‘There probably won’t be a dry eye’ – Steve Kavanagh on day of celebration for John Berylson as Millwall pay tribute before Bristol City

Millwall CEO Steve Kavanagh wants tomorrow’s tributes for John Berylson to be a celebration – and has described the late owner as a “man of the people” as fans head back to The Den for the first time in the league since the American businessman tragically died on July 4.

The Lions had a period of mourning after the 70-year-old passed away following a car accident in the United States. 

Millwall have already paid their respects by opening a book of condolence at The Den, and they also laid a wreath on the pitch before their friendly against Gillingham.

Gary Rowett’s side take on Bristol City at home tomorrow.

James Berylson and the family will be at the game and EFL CEO Trevor Birch will be in attendance to present the family with a gift.

“I want it to be a celebration – I don’t think any of us want to be sad,” said Kavanagh.

“I’m not pretending there won’t be a few tears, because I’m sure there probably won’t be a dry eye, but at the same time, it should be a celebration. 

“We’ve got a commemorative booklet for John which fans will be able to buy. There’s a piece from all the directors and the new chairman celebrating John’s Millwall life, which is what Saturday’s really all about. 

“The family, who can be here are here, are coming to celebrate and to remember what John was at Millwall. 

“We have to remember it’s a matchday, so at 3pm there’s a game. There’s only so much you can do in a short space of time. 

“We could do much, much more. It’s about giving fans the chance to show the family what John meant to them as well. Middlesbrough showed me, but I know exactly what this place will be and what it’ll be like. In a sad way, I’m really looking forward to it.”

It was revealed in The Athletic that Kavanagh was the last person to speak with Berylson before the crash in Falmouth, Massachusettes.

“You swing from looking at that in different ways,” explained Kavanagh.

“I know he was driving to golf, which is one of the things he loved doing, and I know he was talking about Millwall, which is another thing he loved doing. You look at that and you know he was in a good place before he sadly passed. 

“You can go another way on that, but then you get too deep, so you focus on the positives. I have a bit of pride in that, yeah, I was the last person [to speak to him] and that’s tough, but also I know he was doing what he loves.”

The Lions kicked off their Championship season with a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough, with Millwall fans singing Berlyson’s name following the full-time whistle after Romain Esse’s late winner.

“I had a tear in my eye at Boro,” admitted Kavanagh.

“It was good. I’m sure the fans couldn’t see me but I clapped them. It was really appreciated and I’ve made sure that the family have been made aware of the videos we’ve got.

“In fact, I was just talking to James and he’s seen the clip [of fans singing at Middlesbrough] and it’s really appreciated. 

“For them to know that it means as much to the fans now as it does to all of us.”

Kavanagh penned an emotional message to the Millwall fans following Berlyson’s death, calling the former owner the “best chairman of any club in the country” and “the best owner” he had worked with.

“John set himself apart – he was unique,” added Kavanagh in his office overlooking the entrance to The Den.

“He adored the fans and had a real phenomenal understanding with them. He was a man of the people and I think the fans appreciated that. 

“He made himself one of them. He then understood the mentality of the club and what we were, so that’s a great foundation to build on for any club owner. Then actually his support of the club and the way he went about running the club [set him apart]. 

“He didn’t get involved in day-to-day details, but he was heavily involved in wanting to know what was happening. He didn’t want us to be Americanised – he was very much about learning football, understanding the club and the culture and connecting with the fans. He started in that way and it allowed him to get it right.

“I was fortunate enough to inherit a chairman who had run the club that way, but that had been done over the previous 10 years.

“John loved Millwall – that’s why he owned the club. That love is infectious and it rubbed off on his family, so they were as concerned about me and the club as they were about themselves when this was all unfolding. 

“Those aspects made life so much easier to help deal with a life-changing event that hopefully I’ll never have to go through again.

“What we want to do is ensure that John Berylson is enshrined forever in the memory of Millwall Football Club and that in 30 years time, he’s as known as he is today. 

“That’s on our shoulders to try and do that.”