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| May 1999 News | |
Tuesday 18th May 1999 More comings and goings Brewers manager Nigel Clough has continued to ring the changes - two new players have arrived at the club, whilst title-winning reserve team boss Ian McMahon has been dismissed, as the Clough "revolution" sweeps through every corner of Eton Park. McMahon has twice guided the reserves to the Endsleigh Combination title - but has been told there is no place for him at the club next season. Albion are taking a step up from the Combination to the Central Conference League, and all reserve matches will be moved to week nights, so that Clough and his assistant Gary Crosby can keep a closer eye on developing talent. Clough told the Burton Mail: "We need a change of direction in the way the reserve team is run. It should not be about winning trophies but preparing players for the first team." He added: "Moving to the Conference League will provide better quality opposition and help to bridge the gap between first and second team football." Meanwhile, the competition for places in the first team increased further last week, with the signing of Craig Dean from Atherstone, and Danny George from Doncaster Rovers. Dean, 23, who can play on the left side of defence or midfield, was a member of the Manchester United youth team which spawned such talent as David Beckham and Paul Scholes. After departing Old Trafford he went on to play for Torquay United, and in the American Leagues. George - a central defender - started his career as a schoolboy with Nottingham Forest, before gaining League and Nationwide Conference experience at Doncaster. However he didn't find favour with new Rovers manager Ian Snodin, and despite not featuring in the first team at Belle Vue, remains a popular with supporters. George arrives on a free transfer, whilst Dean was under contract with the Adders, therefore a fee might have to be paid to the Sheepy Road club. Thursday 6th May 1999
Anton joins
Albion
Thursday 6th May 1999 Young Brewers' clinch cup On Tuesday evening the Brewers' youth team beat Stone Dominoes to win the Staffordshire FA Midweek Floodlit Youth Cup, at Chasetown Football club near Cannock. In what will hopefully be the start of more coverage of Youth and Reserve matters here on BrewersNet, Steve Griffiths brings us a report on a night of Cup Glory for the highly-rated Brewers youngsters... Stone took early control of the first half, they played some nice passing football and handled the bounce of the ball much better than Burton. The pitch was very hard and dry , in fact the Health and Safety Officer almost stopped it at one point to hand out goggles because of the dust! Stone were unlucky with an early strike which shook the crossbar. Burton however also had their chances but largely via long hopeful balls through to Ruben Francis. Burton’s midfield never really got much of the ball in the first half except for Ben Tilley (easily recognisable with his off-white coloured boots and hair to match) who worked very hard throughout and was probably Burton’s only player to consistently be first to the ball during the first half. At half time it would be fair to say that Stone looked the better side, and the only way Burton looked like scoring was going to be if Ruben Francis, the Youth League's top scorer, latched onto a long ball. However, Burton had us all fooled! They soon penned Stone into their own half and began to close players down much quicker. Everyone was supporting each other and making punishing runs which forced corners and crosses which demanded full attention from Stone's keeper. It wasn’t long before Burton scored direct from an Aaron Webster corner albeit with a little assistance form the wind. The goal of the night, and probably the strike of the season, came in the last 10 minutes. Mark Dennis had been orbited into the air from a vicious thigh high late tackle, he looked initially to be in trouble but Mark’s a strong lad and suffered mostly from dust in the eye (don’t tell the H& S Officer), this was obviously just what Mark needed as no more than a minute later mark struck the ball with the outside of right boot 30-plus yards out, the ball remained 2 to 3 feet above the ground until it swerved and dipped into the right hand corner of the goal with still enough speed to shake the post! The keeper had absolutely no chance. The second half actually looked like men against boys and it would have been stopped had it been a boxing match. My man of the match was Ben Tilley who gave 100% for 90 minutes. But overall it would have been worth the journey (and dodgy hotdog) just to see the Mark Dennis goal. I would say we knocked the spots of the opposition but I’m not that corny! A big congratulations to all the lads and the managers. Burton only require one more league win to clinch the title; they have an away game on Friday night and again on Saturday afternoon. Final Score: Burton Albion 2 Stone Dominoes 0 Albion youth: Jay Pearch, Gavin Fox, Ian Cooper, Matt Smith, Gavin Salisbury, Carl Eaglin, Mark Dennis, Aaron Webster, Ben Goddard, Ruben Francis, Ben Tilley. Subs and rest of squad: Nigel Doherty, Scott Pipes, Gareth Longford, Ian Mansfield, Martin Mosely, Paul Madely, Jonathan Daniels. Route to the Final: 1st Round: 2-1 against Wolverhampton Casuals, 2nd Round: 5-1 against Darleston Town Cotter joins Lambs, more signings imminent? Micky Cotter joined the Brewers' Premier Division rivals Tamworth as expected yesterday, and manager Nigel Clough could already have lined up his replacement. 30-year old striker Anton Thomas - an integral part of Nuneaton Borough's Dr. Martens League Championship winning team - has reportedly been sighted at Eton Park, with rumours that he, and another signing - possibly from Boro's neighbours Atherstone - could be on their way to Eton park in the not too distant future. Cotter joined Albion on the eve of the 1996-97 season from Gravesend & Northfleet, and scored 28 goals in 83 appearances for the Brewers, in a career hampered by injury. He joins the Lambs on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling, and has signed a year's contract. Watch this space for news of more transfer acticity in the coming days and weeks. Tuesday 4th May 1999 Out with the old, in with the new Nigel Clough plunged into the transfer market yesterday - less than 48 hours after the end of the 1998-99 season - to sign midfielder Neil Glasser from the Brewers' Dr. Martens Premier Division rivals Grantham Town. Glasser, 24, arrives at the club on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling, and has signed a two-year contract. He started his career with Nottingham Forest, before crossing the Trent to join Notts County. Glasser started his non-league career at Bromsgrove, and is a veteran of three seasons with the Gingerbreads. The new signing comes as Clough announced his retained list of players who will be staying at the club for the 1999-2000 campaign - the Brewers' 50th anniversary season. Leaving Eton Park are defenders Matthew Smith - who has struggled to gain a place in the first team since the arrival of Clough as manager, and Jimmy Neil - who has failed to impress since his signing just before the April 1st transfer deadline. Also on the way out are young defender James Benfield - the inaguaral winner of the "Simon Redfern award" for most promising young player last season, and Micky Cotter - the striker who's Eton Park career has been hampered by injury in recent seasons. Cotter is quoted in the Burton Mail as saying "It's nothing to do with Burton Albion and Nigel Clough and in many ways I'm sad to be leaving. But I've had a rotten 18 months with the club and I just think a change of club might bring a change of luck." Cotter - who remained popular with fans despite his relatively fleeting appearances in the team - has apparently already been the subject of several offers, and is likely to join former Brewers team-mate Darren Grocutt at Tamworth, where Lambs boss Paul Hendrie is keen to sign an experienced striker. Veteran midfielder Steve Spooner could also be on his way out - he recently turned down a deal offered to him by Nigel Clough, but has asked for more time to consider his future. Definitely staying at Eton Park are veteran striker Andy Garner, midfielder Pat Lyons, goalkeeper Nick Goodwin, and long-serving full-back Alan Davies, all of whom have been offered new contracts, along with Craig Smith, Wayne Sutton and Danny Davidson. These, along with already contracted Player of the Season Mark Blount, young defender Michael Allsopp, midfielders Darren Stride, Brendan Hackett and Aaron Webster, and strikers Phil Starbuck - who is likely to miss the start of next season through injury, David Holmes and Ruben Francis will make up the bulk of the squad with which the Brewers will start next season. Not forgetting messrs Clough and Crosby. Albion also hope to secure the services of Terry Henshaw - who has impressed in his month's loan from Notts County, along with more new signings during the close season. Getting withdrawal symptoms already?? The Brewers have arranged a friendly at Unibond First Division runners-up Hucknall Town for this Friday, 7th May (Kick-Off 7.30pm), with Nigel Clough promising the Notts side he will field a full strength side. Saturday 1st May 1999 Cloughie - and Gresley - steal the show! Dr. Martens League Premier Division: Burton Albion 1 Crawley Town 2 This match was of almost secondary importance to the 770 crowd inside Eton Park on the final Saturday of the 1998-99 season, with events unfolding down the road at the Moat Ground pre-occupying many fans during the game, and Brian Clough stealing the show at the after-match presentations. Clough Snr has aquired almost "living legend" status, and his introduction to fans on the pitch at the now traditional end of season ceremony brought rapturous and warm applause. Clough had lost none of his knack of playing to the crowd - his "shoulder charge" on Aaron Webster - mounting the stairs to receive the "Simon Redfern Award for most promising young player" - brought the house down. Also summoned to receive accolades from the great man were David Holmes and Andy Garner - joint top scorers on 14 goals this season, with Garner called up a second time after his goal against Saturday's opponents Crawley back in September was nominated "goal of the season" by Burton Mail man Rex Page and Radio Derby correspondent Dave Twigg. It was a minor surprise to some when Nick Goodwin was called up first in the Player of the Season stakes - he had been many people's tip for the top award but had to settle for runner-up to Mark Blount - who takes the fans award for the second season running. Either of them would have been a worthy winner - models of consistency in a season where that quality had been sorely lacking at Eton Park in particular. Manager Nigel Clough, speaking directly to the fans after the game - a welcome innovation - was moved to apologize for the "rubbish" (his words) the fans had seen on Saturday, and promised things would be better "from day one" of next season. To be honest, few people were really bothered about the result, the usually turgid end of season mood was replaced by a carnival atmosphere at Eton Park, and with the news of a Bath City goal at the Moat Ground still being celebrated (cruel, us??) Mark Blount's fifth minute opener for the Brewers crept in almost unnoticed. The lead only lasted four minutes - when Crawley's top scorer Ben Abbey headed in from close range, and on 25 minutes the visitors were in front, Sean McEntegart finding room to fire past James Cheetham in the Albion goal. Albion had most of the possession in the second half, but couldn't find a way through a well-drilled Crawley defence, showing few signs of disarray just a week after their manager Billy Smith resigned, frustrated by financial constraints at the cash-strapped Sussex club. So that's how it finished - 2-1 to Crawley, and the Brewers' traditional end of season surrender had handed three points to another lucky visitor. But a "disappointing" end to the season Dave Twigg?? Don't you believe it! Call it cruel if you like, but there can be nothing "disappointing" about a day when your nearest rivals are condemned to trips to the likes of Cinderford Town, Bilston and yes - Rocester! Put the bunting out, crack open the champagne - the Moatmen are down, and another season is only three and a half months away. Roll on August 14th! |
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