2025 ... all that happened in an eventful year for Rotherham United

JANUARY

It's a new year, Cameron Humphreys has a new position, there's new hope.

The centre-half had been exiled from Evans' team but now he's excelling as a central defensive midfielder. A run of good results against strong opposition brings whispers of a belated play-off charge.

Then, at the Pirelli Stadium, the wheels come off.

The Millers are in front in the second minute as loanee Louie Sibley makes a blinding start to his debut but home side Burton Albion run out 4-2 winners.

It's going to be a hard slog through to May

Results: 1: Lincoln 0 Millers 1. 4: Huddersfield 0 Millers 0. 11: Millers 3 Bolton 1. 14: Vertu Trophy - Chesterfield 0 Millers 0 (Millers win 4-3 on penalties). 18: Millers 4 Charlton 2. 25: Burton 4 Millers 2. 28: Millers 2 Cambridge 1.

Quote: “I like it at Lincoln, I always win here.” Manager Evans savours victory at the LNER Stadium on the first day of 2025.

FEBRUARY

The month brings a debut for another loanee, Dan Gore, who sets up a goal at champions-elect Birmingham City before hurting his foot a few days later and disappearing from view for a few months.

It also brings only one point and a Vertu Trophy exit - just when chairman Tony Stewart is thinking about the fifth Wembley trip of his tenure.

The pressure on Evans is mounting.

Results: 1: Birmingham 2 Millers 1. 4: Vertu Trophy - Millers 0 Bradford 1. 8: Millers 1 Shrewsbury 2. 11: Blackpool 0 Millers 0. 15: Reading 2 Millers 1. 22: Millers 0 Barnsley 1.

Quote: “Atrocious ... unfair ... disgraceful ... shocking ... travesty.” Rotherham are the victim of some horrific refereeing at Reading and Evans has something to say.

MARCH

It turns ugly. Very ugly. The boss had returned for a second spell in charge as a legend for his promotion exploits a decade earlier, but the crowd have had enough this time around and turn on him.

The month begins with wins over Bristol Rovers and Leyton Orient. They count for nothing when drop-zone Crawley Town come to AESSEAL New York Stadium and run rings around the home team

The crowd give Stewart a nudge by singing anti-Evans songs throughout the second half. Things can't go on like this.

In his post-match interview, in a tiny room off the New York players' tunnel, the manager is like a man attending his own funeral. He appeals for more time but, unbeknown to him, the approach to his successor has already been made.

He's out.

Hamshaw is in.

Results: 1: Bristol Rovers 2 Millers 3. 4: Millers 1 Orient 0. 8: Wrexham 1 Millers 0. 15: Millers 1 Exeter 1. 18: Millers 2 Wycombe 3. 29: Millers 0 Crawley 4.

Quote: “We want Evans out. Say, we want Evans out.” The fans make their feelings known during the Crawley encounter.

APRIL

Win, win, win ... it's not a bad start for the supporter now seeking to restore the DNA in his hometown club.

The mood lifts. Players come out of their shells and show their true worth.

Sam Nombe is on fire, Mallik Wilks runs nearly the full length of the pitch to score against Mansfield, the defensive resistance at Bolton when Wanderers have 36 attempts on goal is unbelievable.

Results: 1: Northampton 0 Millers 2. 5: Millers 2 Blackpool 1. 8: Bolton 0 Millers 1. 12: Stockport 3 Millers 1. 18: Millers 3 Mansfield 3. 21: Wigan 1 Millers 0. 27: Stevenage 1 Millers 1.

Quote: “I'll be interviewed only if I'm getting 9/10 in the ratings.” Goalkeeper Cameron Dawson's light-hearted response to the media team when I request an audience immediately after his Bolton heroics. He gives me an interview, I give him 10.

MAY

The first sighting of Gore at New York, in the last-day triumph over Peterborough United.

He's not bad, is he? Shame he's going back to Manchester United and we'll never see him again.

Rotherham finish 13th. They've shown play-off form in Hamshaw's first eight matches. He's gone from 'interim' to 'permanent'.

A busy transfer window is coming up as a rebuild gets under way.

Results: 3: Millers 2 Peterborough 1.

Quote: “It's an opportunity that massively excites me. If you'd have told me when I was a little kid that I would one day manage this club, I would never have believed you. It's a huge honour.” Hamshaw fulfils a lifelong dream by taking the Rotherham hot-seat.

JUNE

Humphreys doesn't just have a new position, he has a new club. He's heading to Port Vale after three years in S60.

Kian Spence becomes the first of 13 summer signings. Too many of the old guard remain.

A safe-standing area in the North Stand is ruled out at a fans forum by chief operating officer Paul Douglas who says the club's owner is against the idea even though one has been imposed on the club in the away end.

It's an issue that's run and run and won't be going away.

Someone asks why Rotherham don't leave anyone up at corners.

That's also an issue that's run and run and won't be going away. Every year, at every forum!

Quote: “We've never been keen, and certainly Tony has never been keen, to change things here. He likes the all-seater look, he wants people to be able to sit down.” Douglas on the subject of safe standing.

JULY

Hakeem Odoffin joins Humphreys as another long-server who has rejected a new deal and is moving on. He goes to Luton Town with everyone's best wishes after stellar service.

Trialist Josh Benson scores with a spectacular free-kick on the boot camp in Portugal and earns a deal. There'll be more of those set-piece specials.

In a 28-minute hat-trick blast during a friendly at Harrogate Town, Jordan Hugill scores two more goals than he did in the entire previous season in League One matches.

Look who's here again! Dan the man is back at New York for a second loan spell.

Quote: “Can you tell me what the questions are going to be?” Young new boy Lenny Agbaire is endearingly nervous before his first interview as a Miller following his debut at Harrogate.

AUGUST

A good start on opening day but it turns out to be the only league success of the month.

Martin Sherif bags a goal on his debut, against Wigan Athletic.

But he and another loan striker, Kion Etete, pick up their first of a number of injuries. The crowded treatment room will dominate the agenda for far longer than August.

Gore is playing well.

Results: 2: Millers 2 Port Vale 1. 9: Stevenage 1 Millers 0. 12: Carabao Cup - Salford 0 Millers 0 (Rotherham go through on penalties). 16: Cardiff 3 Millers 0. 23: Millers 2 Wigan 2. 30: Doncaster 1 Millers 0.

Quote: “Oh woah, oh woah, oh woah. You know you love me, I know you care. Just shout whenever and I'll be there.” Sherif gives an impromptu version of Justin Bieber's Baby at a press conference soon after his arrival from Everton when he's asked about his initiation song.

SEPTEMBER

Thomas Holmes enjoys an amazing debut in a victory over Exeter City but immediately adds his name to the casualty count.

The injuries are coming much thicker and faster than wins.

Rotherham lose in added time at Mansfield Town and Hamshaw cops for some abuse from fans when he heads to the away end after the final whistle to applaud them.

Results: 2: Vertu Trophy - Bolton 1 Millers 0. 6: Millers 1 Exeter 0. 13: Wimbledon 2 Millers 1. 20: Millers 0 Stockport 1. 27: Mansfield 2 Millers 1.

Quote: “You go a goal up away from home and that's the time to go even harder. You've got the opposition. Go and score the next goal, go and score another one after that. Kill the game off. As a team, we've got a lot to learn.” Captain Joe Rafferty doesn't take kindly to Rotherham letting the lead slip at Wimbledon.

OCTOBER

Hoodoo? What hoodoo?

Matt's men triumph at South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley for the first time in well over half a century.

They go through the month winning five and drawing one of their six matches to climb well clear of the relegation places.

Something is stirring.

At Oakwell, ecstatic Hamshaw touches the badge and fist-pumps the crowd. Isn't he supposed to be ‘never too high, never too low’?

It's all a bit different to Mansfield.

Dutch signing Ar'Jany Martha continually bamboozles the Bradford City backline in a man-of-the-match display in front of the Sky Sports TV cameras at New York. One passage of skill when he ghosts past two opponents in the penalty area is just breathtaking.

Gore is still playing well.

Results: 2: Millers 2 Bradford 2. 7: Vertu Trophy - Millers 3 Oldham 2. 11: Northampton 1 Millers 2. 18: Millers 1 Orient 0. 25: Barnsley 0 Millers 1. 28: Vertu Trophy - Millers 4 Manchester City Under-21s 2. Quote: “When it leaves your foot, you see the flight of the ball, where it's going and where the keeper is. It was one of those where I knew it was going in, and it's the best feeling in football." Spence recalls his derby winner against the Tykes.

NOVEMBER

Injuries have been biting all season. The number of missing men - not for the first time - is in double figures.

Rotherham have hardly any available centre-halves or centre-forwards but they have young Hamish Douglas playing out of his skin, Hugill dragging his damaged ankle into battle and keep not losing. The unbeaten league streak reaches nine games.

Martha qualifies for the World Cup Finals and makes a bit of club history as the first-ever serving Miller to do so.

Hamshaw holds hands with Andrea Jenkinson, the mum of Owen Jenkinson, as emotional tributes are paid at New York to a teenage Miller cruelly taken too soon.

Results: 1: FA Cup - Millers 1 Swindon 2 (after extra time). 4: Millers 2 Burton 2. 8: Millers 3 Lincoln 0. 15: Luton 0 Millers 0. 22: Reading 1 Millers 1. 29: Millers 1 Wycombe 1.

Quote: “I always listen to my mother! The mother's instincts are always right, so the moment she told me that I said: ‘Okay, I'm going to do it.’” Martha on why he chose to play for Curacao - the country of his parents' birth - rather than wait and hope for a call from his native Holland.

DECEMBER

‘Beckham’ Benson bags an Vertu Trophy unbelievable hat-trick that includes a goal from close to the halfway line but soon afterwards he's injured. Again.

So is Spence. Again.

It's a terrible month. Rotherham suddenly can't defend, particularly fit-again Holmes. In a division the tightest it's ever been, play-off talk turns to another appointment with the drop zone.

Bradford defenders are still watching videos trying to work out what Martha did to them back in October. It feels a while since he did anything that special.

Hamshaw keeps calm and hopes for January backing in the transfer window. He's feeling the pressure.

If it’s any consolation, Gore is still doing the business.

But not even he can do anything about a fifth straight loss and a horror show at Blackpool to usher out the year.

Results: 2: Vertu Trophy - Salford 2 Millers 7. 10: Millers 0 Blackpool 3. 13: Plymouth 1 Millers 0. 20: Millers 1 Huddersfield 3. 26: Bolton 2 Millers 1. 29: Blackpool 4 Millers 0.

Quote: “I know where it's going, I know what we need, I know what we don't need. That's for me to tidy up.” The boss surveys the situation nine months into his reign.