George Alexander could get another chance to sample FA Cup for Millwall tomorrow – as dad Gary talks about pride over his progression through the Lions ranks

BY RICHARD CAWLEY 
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

George Alexander could get another chance to sample the FA Cup tomorrow – but dad Gary is unlikely to be there to witness it.

Alexander junior, 17, made Millwall’s matchday 18 for the first time when he was named as a substitute for the 3-2 win over Everton in the fourth round last month.

And the teenage striker may well be named in Neil Harris’ squad for the tie at AFC Wimbledon this weekend.

Millwall’s striker options are once again depleted by Fred Onyedinma being cup-tied and Lee Gregory came off in the closing stages of Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Alexander senior, 39, played 94 times for his boyhood club between 2007 and 2010. But he is currently doing a bit of scouting work for the Lions, meaning he is not set to be at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday.

It was a family affair for the Toffees tie though, with both his parents along with brothers and sisters there.

“George was informed he was going to be in the 19-man squad but as the youngest one you presume you will be the 19th man,” said Gary.

“It was a nice occasion for him. Just to see him warming up on the pitch brought a tear to your eye.

“It was emotional. George has been there since the age of seven and has gone through to play every level up to the U23s.

“He’s worked his socks off. He’s had good year and had his ups and downs where a season has not quite been so good.

“But he is reaping the rewards now. He was with the U18s as a first-year scholar and his second year has been with the U23s. He has done it all himself.

“It’s about hard work, we all know if you have got that in football it gives you half a chance.

“There are football genes in the family. I’ve played and his brother played football. But for anyone in this day and age, it’s about the hard work – because you get an awful lot more contact time with a football these days.

“Come rain or shine there are pitches to train on. Back in my day you were lucky if there were one or two training sessions a week. Now they have three, four or five plus the matches.

It’s about practise – are you willing to sacrifice things to go on and achieve what you want to achieve. I don’t have any expectations I place on George. He has chosen this path.”

Even if Alexander does not make the bench for the match against the Dons then there will be no disappointment from his dad, who has delved into management himself at Greenwich Borough, Chatham Town and Ashford United since retiring from the pro game in 2014.

“Just for him to have been involved at his age is incredible,” said Gary. “So I wasn’t expecting anything.

“He’s been to Millwall and goes in with the fans, he loves it. So to be involved in the Everton game and that atmosphere – it was almost like when Millwall play Leeds.

“It must make him want to taste more of that and hopefully he can.”

Alexander also had a spell on loan at Wimbledon in 2013, scoring three times in 18 appearances.

But there is no divided loyalties.

“I always look out for my old clubs and I still speak to Simon Bassey, who has been assistant manager and first-team coach there.

“I wasn’t at Wimbledon long but it was a good time, I wish I could’ve spent more time there. It’s a good club. But I want Millwall to progress. I’m sure they’ll get up for him and can get a decent tie in the quarter-finals.”

Another Premier League club at The Den would certainly whet the appetite.
“Anything can happen at this stage,” said Alexander. “Yeah there are big clubs you can face, but you’ve got to be in it to win it.

“Manchester City will be one of the favourites but we’ve all seen the upsets lots of times before.

“As much as you want league survival you also can’t beat a good day trip in the FA Cup.”

The goals have dried up for the Lions in the Championship since their New Year’s Day win at Ipswich.

“We haven’t got as many results at The Den as we’d have liked to this season but the group of lads there are more than capable of making it back into the fortress it has been,” said Alexander.

“When Millwall play with a tempo and have got the crowd behind them, there is no reason they can’t win games.

“They need to make sure they are safe well before the end of the season.
“People moan and groan but Millwall compete in the Championship against some big sides and big players on big wages.

Lee Gregory has been tremendous this season – his work-rate and he pops up with a fair amount of goals. But if he was scoring 25 or 30 in a season then he would be costing £15million or £20m.

“We hold our own. Last season we probably overachieved. We have to be realistic.

“If we survive it will be another good season, we’ve had a great cup run. If we can stay up and get through to the next round then it will have been a very good season.”

In future years it could be George who is out there under the spotlight on a regular basis.

“He was just playing Sunday football and he got invited in to Millwall,” said Gary. “As the years go by you either stay or go.

“Junior Tiensia has been there with George since the age of seven. Who knows, one day it might be both of them in the first team. That would be brilliant for the youth set-up at the club.”