The Brewers v The Moatmen
	Burton Albion v Gresley Rovers 1954/55-1997/98

Complete record of Albion-Gresley matches       Albion home & away record against Gresley

Attendance record in Albion-Gresley matches

 Although nowadays the two clubs are fierce rivals, the derby match between Albion and Gresley is a relatively recent phenomenon in the memories of most supporters. Because although Gresley had a 68 year head-start on the Brewers, it is only in this decade that the Moatmen have been able to compete on the same level for a sustained period. (Although the clubs' paths did cross, briefly, in the Birmingham League during the 50's) In fact, as Gresley fans are only too quick to point out, they have put Albion to shame in the past few years.

In the decade since Albion reached the FA Trophy Final at Wembley, Gresley have had a Wembley appearance of their own (albeit in the FA Vase), been promoted twice, reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, and the Quarter Final of the Trophy, and of course (as if we could forget) won the Dr. Marten's League Championship last season -a feat Albion have never managed. Meanwhile Albion have just one FA Cup First Round appearance to their credit, along with a couple of what most fans regard as minor trophies, have not progressed further than the Second Round of the Trophy at ten attempts, and finished no higher than third in the League. Bearing this in mind, Albion fans are keener than ever to "put one over" the Moatmen, to re-establish their superiority over their old enemies..

Early Albion-Gresley scenes from April 1952; one of the first matches in the Johnson Cup, a challenge competition between the two clubs  which was briefly resurrected with Gresley's promotion to the Southern League in 1992. Brewers Captain Nobby Hadfield (left), and Rovers skipper Ted Bowler (right) are pictured at Wellington Street before the match, which Gresley won 4-2.

 The first ever competitive Albion-Gresley derby match was played  at the Moat Ground on 11th December 1954,  although the two teams had previously met in the Johnson Cup challenge match (see photo above). The Brewers, only four years old, completed the double  that season over their elderly relatives from across the Trent. The attendance at the Moat that day is not recorded, but for the return at Albion's old Wellington Street ground, 5,527 people turned up to see Brewers legend Jackie Stamps (famous for scoring twice for Derby in the 1946 Cup Final) score two of three goals against Gresley. A big attendance, even by the exceptionally high standards of the time (football was enjoying it's post-war boom period), but by no means the highest attendance at the old ground. (Perhaps even in those days Gresley brought few away supporters!)

 The next time the two clubs met was three seasons later, both matches ending in draws, but this was to be the last season for more than three decades in which Burton and Gresley would compete on a regular basis. Gresley dropped out of Birmingham League Division One, whilst Albion were headed in the opposite direction, into the Southern League. Whilst Albion played in various guises of the Southern and Northern Premier Leagues, Gresley languished in the Birmingham- later the West Midlands Regional League, and the two teams only met on the odd occasions they would be drawn together in the FA Cup- Albion coming off the best in all these ties.

 Albion's Wembley appearance against Kidderminster in the Trophy in 1987 was emulated four years later by Gresley against Guiseley, in the equivalent competition for smaller clubs- the FA Vase. And this rare moment of glory was to stir the Moatmen to acheive their long-sought after promotion to the Southern League. By this time, Rovers were a force to be reckoned with in the West Midlands League, and constantly amongst the front-runners. In their 1990/91 Wembley season Gresley also won their League Championship, but were denied promotion to the then Beazer Homes League because their ground was not up to standard, but the Moatmen repeated the feat the following year, and this time were, at long last, allowed to make the move up. And of all the teams Gresley could be drawn with in their first season in the Southern League Cup competition, they came out of the hat in the first round with Burton, so at long last,  for the 1992/93 season the old rivalry was restored. Gresley chalked up their first ever victories in competitive football against the Brewers, winning 1-0 at Eton Park and 3-2 in the second-leg in front of 1,405 people at the Moat Ground.

 Having waited years to join the Southern League, it took Gresley just one season to be promoted from the Midland Division to the Premier -finishing second to Nuneaton. (Typical- you wait for a promotion then two come along at once!) Ironically, Albion and Gresley were  again drawn together in the Dr. Marten's League Cup that season, and in what was but a curtain raiser for the main event, Gresley won both legs of the Semi-Final. But Albion gained revenge in the Competition that really mattered, winning both matches in the League. Gresley were awarded the plum Boxing Day fixture, and nearly 2,500 people crammed into the old ground on a frosty day to witness the first League match between the two clubs in thirty-six years. It was the Albion fans who went home happy that day, after watching the Brewers give their upstart neighbours a footballing lesson. Ex-Gresley player Robbie Briscoe was amongst the goalscorers as the Moatmen received a 4-0 thrashing. It was nearly Easter by the time Albion did the double over crestfallen Gresley, a Peter Howell goal seperating the two sides.

Eton Park action from April 1994, Albion following up their 4-0 Boxing Day thrashing of Gresley with a 1-0 win, thanks to a goal from Peter Howell.

 Albion have never repeated the satisfaction of that first season of  Burton-Gresley battles in the modern age, and results since then have mirrored the general fortunes of the two clubs. Gresley still had to wait until March 1996 for their first ever League victory over the Brewers, in front of 1,172 fans, but as Gresley under Paul Futcher began to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with, rather than just making up the numbers in the Dr. Marten's League, they were all too keen to show the club whom former manager Steve Dolby had (laughably) described as the "little club down the road" that they meant business. Another 2,500 attendance turned up at Eton Park on Boxing Day 1996, and memories of that famous victory at the Moat three years earlier came flooding back, as Albion went in front thanks to goals either side of half time from Simon Redfern and Micky Nuttell. But Gresley, showing the steel that would take them all the way to the Championship, stunned Albion with a courageous fightback culminating in a last gasp winner to sicken the home fans. The weather put paid to the scheduled return match on New Years Day, but when the two teams did eventually meet at the Moat Ground, in March, Gresley, by now coasting to the title completed an unprecedented double over the Brewers, to prove that the balance of power  in East Staffs/ South Derbys football had now shifted.

 Or had it?? Gresley's moment of celebration was short-lived. They had known since mid-season that they would not be promoted if they won the title because the Moat Ground was not up to Conference standard, and their proposed new ground was still at the planning stage. After the Gresley championship party was over, and the realisation  dawned that the triumph had been in vain, things began to go sour at the Moat Ground, and a stream of "rats" (in the eyes of Gresley fans at least) lined up to abandon what they saw as a sinking ship. First defender Mark Blount, then midfielder Tony Marsden, key members of the Championship squad, announced that they were defecting to Gresley's arch rivals across the Trent. Albion had come into money, and begun to upgrade their ground to Conference standard, and money had also been made available to John Barton for players. With the new season fast approaching, and still no sign of Gresley having raised the capital to build their new stadium, Eton Park obviously seemed a more attractive proposition to the Gresley defectors, keen to have a shot at Conference football.

 And before the new season started, their was even worse news for Gresley. Manager Paul Futcher resigned to take up the reigns at Conference side Southport, and Garry Birtles was left in charge of a squad which continued to shrink before his eyes even after the season had begun- his Assistant Manager and key striker Andy Garner joining Blount and Marsden at Eton Park. Since then, Gresley have looked nothing like the team which won the league last season, languishing near the relegation zone, and although the recent signing of highly rated striker Gez Murphy has seen an upturn in their form, the Moatmen are still struggling in the bottom half of the table.

 Bearing all this in mind, it's not hard to see why Gresley fans are bitter, and they will be more eager than ever to put one over the Brewers  (who, after all have not by any means lived up to pre-season expectations)  on Boxing Day and New Years Day. The ex-Gresley players in particular are assured a hostile welcome for the game at the Moat Ground, the first league match back there since their defection (although Blount and Marsden did play there in two pre-season matches.) All in all the games between Albion and Gresley over this festive period look set to be probably the most eagerly anticipated and hard fought games ever between the two sides since Gresley's return to this level of football. One thing is for certain- there will be no goodwill between the Brewers and the Moatmen this Christmas.

Stop Press: The spoils are shared in the 1997-98 derby double header. Gresley win the Boxing Day clash at the Moat Ground 2-0, the Brewers retaliating in the New Years Day return with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of  an own goal from Moatman Scott Guyett, in front of 2,189 at Eton Park.

Ex-Gresley man Andy Garner (centre) in the thick of the action at the Moat Ground on Boxing Day 1997

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Matches between Burton Albion and Gresley Rovers:

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Albion Home record against Gresley:

Albion Away record against Gresley:

Albion Total record against Gresley:

*22 points out of a possible total of 42 (counting all matches as 3 points for a win) Includes 97-98 results

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Albion v Gresley Attendance record:

* One FA Cup and One League attendance not recorded. Includes 97-98 attendances^.       

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