ARCHIVE NEWS - JANUARY 2007

BELL BACK WITH BREWERS (31/01/07)

Nigel Clough spent a busy day wheeling and dealing on the final day of the transfer window to bring Lee Bell back to the Pirelli Stadium.

Bell was released from his contract at Crewe Alexandra by mutual consent and was immediately snapped up by the Brewers until the end of the season.

Lee played 6 games in a loan spell with Burton Albion last season, scoring one goal, but returned to Crewe after one month.

Lee should make his return in the Conference game away at Weymouth on Saturday.

BREWERS ON THE BOX (29/01/07)

The home league fixture against Forest Green Rovers has been moved forward 24 hours to facilitate live coverage on Sky TV.

The game will now take place on Monday 12th March, kick off 7.45pm.

It is the second time that the Brewers have featured in a live game this season following the 1-0 home win against Exeter City in November.

NO ENCORE FOR OPARA (28/01/07)

On loan Lloyd Opara is set to return to Peterborough United when his loan spell finishes at the end of the month.

Nigel Clough is not intending to apply for an extension to the deal after the striker failed to impress during his time with the club.

Due to postponements and re-arrangements, Opara was only available for 3 matches during his spell with the club. He made the starting line up for the games against Worcester City and St Albans, but was an unused substitute at Aldershot Town.

Lloyd becomes the latest in a long line of loan players who have failed to make an impact after joining the Brewers.

ALDERSHOT TOWN 3 BURTON ALBION 2 (27/01/07)

Despite taking a two goal lead in the first 15 minutes of the game, the Brewers slumped to their usual Conference defeat to Aldershot.

Goals from Daryl Clare and Andy Corbett looked to have given the visitors a commanding position, but the Shots battled back to notch their 7th win in 8 meetings between the two sides.

The defeat drops the Brewers to 6th position in the league, and out of the play-off positions.

BREWERS NEW SIGNING (25/01/07)

Nigel Clough has moved quickly to replace the departing Lee Fowler by signing Marc Goodfellow.

The Burton born midfielder has been without a club since leaving Bury last year, and joins the Brewers on a non-contract basis.

Marc started his career as a trainee at Stoke City and made the national back page headlines when on his debut he scored the winning goal against Charlton Athletic in a League Cup tie.

After leaving the Potters, Marc has also played for Bristol City, Swansea City, Grimsby Town and Bury.

NEW DATE FOR HALIFAX MATCH (24/01/07)

The home league game against Halifax Town has been re-arranged for Tuesday 17th April, with a 7.45pm kick off.

The game was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday 3rd February, but has had to be moved due to the Shaymen's continued interest in the FA Trophy.

The fixtures and results page is now fully updated.

FOWLER SET TO LEE-VE (20/01/07)

Midfielder Lee Fowler looks to have played his last game for the Brewers following the shock news that he had been placed on the transfer list.

Fowler was not even named amongst the substitutes for the game against St Albans, and now looks set to leave the club before the end of the January transfer window.

A summer signing from Scarborough, Lee has made 25 appearances so far, but has fallen out of favour in recent games. It would appear that disagreements with the manager over team selections has doomed him to an early departure.

There may be a ready made replacement waiting to take Lee's place at the club. Former loan signing Lee Bell watched this afternoon's game from the stand and could be set for a return. Bell is currently on the transfer list at Crewe Alexandra and has openly expressed his desire for a playing return to the Pirelli Stadium.

BURTON ALBION 1 ST ALBANS CITY 0 (20/01/07)

Aaron Webster's headed goal secured a hard fought win over struggling St Albans and helped to cement Burton's place in the play-off positions.

Other results in the Conference now mean that Nigel Clough's men are just 8 points behind the league leaders with a game in hand.

LAMBS CLASH RE-ARRANGED (17/01/07)

The home league game against Tamworth has been re-arranged for Tuesday 13th February with a 7.45pm kick off.

No dates have yet been set for the home game with Halifax Town or the away trip to Weymouth, although it is hoped that the trip to the Wessex Stadium will be made on Saturday 3rd February when both clubs are without a game due to early exits from the FA Trophy.

BREWERS FACE FIXTURE CHAOS (16/01/07)

Burton Albion's play-off ambitions may be hampered by a fixture pile-up following a power cut in Tamworth tonight.

The lights went out in the town causing the FA Trophy match between Tamworth and Welling to be abandoned during the first half. The Lambs were due to face the Brewers on Tuesday 23rd January, but that date has now been allocated for the cup game to be replayed.

It is the second Burton fixture to suffer a re-arrangement following the postponement of the away game at Weymouth earlier in the month.

The home league game against Halifax Town will also have to be re-arranged after the Shaymen defeated Oxford United in their FA Trophy replay.

Games in the third round of the competition are due to be played on Saturday 3rd February, the date Halifax Town were originally due to visit the Pirelli Stadium.

BREWERS SLAIN AT ST GEORGE'S (13/01/07)

We are now concentrating on the league! Burton Albion slipped to a disappointing defeat at Nationwide North side Worcester City in front of a big crowd at St George's Lane.

The home side were deserved winners and Shaun Harrad's late goal was a mere consolation in a game that was over as a contest long before.

Lloyd Opara made his Albion debut, but failed to make too much of an impression on the large travelling contingent of fans.

FOR BURTON AND FOR ST GEORGE'S (12/01/07)

After a weather enforced break, the Brewers return to action in the FA Trophy with a trip to St George's Lane to face old adversaries Worcester City.

Last weeks postponement at Weymouth means it is almost two weeks since the Burton players last played a match, but the break has meant that some of the injured players have had a chance to recover.

Aaron Webster, Darren Stride and Darren Tinson are all back in the squad after recovering from illness and injury.

Lloyd Opara is set to make his debut, and with Daryl Clare still recovering from a hand injury, looks likely to partner Jon Shaw in attack.

BREWERS WIN WITH CARDS (11/01/07)

Burton Albion have been handed an unexpected boost ahead of Saturday's FA Trophy match at Worcester, with the news that Paul Carden has signed until the end of the season.

The influential midfielder looked set to return to league football with Bury, but the move fell through, and Carden immediately agreed to commit his immediate future to the Brewers.

One player that won't be joining the Brewers though is Justin Richards. The Peterborough striker, a transfer target for the last 18 months, has joined Boston United on loan.

WEYMOUTH MATCH CALLED OFF (06/01/07)

Today's game away at Weymouth was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at the Wessex Stadium.

Heavy rain on the South Coast saw the game called off at lunchtime, but too late to stop many Brewers fans making the trip.

CLOUGH TUNES IN TO OPARA (04/01/07)

After months of chasing Justin Richards, Nigel Clough has finally got his hands on a Peterborough United striker, but it is Lloyd Opara instead.

The 23 year old forward has joined on a months loan and will make his debut at Weymouth in place of the injured Daryl Clare. Opara has appeared for a long list of clubs at both league and non-league level, including Colchester United, Swindon Town, Grays Athletic, St Albans City and Cambridge United.

There is also good news surrounding the return of midfielder Lee Bell. Crewe have indicated that they are willing to listen to loan offers for the player, but he is currently still required to provide squad cover for injuries.  Bell could join the Brewers after the weekend, and with his contract at Gresty Road up in the summer, there is a possibility of a permanent deal.

NIGEL PICKS UP MANAGER AWARD (03/01/07)

A run of four wins from the five league games in December has seen Nigel Clough pick up the award for Nationwide Conference manager of the month.

Cloughie shares the award with Kidderminster manager Mark Yates, who also saw his side notch up four victories.

With a crunch match at Weymouth on Saturday, let's hope that the curse of the manager of the month award does not strike!

NO DEAL FOR CARDS (03/01/07)

On loan midfielder Paul Carden has turned down the offer of a permanent deal with the Brewers in favour of a return to league football.

Carden was released by Peterborough United earlier in the season and joined Unibond Premier League Burscough, but was then loaned out to Burton straightaway. He made his debut in the league win away at Halifax Town and has made a major contribution in the run of results that have seen the Brewers emerge as title contenders.

Paul's new club is none known at this stage, but it is likely that he will be in the Burton squad to face Weymouth on Saturday.

BURTON ALBION 0 STAFFORD RANGERS 0 (01/01/07)

The festive fixtures ended with a damp squib at the Pirelli Stadium as the Brewers drew a blank against Stafford.

It was a game full of effort. but very little quality from either side. Neither goalkeeper had very much to do, the busiest person was the ball boy that had to keep retrieving balls hoofed over the popside stand.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON UPDATE (01/01/07)

Lee Fowler leads the competition to win the CTMD player of the season trophy as we move into 2007.

Fowler is closely followed by Andy Corbett, who is just one point behind on the current leader board. A string of impressive performances from Daryl Clare and Darren Stride have seen them pick up points recently, and the two players currently stand in joint third place.

You can add your votes for the player of the season on the CTMD message board. Select your man of the match after each Burton Albion game and help to decide who will be collecting the coveted silverware at the end of the season.