Burton's main gates on the entrance to the stadium.

The club started off in the Birmingham and District League where it stayed for eight years, hardly setting the world on fire. In 1958-9 the switch was made to the Southern League and at the same time the club moved to it's present site at Eton Park. The club made even less impact in the tougher Southern League than it had in the Birmingham until the arrival of Peter Taylor (later of Clough and Taylor fame) as manager. The first serious silverware was won when Burton beat Weymouth (that we like!) over a two leg final of the Southern League Cup in 1964. Taylor was soon off to League management at Hartlepool but the team he had built gained promotion in the 1965-66 season to the SLPD and so came into Yeovil Town's field of view.

They didn't prosper, finishing 15th, 19th, and 17th before hitting last place and going back down in 1969-70. They came back up for a single season in 1972-73 and then were back again in 1974 -75. That season they had their best ever finish, 5th, and also got to the semi-finals of the F.A. Trophy, where they were beaten by Matlock Town. Two years later they were relegated again and when the shake up for the formation of the Alliance occurred they chose to switch to the Northern Premier League. Burton spent eight years there, almost always finishing in the top half but never quite making it to promotion.

Burton had averaged more than one manager every two year since their foundation when Neil Warnock arrived in 1981. In 1984 they got to the 3rd Round of the F.A. Cup and were drawn against First Division Leicester City. The tie was played at The Baseball Ground, a potential powder keg as hordes of Rams fans turned up to support Burton against hated rivals Leicester. A riot broke out after Burton equalised; when the match was eventually restarted the First Division side ran out 6-1 winners. However the F.A. ruled the tie void and ordered it to be played again at the neutral venue of Highfield Road behind closed gates. Burton lost 1-0.

The side terrace opposite the main stand. The noisy Burton fans go here.

The season after Warnock moved on Burton had their greatest moment to date. They did something the Glovers have never done and got to Wembley. Their victims in the Trophy on the way were Northwich Victoria, Weymouth (hurrah!), Whitley Bay, Maidstone (after a replay) and Dartford. In the final they came up against Kidderminster Harriers and 0-0 after extra time saw the circus move on to The Hawthorns. On the night it was 2-1 to Kidderminster, with Burton missing a penalty with four minutes to go.

For the 1987-88 season Burton switched back to the Southern League again. For the next few years there was a merry-go-round of managers that makes Huish look like a haven of stability. Several only lasted weeks (21 days remains the record), another went for financial irregularities. Most of their time was spent in relative mid-table obscurity though there were a couple of third places. Towards the end of the Ninties changes at the top, a drive to up-grade the ground and the appointment of Nigel Clough heralded a new drive for promotion. Many Albion fans may have felt they'd seen it all before but their second place in the 1999-2000 season equalled the highest ever achieved previously - in 1953-54 in the Birmingham & District League.

In 2000-01 Burton were leading the table for much of the season, but Margate were always on their tails with games in hand and eventually overhauled them by three points. In the FAT that year they defeated Yeading at home 4-1 (Christian Moore getting a hat-trick), Bishop Auckland 2-0 at home, Scarborough 1-0 at the McCain and Yeovil Town 2-1 in the Fifth Round tie at Eton Park. They went out at the next stage to Hereford United 1-0.

With two runner-up spots in the DMP in two years Burton took the decision to apply for a move to the NPL. Despite waffle about travelling distances etc. no one was in much doubt that they considered at easier division from which to gain their ambition of Conference football. And so it proved. Burton only lost two league games all season,led the table continuously from September 1st, and finished fifteen points clear. Outside of minor regional cups they have only lost at home once all season - in the FAC Fourth Qualifying Round to Gravesend & Northfleet.

In the FAT they began in Round 2 with a 1-1 draw away to Barrow, but thumped them 5-0 in the replay, with Sean Farrell scoring a hat-trick and Christian Moore a brace. Round 3 saw a comfortable 3-0 win at home over Blyth Spartans, which took the Brewers to Cherrywood Road for Round 4. A 1-1 draw meant Farnborough Town were taken back to Eton Park where a winner deep into stoppage time saw Burton progress 3-2. In the Fifth Round Woking were easily disposed of 3-0 at home, and another home tie saw Chester defeated 2-0 in the Quarter-Finals. Then they met Yeovil Town, and the rest was Glovers history as they went down 4-0 at Huish Park, though they did win 2-1 again in the 'dead' second leg at Eton Park.

Burton have found the transition to the Conference a big step up, and have yet to record a home win. They currently lie sixteenth.

Prediction Corner

Ciderspace sees Burton Albion having a season of trying to consolidate their position in the Conference. We think they will be successful in that aim, with a relatively comfortable mid-table spot secured by the end of the campaign: 14th.

Burton's Main Stand. Your chance to spot Clough Senior at the game.

Burton's away end - where all the Yeovil fans will be heading to

Eton Park is towards the northern edge of Burton-upon-Trent, close to the 'suburb' of Stretton.

Prices are: adults £ 8.00; senior citizens £ 6.00; under 16's £ 3.00. Add £ 3.00 to each of those if you wish to sit. Programmes are £ 2.00.
The stadium has some parking, but with only a 300 capacity don't expect to get into the club car park. Visiting fans at likely to be directed to park in the nearby industrial estate. The entrance is off the Derby Road / Princess Way roundabout (see directions below), it's free, and an easy couple of 100 yards or so walk to the ground.

By Road

Travel from the West Country takes you inevitably onto the M5. At Junction 4a switch to the M42. Leave the M42 at its last exit (Junction 11 just past Tamworth) and go onto the A444 signposted Burton. Stay on the A444 all the way to Burton, going through Overseal and Castle Gresley on the way. On entering Burton, go past the Black Horse and Copper Hearth pubs, straight across the mini-roundabout and you will come to a roundabout with St Peters Bridge in front of you. Turn right at the roundabout into Stapenhill Road (A444), which runs parallel to the River Trent, and then turn left at the traffic lights onto the Trent Bridge. Get into the right hand lane, go straight on through both sets of lights at the end of the Bridge, into Horninglow Street, straight on again at the next lights (next to the newly built Magistrates Courts), then turn right at the traffic lights underneath the Brewery fly-over, into Hawkins Lane. Go through the industrial estate, straight across the mini-roundabout and over the Railway Bridge, (as you pass over this, the floodlights are visible) once over the Railway Bridge, you will come to a roundabout. Go straight across the roundabout into Princess Way. Ground is 100 yards on left.
N.B. As opposed to the above which is the recommendation of Burton Albion several fans have suggested this as a better route to the ground: come off the M42 at Junction 9,taking the A446 and then the A38 towards Lichfield. Continue on the A38 until the 2nd Burton turn off (not the Branston one). The ground is then about one and a half miles back South down the A5121.

>From the South-East you will be coming up the M1. Exit at Junction 22 (signposted Coalville, Ashby, Burton) and stay on the A511 for approximately 17 miles, by-passing Coalville and going through Ashby-De-La-Zouch, then Woodville and Midway (This area is littered with speed cameras - so beware!) When you enter Burton, get into the right hand lane at the bottom of Ashby Road (A511) going straight over the traffic lights and across the Trent Bridge. Staying in the right hand lane, go straight on through both sets of lights at the end of the Bridge, into Horninglow Street, straight on again at the next lights (next to the newly built Magistrates Courts), then turn right at the traffic lights underneath the Brewery fly-over, into Hawkins Lane. Go through the industrial estate, straight across the mini-roundabout and over the Railway Bridge, (as you pass over this, the floodlights are visible) once over the Railway Bridge, you will come to a roundabout. Go straight across the roundabout into Princess Way. Ground is 100 yards on left.
N.B. We're coming from the South-East and don't intend doing anything of the sort! Carry on up the M1 to Junction 23a, take the A50 and then the A38 down into Burton from the North. Motorway and dual-carriageway all the way. Exit the A38 at the first turning for Burton (North). Keep going along Derby Road (A5121), past McDonalds and the Pirelli factory on your right. At the second roundabout turn right into Princess Way. Ground is 100 yards on left. 10-11 miles more, 100-110% hassle less.

By Rail

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-minute walk to Eton Park from the Station. Out of the station turn left, then next right into Derby Street. Keep going on this road about 1 mile, straight across the first roundabout by the Derby Turn Pub, then immediately left at the next roundabout into Princess Way. The ground is 100 yards on left.

Taxis

Some local taxi companies:

Central Cars (High Street) Tel: (01283) 533333
Darley Cars (Derby Road) Tel: (01283) 515575
National Cars (Union Street) Tel: (01283) 566632
Stapenhill Cars (Main Street, Stapenhill) Tel: (01283) 566666
Station Taxis (Railway Station, Borough Road) Tel:(01283) 532000

Back to Top of Page

Burton's social club, situated outside the ground.

At the ground the posh folks have the Albion Suite, which is usually given over to corporate hospitality. We proles can try the Football Tavern social club, which is outside the ground in the car park. It's small, and getting a drink there could require a lot of patience.
Inside the ground the club prides itself on it's food. Some with long experience of the cardboard and gristle often served up at football grounds may approach this claim with a certain scepticism but our stomachs on the ground confirm that Albion's efforts are well above average. Lots of choice too: various pies (which used to include Chicken Balti - don't know if that line has been continued), burgers, hot dogs, sausages, faggots, mushy peas etc. They are very proud of their faggots, and as a man partial to this delicacy I was looking forward to them on both our last visits. As one should have expected they were sold out long before we got anywhere near one :-( , though not leaving the pub until a few minutes before kick off may not have helped in the quest
A service for coach and min-bus travellers is the supply of freshly cooked hot meals the return journey home. All orders must be placed and paid for in full before kick-off at the snack bar situated at the main entrance to the ground. Meals will be freshly cooked to your requirements and delivered to your coach at a pre-arrange time.

Football Tavern, Eton Park, Shakespeare Road, Burton-On-Trent, DE14 2RU. Tel: 01283 567102

Pubs and Grub:

The Alfred - look closely and you'll see the phrase Beer Festival on the wall. If that doesn't tell you what to expect, nothing will!

SIGH!! What a travesty........ having suffered a 1 pm kick-off on a Sunday last season we how have an evening game this year.

This is Burton-upon-Trent - home of Bass Brewers Limited, second biggest brewing group in the land, who account for nearly a quarter of all beer produced. Unfortunately they mostly make total **** these days, and stand accused by this profile of scrapping many a good ale, as they bought out (and often closed) brewery after brewery, and ruining most of the rest.

Bass owned, but semi-independent, the Museum Brewing Company is Bass' token effort at maintaining some of the historic beers it has destroyed, but is restricted to an out-put of sixty barrels a week.

However all is not lost in the Burton Bass desert of nitro, cream-flow and lager as the town still has several quality independent brewers, and a host of good pubs selling proper beer. Marston's still plies its magic brewing skills. Owd Rodger will slay you, and Pedigree is just one of the greats. Not the easiest to keep nor a great traveller in the opinion of this ex-landlord, Burton is the place to try and find a perfect pint of this classic pale ale.

Another independent in the town is Burton Bridge. Everything they produce is interesting. They have four pubs in the town, the Burton Bridge Inn the Alfred, the Devonshire Arms, and most recently the Great Northern, as well as an outlet at the brewery itself.

The Bass Museum is free to CAMRA members, and has it's own bar attached. It's in Horninglow Street (near the railway station) and is well signed. Good place for families: the kids can stroke the shire horses, Dad can look at the steam engines and Mum can get a few beers down her neck and make the Ol' Man drive.

The Beech Inn. Welcomes children, the disabled and does food. May be suitable for coaches too as it has a big car park

Horninglow Street turns into Bridge Street as it crosses the Trent, and there you'll find the Burton Bridge Inn. Following the directions above in the Travel Guide you'll have gone past both these hostelries - er, in the reverse order they've been mentioned! Ignore the turning right into Hawking Lane (see directions to the ground above) and go a few hundred yards further along Horninglow Street: left will take you into Derby Street where the Alfred is situated. It welcomes families and serves good beer and food. There's bar billiards - and table football if you want to preview the match. This was our venue the year before last, and a damned fine pub it was too.

Right takes you along Derby Road and past the Derby Inn (no meals) towards the ground. Third left up the Derby Road takes you into Princess Way and the stadium. Nearer the ground is the Great Northern (from the ground go immediately over the older of the two railway bridges and it's a couple of hundred yards down a side street to the right). This was the main venue for Yeovil fans last season. A solid 'working mans' style hostelry then, it has since been taken over by Burton Bridge and should be even better. Coming from the North, about half a mile before Eton Park is the Beech Inn. For those of the Wetherspoon's tendency there is one in Burton's High Street, the Lord Burton.

The Shoulder of Mutton

Out of town the Shoulder of Mutton at Barton Under Needwood (a village just off the A38) is highly recommended.

The Alfred, 51, Derby St, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 2LD. Tel: 01283 562178

The Beech Inn, Derby Rd, Stretton, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 0DL. Tel: 01283 561811

Burton Bridge Inn, 24, Bridge St, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1SY. Tel: 01283 536596

Derby Inn, 17, Derby Rd, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1RU. Tel: 01283 543674

Great Northern Inn, Wetmore Road, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1QS. Tel: 01283 509531

The Lord Burton, 154, High St, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1JE. Tel: 01283 517587

Shoulder of Mutton, 16, Main Street, Barton Under Needwood, Staffordshire, DE13 8AA. Tel: 01283 712568

The Great Northern, recently taken over by Burton Bridge Brewery, and close to the ground.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

If you can understand Vanessa............ oh well, no chance then.

Top-Tip :

Be careful what you sing about Mr Clough Senior. Some Why?muff fans were thrown out of the ground last season for suggesting the Great Man might have a problem with Burton's most famous product.