The two teams are separated and connected by the Thames, having been formed around the heavy industries of east London's docklands in the late 19th century. They were geographically much closer then, with Millwall on the Isle of Dogs and West Ham around Canning Town. Before Millwall relocated south of the Thames to New Cross in 1910, both were north of the river and only a little over two miles apart.
The game was broadcast live on ITV, with kick-off moved to 12.30pm to limit the time available for drinking beforehand. An extensive police operation involving about 400 officers was put in place, with West Ham receiving just 1,774 tickets in a crowd of about 20,000. The match ended 2-2, with Millwall dominating the first half and West Ham finding their way back into the game.