Promotion, Wembley glory and a changing of the guard ... Rotherham United's 2022

It was a year that began with Paul Warne in charge and finished with Matt Taylor in the hot-seat.

Georgie Kelly arrived to write his name in club folklore. Michael Smith, Michael Ihiekwe and Freddie Ladapo left in far-from-ideal circumstances.

A whole lot more happened as well, not least a memorable comeback triumph at Wembley.

PAUL DAVIS looks back on an eventful 2022 for the Millers.

JANUARY

Freddie Ladapo scores at Crewe Alexandra in the Papa Johns Trophy. The striker had submitted a transfer request two days earlier. No-one knows yet but they will soon and so a distasteful saga will begin.

A minute’s silence at Fleetwood Town is interrupted by a Rotherham United fan. The lack of respect doesn’t go down well with Cod Army followers or other Millers supporters.

A coin is thrown at an assistant referee in the League One match at Crewe later in the month. Or it is a piece of chewing gum? There’s a lot of arguing about it.

On the pitch, it’s pretty much business as usual. The game at Fleetwood has brought a rare defeat but Rotherham are winning most of their matches and are everyone’s favourites for promotion.

Results: Rotherham 2 Bolton 1, Crewe 2 Rotherham 4 (Papa Johns Trophy), QPR 1 Rotherham 1, QPR win on penalties (FA Cup), Fleetwood 1 Rotherham 0, Rotherham 1 Cheltenham 0, Rotherham 1 Cambridge 1, Rotherham win on penalties (PJT), Crewe 0 Rotherham 2.

Quote: “I’m a bit surprised. There hasn’t been a fall-out or anything dramatic like that. He just feels that he wants his career to take a path somewhere else and I have to respect that.” Manager Paul Warne reacts to the Ladapo situation.

FEBRUARY

Ladapo is still a Millers player. No-one has come in to take him on a permanent deal, although Sheffield Wednesday have had a little loan nibble late in the transfer window.

He’s left out for a few games, then marks his return by scoring at Hillsborough as Rotherham topple derby rivals the Owls but he’s not a happy chappy and trouble is brewing.

Everyone enjoys a 5-0 romp at Doncaster Rovers — that’s a combined score of 13-0 to Rotherham in three league and cup games against them in the 2021/22 campaign — and two fools run on to the pitch and hold up the Accrington match at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The Millers are the best side in the division. They’re marching to the title.

Results: Doncaster 0 Rotherham 5, Rotherham 1 Accrington 0, Wimbledon 0 Rotherham 1, Sheff Wed 0 Rotherham 2, Rotherham 1 Wigan 1, Rotherham 2 Morecambe 0, Plymouth 0 Rotherham 1.

Quote: “I’m totally committed to our bid to go up. While the club are paying you, you owe it to them and yourself to show a good attitude.” Ladapo says the right things after scoring both goals against Morecambe.

MARCH

Something bad is happening. Rotherham are no longer the best side in the division. And they’re not marching to the title.

The home defeat to ten-man MK Dons, after being in front at half-time, is a hammer blow. The Millers are now second, behind Wigan Athletic, and third-placed MK are hunting them down and catching them fast.

Mickel Miller seals a shoot-out victory and Warne’s men reach the final of the Papa Johns Trophy on a memorable sold-out night at Hartlepool United.

Results: Shrewsbury 0 Rotherham 0, Rotherham 1 MK Dons 2, Hartlepool 2 Rotherham 2, Rotherham win on penalties (PJT), Wycombe 0 Rotherham 0, Rotherham 2 Lincoln 1, Rotherham 0 Shrewsbury 3.

Quote: “I just said to myself: ‘You’ve been in tougher situations than this before.’” Angus MacDonald, who has beaten cancer earlier in his career, explains how he kept himself calm before taking — and scoring — one of the spot-kicks at Pools.

APRIL

Arsenal loanee Jordi Osei-Tutu is the last-gasp saviour as he scores to take the Papa Johns Trophy Final at Wembley into extra time and Rotherham go on to lift the silverware at Wembley

But a bigger hero, a much, much bigger hero, will emerge later in the month ...

A sickly 3-0 defeat at Portsmouth is the low point of the season and the wobble has become a crisis. Who’s it going to be? The Millers or MK?

Ladapo is booted from the squad. His performance in the defeat at Burton Albion where he doesn’t try a jot is the final straw.

With him out of the picture, the Millers rediscover themselves just in time.

Michael Ihiekwe’s spectacular 87th-minute header into his own net at Sunderland makes the FIFA shortlist for World Own Goal of the Season. It doesn’t really but it would have if such a competition existed.

Rotherham are back to their best in that game and a point means a win at Gillingham in the final match will bring promotion.

Georgie Kelly’s shirt is off, he’s running into the embrace of 2,000-plus mad Millers, the January signing has scored nine minutes into his debut, it’s Priestfield, it’s the 89th minute, it’s 2-0.

The Millers or MK? It’s the Millers.

Results: Rotherham 4 Sutton 2, after extra time (PJT Final), Rotherham 0 Charlton 1, Portsmouth 3 Rotherham 0, Rotherham 1 Ipswich 0, Burton 2 Rotherham 0, Rotherham 2 Oxford 1, Sunderland 1 Rotherham 1, Gillingham 0 Rotherham 2.

Quote: “You don’t think about where you’re at, you don’t think about what’s at stake, you don’t think about anything. You’re in the moment and instinct takes over.” Kelly on making himself a Rotherham legend.

MAY

Five months late, Ladapo gets his wish to vacate New York. The Millers release their record signing despite having an option to extend his deal and he ends up at Ipswich Town.

Rotherham’s squad end up in Las Vegas as chairman Tony Stewart treats them to a promotion trip cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Newcastle United fan Michael Smith gets his signed Alan Shearer shirt even though he’s fallen just shy of the target of 25 league goals that would have earned him the one owned by assistant boss Richie Barker.

Fan Kev Johnson steps in to organise a supporters’ collection and a sporting-memorabilia company comes up with the jersey. A wad of left-over money goes to Rotherham Hospice.

The big question is, will Smudge and Ihiekwe sign the new contracts on offer?

Quote: “It’s humbling. I’ve been around professional football for 12 years and never known anything like it. I’m really touched that people have appreciated me while I’ve been here.” Smith feels the love.

JUNE

The big answer is, no.

The pair sign for Wednesday and will never be forgiven by many Rotherham followers for such down-The-Parkway treachery.

Quote: “I ‘get’ where the Rotherham fans are coming from, I fully understand it. All I can say is that I didn’t take my decision lightly. It was based on doing right by my family.” Ihiekwe on opting for the bigger wages at Hillsborough.

JULY

There are debuts for new recruits Grant Hall, Cameron Humphreys, Cohen Bramall, Conor Washington and Peter Kioso as the Millers begin life in the Championship in encouraging fashion.

Result: Rotherham 1 Swansea 1.

Quote: “It was going to be Thursday, then it was this weekend.” Warne is being kept waiting on an answer from Watford striker Ashley Fletcher about a loan move to New York.

AUGUST

Fletcher chooses Wigan Athletic over the Millers.

No matter, Rotherham are doing just fine without him and are in the top half of the table.

Reading and Birmingham City are dismantled at New York. How can arguably the smallest team in the division be doing this? The stadium is a hothouse and Millers fans are loving what they’re watching.

Fletcher will go on to make zero Latics starts up to and including Boxing Day.

Results: Port Vale 1 Rotherham 2 (Carabao Cup), Rotherham 4 Reading 0, Preston 0 Rotherham 0, QPR 1 Rotherham 1, Rotherham 0 Morecambe 1 (CC), Rotherham 2 Birmingham 0, Sunderland 3 Rotherham 0.

Quote: “I’m proud of you, Dad.” Son Jenson to Richard Wood in the car on the way home following the captain’s two-goal show and TikTok dance celebrations.

SEPTEMBER

Bombshell. Warne goes.

After presiding over an unbeaten month and with his team in a crazy eighth spot, he opts for a new challenge at Derby County and takes his entire coaching staff with him.

What a six-year ride it’s been.

The interviews begin. After heading north for talks, Mark Bonner decides not to leave Cambridge United. There’s a young, up-and-coming boss at Exeter City on whom the Millers are quite keen.

Ladapo is starting to score a few for Ipswich.

Results: Rotherham 1 Watford 1, Rotherham 3 Blackpool 0, Middlesbrough 0 Rotherham 0.

Quote: “My amazing journey at this football club is over — for now. I avoid calling it ‘the end’ because football is a funny old game and you never know where it will take you. My love for a club that have given me so much will not die here.” The departing manager sends a public letter to fans.

OCTOBER

Matt Taylor is the new boss of Rotherham. After four years with Exeter and a promotion to League One, he’s leaving St James Park for the challenge of the Championship.

He gets his first victory in his third game as Kelly comes off the bench to score the winner against Huddersfield Town within three minutes of his introduction.

A second triumph follows three days later as heroic defending protects an early lead at Stoke City.

It’s a period of transition. Sometimes Rotherham are very good, sometimes they’re not good at all.

Results: Rotherham 0 Wigan 2, Rotherham 1 Millwall 1, Blackburn 3 Rotherham 0, Rotherham 2 Huddersfield 1, Stoke 0 Rotherham 1, Rotherham 2 Hull 4, Coventry 2 Rotherham 2, Cardiff 1 Rotherham 0.

Quote: “We are not going to take a backwards step in any way. If we lose, we lose on our terms.” Taylor outlines his philosophy at his unveiling press conference in the boardroom at New York.

NOVEMBER

Defender Wes Harding is off the pitch telling the assistant referee it’s a throw-in for ten-man Rotherham, not for Burnley.

In the meantime, the home team are taking the throw and scoring a 100th-minute winner at Turf Moor.

The officials have messed up big time and it’s heartache for the Millers who deserve at least a point against the second-tier pace-setters. Taylor rails against the raw deal his team are getting from refs.

Six days later comes the most memorable result of the season. The Millers beat leaders Sheffield United in the South Yorkshire derby and the 42-year wait for a victory at Bramall Lane is over.

Rotherham head into the four-week international break in good shape.

Results: Burnley 3 Rotherham 2, Rotherham 1 Norwich 2, Sheff Utd 0 Rotherham 1, Luton 1 Rotherham 1.

Quote: “He’s at home. He’s ill at the moment. He’s fighting, he’s a trouper. Typical centre-half. I’m not sure who he was supporting!” Ben Wiles thinks about his Blades-legend grandad, Eddie Colquhoun, after hitting the derby winner.

DECEMBER

There’s real warmth for Taylor at a New York fans forum as the World Cup shutdown draws to a close. Supporters like the new man.

Two emphatic defeats in the first two games back end the honeymoon period.

For the first time in six years, at West Bromwich Albion, skipper Wood is left out of a Millers squad when he is fit to play.

Talks over new contracts are ongoing with five players coming towards the end of their deals and the Millers are planning to use the loan market to strengthen in the January transfer window.

Wood is back for the draw with Stoke City. Rotherham are 19th. Out of the drop zone. That will do.

Injury rules out Wiles, maybe for the rest of the season.

A man by the name of Ladapo lies in wait at Ipswich in the third round of the FA Cup next month ...

Results: Rotherham 1 Bristol C 3, West Brom 3 Rotherham 0, Rotherham * Stoke *, Dec 29: Huddersfield v Rotherham.

Quote: “With any positive news, I’m sure there will also be people turning down contracts, which they’re entitled to do.” Taylor isn’t expecting ‘yes’ answers across the board.