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| May 2000 News and Reports |
| Date | Story | Type |
| 12-5-00 | "Cloughie is a Brewer 'til 2003!" | New contract |
| 8-5-00 | "Record breaking Albion go out in style" | Bath (h) report |
| 6-5-00 | "Brewers seek record finish" | Weymouth (a) news, Bath preview |
Friday 12th May 2000 Cloughie is a Brewer til 2003! Albion manager Nigel Clough has signed a new contract which will keep him at Eton Park until 2003. Clough's existing contract doesn't expire until October next year, and the new deal will come as a major boost to the Brewers as they plan for next season, and is seen by Clough has a chance to kill off for once and for all speculation linking him to other clubs. Said Clough: "No matter how often you say you're not going, people don't seem to believe it. Now, by signing a new contract, perhaps they'll start to listen to me." "I'm very happy at Burton," continued Clough, "both on the football side and with the people I'm working with, and I feel we have a chance of acheiving something. Maybe it was a bit too much to expect to go from thirteenth last year to winning the league at the first attempt, but finishing as runners-up is a step in the right direction and will do a lot for the confidence and belief of the players." Brewers chairman Ben Robinson also expressed his delight at the new agreement: "Everyone should be deilighted," he says in tonight's Burton Mail, "both at the club and in the town as a whole. Nigel has not only become the most successful manager in the club's history, he has increased attendances to the highest level for a quarter of a century and has raised our profile beyond all recognition." Robinson said that the increase in salary for the Brewers boss in the new deal was "nominal", adding: "What he (Clough) is saying is that he intends to stay at Burton because he has a young family, he likes the area and he's gaining experience." Meanwhile, Clough has already begun to plan for next season, and has offered new contracts to veteran striker Andy Garner, and midfielder Pat Lyons. Monday 8th May 2000 Record-breaking Albion go out in style The Brewers capped one of the most successful seasons in their history with a convincing 3-0 victory over Bath City, to acheive second place in the Dr. Martens League, the highest league finish in their 50-year footballing existence. A sizeable crowd turned up at Eton Park hoping to see the 1999-2000 campaign out in party mood, and the paying 1,200 certainly received value for money, from the first half blitz which saw the Brewers build up an unassailable lead on the pitch, to Brian Clough's crowd-pleasing post-match address off it.
It was a day to
reflect on a season in which Nigel Clough's team has blossomed into the best
side for many a year at Eton Park, and in many people's eyes, the best
footballing side in the league. But also, as Nigel Clough was quick to point
out, to reflect on the fact that the ultimate prize of promotion still remained
elusive.
The awards ceremony has developed into something of a tradition over the past decade, and is starting to reach Oscars-proportions, with seemingly every player in the team receiving some gong or other. Nick Goodwin, making his 500th appearance for the Brewers, received a special award from the supporters club, whether or not he'll be able to notch up enough starts to catch up Phil Annable's record of 567 remains to be seen, with Cloughie having spoken about bringing in some competition in that area next season.
There was also
a special award for Andy Garner, for 'scoring the first goal of the
millenium', and some warm and deserved applause for the veteran striker,
who, let's not forget, had to endure some shameful treatment from the terrace
boo-boys earlier this season.
Oh yeah, and there
was also a football match. The Brewers looked on top right from the start
against a Bath side who had threatened eventual champions Boston United for
so long at the top before falling away in spectacular fashion in the final
straight. They finish the season in fourth place.
The second half didn't quite live up to the frenzied nature of the first, but there was another disallowed goal, again for offside, this time Mark Blount had strayed before heading into the net. The third goal arrived on 66 minutes, Pat Lyons picking up Dale Anderson's ball in to strike past 'keeper Watts from 20 yards. And so the celebrations could begin.
A BrewersNet
picture special - more
pics from the Bath game and awards presentations...
Saturday 6th May 2000 Brewers seek record finish Albion went into today's final match of the 1999-2000 season against Bath City at Eton Park aiming to acheive their highest ever league finish. The Brewers can clinch second spot with a victory over Bath, who spent much of the season challenging eventual champions Boston United before a dramatic end of season slump. Even a narrow defeat could see the Brewers hang on to runners-up spot, if third placed Margate fail to beat Halesowen Town at Hartsdown Park. Albion kept themselves in the driving seat with a fine 2-1 away win at Weymouth last Saturday. Nigel Clough cancelled out David Laws's first half opener for the Terras, driving home a low shot just short of the hour mark, before delivering the ball from which Christian Moore headed the winner three minutes from time. Margate's victory over Ilkeston on Monday lifted them to within one point of the Brewers, who will be keen to finish their season with a victory over the side who beat them on the opening day of the season.
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