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| June / July 1999 News | |
Thursday 29th July 1999 Charity begins at home The Brewers kick off their Bass Charity Vase campaign against Derby County at Eton Park tonight, with a final showdown against Gresley Rovers a possibility if Albion can win through from their group. The Moatmen defeated a Leicester City XI 3-0 at the Moat Ground on Monday evening, but Brian Kenning's team face tough competition to qualify from West Bromwich Albion - 5-1 winners over Notts County. Derby got off to a winning start in their first group match on Tuesday night, defeating Stoke City 3-1 at Rocester's Hillsfield ground. It's been three wins out of four for the Brewers in their pre-season build up so far, though against admitedly weak opposition. Defender Terry Henshaw got two of Albion's four goals in a 4-0 drubbing of Belper Town, with Dale Anderson and Darren Stride the other scorers, and Albion have also recorded victories over Radcliffe Olympic (3-2) and Mickleover RBL (5-2). In the latter game, young prospect Danny Davidson netted a hat-trick, and fellow youth-teamer Ben Goddard and Craig Smith got the other goals, with Nigel Clough watching his future first team prospects from close range, playing for the first hour. The Brewers' only defeat so far came on Saturday, with a solitary goal from Adie Mike enough to earn victory for Conference side Hednesford Town in front of 300 at Eton Park. The performance was more encouraging than the result, but less heartening for the loyal fans was the knee injury sustained by new signing Craig Dean, which caused him to be carried off half an hour into the game. Strikers Dale Anderson and Anton Thomas also watched on from the stands, after sustaining minor knocks in the game at Belper. Monday 19th July 1999 Hackett out as Brewers shape up for 2000 As the build up to Albion's Golden Jubilee season gets underway in earnest this week, Nigel Clough has completed the signing of 23-year old full-back Jamie March, the former Stevenage, Kettering and Leek player. Leaving Eton Park though is midfielder Brendan Hackett. Hackett and the club evidently decided that a move would be in the player's best interests, after one season at Eton Park. Hackett was signed from Rushden & Diamonds by John Barton, and made his debut in the opening game of last season, but his appearances were restricted by a persistent injury. Manager Clough gets the chance to road test his new look team when the Brewers' programme of pre-season fixtures kicks off at Christchurch Meadow, the home of Belper Town on Tuesday evening , followed swiftly by a visit to Nottingham side Radcliffe Olympic the following evening. Nationwide Conference Hednesford Town are the visitors in the first match of the pre-season matches at at Eton Park this Saturday, 24th July, then the Brewers face more minor league opposition when they visit Mickleover RBL next Monday, 26th July. The annual Bass Charity Vase tournament gets underway on the same night, but the Brewers don't enter the competition until Thursday 29th July, when Premiership giants Derby County should attract a good crowd to Eton Park, with the Brewers' second group match - against Stoke City happening on Monday 2nd August, at Rocester FC. The winners of this group take on the winners of the group involving Gresley Rovers, Leicester City, Notts County and West Bromwich Albion in the final at Eton Park on Wednesday 4th August. Before then, Albion visit Shepshed Dynamo (on Tuesday 3rd August), followed by the final home match before the start of the season, against Kettering Town on Saturday 7th August. A match at Moor Green is also pencilled in for Monday 9th August, and then it's all eyes on Twerton Park, Bath, as the season proper gets underway on Saturday August 14th. Can you wait...? As far as we know, all Saturday games kick-off at 3pm, evening matches at 7.30 pm. But check before travelling, we could be wrong! Wednesday 14th July 1999 Brewers take an early Bath The Dr. Martens League fixtures for the 1999-2000 season have been released, with the Brewers starting and finishing the campaign against Bath City. Albion kick off their Golden Jubilee season with a trip to Twerton Park on Saturday 14th August, and conclude it nine long months later when the West Country side visit Eton Park on Saturday May 6th. A busy opening month sees Gloucester City as the visitors for the first game of the season at Eton Park - on Tuesday 17th August. The Brewers also host Weymouth and King's Lynn in August, with the obligatory early season trip to Worcester City, and one to Dorchester Town. With the absence of a certain 'little club down the road' from the fixture list, the Christmas and New Year programme looks a little different this year. Albion swap the cramped confines of the Moat Ground for the pleasanter surroundings of The Grove, when they visit Halesowen Town on Boxing Day Monday, whilst Ilkeston Town visit Eton Park for the first game of the new millenium a week later - on Monday 3rd January 2000, which should give you enough time to shake off that hangover. Ilkeston and Halesowen also provide the opposition over the Easter period - the Brewers visit the New Manor Ground on Saturday 22nd April, with the Yeltz coming to town on Easter Monday. There are a host of new names on the fixture list this season - Newport County last appeared in the Premier Division two seasons ago, but under their former guise of Newport AFC - the newly renamed exiles come to Eton Park on September 11th. Meanwhile Clevedon Town make what we believe is their debut appearance at Eton Park on 20th November, Havant & Waterlooville - in only their second season of existence - are the visitors on 15th January, and Margate return to Eton Park for the first time since 1977 - on 25th March. In other fixtures of note, the Staffordshire derby clash with Tamworth takes place on February 19th (away) and April 8th (home), whilst the last away game of the season is a trip to the seaside - to the Wessex Stadium, home of Weymouth. Meanwhile, with the new season just over a month away, the bookies have Albion down as fourth favourites to win the Dr. Martens League title, at odds of 13/2. Graham Allner's Worcester City are favourites at 13/8, the Brewers' opening day opponents Bath City are second favourites at 100/30, followed by Boston United at 7/2. Welshmen Merthyr and Newport are also tipped, with the Exiles the highest rated of the promoted sides at 8/1. Either Ilkeston or King's Lynn could be a good bet at 12/1 and 16/1 respectively, but you'd have to be either brave or stupid to tip Rothwell Town or Cambridge City at 66/1. Monday 5th July 1999 Clough eyes new signing The Brewers look set to add another new signing to their ranks for the 1999-2000 season - former Stevenage, Kettering and Leek full-back Jamie March. 23-year old March, who played for Stevenage in their memorable FA Cup Third Round clash with Newcastle United in season 97-98, joined the Brewers squad for pre-season training, which recommenced at Branston on Saturday, and poses in Albion shirt in tonight's Burton Mail. According to the Mail, Albion face competition to sign the player from other non-league and Football League clubs, but March is keen to join a club close to his home in Leicester. His signing would fill a position - left back - which has troubled the Brewers in recent season. Meanwhile, the draw for the FA Umbro Trophy has paired the Brewers with Unibond Division One side Trafford Borough, in the First Round match to be played on Saturday October 7th 1999 (3pm kick-off). Albion receive an exemption to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, and in case you missed it, play Bedworth United in the First Round of the Dr. Martens League Cup, on a date to be arranged. |
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