Burton Albion
The club was formed in 1950 and joined the Birmingham & District League, switching to the Southern League Division One eight years later.
There were three promotions to, and three relegations from, the Southern League Premier Division before the club spent the period 1979 – 1987 in the Northern Premier League. They switched back to the Southern League Premier Division in 1987/88.
Back in the Northern Premier League in 2001/02, they finished as champions and won promotion to The Conference and, in 2008/09 gained promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history.
Promoted to League One in 2014/15, a year later they reached the Championship, quite an achievement for a side that had only been a league club for seven years.
After two years at that level the club were relegated back to League One in 2017/18 and have played their football at that level since.
On their formation Burton played their home games at Wellington Street but moved to Eton Park in 1958. The move to their current home, which was built on the site of the Pirelli Sports and Social Club, took place in 2005. The Pirelli Stadium has a capacity of 6,912.
We haven’t met Burton Albion in any of the major cup competitions and only 11 times in the league, with Rovers winning three of those games, Burton five and three games have been drawn.
The first season we met was 2011/12 when Burton were 2-1 winners at the Mem on October 22nd 2011 while Rovers won the return fixture 7-1 on April 14th 2012.
Our last meetings came in the 2020/21 campaign when the sides drew 1-1 at the Mem on October 17th 2020 and Burton were 1-0 winners at the Pirelli Stadium on March 2nd 2021.
Players who have played for both clubs include Craig Armstrong, Chris Beardsley, Guy Branston, Ryan Broom, Seanan Clucas, Rene Howe, Paul Hendrie, Matt Lund, John-Joe O’Toole, Justin Richards, Tom Parkes, Gary Twigg and Richard Walker.
Three Rovers players have made their debuts against Burton Albion; Oumare Tounkara (2012/13), Erhun Oztumer and Ali Koiki (both 2020/21).
Our first away match in the league next season takes place at the Pirelli Stadium on 6th August, with the return fixture taking place at the Mem on 18th February 2023.
A round trip to the Pirelli Stadium takes in 248 miles via the M5.
Burton Albion FC
Pirelli Stadium
Princess Way
Burton on Trent
DE13 0AR
Keith Brookman
(all images courtesy of JMP)