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| April 1999 News | |
Wednesday 28th April 1999 Strider's brace skewers Lambs Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 2 Tamworth1 The Brewers followed up Saturday's away win at Salisbury with a victory over Staffordshire rivals Tamworth at Eton Park last night - courtesy of two goals by Darren Stride. After a goalless first-half, Stride gave Albion the lead on the hour mark, after Aaron Webster's cross was deflected onto the bar by Darren Grocutt - the former Brewers defender making his first appearance back at Eton Park since his transfer to the Lamb last month. Brewers goalkeeper James Cheetham - making his first team league debut after Nick Goodwin's injury in Saturday's game (see below) had had to save, and Terry Henshaw - slotting in at right-back for the absent Alan Davies - had cleared off the line as the Lambs came more into the game in the second half. Mark Blount also had to scramble the ball away from danger late on, before the Tamworth equaliser finally arrived bang on 90 minutes. Robert Mitchell's corner was somehow scrambled over the line, with Cheetham coming under strong pressure in the goalmouth. But the celebrations of the Lambs supporters in a 920 crowd were shortlived - from the restart the Brewers broke away, and won a corner. David Holmes swung it in, Lambs' keeper Knowles flapped at it, Michael Allsopp played it across the face of goal for Stride to hammer in his second. So it's three wins in a row for the Brewers, who'll be hoping to acheive a finish in the top half of the table by beating Crawley in Saturday's final game of the season, at Eton Park (Kick-Off 3pm). The win at Salisbury at the weekend was marred by an injury to keeper Nick Goodwin - who suffered a dislocated shoulder in a challenge with Salisbury striker Robbie Harbut. Darren Stride took over as a makeshift keeper. Andy Garner put the Brewers ahead from the penalty spot on 63 minutes, after Kevin Bush had handled David Holmes' shot on the goal line, for which the Salisbury man was red-carded. Holmes himself made it 2-0 eight minutes later, with a trademark lob. The Brewers' local rivals Gresley visit Salisbury tonight, with Albion fans sure to be paying close attention to a game which could see the Moatmen relegated to the Dr. Martens Midland Division. For all the Dr. Martens League News, including the latest on the Margate ground-grading saga go to Non-League on the Net's DML page. Tuesday 20th April 1999
Cloughie plays down
Forest job rumours
Barnes - a lifelong Forest fan - took over as Chairman on Saturday, and is keen to improve relations with supporters disenchanted with the unpopular previous reigime. He sees Clough as the perfect appointment to bring back the glory days the club enjoyed under his father Brian, who transformed Forest from an unfashionable second division club, to twice European Champions in the 1970's and 80's. Several top newspaper and football sites today quote Barnes as saying "Like every supporter, I will never forget the marvellous era we enjoyed under Brian. Sadly, I don't think Forest can ever be capable of lifting the European Cup again, because so much of what we achieved was due to Brian's brilliance. "But don't forget there is now another Clough making his way if football management in the shape of Nigel." However, today Nigel Clough told the Burton Mail newspaper: "I've heard nothing about it and as far as I'm concerned it's just paper talk...I am extremely happy at Burton Albion and want to finish the job here." Clough told the Mail he didn't like talking about another manager's job (Ron Atkinson's) but admitted that Stuart Pearce would be an ideal candidate should a vacancy arrive at Forest, saying "He was an inspiration on the pitch and I'm sure he would be as a manager." When asked if he would be interested in the Forest job somewhere down the line, Clough said that was "hypothetical", adding "I have got to get success at Burton Albion, if I don't there will be no down the line...I'm just looking forward to next season...with Nuneaton out of the way the division should be a lot tighter and I want us to be challenging." Clough arrived at Eton Park last October as successor to John Barton, taking the job on a three-year contract, and today Brewers fans will be hoping he will be staying a good while longer yet. Read the full text of the Burton Mail article, and two of those from today's national press - here. Sunday 18th April 1999 Brewers are in seventh heaven! Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 7 (seven) Dorchester Town 0 The team with the joint worst home record in senior non-league football banished all signs of the "home sickness" which has blighted them all through the season yesterday, as they blasted seven goals past a Dorchester Town side hovering on the brink of relegation. For Brian Clough - a guest at Eton Park again yesterday - some scrappy home defeats and last week's torrid affair at Bromsgrove had been his only experiences of watching his son's team in action - and not a single Albion goal. Yesterday the Brewers made up for it - and how! Not only was there the biggest Albion home victory in nearly 20 years to enjoy, but some swift, passing football to boot, though the quality (or lack of) of the opposition undoubtedly magnified the sheer ease with which the visitors were swept aside in this game. To say that Dorchester were a poor side is an understatement - if they escape relegation it won't be for want of trying. After a nondescript opening period, the game finally opened up on 10 minutes, Dale Anderson's cross from the left found Andy Garner in acres of space, to head in from 10 yards. On 26 minutes it was 2-0, Garner this time turning provider to Anderson, who turned his defender and shot home. Then on 32 minutes the ball was cleared by the Magpies' defence, but only as far as Nigel Clough, who was allowed plenty of time to pick his spot and place a 20-yard shot past visiting keeper Stewart Kearn - for only his second Albion goal. For Dorchester, the game was up, and they might as well have started their long journey home to Wessex at half-time. Manager Stuart Morgan made two changes at the break, but any battle plan he might have had lay in tatters just three minutes after the restart. David Holmes' corner was headed goalwards by Terry Henshaw, defender Andy Harris hacked it away but the Russian linesman (OK, he was from Birmingham) ruled that the ball had crossed the line - a first goal for the central defender, who has looked impressive since joining the club earlier this month. Full-back Jimmy Neil - who seemed to have been carrying an injury - was taken off soon after this, with Aaron Webster taking his place in an unfamiliar position for the youngster. The fans had to wait another 22 minutes for the next goal - Dale Anderson collecting Henshaw's pass and sweeping home his second of the game, with a "convincing victory" for the Albion now beginning to take on "rout" proportions. Clough and Garner exchanged passes in a swift attacking movement which deserved a goal, but Clough's final shot was off target. The Brewers boss then substituted himself, with Steve Spooner coming into the acion, but the goals kept on coming. A good run down the left from Webster culminated in a pass to Andy Garner, who drilled home a superbly struck shot from the edge of the box for his second, Albion's sixth. Vintage Garner, and the veteran striker looked probably more effective than he has done all season, more comfortable in a supporting role to the marauding Anderson. David Holmes could have added to the tally but lobbed well high of the crossbar, before finally getting his name to the scoresheet three minutes from time with a free-kick which curled round the statuesque Dorchester wall and goalkeeper - completing a scoreline which enabled us the pleasure of seeing the scoreline - in true videoprinter fashion: Burton Albion 7 (seven) Dorchester 0. To put it into perspective, Albion haven't put so many past the opposition since their visit to Bedworth United in January 1989 - with goals from Gayle, Whitehouse and Cotterill (what about that for a forward line?!) And the last time Eton Park saw a home win as big as this, Neil Warnock got two of the goals, as Gateshead were thrashed 8-0 in a Northern Premier League match. This campaign might be all over bar the shouting, but matches like this sure help to keep those end-of-season doldrums at bay. Remaining matches: Salisbury City (a) next Saturday, 24th April K.O 3pm, Tamworth (h) Tuesday 27th April K.O 7.30pm, Crawley Town (h) Saturday 1st May K.O 3pm. Thursday 15th April 1999 Clough on Hillsborough, ten years on Ten years to the day since the Hillsborough disaster, Albion boss Nigel Clough has been speaking about the tragedy which he witnessed at first hand, as a Nottingham Forest player in the FA Cup semi-final with Liverpool that day, and it's impact on the game in the decade since. In an interview with online football magazine Football 365, Clough remembered the harrowing events of Saturday April 15th 1989. The Brewers boss recalled:"We went off and sat in the dressing room for an hour-and-a-half with no knowledge of what was going on...In terms of the extent (of the disaster), we didn't find out until about 5.30pm. You can't contemplate it. All our thoughts were with the Liverpool fans who had lost family and friends. I think it hit home that it could have been at the Forest end and it could have been our fans." Ninety-six people lost their lives on the Leppings Lane terraces in British sport's worst ever disaster, a tragedy which had a massive impact on the game of football in this country, with the report by Lord Justice Taylor into the disaster heralding sweeping changes in stadia design which have impacted not just on the giants of the Premiership, but on non-league football, with most - if not all clubs - at Albion's level having been forced to either improve their grounds or move to new ones. Said Clough: "What has happened in football since has had a lasting effect. It's just a tragedy that it took what happened to kick people into gear." Apart from the revolutionary effect on Britain's decaying football stadia, the events of ten years ago also changed the public's perception of the game and it's supporters, who had long been regarded as "thugs", spawned a whole movement of fanzines and Independent supporters groups, and forced a game at it's lowest ebb to confront it's problems and change for the better. That, along with the fact that the families of those who lost their lives are still having to fight to find out the truth about the events of that day, is why ten years on, Hillsborough is still relevant to all football supporters. Read the full interview with Nigel Clough here, or visit the website of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, who continue to fight for justice for the survivors and families of the 96 at www.hfsg.org. Thursday 15th April 1999 Pitt's returns to Moatmen - for now Ian Pitt has returned to Gresley after completing his one month loan spell with the Brewers, but Nigel Clough says he could still be an Albion player next season. The striker made a substitute appearance for Gresley in their 3-1 defeat against Rothwell on Tuesday - and got a far from enthusiastic reception from the Moat Ground fans. Clough was quoted in the Burton Mail as saying "I wouldn't rule him out of our squad for next season." This might surprise some Brewers fans, as apart from his substitute goal against Ilkeston on Easter Monday, he struggled to make an impact during his five games at the club - the last of which was Saturday's dire 0-0 draw at Bromsgrove - quite possibly the worst game of the season, with barely an incident of note during the entire 90 minutes. Bromsgrove were as good as relegated already before the match, and their supporters had certainly given up the ghost - without the away support (including a certain Mr B. Clough) the crowd would certainly have dipped into the 200's. The Brewers now have just four matches left this season - on Saturday Dorchester Town visit Eton Park needing points to climb away from the relegation zone (Kick-Off 3pm). Next Saturday Albion travel to Salisbury for the final away game of the season, the postponed match at home to Tamworth has been re-arranged for Tuesday 27th April, with the season reaching it's conclusion on Saturday May 1st, when Crawley Town are the visitors to Eton Park. Thursday 8th April 1999 Pitt super-sub, but Robins too good A first Albion goal for loan signing Ian Pitt - in his first touch of the game against Ilkeston Town on Monday evening - wasn't enough to overturn the Robins' two-goal defecit, with the Brewers going down to their eleventh home defeat of the campaign - still the joint worst home record in senior non-league football, along with that of Unibond Premier basement side Accrington Stanley. The result takes Ilkeston manager Keith Alexander a step closer to relalising his ambition of taking runners-up place, repeating the feat his team acheived in the Midland Division last season. A physical Ilkeston side were good value for their one goal lead at half-time, given to them by John Knapper's volley from the edge of the box. Christian Moore added to the visitors' tally after the break, with the Brewers given an unexpected chance to comeback, when Robins defender Dean Fearon was sent-off for a second bookable offence - for returning to the pitch without permission after receiving treatment! Ilkeston manager Keith Alexander was also shown the red card, and banished to the stand, for protesting against the decision. The Brewers were already coming into the game more - Mark Blount, Andy Garner and David Holmes all coming close - when substitute Ian Pitt was brought on as replacement for defender Jimmy Neil - who made a solid home debut for Burton. Pitt, on the other hand, has hardly set the world on fire since his arrival on a month's loan from Gresley, but the groans of certain of the 1,088 crowd turned to cheers when the striker - making his first home appearance too - arrived in the box with the slightest of touches to take Terry Henshaw's free-kick past Robins keeper Marples. Albion, encouraged by this goal and looking to make their advantage in numbers pay, pushed forward with more purpose than had been seen all game, with Pat Lyons coming closest to equalising, forcing a save out of Marples. Still there was time for Goodwin - a candidate for Player of the Season surely - to produce a fine save to deny Knapper his second, Ilkeston's third. So the Brewers still have to wait for the points which will secure their Premier Division status for next season - points which could come at Bromsgrove Rovers on Saturday (Kick-Off 3pm). The Worcestershire club have nothing to play for having already been relegated to the Midland Division - a fate they avoided only by chance last season. Monday 5th April 1999 Brewers home for the holidays The Brewers finally return home to Eton Park to play Ilkeston Town in tonight's Bank Holiday Monday clash (Kick-Off 7.30pm), after a string of away matches which culminated in Saturday's fine 2-0 away win at Merthyr Tydfil. Dale Anderson scored his debut goal for Albion at Penydarren Park, converting from close range after Steve Spooner's 26th minute free-kick came back off the crossbar. Andy Garner made it 2-0 eight minutes later, converting from the penalty spot after the Martyrs' Adrian Needs was adjudged to have fouled Darren Stride - a "dubious" decision we understand! Tonight's visitors lkeston are gunning for runners-up spot in the Dr. Martens Premier Division - repeating the feat which won them promotion from the Midland Division last season. You get nothing for second place in this league of course - the sole promotion spot will go to Nuneaton Borough, who clinched the title with their 2-0 win at neighbours Atherstone on Saturday, earning them a return to the Conference after a 12 year absence. For the Brewers, a victory tonight would virtually guarantee their Premier Division survival, and it's a case of "maybe next year" as we look down with envious eyes at our neighbours down the A444. Saturday sees a trip to Bromsgrove Rovers - who are seemingly dead and buried - six points adrift at the bottom, with the Midland Division nightmare they avoided by chance last season apparently about to come to fruition. Friday 2nd April 1999 Moat return for Marsden Assuming it wasn't some bizarre April Fools prank dreamed up between Nigel Clough and Brian Kenning, Tony Marsden rejoined Gresley Rovers yesterday as an eleventh hour deal was thrashed out between the two clubs to beat the Dr. Martens League transfer deadline. Kenning had initially tried to sign the Brewers' midfielder on Tuesday but negotiations fell through, with Kenning claiming his club couldn't match the wages Marsden was receiving at Eton Park. However the two parties came to a compromise agreement whereby the Brewers cancel Marsden's contract with them - enabling him to sign for Gresley, who are still forced to follow an FA directive over unpaid wages which means they can't sign contract players. BrewersNet understands that under the terms of the deal, both clubs will contribute towards the player's wages until the end of the season. Nigel Clough had already made it clear that Marsden wasn't part of his plans for next season. Marsden was part of Gresley's 1996-97 Championship winning side, but joined the Brewers at the start of the following season, part of a "cross-Trent exodus" which included Mark Blount, and later Andy Garner. Albion have been importing as well as exporting players - the latest new arrival at Eton Park is 19-year old utility player Terry Henshaw - who arrives at the club from Nationwide League side Notts County, where he was reserve team captain. Meanwhile Nigel Clough is reported to have made a "tentative enquiry" about highly rated Ilkeston Town midfielder Ian Robinson, who wants out of the New Manor Ground club. Robinson was on the verge of signing for either Kidderminster or Hednesford last week, but the move collapsed over personal terms. Robinson is not currently part of manager Keith Alexander's team, and his contract expires at the end of the season. He would be exactly the kind of quality player Brewers' fans would like to see arrive at Eton Park during the summer. In the league Albion ground out another point in their attempt to secure Premier Division status, with a 0-0 draw at fellow strugglers Cambridge City at Milton Road on Tuesday evening. A seemingly never-ending run of away matches for the Brewers finally concludes tomorrow with a trip to Merthyr (Kick-Off 3pm) before the Brewers return to home ground when they take on Ilkeston Town - conquerors of Nuneaton last week - in an Easter Bank Holiday Monday fixture - this match has a 7.30pm kick-off. |
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