Millwall Executive Suite (plus George Formby Sr in New Cross)

I was in Millwall FC Executive Suite recently - they hire it out in the week for conferences and meetings. Yes they do have a lion carpet, and lion tinted windows.

There are lots of great old historical photos of past players on the walls, and at the moment an exhibition put up last year to mark the 125th anniversary of the club. 

Millwall's Lion Mascot - anyone care to guess a date?

There are also, on the staircase, some autographed shirts from big matches played at the Den

Signed shirts from the Jamaica vs. Nigeria friendly held at the Den in 2009

Millwall vs. Ferencvaros, UEFA Cup 2004

This October 1910 match programme includes an advert for the New Cross Empire with a line up of who was performing there at the time.

George Formby Sr. at the New Cross Empire

At the George Formby Story website, there is also a New Cross Empire programme for October 1910 advertising 'George Formby, the popular comedian, in all his successes, including his latest'. I got a bit confused here, and assumed this was the uke-toting star of the 1930s, but a commenter to the original post has helpfully pointed out that it was actually his father George Formby senior, who was also a  big music hall comedian and singer.

Also on the bill was 'Male Impersonator' Rhoda Paul, and 'Lady Mimic' Ray Wallace - cross dressing was clearly all the rage - as well as 'Continental Gymnast' Azella Wilson and comedian Fred Kitchen.

So did the now more famous George Formby jr ever play in New Cross in his music hall career? More research needed.

(Fats Waller also played at the New Cross Empire in 1938)