Lifelong Millwall fan gets VIP tour round club's home for first time in 60 years

An 82-year-old Millwall fan got the chance to visit his club for the first time in 60 years after care home staff arranged a VIP tour.

Ted Heardman, a resident of Heathfield Court Care Home, in Erith, was treated to a special guided tour of The Den, home to his beloved Millwall Football Club.

The team at Heathfield Court organised the visit in response to Ted's wish to see the club again.

Accompanying Ted on his tour were care assistants Zoe Burton and Tracy Baker, as well as minibus driver Duncan Hillman.

VIP Ted was accompanied by care assistant Tracy and Zoe and minibus driver Duncan (Image: Heathfield Court Care Home)

Zoe Burton, who shares a love for Millwall, frequently chatted about the club with Ted and was delighted to be part of the outing.

She said: "Chatting to the residents, hearing their stories, and finding out about their hobbies and interests is my favourite part of my job as a care assistant."

"When Ted first made Heathfield Court his home, we soon started to chat about our love of football and found that we were both Millwall fans."

Zoe added: "When Ted told me he had never been to The New Den, I explained to him about our ‘Wish Tree’ where we support our residents to experience something they never had the opportunity to do, or to rekindle something they love from their youth.

Ted even got invited back by Millwall to watch their victorious last home game of the season (Image: Heathfield Court Care Home)

"Ahead of the tour, we were both very excited, and then on the day to see how happy it made Ted was just the best."

Ted frequently attended Millwall matches with friends in his youth at 'The Old Den' in New Cross.

The 82-year-old said: "I loved this time with my mates.

"When I was in my late teens and throughout my 20s, we would go to the football and then head to the pub for a few beers.

"Once I got married and had children, we couldn’t afford to spend money on going to football games, so it’s been over 60 years since I was last at a match."

Ted went to most of Millwall's games at The Old Den in his youth, but this was his first time at the new Den (Image: Heathfield Court Care Home)

With the tour marking his first visit to his club's new home, Ted was thrilled.

Ted said: "The tour was a wonderful treat, it was great to visit The Den for the first time, I definitely felt like I got the VIP treatment.

"It made it extra special to have Zoe there with me, after all of our chats about Millwall."

Following the nostalgic visit, Millwall FC extended an invitation to Ted to return and watch the club's final home game of the season against Plymouth Argyle - which Millwall won.

Ted joked: "Being invited back to watch a match was fantastic, especially as Millwall won, it felt like the team made an extra effort to score a goal just for me!"