How it took 29 years for Rotherham United to do what they did this weekend

Rotherham United pulled off a feat they hadn't achieved in nearly three decades as they triumphed in their FA Cup tie at Bromley yesterday.

The League Two Millers were 2-0 victors in south-east London against the League Two Ravens thanks to first-round goals from Sonny Aljofree and Tom Bradshaw.

It was the first time in 29 years that they had beaten a team a team from a higher division away from home in the famous tournament.

The last time they did it was on a Tuesday night back on November 25 1997 when boss Ronnie Moore and his men won a first-round replay 3-0 at Burnley who were managed by former England great Chris Waddle.

Moore was only a few months into the job with Rotherham who were in the old Division Three (now League Two).

They travelled to Turf Moor where goals from Jason White, Trevor Berry and Darren Garner toppled their opponents from the old Division Two In front of the television cameras.

The match at Millmoor 10 days earlier had ended 3-3, with goals coming from Andy Roscoe, 2, and Alan Knill.

Waddle, a past star for Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Marseille and Sheffield Wednesday, was player-manager and featured in both games just shy of his 37th birthday.

Berry scored a wonder-goal with a 68th -minute chip from wide on the left. Many fans thought he had meant to cross the ball, but he always maintained that he intended his audacious effort.

The winger made 195 appearances for the Millers, scoring 22 goals, between 1995 and 2002 before moving to Ireland.

The replay also created a touch of Rotherham history as it was the first time one of their matches had ever been shown live on TV.

Moore's men went on to win 6-0 in the second round at non-league Kings Lynn on December 9 before being humbled 5-1 in round three by Sunderland three days into the new year.

Kevin Phillips scored four times for the visitors who would go on that season to be crowned champions of League One and earn promotion to the Premier League.

Rotherham ended their own league campaign in 10th place.

Meanwhile, the draw for the second round of this term's FA Cup takes place at 6.45pm tomorrow and is being shown on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max  and the TNT Sports YouTube Channel.

Present Rotherham boss Alex Bruce - who played in the 2015 FA Cup Final for Hull City in a 3-2 extra-time loss to Arsenal - is dreaming of reaching round three and being paired with one of the big guns.

"It's a great competition," he said. "I said to the players before the Bromley game, the FA Cup is a chance to go on a run and create memories that will live with you forever.

"If you can reach the third round and get a Premier League side, a day like that is one that players and fans will always remember."

* Thanks go to Millers supporter Steve Baldwin for his research