LATEST NEWS

CLOUGH SET TO SWOOP FOR BUXTON (29/04/09)

Derby County manager Nigel Clough may be about to raid his former club to sign Jake Buxton.

The Rams have been dogged by defensive problems all season and Buxton's consistent performances have persuaded Clough that he may be ready to play in the Championship.

In an interview with Radio Derby Clough said "Jake is one of numerous defenders we might be interested in".

MCFARLAND WANTS TO STAY WITH BREWERS (27/04/09)

Burton Albion caretaker manager Roy McFarland has admitted that we would like to remain with the club next season.

McFarland took over the managerial reigns in January, following the departure of Nigel Clough to Derby County, and led the club to the Football League for the first time in their history.

Despite the Brewers leading the table by 13 points when McFarland arrived, a poor run of results at the end of the season meant that the title wasn't secured until the last game of the season.

The permanent appointment of McFarland in the managers post would not be a popular decision with most Albion supporters. The most popular fans choices for the job appear to be Albion Oldboy and former Stoke City manager Steve Cotterill and former Leeds manager Gary McAllister.

FINAL DAY PREVIEW (25/04/09)

So here we are, just 90 minutes away from the greatest glory or the biggest disappointment in the club's history.

The facts are simple. If the Brewers win or draw at Plainmoor tomorrow then they will take their place in the Football League for the very first time. Defeat will leave everyone sweating on the result at the Trade Recruitment Stadium where Cambridge United host Altrincham. 

If the U's win and produce a 5 goal swing in goal difference then they will snatch promotion and plunge Burton into the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But how did it come down to the finger nail biting finale that the 1000 Brewers fans making the trip to Devon and thousands more watching the match on Setanta or listening in on the radio now have to face?

After defeating Wrexham 3-0 on 17th February, the Brewers led the Blue Square Premier league by 19 points, although the teams below had games in hand. Just four wins in the next thirteen games have seen the lead whittled away to just three points.

How has this happened? Why are Burton fans not already plotting new routes to Rotherham, Lincoln and Notts County, and dreading returns to Accrington Stanley and Morecambe.

Is it due to the change of manager after Nigel Clough walked away in January to take up the reigns at Pride Park? Is it the loss of form of leading scorer Greg Pearson who has managed to find the net only twice in 2009 and has since fallen out of favour in the starting line-up. Is it the indiscipline from the players that has seen red cards for four players and a string of yellow cards. Or is it simply down to the amount of pressure on a squad of players who have had the weight of expectation on their shoulders for an entire season.

Whatever the reason, none of them will matter if the Brewers are celebrating promotion at five fifty tomorrow afternoon.

CAMBRIDGE WIN ENSURES FINAL DAY DECIDER (19/04/09)

The Blue Square Premier title race will be decided on the final day after Cambridge United's win away at Salisbury leaves the Brewers still needing a point to win promotion.

With one game left to play, Cambridge trail by three points and have a goal difference that is four goals inferior to Burton's. A win or a draw for the Brewers will secure league football for the first time in their history, but defeat will have all eyes on the result at the Trade Recruitment Stadium.

It has been announced that the trip to Torquay next Sunday will be all ticket for Burton fans. Tickets go on sale from the club shop on Tuesday, with the allocation of 1300 expected to be snapped up very quickly.

The game has also been selected for live coverage by Setanta Sports for any fans unable to make the trip to Plainmoor.

BURTON ALBION 0 OXFORD UNITED 1 (17/04/09)

The Brewers missed the chance to secure automatic promotion to the Football League with defeat at a packed Pirelli Stadium.

Despite dominated the game for long periods, Albion could not find a way past Billy Turley in the Oxford goal, and they succumbed to a sucker punch when Adam Chapman curled in a free kick on 70 minutes.

The night was soured further by a red card for Shaun Harrad who was dismissed for violent conduct in the dying minutes.

Despite the defeat, Burton will still be crowned as champions if Cambridge United fail to win their match at Salisbury City tomorrow. The U's are the only team that can catch the Brewers but they must win both of their remaining games and score enough goals to overturn Burton's superior goal difference.

BREWERS SIGN KEEPER IN LOAN DEAL (17/04/09)

Roy McFarland has swooped to sign Manchester City reserve keeper Richard Martin on loan to provide cover for the injured Kevin Poole.

Martin, 21, started his career at Brighton & Hove Albion and was snapped up by City following his release. Although yet to play a competitive game at league level but has made appearances on loan at Kingstonian, Dorchester Town and Folkestone Invicta.

AARON WEBSTER TESTIMONIAL MATCH (15/04/09)

Nigel Clough will be bringing his Derby County team to the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday 28th April to provide the opposition for Aaron Webster's testimonial game.

The evening will also incorporate the end of season award ceremony. Reduced admission prices have been set for the game.

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 2 BURTON ALBION 1 (13/04/09)

For twenty minutes of this game the Brewers had one foot in League Two. Lee Morris' goal on the stroke of half time looked as though it would earn the points needed to secure promotion but two goals from the home side means that Albion fans need to wait until at least Friday to celebrate promotion.

BURTON ALBION 3 HISTON 1 (11/04/09)

The Brewers put themselves within touching distance of the Football League, and with it ended Histon's chances of winning the title.

It was the game that had for months been billed as the championship decider, and in the end it was a victory for passing football over the hit and run tactics employed by the visitors.

All of Burton's goals came from defenders, with Webster heading in his 80th Albion goal before Corbett's cross deceived the Histon goalkeeper and looped over him into the net. The third goal fell to Ryan Austin, operating in an unorthodox role as a winger, but he showed all the skill of a seasoned wide man to step past his man  before drilling the ball home.

Neil Andrew's late goal for Histon was a mere consolation and could not take the gloss of a glorious afternoon in Burton Albion's history.

BURTON ALBION 0 TORQUAY UNITED 1 (06/04/09)

The Blue Square Premier title looks set to go to the wire after the Brewers suffered another set back in their quest for the Football League.

The Brewers suffered their second home defeat of the season, picked up a second red card in as many games and have now scored only once in the last three matches.

None of these statistics  make for good reading, but the only fact that matters is that Burton Albion are still eight points clear at the top of the table with just four games left to play.

Three more wins should be enough to clinch it, but with Histon, Kidderminster, Oxford and Torquay to play, it won't be easy.

CRAWLEY TOWN 4 BURTON ALBION 0 (04/04/09)

The Brewers slumped to their biggest defeat of the season, whilst Crawley kept their faint play-off hopes alive.

Fortunately a generally bad day at the office was made more bearable with the news that both Cambridge and Histon both suffered defeats to maintain Albion's 9 point lead at the top of the table.

The home side took the lead after just five minutes before a controversial penalty, and red card for Darren Stride, doubled the advantage after just 15 minutes.

Roy McFarland rang the changes at half time in an attempt to get back into the match but two late Crawley goals ensured a long miserable journey home for the travelling fans.

BREWERS ENTER INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT (03/04/09)

Burton Albion have been confirmed as one of the clubs who will contest the 2009 Errea Cup, an international football tournament in North Devon.

Although no exact dates have been announced, the line up of clubs has been released. The 12 clubs taking part are Yeovil Town, Barnet, Luton Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Exeter City, Bideford, Barnstaple Town, Bath City, Eastleigh, Ilfracombe FC and Belgian side Royal Racing FC Montegnee Liege.

Full details can be found on the website of the Devon FA.