ARCHIVE NEWS - MARCH 2007

OXFORD UNITED 0 BURTON ALBION 0 (31/03/07)

The Brewers picked up another valuable away point in the race to finish in the Conference play-off positions.

In a game played in blustery conditions at the Kassam Stadium, it was Burton that had the best chances to take all the points, but a combination of the crossbar and some wasteful finishing by Jon Shaw saw the honours shared.

BREWERS TO HOST PLAY OFF FINAL AGAIN (31/03/07)

The Pirelli Stadium has been chosen to host the final of the Nationwide Conference play-offs for the second successive year.

This seasons showpiece game will take place on Monday 14th May and will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports as part of the new TV deal for the Conference clubs.

It has also been announced that the Nationwide Conference Promotion Final will take place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 20th May. If Burton Albion can maintain their league position and make it through the semi-final games of the play-offs, they would be on course to return to Wembley two decades after appearing at the old stadium in the FA Trophy final.

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 0 BURTON ALBION 0 (27/03/07)

Kevin Poole was the hero as the Brewers picked up another valuable point towards a play-off place.

The veteran keeper made a string of excellent saves to deny the home side a goal, whilst at the other end Jon Shaw was only the width of the crossbar away from grabbing the winner.

The Brewers drop a place to 5th in the table, but other results have gone favourably with defeats for both York and Exeter City.

BURTON ALBION 2 MORECAMBE 1 (24/03/07)

Two goals in the space of two first half minutes lifted the Brewers back into the play-off places at the expense of the visitors.

Jon Shaw capitalised on a mistake by Jim Bentley to score the opening goal, before Daryl Clare headed in from Keith Gilroy's cross.

A late penalty from Wayne Curtis, after Darren Stride had handled in the area, set up a frantic finish, but Burton hung on to record their fifth straight home victory.

DARREN STRIDE - RECORD BREAKER!

Congratulations to Darren Stride who broke the club appearance record in the match at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

Stridey's 568 match for the Brewers took him past the previous record held by Phil Annable that had stood for almost a quarter of a century.

Darren's achievement will be recognised ahead of the league game at home to Morecambe on Saturday, and later in the season by a special presentation by the fans.

FOWLER LEE-VES ON LOAN (20/03/07)

Albion outcast Lee Fowler has joined Newport County on loan until the end of the season.

Fowler has been frozen out of the squad since a fallout with Nigel Clough after he was left out of the team for the FA Trophy game at Worcester in January.

Lee, a former Welsh U-21 international, was hailed as one of the major signings of the summer when he joined the Brewers from Scarborough. He went on to make 21 appearances and scored 2 goals before his dispute with the manager.

GRAVESEND & NORTHFLEET 0 BURTON ALBION 0 (17/03/07)

A drab goalless draw was enough to keep the Brewers in the play-off hunt. The only memorable event from the game was the record breaking appearance from skipper Darren Stride.

ROWETT RETIRES...JOHNSON JOINS (14/03/07)

Burton Albion defender Gary Rowett has been forced to call time on his playing career after failing to recover from a persistent knee injury.

Rowett made 47 appearances for the Brewers when Nigel Clough persuaded him to start playing again after he was forced to end his professional career through injury.

Gary's experience and class was clear to see, and he has been instrumental in the development of the younger players in the squad.

Whether Gary will pull on an Albion shirt again remains unclear, but it is hoped that he will still be involved at Burton Albion with the role of Youth Development squad manager a likely appointment.

Maybe coming in the opposite direction is former Nottingham Forest striker David Johnson. Johnson, 30, was forced to retire from the game in 2006 after failing to recover from a back injury.

After starting his career as a trainee at Manchester United, Johnson made his name at Bury before a £1.1 million move to Ipswich Town. His prolific goal scoring record tempted Forest to pay £3.5 million to take him to the City Ground where he bagged 50 goals in 167 appearances.

He had spells on loan at Burnley and both Sheffield clubs before having to call it a day.

His professional career ended after more than 450 appearances and a tally of almost 150 goals. He also won 5 caps for Jamaica, scoring once.

Johnson is currently training with the Brewers and may be available to help the Brewers in remaining games of the season.

BURTON ALBION 1 FOREST GREEN ROVERS 0 (12/03/07)

A second half strike from Danny Holmes was enough to move the Brewers back into the play-off places.

It wasn't the greatest spectacle in front of the Sky TV cameras, but after a dour first half, the second period did at least come to life.

The visitors were denied a goal in the first half by a goal-line clearance from Darren Stride, who equalled the club appearance record, and a great reaction save from Kevin Poole.

BURTON ALBION 2 WOKING 1 (10/03/07)

The Brewers kept pace with the play-off places with a third straight home victory.

Goals from Darren Stride and John Brayford were enough to see off relegation threatened Woking in a hard fought encounter.

A win in Monday nights game at home to Forest Green would lift the Brewers up to fourth place in the Nationwide Conference, but it will be a tough task against a side that has just picked up a shock 2-0 victory at Oxford United. [MATCH REPORT]

SCOFFHAM AIMS FOR RECOVERY WITH REDS (10/03/07)

Striker Steve Scoffham has joined Alfreton Town on loan as he bids to recover from a knee injury.

Scoffham had a spell at the Impact Arena earlier in the season but was seriously injured in only his second appearance and has been on the sidelines since November.

Steve has made only 10 appearances for the Brewers since joining from Notts County in the summer, and has scored 3 goals.

Whether his loan spell with the Conference North side spells the end of this time with the Brewers remains uncertain, but past history has shown that very few players that go out of the Pirelli Stadium on loan come back to play a part in the first team.

ALBION 'OLDBOY' FORCED TO CALL IT A DAY (10/03/07)

Former Brewers defender Ian Wright has been forced to retire from football due to injury.

Wright, 35, suffered a facial injury whilst playing for Chasetown and has been warned that he could go blind if he continued his playing career.

Wright played 22 times for Burton after joining the club in 2003, but his appearances were limited by persistent injuries and he announced his first retirement in November 2004.

CRAWLEY TOWN 1 BURTON ALBION 0 (06/03/07)

The poor run of results on the road continued as the Brewers went down to a single goal defeat at Broadfield Stadium.

The home side scored in the first minute of the game, although it looked as though Kevin Poole had been fouled in the build up. The referee, who had a shocking game, ignored the claims from the Burton players and allowed the goal.

The Brewers created very little in the way of chances on goal and never really looked like getting anything from a dour game.

BURTON ALBION 2 ALTRINCHAM 1 (02/03/07)

Two goals from Daryl Clare helped the Brewers get back into the play-off positions as they beat struggling Altrincham.

The scoreline does not do justice to the domination that Burton enjoyed in the game, but once again it looked as though an inability to put the ball in the net would be punished.

Daryl Clare opened the scoring in the 8th minute, before Lewis Chalmers snatched an equaliser in the second half. Clare scored the winner with 10 minutes to go after a great run from Alex Nicholls.