Tc Looks Ahead

West Ham meet another of Tony Cottee's old clubs on Sunday, though of course there are no prizes for guessing where his allegiance lies.

It is an oft-forgotten fact that TC played for Millwall, and he says: "I made a massive contribution to Millwall - I made two appearances, coming on for a total of 19 minutes!

"It was my last team and I was coming to the end of my career. It is a nice club and the supporters are like West Ham fans, they are very passionate about their club.

"Above all else they have got some very good players there and a good manager in Mark McGhee so it will be a very tough match.

"I don't think they will be far away from the play-offs if they can keep their top players fit but I don't see them like West Ham as one of the main two contenders because I think West Ham and probably West Brom will be promoted."

Those appearances, the first of which was against Wycombe, put Tony into the record books as it made him the first player to play in all four divisions in one season.

TC will, of course, be right behind West Ham on Sunday and, looking at the game, he adds: "How do I see it? On the pitch or off it?

"First and foremost I am surprised, I have to say this, that both clubs have allowed visiting supporters to the game, but I really hope I am proved wrong, there is no trouble whatsoever, and everyone enjoys themselves.

"I think we all fear the worst but I hope it is not something we have to talk about after the match.

"On the pitch Millwall have some good players like Tim Cahill and Neil Harris, Noel Whelan is an established Premiership player, and dear old Dennis Wise won't be winding up the West Ham fans, will he?

"It is going to be a great game, I am really looking forward to it, and I am hoping both sets of supporters behave themselves off the pitch.

"I think there is nothing better than having a bit of banter.I do after-dinner stuff now and there is nothing more fun than having a bit with a Millwall fan, but that is where it stops.

"You can sing your songs at each other and get a bit angry at certain stages, that is fine, but, and I have never done it, I don't agree with fighting.

"So I just hope that the vast majority behave, though unfortunately you will always get a few idiots on both sides who will want to have a punch-up.

"But in the main I think both sets of fans will behave and let's hope Dennis Wise does as well - I'd love to have seen Moncs up against him in midfield on Sunday!"

TC hopes it is a repeat of the Cardiff performance, rather than the Gillingham one, on Sunday, and he says: "Gillingham are the sort of team we are going to come up against a lot - with the tall, strong, six foot six players.

"I have seen them a couple of times this season and they are very direct. Sidebe and King are a bit of a handful and Nosworthy is big quick and strong as well.

"You have to learn to deal with these sorts of sides as was the case with Rotherham but there are 46 league games and West Ham aren't going to play well in every one of them.

"But what I would like to see is when we don't play well we pick up a point as opposed to losing."

Tony is still heavily involved with the Boys Of '86, who have another game next month after playing Heybridge Swifts recently.

"We have had two or three offers. The game went really well at Heybridge and I have been ringing round the lads today to see who enjoyed that game, which I must say we won 2-1, and there will be more games - perhaps two or three a year."