Billy Mitchell: Millwall reputation frustrates me - there’s so much good work

Midfielder Billy Mitchell is frustrated by Millwall’s negative off-pitch reputation and is desperate to showcase the best of the club after winning the EFL’s Championship Player in the Community award.

Mitchell, a lifelong Millwall fan who came through their academy, has been recognised for his work in supporting a number of projects, including working with the club’s affiliated LGBTQ+ team, Millwall Romans, and helping with food donations during the pandemic.

The south London club retain something of a tainted reputation based largely around historical hooliganism, but also some more recent high-profile incidents, such as the booing of players taking the knee when fans first returned to stadiums in December 2020.

Mitchell is hopeful, however, that his award and broader coverage of the club’s community work can gradually shift the narrative.

“I think of all the clubs Millwall have got to be right up there with the amount of work they do,” he told Standard Sport. “I wanted to try and make as big an impact as I possibly could.

“Millwall as a club does have a reputation and that’s probably unavoidable and will probably never change, despite the efforts of the club. That frustrates me because I know that there is a lot of good that goes on behind the scenes and a lot of really hard-working people who care deeply about the club and the community.

“If we can get a bit more of that out there - not for the recognition, because that’s not what it’s about - but to help people and then that perhaps will create a better reputation for Millwall, which I do think it deserves.”

Mitchell picks out his work around the club’s dedicated Rainbow Laces fixture as his most rewarding experience. The 20-year-old joined Romans player Jehmeil