In the 2013–14 season, Rotherham United competed in League One, after a late surge in the closing stages of League Two (resulting in them being the first team to win five consecutive matches that season), saw them finishing second, behind Gillingham, and ahead of Port Vale - whom spent all season in the top two. The club also took part in the annual Capital One Cup and FA Cup, and spent another season in the lower tier tournament, the Johnstones Paint Trophy. United commenced the season under the retained management of Steve Evans, alongside assistant Paul Raynor. They went into the season as decent favourites for promotion, as well as contenders for the Johnstones Paint Trophy.
Due to the promotion, Rotherham were playing against South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United, whom hadn't played against each other in the league for years. One other local team to join Rotherham in League One was Bradford City, who were beaten twice last season by the Millers - one being a 4–0 thrashing at the New York Stadium. Another notable fixture that took place was a home tie in the first round of the Capital One Cup against South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday, whom they famously beat 2–1.
Also, prior to the start of the season, the club continued to show its fulfilment to huge bonds with the community, collecting the 2013 Family Excellence Award.
The captain for the season was Welsh defender Craig Morgan, who wore the number 20 shirt for the Millers.
During this season they collected 86 points scoring 86 goals (the 2nd highest of any League 1 team) while conceding 58 goals (joint 9th best. They came fourth in the league and subsequently featured in the League 1 playoffs. They beat Preston in the Playoffs semi finals 4–2 on aggregate and faced Leyton Orient in the final. After 90 minutes it was 2–2 and it went to penalties. Rotherham had gone behind 2–1 on penalties but came back to win 4–3 on penalties to gain promotion to the Championship. They featured in the 2014–15 Football League Championship next season.
Squad statistics Current squad
(on loan from Bolton Wanderers)
(on loan from Newcastle United)
(on loan from Queens Park Rangers)
Appearances and goals
No.Pos.Nat.NameTotalLeague OneCapital One CupFA CupJohnstone's Paint TrophyDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GKScott Shearer50401000000021GKAdam Collin0000000000002DFRichard Brindley1010000000103DFJoe Skarz5040100000204DFKári Árnason5040100000105DFClaude Davis1010000000006DFPablo Mills00000000000014DFMark Bradley40301000000020DFCraig Morgan (C)5040100000207MFDavid Worrall1+311+210+100000008MFLee Frecklington53421100000010MFMichael O'Connor50401000002015MFRobert Milsom0+100+100000000018MFBen Pringle52411100000019MFDavid Noble0+100+100000000023MFMichael Tidser0+200+100+1000000024MFMitch Rose00000000000029MFNicky Walker0000000000009FWAlex Revell50401000001011FWDanny Hylton00000000000016FWMatthew Tubbs4+103+101000002017FWDaniel Nardiello11110000000122FWKieran Agard3+112+111000002023FWTom Eaves000000000000 (starts) + (substitute apps)
Goalscorers
PlacePositionNationNumberNameLeague OneFA CupCapital One CupJohnstones Paint TrophyTotal1MF8Lee Frecklington201032MF18Ben Pringle101023FW22Kieran Agard10001=MF7David Worrall10001=FW9Alex Revell10001=FW17Daniel Nardiello10001
Pre–season
Competitions League One On 19 June 2013, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.
League table
Results summary
Matchday summary
Fixtures
Play-offs
Football League Cup
Football League Trophy
FA Cup
Transfers
Players transferred inDatePos.Nat.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.29 April 2013DFJoe SkarzBuryFree23 May 2013DFRichard BrindleyChesterfieldFree Agent23 May 2013GKAdam CollinCarlisle UnitedFree Agent11 June 2013MFNicky WalkerRotherham United AcademyFree11 June 2013GKTony ThompsonRotherham United AcademyFree20 June 2013MFDavid WorrallBuryUndisclosed24 June 2013MFRobert MilsomAberdeenFree20 June 2013FW Danny HyltonAldershot TownFree Agent4 July 2013MFMichael TidserGreenock MortonUndisclosed30 August 2013DFPablo MillsMacclesfield TownFree Agent (successful trial)Players transferred outDatePos.Nat.NameToFeeRef.2 May 2013GKAndy WarringtonReleasedFree2 May 2013DFDale TongeReleasedFree2 May 2013FWAlec DentonReleasedFree19 June 2013DFNicky HuntReleasedFree26 June 2013DFIan SharpsReleasedMutual Consent22 July 2013DFJohnny MullinsOxford UnitedUndisclosedPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NatNameFromDate toRef.27 July 2013FWMatthew TubbsAFC Bournemouth31 January 201421 September 2013FWTom EavesBolton Wanderers31 January 2014Players loaned outDate fromPos.NatNameToDate toRef.29 August 2013MFLionel AinsworthMotherwell31 January 20142 September 2013MFDavid NobleCheltenham Town31 January 201410 September 2013FWKayode OdejayiAccrington Stanley31 January 2014
References