 | DF | | Craig Morgan | Preston North End | Free | |
| 2 January 2013 | MF | | Lee Frecklington | Peterborough United | Undisclosed | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Nat. | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
| 1 May 2012 | DF | | Richard Naylor | Released | Free | |
| 4 May 2012 | DF | | Luke Foster | Released | Free | |
| 7 May 2012 | MF | | Danny Harrison | Released | Free | |
| 7 May 2012 | DF | | Tom Newey | Released | Free | |
| 7 May 2012 | MF | | Ollie Banks | Released | Free | |
| 7 May 2012 | MF | | Marchus Marshall | Released | Free | |
| 7 May 2012 | FW | | Paul Warne | Coaching Staff | Retired | |
| 7 May 2012 | GK | | Rhys Taylor | Chelsea | Returned | |
| 7 May 2012 | DF | | Sam Wood | Brentford | Returned | |
| 7 May 2012 | MF | | Kieron Cadogan | Crystal Palace | Returned | |
| 7 May 2012 | FW | | Sam Hoskins | Southampton | Returned | |
| 7 May 2012 | DF | | Scott Griffiths | Peterborough United | Returned | |
| 23 May 2012 | DF | | Michael Raynes | Mutual Consent | Free | |
| 1 June 2012 | FW | | Lewis Grabban | AFC Bournemouth | £300,000 | |
| 3 July 2012 | DF | | Ryan Cresswell | Southend United | Free | |
| 13 July 2012 | GK | | Jamie Annerson | Mutual Consent | Free | |
| Players loaned in ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Nat | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| 27 September 2012 | DF | | Robert Harris | Blackpool | 25 October 2012 | |
| 19 October 2012 | MF | | Lee Frecklington | Peterborough United | 1 Month | |
| 25 October 2012 | DF | | Josh Morris | Blackburn Rovers | 1 Month | |
| 1 November 2012 | MF | | Jamie Devitt | Hull City | 8 November 2012 (Injury) | |
| 9 November 2012 | MF | | Luke Rooney | Swindon Town | 1 Month | |
| 16 November 2012 | MF | | Courtney Cameron | Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy | 5 January 2013 | |
| Players loaned out ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Nat | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 12 September 2012 | MF | | Danny Schofield | Accrington Stanley | 3 Months | |
| 5 October 2012 | DF | | Johnny Mullins | Oxford United | 3 Months | |

## Competitions

### Classification

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Gillingham (C, P) | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 66 | 39 | +27 | 83 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 2 | Rotherham United (P) | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 74 | 59 | +15 | 79 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 3 | Port Vale (P) | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 87 | 52 | +35 | 78 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 71 | 65 | +6 | 76 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 75 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |

* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League One.

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | W | L | D | W | L | W | L | D | W | P | D | L | W | W | W | D | L | W | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Position | 3 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Overall

| Competition | Started Round | Current Pos/Round | Final Pos/Round | First Match | Last Match |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| League Two | 20th | 2nd | | Burton Albion | Aldershot Town |
| FA Cup | First Round Proper | | Third Round Proper | Stevenage | Aldershot Town |
| League Cup | Round 1 | | Round 1 | Hull City | Hull City |
| Football League Trophy | Round 1 | | Round 1 | York City | York City |

## Coverage

Throughout the season, Rotherham will feature on many highlight shows. BBC's Football League Show will show highlights of every Football League game played on a Saturday, sometimes doing special segments-in which The Millers featured in when they beat Burton Albion 3–0 on the first day of the season. A weekly post-match program on Sky Sports News, called Goals Express, also shows goals from the matches. Local radio station BBC Radio Sheffield sometimes do commentary, and 6 days a week hold the Football Heaven phone in, and after matches fans are able to call and express their opinions. Rotherham may be on Sky Sports sometimes, and if the club were to progress far in a domestic cup then they may have matches on BBC or ITV. Millers Player also host commentary and match stats during games, for under 10p a day the buyer is treated to exclusive information that can only be seen via the player.

