Lions chief executive Steve Kavanagh: John Berylson’s love for Millwall knew no bounds

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh says that John Berylson’s affection for the Championship club “knew no bounds”.

The Lions’ American owner, 70, tragically passed away in a car crash last week. His funeral in Boston took place on Monday.

Millwall’s playing squad, management team and staff were at The Den on the same day to pay their respects and read some of the many tributes left to Berylson.

Kavanagh was part of a Lions contingent who flew Stateside to attend the ceremony.

“It was a very private family affair in the States,” Kavanagh told the South London Press. “The eulogies, it felt like every other word was Millwall and London. His affection for both had no bounds. Everyone knew that.

“It still doesn’t quite feel real. We spoke every day, and normally two or three times a day. He was so strongly connected to what was going on. He loved to talk about Millwall, players and talk over issues. I miss him.

“It has been an emotional, difficult time for everybody. But the fans have been incredible. What we’ve tried to do is link up what was happening in the States, with what we did in London.

“The players were there on Monday morning, the first time they could be there. We wanted the staff to be there. Then we matched up in the afternoon with the 11am Boston time, when the funeral was, just to allow people the chance to really be involved and feel part of it, on both sides of the Atlantic.

“The media team put together a whole load of video clips, photos and interviews that I could share with James (Berylson’s son) and the family. They desperately wanted to understand what was going on in London.”

Kavanagh joined Millwall in 2016 and was appointed to the EFL board in June 2022.

“Working with the EFL board, you meet owners and there are some very, very good ones in the country and some that do come close to John – but he was the best out there.

“All the tributes and comments that have come in from around the football world – ex-players, current players, staff, ex-staff – you don’t get that level of affection and ability to engage and touch people like John did, without being exceptionally good, and he was.”

Millwall do have a succession plan in place. Berylson’s wife Amy is Jewish and the religion has a mourning ritual – shiva.

Kavanagh said: “I’m sure people will understand that behind the scenes we are very aware of what John would want. But it is striking that balance at this moment in time.”

Millwall midfielder George Saville has talked about a determination to achieve success in memory of Berylson, who invested more than £100million into the SE16 club.

Kavanagh said: “I don’t want people to think ‘there is uncertainty’ but I can’t tell you what I want to say because we have got to say it ourselves first. As a club we said after Monday night, after the funeral, that we try and get back to normal. But there is this period of mourning and shiva, which is ongoing, I need to be respectful of that.”

Millwall’s players will wear black armbands in tomorrow’s friendly at Gillingham.