In-depth with Bart Bialkowski on Millwall career, his exit this summer and why win over Charlton is his favourite memory

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Bart Bialkowski has described his farewell from Millwall as “mind-blowing”, with Saturday’s 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle his final Den appearance as a Lions player.

The Championship club confirmed a week ago that the 36-year-old goalkeeper, who won back-to-back Player of the Year awards in SE16, will be leaving when his contract expires at the end of June.

In reality, Bialkowski’s final employment will be tomorrow’s trip to Swansea which will wrap up the 2023-23 campaign.

He was given a rapturous reception when he took the microphone post-match last weekend.

“I’m emotional still – a bit better than I was on Friday and Saturday,” said Bialkowski, when he sat down with the South London Press at The Den on Tuesday morning. “I have mixed emotions because it will be something else – I’m off to a new life and a new chapter, whatever I do.

“I’ve had an amazing five years at the club.

“On Saturday I was literally speechless. The emotions took over and I couldn’t really think clearly about what to say. The send-off I received was mind-blowing. That memory is going to stick with me for the rest of my life.”

Head coach Neil Harris, who was boss when Bialkowski was signed from Ipswich in 2019, played a part in making sure that the popular stopper got a proper send off by his impeding exit being made public.

“It was the gaffer who spoke to me on Friday morning,” said Bialkowski. “He asked if I was okay with the club announcing it – to give a chance for the fans to know exactly what was happening with me and to say goodbye.

“The gaffer said to me they weren’t going to renew my contract. I’ve expected that. Also, at the moment, I don’t know if I’m going to carry on playing or not. We’ll see. I’m going to give myself a month or two to think about it. If I want to carry on playing, I probably will.

“I’ve got different plans and different ideas. Most likely I’m going to stay out of football (if he was to retire).”
So it could be the last time that Bialkowski follows his pre-match routine. Right boot on first. Then the left glove. When he steps on the pitch it is always right leg first.

“I don’t know why – I’ve done it since I remember,” said Bialkowski. “It’s silly but it is a habit. If I don’t do it then I might start thinking ‘I didn’t do that – is it going to affect my game?’ I have never forgotten to do it. I pray for a few seconds as well.”

Bialkowski has won seven Player of the Year awards – five at Ipswich and two with the Lions. And he won the Championship Golden Gloves in 2019-20, sharing it with Brentford’s David Raya, the pair recording 16 clean sheets.

Asked if that season was his Millwall highlight, he said: “Probably – the second season was also good for me. That first year I was doing well and the team was doing well.

“I regret the break, during Covid, because we were flying. We beat Forest 3-0 and after the game we were looking at each other thinking ‘boys…we’ve got a chance’. Then Covid hit. We came back and it just wasn’t the same.

“The Den was empty. We had a great record at The Den and that really affected us.”

What also rankles for Bialkowski is the way Millwall imploded on the final day of last season.

“Even though I wasn’t involved that much, I truly believed if we got to the play-offs that we were going to win it,” he said.

“That would be the third time that I’d have been in the play-offs – I’d always said it had to be third time lucky. That was my biggest disappointment in a Millwall shirt. The last game of the season, I still don’t know what happened, really.

“I was so nervous on the bench. I was trying to get involved – get the crowd going. It was something that happened, we shouldn’t have lost.”

Bialkowski has spent the past decade at two clubs. His first English club was Southampton, signing from Gornik Zabrze in 2006.

He clocked up just 22 appearances for the Saints in six years.

“I had injuries here and there and didn’t play a lot – the turning point was leaving and going to Notts County in League One,” said Bialkowski, who featured 93 times in the next two seasons.

“Before the last two years here I’ve been playing, pretty much, in everything. I’ve had that stability. It is completely different than sitting on the bench and not being out there helping the boys.

“There are always things that you could’ve done differently but I’m just going to look back on my career with pride at what I achieved – because it’s not easy.

“I’ve never regretted anything in life. I’d rather be optimistic than pessimistic. What is gone is gone – you cannot change it.”

Time to hit Bialkowski with a curveball. A full Den or a full Portman Road, which has got the better atmosphere?

“I don’t think you can compare it – they are just different and amazing, at the same time,” he said. “I have loved both places. I’m not going to do that (pick one).

“I’ve loved my time at both clubs and I love both sets of fans.”

Bialkowski is quick to pick his favourite moment in his 169 games as a Millwall player.

“I’m just going to keep saying the Charlton game at home,” he said. “It was amazing. I loved it, a last-minute winner from big Smudge (Matt Smith). The atmosphere and the scenes after the game. When we scored – incredible. We all know what the game means for everyone.

“Also that first game after Covid with the fans – QPR away. That was good, because we had played so long without them there. Even though we played away, it was incredible.”

Bialkowski’s move to Millwall nearly did not happen.

A fee was agreed with Ipswich but then the move collapsed, before being pulled back on track at the end of July – initially a loan that was made permanent in January.

“The summer leading to my arrival was mad,” said Bialkowski. “I spoke to Neil, did my medicals, failed my medicals and came back to Ipswich. I did a full pre-season with Ipswich.

“Then the loan agreement came back on. I arrived at the hotel but there was this kind of swap deal with Tom Elliott. I was waiting for him to do his medical at Ipswich and he failed. I was thinking ‘surely not again?’ But it got signed for me to come.

“Frankie (Fielding) started in goal in the first game of the season and got injured. I played well and he was out for a longer period of time.

“I got back to my best football. I only signed for another year and a half in January. When I signed on loan my family were still living in Ipswich, because we thought there is no point moving to London – the kids are settled and we don’t know what is going to happen in the next summer or so.

“We thought it was just a year-and-a-half deal. The family have stayed in Ipswich! The five years has gone so quickly.

“Wherever I have been I’ve managed to do well, on the pitch and off the pitch. I’ve never been a player who has changed clubs a lot.”

Bialkowski will be cast into the role of a spectator as Millwall embark on their next chapter under Harris, who has impressively and adeptly pulled them clear of relegation danger.

“Neil signed me and he is such a great guy,” said Bialkowski. “He is very likeable. He knows what the club is about and what the fans need.

“After Joe Edwards left, that was the best thing that happened to Millwall Football Club. It was probably the transfer of the season there, because I couldn’t really see a green light before he came in.

“I thought it was going to be tough to stay up, to be honest. I just couldn’t see it. Neil came in and lifted everyone up. All of a sudden everyone was buzzing and enjoying it again – you could see that fire in everyone’s eyes on a daily basis.

“The points we have won since Neil has come in probably puts us top of the table. Unbelievable.

“He’s going to have a whole summer to recruit players, with the help of other people at the club.

“I’m very optimistic. I can see Millwall doing well next season. I’m going to watch it, I’m going to follow it and I’m going to support this amazing football club.”