The 2017–18 season was Rotherham United's 93rd season in their existence and their first back in League One following relegation in 2016–17. Along with competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy.
Key events On 23 August 2017, Rotherham United were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Premier League side Huddersfield Town in the second round. Despite taking the lead in the first minute, they conceded two goals early in the second half, and saw a Kieffer Moore shot cleared off the line late in the game.
On 3 September 2017, the team won 1–0 against Portsmouth, who were managed by their former manager Kenny Jackett in a televised match at Fratton Park. This recorded Rotherham's first away league win in 27 matches, extending back to 9 April 2016.
On 4 November 2017, the team were knocked out of the FA Cup at EFL League Two side Crewe Alexandra, who scored a late goal to turn the tie around and win 2–1.
Despite playing their last game in the group stage of the competition on 7 November 2017, Rotherham had to wait three weeks to know their EFL Trophy fate. A draw between Chesterfield and Manchester City EDS on 29 November confirmed the clubs exit.
From 9 December 2017 to 24 February 2018, the team went 14 league games unbeaten, winning 11, including the last 7. The run was ended on 10 March 2018 with a 1–0 home defeat against Rochdale.
Having held 4th place in the league since mid-February, Rotherham confirmed a place in the play-offs on 21 April 2018, with a 2–0 win against Bristol Rovers.
Rotherham secured promotion back to the EFL Championship with a 2–1 extra time victory against Shrewsbury Town at Wembley Stadium on 27 May 2018.
Squad statistics Player statistics
Players with zero appearances have been unused substitutes in one or more games. No.Pos.Nat.NameTotalLeaguePlayoffsFA CupEFL CupEFL TrophyDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals12GKLewis Price2010000000100013GKMarek Rodák380350300000002030GKLaurence Bilboe000000000000002DFJosh Emmanuel37+1030+1030101020303DFJoe Mattock39+1134+1130001010925DFSemi Ajayi34+8529+641+2010211040 6DFRichard Wood40+2734+243310101010114DFDominic Ball2000000010100018DFBen Purrington120100000010102020DFMichael Ihiekwe29+6126+51200+1010009025DFShaun Cummings14+1011+10001010101029DFManny Onariase2000000000200043DFAkeem Hinds200000000020004MFWill Vaulks45+7838+6531111+10211007MFAnthony Forde31+18327+1420+30001+1130408MFMatt Palmer12+4010+40200000001011MFJon Taylor18+14513+1242+110+1010203016MFDarren Potter180160001010004017MFRichie Towell39+6634+55300+1000215022MFJoe Newell27+18822+1772+1110100+104023MFRyan Williams37+10433+942+101010005027MFAlex Bray1+300000000+101+200040MFBen Wiles1+10000000001+100044MFLewis Murr0000000000000045MFReece McGinley0+10000000000+10009FWJamie Proctor6140000021000010FWDavid Ball30+8926+781010101+111019FWJonson Clarke-Harris4+1511+13000000+20310021FWJerry Yates10+1027+101000000310024FWMichael Smith21+2618+26300000003031FWCaolan Lavery1+1421+1320+100000000042FWJoshua Kayode0+20000000000+2000Players played for the club this season on loan who returned to their parent club during the season:24FWKieffer Moore21+41319+31300101+100051Players played for the club this season who have since left:1GKRichard O'Donnell15010000102020008MFLee Frecklington18+2417+24000010002041FWAkeel Francis00000000000000
Goalscorers
PlacePositionNationNumberNameTotalLeaguePlayoffsFA CupEFL CupEFL Trophy1FW24Kieffer Moore131300002FW10David Ball9800013MF22Joe Newell871000=MF4Will Vaulks8511015DF6Richard Wood7430006FW24Michael Smith660000=MF17Richie Towell6500018MF11Jon Taylor541000=DF5Semi Ajayi54001010MF8Lee Frecklington440000=MF23Ryan Williams44000012MF7Anthony Forde32001013FW31Caolan Lavery220000=FW21Jerry Yates21000115DF3Joe Mattock110000=DF20Michael Ihiekwe110000=FW9Jamie Proctor100010=FW19Jonson Clarke-Harris100001
Pre-season friendlies On 12 May 2017, Rotherham United announced they will host Sheffield United as part of their pre-season preparations. Four days later, the Millers added Parkgate friendly to the pre-season diary. On 17 May further friendlies at North Ferriby United and Chesterfield were confirmed. A fifth friendly, against Alfreton Town was revealed a day later. Two further friendlies, against Gainsborough Trinity and Barnsley were announced on 19 May.
The club announced a two-game training camp in Austria on 6 July 2017. The team will be based at the Sportschule Lindabrunn in Enzesfeld-Lindabrunn where they will face Hungarian side Soproni VSE. They will also play Floridsdorfer AC at the Austrian club's ground.
Competitions League One
Results summary
Matchday summary
Matches
League One play-offs
FA Cup On 16 October 2017, Rotherham United were drawn away to Crewe Alexandra in the first round.
EFL Cup On 16 June 2017, Rotherham United were drawn at home to Lincoln City in the first round.
EFL Trophy
Transfers Transfers in Date from Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1 July 2017 Semi Ajayi Cardiff City Undisclosed 1 July 2017 David Ball Fleetwood Town Free 1 July 2017 Alex Bray Swansea City Undisclosed 1 July 2017 Michael Ihiekwe Tranmere Rovers Free 1 July 2017 Darren Potter Milton Keynes Dons Free 1 July 2017 Ryan Williams Barnsley Free 3 July 2017 Jamie Proctor Bolton Wanderers Undisclosed 9 August 2017 Shaun Cummings Millwall Free 31 August 2017 Manny Onariase Brentford Undisclosed 11 January 2018 Michael Smith Bury Undisclosed 25 January 2018 Matt Palmer Burton Albion Undisclosed
Transfers out Date from Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 1 July 2017 Fabian Bailey Free agent Released 1 July 2017 Lee Camp Free agent Released 1 July 2017 Chris Dawson Free agent Released 1 July 2017 Joel Ekstrand Free agent Released 1 July 2017 Stephen Kelly Free agent Released 1 July 2017 Tom Rose Free agent Released 1 July 2017 Richard Smallwood Free agent Released 1 July 2017 Tom Thorpe Free agent Released 1 July 2017 Danny Ward Cardiff City Undisclosed 1 July 2017 Kelvin Wilson Free agent Released 4 July 2017 Kirk Broadfoot Kilmarnock Undisclosed 12 July 2017 Dexter Blackstock Free agent Released 26 July 2017 Darnell Fisher Preston North End Undisclosed 31 August 2017 Aymen Belaïd Free agent Mutual consent 8 January 2018 Richard O'Donnell Northampton Town Undisclosed fee 11 January 2018 Lee Frecklington Lincoln City Undisclosed fee 11 January 2018 Akeel Francis Accrington Stanley Free
Loans in Start date Nationality Name From End date Ref. 10 July 2017 Kieffer Moore Ipswich Town 30 June 2018 13 July 2017 Josh Emmanuel Ipswich Town 30 June 2018 30 August 2017 Marek Rodák Fulham 30 June 2018 31 August 2017 Richie Towell Brighton & Hove Albion 30 June 2018 29 January 2018 Caolan Lavery Sheffield United 30 June 2018
Loans out Start date Nationality Name To End date Ref. 4 August 2017 Mason Warren Boston United 1 September 2017 10 August 2017 Darnelle Bailey-King Matlock Town 6 September 2017 10 August 2017 Ben Wiles Frickley Athletic 6 September 2017 ?? August 2017 Akeel Francis North Ferriby United ?? September 2017 31 August 2017 Dominic Ball Aberdeen 9 June 2018 12 September 2017 Darnelle Bailey-King North Ferriby United 9 November 2017 22 September 2017 Kuda Muskwe North Ferriby United 21 November 2017 22 September 2017 Mason Warren North Ferriby United 7 November 2017 13 November 2017 Mason Warren North Ferriby United 11 December 2017 1 December 2017 Kuda Muskwe Nuneaton Town 1 January 2018 11 December 2017 Mason Warren Gainsborough Trinity 10 January 2018 15 December 2017 Laurence Bilboe Brighouse Town 14 January 2018 1 January 2018 Manny Onariase Cheltenham Town End of season 31 January 2018 Alex Bray Forest Green Rovers End of season 31 January 2018 Jonson Clarke-Harris Coventry City End of season
References