Football League 2
Saturday 17th October 2009
Kick off 3.00pm
Stadium Pirelli Stadium, Burton Upon Trent, Staffs, DE13 0AR
Telephone01283 565938
Club Colours Yellow and Black
Nickname The Brewers
Official Club Website www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk
Key Personnel
The Brewers Manager is Paolo Pasquale Peschisolido, commonly known of course as Paul and was born in Scarborough - Toronto Canada not Yorkshire by the way.
He had a varied playing career in England turning out for Birmingham, Stoke, WBA, Fulham, QPR, Sheffield Utd, Derby, Norwich and Luton. He has represented his Country 53 times scoring 11 goals. He joined Burton in May 2009.
Impress the Locals
The 11,000 Brewer's fans at Old Trafford in January 2006 for an FA Cup replay is allegedly the highest away attendance ever recorded at that stadium. Burton lost 5-0 but it was a nice day out.
Brief Directions by Road
(Courtesy of Burton Football Club). From the South (M1) the nearest junction is 22 signposted Coalville and Ashby. To reach the ground from here believe me is fairly complicated. Anyway, stay on the A511 into Burton (17 miles or so) cross over the Trent Bridge into Horniglow Street. Turn right under the old brewery flyover, through the industrial estate and over the railway bridge to the ground - sounds straightforward but isn't.
However the quickest (all dual carriageway) and the most hassle free is to stay on the M1 to junction 24 and take the A50 signposted Uttoxeter and Stoke and then the A38 into Burton from the North -the ground is in North Burton. Pick up the A5121 Derby Road until you reach the ground on your left - sounds straightforward and is!
Car Parking
Car parking at the ground costs £3.00. The Ryknild Trading Estate also offers parking for the same price. Its entrance is by the roundabout leading to Princess Way. Street parking is also available for those early arrivers.
Directions by Train
London Euston by Virgin or Central Trains require a change at Tamworth and will take about 2 hours 10 minutes. Burton Railway Station is situated half a mile West of the Town Centre, past the Breweries on Station Street, on Borough Road. It's a good twenty-five minute walk to the Pirelli from the Station. A cab will cost £4.00-£5.00
Supporters Coaches
The BFCSA is running a coach to this fixture and seats are priced at £25.00 adults £20.00 Concessions. The coach will depart from outside the Barnet Odeon at 10.00am. For further details about supporters coach travel and how to book check out the BFCSA website at www.bfcsa.co.uk. You can also phone the Coach Travel hot line on 01707 647365. Please remember that you must be a member of the Association to travel - don't worry you can join on the day. The club wishes me to point out that supporters' coach travel is entirely organised and operated independently by the Barnet FC Supporters Association. Barnet Football Club Limited cannot be held liable for any losses occurred.
Eating and Drinking Locally
The Great Northern in Hawkins Lane which is a five minute walk from the ground towards the river Trent is a favourite haunt of the locals and serves its own beers. A short walk up Derby Street is the Beech Inn, a very popular Marston's pub where you are assured of a warm welcome. Marston's Pedigree and Bass beers are in abundance in the area for you real ale enthusiasts. Travelling by train and time allowing I shall try and persuade my little band of travellers to visit the Devonshire Arms, 86 Station Street - the food and beers comes highly recommended. The town centre boasts some fine chippys and cafes but close to the ground you will only find the usual 'they are everywhere' fast food establishments. The old Eton Park caterers inside the old ground were very proud of the fact that their refreshment bars served only quality 'brand name' food. I do hope they have continued the tradition in the new stadium. The meat pies were spectacular, as were the burgers and the chip butties. I was fascinated to find out that 'faggots in gravy with peas' was also available, and if you have never experienced a 'faggot' then you haven't lived! I say give the fast food establishments infesting the town a miss please and indulge in a quality eating experience for a change.
The Social Club
The social club is out of bounds to visiting supporters but alcohol is available on the ground.
Ground Description
The club left their Eton Park home in 2005 to reside in the £6.5 million Pirelli Stadium. The main stand which holds around 2,000 is the focal point of the ground and a fairly typical 21st century construction on a modest scale but it offers all the usual corporate hospitality and more than copes with the demands of League 2 football attendances. Happily the remainder of the ground is terraced, fully covered and offering a reasonable sight line as the rake is quite steep - very comforting. Our home for the afternoon will be the Coors East Stand Terrace. Plenty of room and good acoustics await us.
Admission Prices
Terrace Adults £13.00 Concessions £11.00 Under 16's £4.00
For seating add £2.00 to each price.
Our Last Meeting& Memories
Liam Hatch was the Bees scorer in a 1-1 FA Cup 2nd Round tie at the Pirelli in December 2007. An Adam Birchall goal won the replay at Underhill. Bank Holiday Monday 25th August 2003 saw a two goal Giuliano Grazioli in fine form as Barnet ran out 3-2 winners. 1,675 watched the action including a very noisy following from Underhill. It doesn't get much better than Barnet 10-0 Burton Albion in the Southern League 1970 with Les Eason and Billy Meadows scoring 4 goals each. 'Those Were the Days' by Mary Hopkin was riding high in the charts at the time, I thought they'd never end! Barnet won an FA Cup 4th qualifying round replay 1-0 courtesy of a Gary Bull goal at Underhill after a thrilling 2-2 at Eton Park in 1989.
Overnight Stay Factor
The area is a paradise for beer drinkers, as the famous Bass Brewing Museum is a beer map fling away from the ground although Burton ale is now allegedly brewed in Leeds! So don't forget your stylish 'Geography Teacher' Kenny (Jackett), the ones with the patches on the elbows, and a warm home knitted sweater. For you kiddies Alton Towers and white knuckle extravaganza is also close by.OSF 5/10.
Celebrity Watch
It is with regret that I inform you that if you are looking for famous residents and historical characters or hoping to add to your autograph book Burton is a place to avoid. It appears that the town has never given birth to a celebrity in its history. Not even a well known TV soap actor has ever lived in Burton and the streets are devoid of any musical superstars. If you feel that this information is incorrect please let me know - thank you,
***Stop Press*** 1970's Chelsea FC hero Ian 'I can throw the ball into the penalty area from the half way line and impersonate a windmill' Hutchinson started his career at Burton.
Odds and Ends
Without the town of Burton we would never have sampled the delights of Branston Pickle (essential with mature Cheddar cheese in a sandwich) or Marmite on toast. Crosse and Blackwell had a factory in the Branston area of the town where they invented the wonderful sweet pickle and the Marmite Food Company was formed in 1902 and used the surplus brewery yeast extract to manufacture a very salty paste - I love it! Sunday evenings after a hot bath, lightly toasted real bread (you know the stuff you cut yourself?), lashings of slightly salted butter and a good dollup of the old black stuff - nice work. Bovril is also as good - discuss!
