ARCHIVE NEWS - MAY / JUNE 2007

IT'S HALL OVER FOR CHRIS (28/06/07)

The list of players exiting from Burton Albion got even longer with the news that Chris Hall has joined Gainsborough Trinity.

Midfielder Hall missed most of last season through injury and has now fallen behind Keith Gilroy, Marc Goodfelllow and Andy Corbett in the pecking order for first team places.

Chris has decided to drop down to the Blue Square North division side in order to guarantee himself first team football and to be closer to his home in Lincoln.

Chris made 108 appearances for the Brewers and scored 10 goals. He was crowned CTMD player of the season in 2006.

BASS CHARITY VASE FULL DETAILS (13/06/07)

The full fixture and admission details for the Bass Charity Vase have now been confirmed.

Friday 27th July Gresley Rovers v Nottm Forest (@ Moat Ground)

Sunday 29th July Burton Albion v Nottm Forest (@ Rocester)

Tuesday 31st July Gresley Rovers v Burton Albion (@ Moat Ground)

Admission to above games, £4 adults, £2 concessions

Thursday 2nd August FINAL TIE (@ Pirelli Stadium)

Admission to final, £5 adults, £3 concessions.

All matches kick off at 7.45pm, except Burton v Forest which kicks off at 3pm.

ALTRINCHAM GET REPRIEVE AS BOSTON GO DOWN (09/06/07)

The relegation issues in the Nationwide Conference are once again decided in the boardroom rather than on the pitch after a decision to relegate Boston United was made at the Conference AGM.

The Lincolnshire club were relegated from the Football League at the end of the season but now have been demoted to the Blue Square North league for 'financial reasons'.

The decision means that Altrincham, who were originally relegated, are now re-instated in the Premier division. It is the second successive season that the Robins have been saved. Last season Scarborough were also relegated for financial reasons, whilst Canvey Island quit the league in favour of dropping down to the Ryman League.

It has not been since the 2002/03 season that all the teams finishing in the relegation places have actually gone down. The league and it's administration have become a complete farce and something needs to be done to ensure that the league is decided over 46 games rather than tea and biscuits in Bournemouth.

HENSHAW HEADS OFF TO ALFRETON (06/06/07)

Defender Terry Henshaw has joined Blue Square North club Alfreton Town after 8 seasons with the Brewers.

Terry joined Burton in April 1999 and went on to become a virtual ever present in the side before suffering a broken leg at the start of the 2004/05 season.

Terry struggled to get back in the side and fell behind Gary Rowett and Andy Corbett in the pecking order for the right back berth. He spent time on loan at Hednesford Town before returning to make a handful of appearances from the bench at the end of this season.

In all, Terry made 299 appearances for the Brewers, scoring 5 goals.

RICHARDS TO PLAY AT PIRELLI (06/06/07)

Striker Justin Richards, a long time transfer target for Nigel Clough, has been released by Peterborough United and will be playing his football at the Pirelli Stadium next season.

Unfortunately he will only be making one appearance when his new club Kidderminster Harriers visit Burton in the Blue Square Premier league.

Richards attracted the interest of the Brewers boss last summer when he left Woking, but the hit man opted to return to the Football League. His time with Posh was not a success and he spent most of the season on loan at Grays Athletic and Boston United.

'TINNO' JOINS ALTY (02/06/07)

Veteran defender Darren Tinson has joined Blue Square North side Altrincham.

Darren joined the Brewers from Shrewsbury Town in August 2005 after helping the Shrews to gain promotion to the Football League.

'Tinno' became a cult hero at the Pirelli Stadium and is rated by many as one of the best defenders to ever wear a Brewers shirt.

Injuries, and the performances of Darren Stride at centre half, restricted Darren's appearances last season and he was not offered a new contract for the 2007/08 season.

ANOTHER PRE-SEASON GAME ADDED (02/06/07)

The Brewers have added another match to the long list of pre-season games with a trip to Damson Lane to face the newly formed Solihull Moors.

The new club is a merger between Solihull Borough and Moor Green, and follows a season of ground-sharing after Moor Green's ground was devastated by fire.

The match on Friday 13th July has been added to the list of friendly fixtures on the right.

BLUE SQUARE ROUND UP (28/05/07)

Torquay change their manager after just 10 minutes and Steve Evans walks out on Boston United. Just another normal week in the build up to the new Blue Square Premier season. Read more HERE

IS DAN THE MAN TO REPLACE CARDS? (27/05/07)

Nigel Clough has moved quickly to fill the hole left by the loss of Paul Carden by inviting former Notts County midfielder Dan Martin to join the Brewers for pre-season training.

Martin started his career in the Derby County Academy and progressed through to the reserve side. He made his league debut after moving to Notts County and played more than 50 games for the Magpies before being released at the end of the season.

CARDEN DEALS BREWERS A BLOW (27/05/07)

Midfielder Paul Carden has joined League Two side Accrington Stanley just days after agreeing to sign a new deal with the Brewers.

Carden was one of the outstanding players of the season after joining the club from Burscough and was set to sign a one year deal at the Pirelli Stadium. However a family issue meant that Paul wanted to stay closer to his home in the North West and opted to take the chance to return to league football.

TRIO TO CONTEST BASS VASE (27/05/07)

Burton Albion's defence of the Bass Charity Vase has been made easier after it was announced that only Nottingham Forest and Gresley Rovers would be taking part.

The competition has previously attracted entries from Liverpool, Aston Villa and Derby County. Many league clubs now play their pre-season games on the continent and the Bass Vase has suffered as a result.

Exact details of the fixtures should be available later this week.

MORECAMBE MAKE IT TO THE LEAGUE (20/05/07)

Congratulations to Morecambe FC who won promotion to the Football League after victory in the Nationwide Conference play-off final.

The Shrimps came from behind to beat Exeter City 2-1 in a pulsating game at Wembley. Lee Phillips put the Grecians in front before goals from Garry Thompson and Danny Carlton.

Morecambe will now take their place in League Two for the first time in their history after two previous defeats in the play-off system.

SALISBURY CITY PROMOTED (13/05/07)

There is just one more place in next season's Blue Square Premier league to be decided after Salisbury City were promoted this afternoon following victory in the Conference South play-off final.

The Whites defeated Braintree Town 1-0 and will play football at the highest level in the club's history. The victory crowned a great season for the Wiltshire club who took Nottingham Forest to a replay in the FA Cup in front of a live TV audience. They also progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy before bowing out to eventual winners Stevenage Borough.

The Brewers' final league opponent will be decided tomorrow night when Farsley Celtic and Hinckley United face each other in the Conference North final at the Pirelli Stadium.

BLUE SQUARE ROUND-UP (19/05/07)

It's gone a bit quiet at the Pirelli Stadium but there is plenty of activity at the other clubs who will be lining up against the Brewers in next seasons Blue Square Premier League.

CTMD will be providing a weekly update on the comings and goings, news and gossip around the non-league scene. Round-up

ENGLAND CALL-UP FOR CARDEN (19/05/07)

Burton Albion midfielder Paul Carden's impressive performances this season have been recognised with a call up to the England National Game squad.

Carden has been selected to play in the Four Nations tournament that takes place in Scotland next week.

The Brewers have a proud history of players earning call ups for the national team, with Darren Stride, Aaron Webster and Dale Anderson all recently winning caps.

CELTIC TAKE FINAL LEAGUE PLACE (14/05/07)

The Pirelli Stadium played host to a thrilling climax to the Conference North season tonight as Farsley Celtic beat Hinckley United 4-3.

The victory means a second successive victory for the Celts after they won through the Unibond play-offs last season.

All that remains is to find out whether it will be Exeter City or Morecambe that will be lining up against the Brewers next season. The Conference play-off final takes place at Wembley on Sunday afternoon with the winners taking their place in the Football League.

CLOUGH MAKES TRIPLE SWOOP (10/05/07)

The preparations for next season are already underway with the arrival of three new faces at the Pirelli Stadium.

First to arrive is defender Tony James, signed on a free transfer from Weymouth. James, 28, started his career with West Bromwich Albion but made his name at Hereford United. He made more than 250 appearances for the Bulls and helped them achieve promotion to the Football League last season.

Also joining the squad for the 2007/08 Blue Square Premier League season are Tamworth pair John McGrath and Jake Edwards.

Midfielder McGrath was one of the few players to end the season with any credit after the Staffordshire club were relegated. The 27 year old played in the Premiership for Aston Villa before spells with Dagenham & Redbridge, Doncaster Rovers, Shrewsbury Town and Kidderminster Harriers.

Jake Edwards is the big target man that Nigel Clough had promised and the much travelled striker should partner Daryl Clare in attack next season. Although not a prolific goal scorer, Edwards' height up front should add an extra dimension that was missing from the Brewers team this season.

BREWERS TO FACE THE CHAMPIONS (07/05/07)

Another pre-season game has been announced, and it sees the Brewers face the Premier League champions.

Unfortunately it is not another rematch with the Red Devils, but an away day at Unibond Premier League winners Burscough on Friday 20th July.

The game has been arranged as part of the deal that saw Paul Carden move from the Linnets to the Pirelli Stadium in January.

BOSTON DOWN, HINCKLEY ONE GAME AWAY (05/05/07)

The line up for next seasons Blue Square Premier league continues to to take shape after Boston United were relegated from League Two.

The Pilgrims, Conference champions in 2002, suffered defeat at fellow strugglers Wrexham on Saturday and returned to non-league after a five year absence.

United's long suffering fans were dealt another blow after the club announced it had gone into administration, a decision which could see them start next season with a 10 point deduction.

In the race to gain promotion to the top tier of non-league football, the line ups for the Conference North and South play-off finals are now known. Farsley Celtic will face Hinckley United in the Conference North play off final at the Pirelli Stadium on 14th May, whilst Braintree Town will meet Salisbury City in the Conference South final.

CLARE SIGNS, BELL LEAVES (03/05/07)

Preparations for the 2007/08 season are already underway. Nigel Clough has moved swiftly to secure the services of most of the squad that finished 6th in the Nationwide Conference this season.

The biggest relief for Brewers fans is that Daryl Clare has committed to another one year deal. Clare was the clubs top scorer with 18 goals last season and was one of the key factors in the team achieving their highest ever league finish.

Also definitely turning out in a Brewers shirt next season are Danny Holmes and Andy Corbett who have also agreed new deals. Contracts have been offered to Darren Stride, Marc Goodfellow, Paul Carden and Jon Shaw and it is expected that all will sign.

Darren Tinson and Andy Ducros have been offered short term deals and will get the opportunity to try and impress during the pre-season games. Terry Henshaw and Steve Scoffham have not been offered new deals but will continue to train with the Brewers until they find new clubs.

The biggest shock is the departure of midfielder Lee Bell. Bell joined the Brewers for his second spell in the January transfer window but struggled to hold down a place in the starting line-up. He was dogged by disciplinary problems that saw him pick up bookings on a regular basis, but he did at times produce sublime performances that were a throw back to his first spell at the Pirelli Stadium.