Last Update:
December 17, 2024
The Pirelli Stadium was opened in 2005 and is almost a stone’s throw from the site of their old Eton Park Ground, which is now a housing estate located across the road from the stadium. Although a fairly simple stadium, the Pirelli Stadium is tidy and functional.
As well as being the home of Burton Albion since 2005, the Pirelli Stadium has also been used by Coventry City, Leicester City Women and Derby County Reserves over the years.
Main Stand (South Stand)
On one side is the attractive-looking Main Stand, which is covered and all seated. The Club’s administration offices and corporate facilities are located in this stand and so at the back of the seated area is a row of windows running across it. Above this glassed area is white panelling, which gives the stand an interesting look. This stand has a capacity of 2,034 seats and is shared between home and away fans.
Terraced Stand
The other three sides are small, steep covered terraces. They are a little ugly looking as they each have a large visible back wall. Each of these terraced stands has solid windshields to either side, apart from one side of the South Stand where there is a Police Control Box present.
While there is little information regarding the exact capacity of each stand, given the ground’s total capacity is just over 6,000 on matchday, these three sections likely make up around 4,000 of that figure.
While the majority of this capacity consists of standing areas which reduces comfortability, it does naturally lead to a far better atmosphere being created.
On the roof of the East Terrace at one end is an electric scoreboard. The stadium is completed with a set of four tall-looking floodlights.
Entrances
Like most stadiums, depending on whether you are a home fan or a travelling away supporter you will want to head towards different sections of the Pirelli stadium before entering.
In most cases, a home fan should aim for the turnstiles located outside the ground’s North Stand, while away supporters should instead arrive at the turnstiles on the Eastern side of the stadium.
Fans who require extra assistance when entering the venue, such as those who require wheelchair access, should enter the ground via the turnstiles outside the Est Stand regardless of whether they are a home or away supporter.
Where is the away section at the Pirelli Stadium?
Away fans are predominantly housed in the Main Stand. The turnstiles open 90 minutes prior to kick-off and fans are normally searched on entry to the stadium.
What is the away allocation at Burton Albion?
Away fans tend to make up a large portion of the crowd on matchday, with travelling teams often handed an away ticket allocation of 1,400.
What is the away day experience like at the Pirelli Stadium?
As you would expect from a modern stadium, the view of the playing action (there are no supporting pillars) and facilities are good. The atmosphere is not bad too (although there is a bit of a monotonous drummer in the home end).
Food offerings include mushy peas, burgers, pies, chips and sausage rolls while the bar is open until the 60-minute mark.
The nearest pub for away fans is probably The Beech Hotel which is around a ten-minute walk from the stadium (Derby Rd, Burton-on-Trent DE13 0DL).
Other options include:
- Victoria Inn – Horninglow Rd, Burton upon Trent, Burton-on-Trent DE14 2PT
- The Great Northern – 120 Wetmore Rd, Burton-on-Trent DE14 1QS
- The Dog – 5 Lichfield St, Burton-on-Trent DE14 3QZ
Food at the Pirelli Stadium does not have the best of reputations among football fans in the English Football League, with many criticising the quality of the scran.
Most offerings include some form of burger, chips or hotdog, with a few examples, and prices, of some of the grub sold at the ground in recent years:
Burger and chips at Burton Albion (@burtonalbionfc)
? £9.50 pic.twitter.com/mHE6At79tx
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) July 22, 2022
Hot Dog by Burton Albion (@burtonalbionfc)
? £3 pic.twitter.com/nKKwK1BYld
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) November 9, 2021
Like most stadiums, depending on whether you are a home fan or a travelling away supporter you will want to head towards different sections of the Pirelli stadium before entering.
In most cases, a home fan should aim for the turnstiles located outside the ground’s North Stand, while away supporters should instead arrive at the turnstiles on the Eastern side of the stadium.
Fans who require extra assistance when entering the venue, such as those who require wheelchair access, should enter the ground via the turnstiles outside the Est Stand regardless of whether they are a home or away supporter.
The Pirelli Stadium is situated in North Burton, just off the A5121 (Derby Road). This is about a mile from the A38 which runs across the Midlands.
From the North (M1)
Leave the M1 at junction 28 and join the A38 towards Derby. Continue on the A38 through Derby towards Burton. Leave the A38 at the Burton North exit and follow the A5121 towards Burton. Go straight across a roundabout and you will then pass a McDonalds on your right. Just before the next roundabout you will see the stadium on your right. Turn right at the roundabout into Princess Way. A short distance along Princess Way on the right, is the entrance to the Club Car Park.
From the South (M1)
Leave the M1 at junction 22 and join the A511 towards Coalville/Burton. Turn right at the junction of the A5121, towards Burton North. As you come into the outskirts of Burton you will pass a McDonalds on your right. Just before the next roundabout you will see the stadium on your right. Turn right at the roundabout into Princess Way. A short distance along Princess Way on the right, is the entrance to the Club Car Park.
Car Parking
There is a large car park at the ground for 400 cars which costs £5, however, this gets full pretty quickly. Car parking is also available at the Ryknild Trading Estate (also costing £5), just off the roundabout right by the stadium.
Also nearby is the Eton Park Junior School (Masefield Crescent – DE14 2SG) which offers parking at £4 per car. The Beech Hotel on the Derby Road (which is the main pub for away fans) also offers parking at £5.
Post Code for Sat-Nav: DE13 0AR
Burton Railway Station is around a mile and a half away from the Pirelli Stadium. As you come out of the station turn left and go down the hill. Turn right into Derby Street and from there it is a straight road up to the stadium. It should take about 25 minutes to walk. Otherwise, consider an taxi.
Robert Coates, a recent visitor to the stadium, adds: ‘You can also get a bus to the ground from the station. The Trent Barton Villager V1 bus, which starts in the town centre and then passes the railway station and the Pirelli Stadium. As you exit the station, turn left and you will immediately come to the stop. On Saturday afternoon, buses leave at 19 and 49 minutes past the hour. It stops right outside the ground and the journey takes about 5 minutes. Returning, the stop is opposite where you got off and buses are 17 and 47 minutes past the hour. On weekday evenings the buses are 6 and 36 past approximately from the station. Returning they are down to one an hour, so 22:00 if you’re quick out, then it’s 23:00 so quicker to walk!”
Depending on the length of your journey to the ground, it may also be worth considering an overnight stay upon your visit to Burton Albion.
Here are some suggestions of hotels near Pirelli Stadium with good reviews:
- Three Queens Hotel & Lodge, 1 Bridge St, Burton-on-Trent DE14 1SY
- Dovecliff Hall Hotel, Dovecliff Rd, Burton upon Trent, Derbyshire DE13 0DJ
- Premier Inn Burton On Trent Central Hotel, Wellington Rd, Burton-on-Trent DE14 2WD
Burton Albion ticket prices for the 2023/24 season:
Seated
- Adults: £24
- Seniors: £22
- 17-22s: £22
- Under 17s: £14
- Under 13s: £14
Terrace
- Adults: £20
- Seniors: £18
- 17-22s: £15
- Under 17s: £7
- Under 13s: £7
After Burton Albion was formed, the club played their home games at the Lloyd’s Foundry Ground. The problem was, the Foundry Ground wasn’t enough to contain the crowds that showed up to watch their games. The solution was a new stadium. This saw work start on Eton Park with the build completed in 1958. In the early 21st century, Pirelli donated the former site of their sports and social club to Burton Albion; in exchange, Burton Albion would have to name their new stadium after the company. In 2005, the Pirelli Stadium was completed at the donated site and Burton Albion relocated there.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
For away matches, Burton Albion supporters are often heard singing the catchy ‘Brewers!’ chant, along with ‘Come on you Brewers!’. ‘Since I was young’ is also popular. Versions of this chant are sung by a variety of clubs across Europe, and it is believed to have been popularised by Ajax and Juventus supporters in the early 2010s.
One of the club’s favourite chants when playing at the Pirelli Stadium is ‘Take me home, Derby Road’, sung to the tune of ‘Country Roads’ by John Denver. The lyrics for Burton’s adaptation of the famous song are as follows:
“Take me home, Derby Road,
“To the place, that I belong,
“To Pirelli, to see the Brewers,
“Take me home, Derby Road!”
Manchester United sing their own version of ‘Country Roads’ before every match at Old Trafford, with Derby Road being replaced by United Road in the chorus.
In the past, Albion supporters have also sung their own version of ‘Allez Allez Allez’. The chant was popularised in England when Liverpool fans started to sing it during their run to the Champions League final in the 2017/18 season. It has been heard in Italy and Spain previously, but the Reds supporters reportedly first started to chant it during their away fixture against FC Porto in February 2024.
Record Attendance
6,746 v Derby County
Championship, 26th August 2016.
Average Attendance
- 2024-2025: 2,559 (League One)
- 2023-2024: 3,419 (League One)
- 2022-2023: 3,445 (League One)
- 2021-2022: 3,229 (League One)
- 2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
- 2019-2020: 2,986 (League One)
- 2018-2019: 3,351 (League One)
- 2017-2018: 4,645 (Championship)
Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium has not undergone a lot of changes over the years. There have been a few minor tweaks to the stadium’s capacity but Burton Albion’s ground was built in 2005 so it is relatively new compared to most stadiums in the Football League.
On the pitch, the club signed 23 players ahead of the 2024/25 season – a record for players signed in a single window by an English club. This included one goalkeeper, eight defenders, 10 midfielders, and four forward players. This was part of a major revamp by the Nordic Football Group (NFG) who took over the club in June 2024.
Mark Robinson, who was appointed by the new owners in the summer, spoke to BBC Sport on 9 October 2024. He said: “This was the brewing capital of England, we are called the Brewers, we have a fat guy kicking a ball on the shield – we can do so much cool fans stuff at the stadium with this.”
“Burton is a fantastic underdog club, from this little town that has had a miracle journey. We can maybe have a unique and positive space in football.”
Thanks for being loud and proud today Brewers, brilliant support as always ? #BAFC pic.twitter.com/lWzCCUedG6
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) October 5, 2024
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Burton Albion v MK Dons
League 1
Tuesday 14th January 2020, 7.45pm
Peter Williams (MK Dons)
Burton Albion v Tranmere Rovers
League 1
Thursday 26th December 2019, 3pm
David Sindall (Tranmere Rovers)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
This was a shortish journey but proved harder to get to than I imagined. Boxing Day traffic was busy and the weather was awful. I have never been to Burton’s ground before.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
See above, but the ground easy to find with sat nav despite lack of signposts. Parked on an industrial estate about 100 yards from the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Tea in the ground. I didn’t speak to a single home fan. Stewards were okay.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
A non-league ground. Made me think of all the places we had been to in the National League.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We got beat 4-2. There was very little atmosphere.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very quick, back on the road within 10 minutes of the final whistle.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Burton put their money into players. Given the result, we could learn from them!
Burton Albion v Tranmere Rovers
League 1
Thursday 26th December 2019, 3pm
Ben Castle (Tranmere Rovers)
Burton Albion v Ipswich Town
League One
Saturday 3rd August 2019, 3pm
James (Ipswich Town)
Burton Albion v Barnsley
League 1
Saturday 6th April 2019, 3pm
David Crossfield (Barnsley)
Burton Albion v Plymouth Argyle
League One
Saturday 5th December 2018, 3pm
Graham Andrew (Plymouth Argyle)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
My team need all the support they can get at the moment as they fight a relegation battle.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A 480 mile round trip but quite easy to get to. There was plenty of street parking, only five minutes walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went for a beer in the Great Northern. It is a traditional pub with some real ales and shows Sky Sports. Inside there was a mixture of away and home fans and the Burton fans were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
I have been here a few times. The Pirelli Stadium is lovely tidy little ground, with covered standing and seating for away fans with totally unobstructed views.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A bad start for us. We went 1-0 down after four minutes but fought back to draw 1-1, in an end to end game. The stewards are excellent very helpful and friendly. The catering had a good selection of hot food and a bar serving alcoholic drinks for away fans at reasonable prices.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy to get away from where we parked. It helped that there was only a 3,500 crowd in attendance. I was back on the motorway in 20 minutes for the 240 mile journey home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I was happy with a point. I always enjoy my visits to Burton Albion. It is a very friendly club, with loyal fans. The Pirelli is a nice little stadium and the club is very professionally run.
Burton Albion v Charlton Athletic
League One
Tuesday 27th November 2018, 7.45pm
Andy Newman (Neutral)
Burton Albion v Bristol Rovers
League One
Saturday 13th October 2018, 3pm
Peter (Bristol Rovers)
Burton Albion v Bristol Rovers
League One
Saturday 13th October 2018, 3pm
Yaz Shah (Bristol Rovers)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
A first-time visit to the Pirelli Stadium. It was a nice sunny day, so made a late decision to drive to Burton.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was a terrible journey up the M1 then A50 and A38. There were some accidents on the M1 between St. Albans and Redbourn (J6 – J9). Plus I then missed the A38 turnoff for the football ground. So it took me from 11:30 to 14:55 to get there. Although arriving near kick off I managed to park at the ground itself for £5.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Nothing as got there so late.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium is a nice but small ground.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a boring game to watch. It lacked any skill on both sides. Burton Albion were slightly better than us. We missed two glorious chances in the last few minutes and lost 1-0 in injury time, for the second week running. The food and stewards were okay.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I left as soon as Burton scored and got to M1 J11 Luton/Dunstable by 18:30!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A nice sunny day. The referee and officials were as poor as the football. The Burton goalie Etimov won over the respect of the away fans. Glad to get home in the end.
Burton Albion v Sunderland
League One
Saturday 15th September 2018, 3pm
Alex Hendrikson (Sunderland)
Burton Albion v Millwall
Championship League
Saturday 24th February 2018, 3pm
Bobbie (Millwall fan)
Burton Albion v Millwall
Championship League
Saturday 24th February 2018, 3pm
Brian Moore (Millwall fan)
Burton Albion v Nottingham Forest
Championship League
Saturday 17th February 2018, 3pm
Joseph Burns (Nottingham Forest fan)
Burton Albion v Norwich City
Championship League
Saturday 30th December 2017, 3pm
Joe Dack (Norwich City fan)
Burton Albion v Preston North End
Championship League
Saturday 9th December 2017, 3pm
Axel Patsch (Neutral fan)
Burton Albion v Barnsley
Championship League
Tuesday 31st October 2017, 7.45pm
John Hague (Barnsley – I had to as I'm from Hoyland originally)
Burton Albion v Barnsley
Championship League
Tuesday 31st October 2017, 7.45pm
Tom Bellamy (Barnsley)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
Burton Albion v Reading
Football Championship League
Sunday 7th May 2017, 12 noon
Luke Rogan (Reading fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
Being the last game of the regular season and as we had already secured a promotion slot, I was mostly looking forward to the day out rather than the game itself. Being my first visit to the Pirelli Stadium, I was looking forward to visiting a new ground – and as the Pirelli still has some terracing, there was an added allure to the visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Our journey from Berkshire was incredibly simple and easy – albeit a Sunday morning – breezing up the A34 and M40. Being a Sunday lunch time, we planned to park up in the much recommended Beech Inn Hotel and stay for a drink before the match. There was ample parking when we got there, and for a fiver it was handy as it's only a five minute walk to the Pirelli Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Due to the early kick off, we didn't do much before the game. The pub staff welcomed us and had a quick chat with us before we headed to the ground. We stayed for another drink after the game and had a chat with the local supporters who were incredibly friendly – as too were the pub staff.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium is a small ground, you don't really see it until you're right there – but in no way is that intended as an insult. In fact, quite the opposite. It was a nice throwback to grounds of the past – but with a modern touch. Inside the ground, it was great to be standing on a terrace and despite the view ultimately lacking compared to being higher up in bigger stands – it was great to be so close to the action.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere early on was great. The stewards did a fine job as the terrace was heaving with fans, all throwing around the traditional final away game inflatables to cause more distraction to the staff – and it's worth noting they kept their cool despite numerous plastic inflatables being launched at them throughout the game! Burton's Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater reacted brilliantly to an onslaught of stick and ended up winning the away end over, to the chant of 'Stephen is a Royal'. The game itself was scrappy and low quality – but included six goals (2-4 final score) so all in all a good 90 minutes.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Couldn't have been an easier five minute walk back to the Beech Inn. We opted to stay for a drink after the game, but the traffic queue getting out was so light, it had completely dissipated by the time we finished our drinks.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The Pirelli Stadium is a must for all away supporters. A local, friendly club who are welcoming. Really enjoyed our visit. And seeing half the stewards in the pub 20 minutes after the game goes to show just how tight knit the club is to the town! If we ever get the chance to go again I'll cross my fingers for a traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off to tick off the much-recommended town centre pubs.
Burton Albion v Reading
Football Championship League
Sunday 7th May 2017, 12 noon
Luke Rogan (Reading fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
Being the last game of the regular season and as we had already secured a promotion slot, I was mostly looking forward to the day out rather than the game itself. Being my first visit to the Pirelli Stadium, I was looking forward to visiting a new ground – and as the Pirelli still has some terracing, there was an added allure to the visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Our journey from Berkshire was incredibly simple and easy – albeit a Sunday morning – breezing up the A34 and M40. Being a Sunday lunch time, we planned to park up in the much recommended Beech Inn Hotel and stay for a drink before the match. There was ample parking when we got there, and for a fiver it was handy as it's only a five minute walk to the Pirelli Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Due to the early kick off, we didn't do much before the game. The pub staff welcomed us and had a quick chat with us before we headed to the ground. We stayed for another drink after the game and had a chat with the local supporters who were incredibly friendly – as too were the pub staff.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium is a small ground, you don't really see it until you're right there – but in no way is that intended as an insult. In fact, quite the opposite. It was a nice throwback to grounds of the past – but with a modern touch. Inside the ground, it was great to be standing on a terrace and despite the view ultimately lacking compared to being higher up in bigger stands – it was great to be so close to the action.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere early on was great. The stewards did a fine job as the terrace was heaving with fans, all throwing around the traditional final away game inflatables to cause more distraction to the staff – and it's worth noting they kept their cool despite numerous plastic inflatables being launched at them throughout the game! Burton's Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater reacted brilliantly to an onslaught of stick and ended up winning the away end over, to the chant of 'Stephen is a Royal'. The game itself was scrappy and low quality – but included six goals (2-4 final score) so all in all a good 90 minutes.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Couldn't have been an easier five minute walk back to the Beech Inn. We opted to stay for a drink after the game, but the traffic queue getting out was so light, it had completely dissipated by the time we finished our drinks.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The Pirelli Stadium is a must for all away supporters. A local, friendly club who are welcoming. Really enjoyed our visit. And seeing half the stewards in the pub 20 minutes after the game goes to show just how tight knit the club is to the town! If we ever get the chance to go again I'll cross my fingers for a traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off to tick off the much-recommended town centre pubs.
Burton Albion v Leeds United.
Football Championship League
Saturday 22nd April 2017, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Dundee United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
I was anticipating a good game for my 71st English ground visit, as both teams needed the points at either end of the league.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got an overnight Megabus to Birmingham, then the train from New Street to Burton. I arrived before 9am. so I had plenty of time to walk to the ground, but it is quite a distance from the town centre. The route is not too well signposted and I had to ask directions on a couple of occasions.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had time to look around the shopping malls, church, parks and gardens in the town centre. I put on a couple of football bets, studying my coupon as I had lunch and a pint in the 'Lord Burton'. I also had a pint in the pub next door the 'Prince of Brewers'. I chatted to a couple of Burton fans, who were hoping for at least a draw. Also spoke to some Leeds boys, who were convinced that their team couldn't lose today. I then set off on the walk towards the Pirelli Stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium is a tidy little ground. With three sides being terraces, it gave me the chance to stand at a ground. I was just on the half way line amongst all the 'Brewers' fans. The singing contingents were behind both goals, Burton to the right and a good couple of thousand Leeds fans to the left.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was a bit flat, with not too much goalmouth action, or even chances from either team. The second period did get better, with a couple of half chances but getting towards the 75th minute I couldn't see one goal coming. But then there were three in a six minute spell. Leeds gave away possession in midfield and the ball was played to Sordell with his back to goal, from around 20 yards he swivelled and fired in. A couple of minutes later Kightly broke free and slotted in a second for Albion The home fans were going crazy by this point. Another couple of minutes on the clock and Bartley knocked in a Wood cross goal header for Leeds from about 4 inches. The rousing atmosphere continued to the end, and a much needed 2-1 win for Burton, which should see them safe. I would give a minus point to the steward who, when I asked if I could get into the stadium bar (this was at 1pm) said it doesn't open until 1.30pm. I then asked if there was another bar nearby he said "you have a home ticket, why don't you know where the pub is?". Explaining I had never been here, and had just came as a neutral to support his team. The next steward on hearing this conversation pointed me towards 'The Beech', just five minutes walk away.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems coming away from the ground, just the long walk back into town for a few beers in some of Burtons good bars. 'The Locomotive', 'The Dog', 'Devonshire Arms' and 'The Roebuck'.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out :
Burton (the town) is a great wee place for a weekend round the 'boozers'. Hopefully Albion stay up and defy the odds (6,073 crowd today in the smallest capacity stadium in the division). I didn't let the grumpy steward spoil my day at the Pirelli Stadium!
Burton Albion v Brentford
Football Championship League
Saturday 18th March 2017, 3pm
Fred Martin (Brentford fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
Brentford had never played at Burton Albion before so it was a new one for Bees supporters.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Driving up from Surrey and following the directions given in this guide, the Pirelli Stadium was easy to find and we were fortunate that the traffic for our 160 mile journey was incredibly light.We parked at the Ryknild Industrial Estate opposite the ground for £5,which was handy and and easy to get away from after the game.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to a Subway outlet about 10 minutes walk from the Pirelli Stadium. We saw very few home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away en d then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli is a smart clean stadium but very small for a Championship club ( and that's coming from a Bees fan 🙂 It really had a non-league feel about it.The away all standing end is very reminiscent of our own Ealing Road home end. Especially as it was packed with Bees fans.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was an incredible game.The Brentford I have loved and supported for many years was encapsulated in this match. Brentford were absolutely pathetic for the first 45 minutes and going in 3-1 down after gifting the home side three preventable goals. After the break we transformed from non – league standard to Champions League standard as we tore Burton apart and ran in four goals to end up 5-3 winners! Burton had been undefeated in their previous six games. The stewards seemed friendly enough and were very well turned out in white shirts and club ties. The toilet facilities were good and very clean. We did not use the food outlets.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very easy from the Industrial Park located across the road from the Pirelli Stadium.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Easy journey there. Incredible result. My wife and I stayed the night in Burton and we made a planned visit on Sunday to the National Memorial Arboretum which is only about 25 minutes drive away. I would say to any visiting fans of any club, if you do stay an extra night please find time to visit this remarkable place (Admission is free). There is even a memorial to the First World War 1914 Christmas truce.when both sides stopped fighting for a short while and had a game of football. Puts everything into perspective.
Burton Albion v Norwich City
Football Championship League
Saturday 18th February 2017, 3pm
Ryan (Norwich City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
It was only the second time Norwich City had ever played Burton Albion (after our 3-1 win at home a few months earlier) and our first ever visit to the Pirelli Stadium. So I would be visiting a ground that I'd never been to. Plus the chance to be standing on a terrace sounded too good to miss, as opposed to constantly being forced to sit down everywhere else!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on one of the clubs official supporters coaches, so all I had to do was be at Carrow Road for 9:15am to be picked up and let the driver do the rest! We had one stop at a service station near Leicester and then got dropped off right outside the Pirelli Stadium at 1pm, so very good!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Me and my mate found a local pub called the Beech Inn, about a five minute walk from the ground. It was full of Norwich fans, which created a good atmosphere. There were two bars, including an outside bar, which made it quick and easy to be served. We didn't see a single home fan before the game!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
Although the Pirelli Stadium is small small modem ground, it still had the feel of a "proper" football ground. Fans are housed close to the pitch and the ground had a bit of character. The away end terrace held 1400 of our fans, which was quite tight. The Norwich fans made quite a decent amount of noise (until we realised the team weren't so bothered to repay us with such a good performance!).
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very poor. Neither side created much in the first half, but after a horrendous bit of defending by our Swiss international, Timm Klose, Burton took the lead. We equalised early in the second half but within minutes were behind again. The second half was similar to the first, Burton deserved it more than us, but neither side were great on the day. The atmosphere was a little flat, like the performance. The stewards seemed very helpful and friendly, and seemed interested in asking me questions about NCFC! The facilities were basic, as expected, but nothing to complain about.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We got on the coach about 15 minutes after the game ended and once every one was on board, we got away very quickly.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The Pirelli Stadium is a decent little ground, a good day out and a good experience on the terraces. The match tickets were cheap which was a nice change, just a shame that the game was so poor and yet another away defeat, but as a Norwich fan, I'm used to that!
Burton Albion v Preston North End
Football Championship League
Monday January 2nd 2017, 3pm
Paul Willott (Preston North End fan)
This for me was a fixture I’d been looking out for as soon as they were released. One of the benefits of the opening up of the non-league pyramid to the promised land of milk and honey was that the former diet of ‘the same old’ fayre in the bottom division started to get freshened up with some new blood. One of the more recent arrivals at the Football League glamour ball has been Burton Albion, who having settled into the groove with a good few solid years in the basement division then sent their supporters into untold raptures with two promotions in consecutive seasons.
Thus on a bitterly cold morning, our eldest lad and myself trotted out to defrost the car and head up to the Midlands for what was to be our first ever competitive visit to play the Brewers from Burton-on-Trent. I think any game to be played at a ‘new’ ground engenders a certain degree of excitement, especially one where you can look forward to standing on a terrace. But this was tempered on the other hand by mild concerns that the weather may throw a spanner in the works and that other pang of concern that a ‘little’ club such as Burton Albion could prove to be a banana skin. Although they were struggling a little at the lower reaches of the table, they had proved already this season that they had not turned up to be the whipping boys of the division, despite the fact that they were probably by some margin the smallest club in the second tier of domestic football in the country.
The bank holiday provided us with fairly empty motorways to rattle along, so we made good time as we drove around the M25 and on up the M1 from our starting point in Kent. After discussing the footballing issues of the day, we tuned in to the radio to listen to the early kick-off of the day which was Middlesbrough v Leicester City which quite frankly sounded like an absolute bore, both on and off the pitch. It made me glad we were going to an honest Championship match where there was likely going to be far more endeavour and atmosphere. Indeed , the scenery from the A511 that we traversed upon leaving the M1 was by some margin more entertaining than the radio commentary of the match. Once again though, some angels of doubt started to fly around as we noticed that there was some still some large areas of frost untouched by sunlight.
Upon arrival in Burton, despite a small navigational error, we soon spotted the floodlights of the little ground and ditched the car in the industrial units opposite the stadium and started to wrap up for the afternoon ahead that we sensed would be a rather cold one. The Pirelli Stadium is a tidy, neat looking little ground that appears well cared for from the outside, and as already mentioned, has a set of four modern floodlight pylons. It is testament to what has been achieved on the pitch with the club that this little ground is during the course of the current season being graced by the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Birmingham City and other big fishes.
Once we’d had a brief look around, we opted to enter the ground to plump for an optimum spot on the terrace. There was a fairly heavy stewarding presence outside the away end, but the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and once we’d entered the turnstiles, the numerous and highly visible stewards were very welcoming and keen to explain the different entrances and exits to the viewing area, toilets, and food kiosk. We took advantage of the food outlet ; my eldest opted for the chips and hot dog, which with hindsight I’d have plumped for as it looked good, whereas the cheeseburger I’d gone for was average. If the Cheeseburger merited a 6/10, then I’m afraid the toilets at best scratch a 5/10. Although I’ve seen far worse down the years, I think it’s fair to say that in the modern age we expect a little better these days, and the cleanliness of the facilities at the Pirelli Stadium left a fair bit to be desired.
Even before the match got underway, the atmosphere was building nicely in the ground, helped I’m sure by the small terraces for both the home and away fans. Only the Main Stand is seated here at Burton, the other three sides are small but modern concrete terraces. The match itself was poor on quality it must be said, but that in no way dampened the atmosphere. The home fans I sense are simply enjoying this season especially as they are proving that they can hold their own at this level whilst for many a Northender I sensed it was a chance to enjoy being on a terrace and the spontaneity that it generates. In fact, it must be said the atmosphere never let up all afternoon.
View From The Away Terrace
Over the 90 minutes, the ball only found the back of the net once, and the fact that was a cross from one of our defenders and skipper Tom Clarke that somehow evaded the Burton keeper probably sums up the quality of the afternoon’s fayre, although no-one could question the effort, desire, and commitment of either team. As daylight faded, that wonderful crispness of winter football under the floodlights helped increase the magic of a lovely away day, and there was quite a celebration when the final whistle heralded the securing of the win. Burton Albion had made us work very hard to get those three points.
And thus we returned to our car promptly and were soon heading out of Burton towards the M1 and back south reflecting on another happy day supporting our team. As a reflection, I hope Burton do stay up come the end of season shakedown. Their’s is an honest hard-working team and the club and its ground is testament to why it was a good idea to rejuvenate football by allowing promotion to and from the non-league world.
Plus points for the Pirelli Stadium
1 Easy to find, even without sat-nav
2 Tidy compact ground that generates great atmosphere
Minus points for the Pirelli Stadium
1 Toilets at the away end really could do with a more rigorous deep-clean schedule
Burton Albion v Preston North End
Football Championship League
Monday 2nd January 2017, 3pm
Martin Atherton (Preston North End fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
It was the first ever game for Preston North End at the Pirelli Stadium, so an historic occasion. I visited Burton's previous Eton park ground as a neutral some 25 years ago and I have always followed Albion's fortunes since.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey by motorway was awful (59 miles in two hours thanks to roadworks in Cheshire) but finding the ground from the A38 is simple enough. We parked in a small pay and display behind Costa/Subway – £1.60 for up to ten hours so a real bargain only five minutes from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Last minute arrival after a three hour journey meant straight in, only 20 minutes before kick off. Some very friendly locals in the Main Stand directed me to free food in a lounge so something of a result there! Stewards were relaxed and were happy to have a conversation with the visitors.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium is a decent little ground that is about right for Burton's needs but is a bit of an anachronism at Championship level with three sides of terracing. All views are quite low down and the bevel on the pitch makes it hard to see the far edges. The Main Stand has good sight lines and reasonable leg room. The ground looked pretty full with 5,100 in it or so. Looking at it I don't know where the other 1,800 fans would fit in, considering the Pirelli Stadium has a capacity of 6,900.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
To be honest, there was almost nothing memorable about the game other than Tom Clarke's goal for Preston (a terrific blindside run and lob from our captain and centre half) and the three points. North End fans summed up the atmosphere after 20 minutes with a chant of 'Is this a library?'. I have never been at a quieter league game in almost 50 years of watching. Burton players were poor but their supporters couldn't even be bothered criticising them. Very strange.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy get away after the short walk back to the car – unlike the fans who parked on the grass verge on the main road past the ground, who found themselves blocked in by the visiting coaches! M6 was mercifully clear on the way home as well.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Not a game that will live in the memory but the Pirelli Stadium was a pleasant enough visit to a friendly and welcoming club with a decent lower league ground.
Burton Albion v Newcastle United
Football Championship League
Saturday 17th December 2016, 3pm
Chris Wright (Newcastle United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
I was looking forward to it for three reasons. First is that this was the first time that Newcastle had played Burton. Second the Pirelli Stadium its a ground that I have never been to before and third it was my birthday!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Left Newcastle at 8am and got to the ground for about 12.30 and that's with a 45 minute stop at Woodall Services (First Services on the M1 from the M18 for those who didn't know).
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Since we past the Beech Hotel Pub on the way to the ground. I went there. Great Pub for away fans and there is a van out back that also sells beer (pints not cans) and there was a television showing the early kick off between Crystal Palace and Chelsea. So they had everything us Toon fans needed.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium looks a bit like Newcastle Falcons Rugby Ground (Kingston Park) Any Newcastle fans who where at the game will have to agree with me on that one. I had a ticket for the standing terrace. The stand itself is basic, but least it had a bar at the back of it.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was good in the first half and least the two Newcastle goals were scored right in front of us Toon fans. The second half wasn't that good but least we won 2-1 and I could go home happy.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game I just got back on the bus and only had to wait 15 minutes before we left. We got home for about 8.40pm and that;s with a 15 minute stop at Wetherby for a toilet break.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great Day Out 10/10
Burton Albion v Newcastle United
Football Championship League
Saturday 17th December 2016, 3pm
Ged Barker (Newcastle United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
When we dropped down into the championship at the end of 2015/16 season it was time to check out one or two new grounds and a few old ones as well! Burton Albion had to be o n the list of must visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled with three friends by train from Newcastle leaving on the morning of the match at 7.30am. We did have a bit of luck in that the day before travelling instead of having one planned change our train took us directly to Burton. We arrived at Burton train station not long after 10am and headed straight towards town to a Wetherspoons we knew would be open. We had a fair idea that the Pirelli Stadium was a bit away from the town centre but decided to worry about getting there later.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
A visit to the pub was always on the cards for a few beers. And as mentioned Wetherspoons in the town centre was our first stop off. It was already open when we got there soon after 10am. After breakfast and a couple of pints it was off to find some other watering holes! As you head back towards the train station you will pass a number of pubs and bars most of which I can't remember but really that's irrelevant as every single one was more than welcoming to away fans, This can be a novelty to us Toon army fans as many other places in the country are the exact opposite. Thanks Burton!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
We set off for the Pirelli Stadium around 2.15pm. We were at first going to get a taxi until a friendly local pointed out that a bus passing outside our bar would drop us off outside the ground. It took the same route and would get stuck in the same traffic and be much cheaper so that's what we did. Arriving at the ground in plenty of time before kick off first impressions were quite good. Yes it's smaller than we are really used to but it looked modern and the away section was well signposted.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a hard fought three points for us and proved that we can't take it for granted that promotion is guaranteed. Being in such a small ground we were much closer to the pitch but I enjoyed that we were lucky enough to get seats but that didn't matter as we stand anyway..As usual the Toon fans created most of the atmosphere and as for the stewards they were mostly young and inexperienced but we didn't cause any problems so they had very little to do. Plenty of space on the concourse at half time and people seemed to be getting served pretty easily at the counters.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We stayed in the ground for a few minutes after the final whistle while the players applauded the sell out following. On leaving the ground we headed to the bus stop we had been dropped off at but as there was no bus due we were lucky to flag down a passing taxi who took us back into town. Our train home wasn't due until 7pm so what else for it ..a few pints to celebrate our win!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Over all this was one of my best trips away for a long time. Friendly pubs decent ground even if it is on the small side and a win to take home. Definitely a place to visit only fingers crossed we gain promotion and don't need to. Well done Burton and good luck!
Burton Albion v Rotherham United
Football Championship League
Saturday 3rd December 2016, 3pm
Neil Walker (Rotherham United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
Its not very often you have the opportunity to stand at football matches these days so that was something to look forward too and the price of the match tickets are very reasonable too.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled down on one of the official supporters coaches but all seemed fine with the journey and parking.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We were dropped off at a pub called The Beech Inn. We were told by door staff we could not go into the pub but to use the outside bar with the one portaloo!. After we got our drinks we saw some away fans going into the pub so decided to see if we could get in and indeed we did with no questions asked by the door staff so not sure why we couldn't go in initially. It was a lot warmer than being stood outside plus the toilets were available and not only one. Home fans – no issues with them at all. The plan was to wait until half time to get a pie and a drink inside the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium is a nice tidy little ground from the outside and inside was good also, small but decent. You did feel that you were your almost on the pitch, as it is that close. Surprisingly there was no clock or video screen, or certainly a clock that the away fans can see which in this day and age you would expect to see at any football ground now.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Rotherham started quite lively having a couple of decent attempts at goal but then on 15 minutes we fell behind to a rather simple goal. Our heads did drop a little and Burton started to look lively. Half time came thankfully as we were ready for our hot drink and pie as we made our to the food stand to be told by stewards that it was closed! No food or drinks available. That is not good at all. This is the first time I've ever known where you can't get any food or drink. Someone mentioned they had been an incident but they decided to penalise everyone. No problem with the stewards seemed friendly enough even to a lot of disgruntled supporters that couldn't get anything to eat or drink.
The second half was not much better really, a well finished goal from Burton to make it 2-0 we were dead and buried by then. We scored a nicely worked consolation goal right at the death. All in all it wasn't a great display by either team and sadly some of our idiots thought it was clever to throw smoke bombs onto the pitch. No disrespect to Burton but this sadly is not a Championship ground.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No issues getting away from the ground at all. The Club were well organised in getting the away coaches off and on their way.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A really good day out even though we didn't get the result we wanted but sadly very disappointed with the issues I have mentioned. This is my first experience at The Pirelli Stadium and not a good one sadly.
Burton Albion v Barnsley
Football Championship League
Saturday 5th November 2016, 3pm
Tom Bellamy (Barnsley fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
This would be the first time I have been to the Pirelli Stadium. I missed this fixture last season because I was away on holiday. This would only be the fourth time that both these teams have played each other, with Barnsley yet to lose.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled down to Burton by car which only took 1 hour 20 minutes down the M1, then the A35, and A5121. I parked on the main road just past the Stadium, although street parking was difficult to find because there were a lot of restrictions with signs saying " No football parking- Residents only". I noticed there was parking at the ground for £5. There was also some parking on the grass verges on both sides of the road just before the ground on the A 5121.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The only pub I saw was The Beech inn, which is on the right hand side on the A 5121 just before the Stadium. It was full with both sets of supporters, and with a very friendly atmosphere. There was a burger stand immediately outside the pub, although I didn't have one myself. The Pirelli Stadium is then only a 5 minute walk from the pub.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
Although the Pirelli Stadium is only small I was impressed with the facilities. The Barnsley fans were split in two stands, one being a terrace behind the goals with standing room only, and the other was a seated stand adjacent to it. I believe the club have been given notice from the FA to either make the Stadium all seated or build another one close by.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Although there were no goals, which was the same as last seasons fixture, it was a very entertaining game, with Barnsley being the better team in the first half, and Burton being the best team in the second half. It could have ended up 5-3 to Burton if it wasn't for a string of brilliant saves from the Barnsley keeper. The end result was a good away point for Barnsley and 1700 travelling supporters.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It took about 20 minutes to get away from the ground with there being a good away following, but when the traffic eventually thinned out it was okay.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I really enjoyed the day at the Pirelli Stadium and our teams performance on the whole.
Burton Albion v Cardiff City
Football Championship League
Saturday 1st October 2016, 3pm
David (Cardiff City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
I was looking forward to visiting Burton's unique ground and watch my team Cardiff play.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It's a pretty straight forward journey from Cardiff. It take about two hours or so, obviously longer with a stop at the Services.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I left it a bit late so had to go straight into the found. Strangely they stopped serving beer before the game but opened up the bar before half time. The away fans bar is near the away turnstiles. The home fans were fine. There weren't many of them to be honest. The Crowd was 4,400 and Cardiff had brought quite a few.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium is really small for a Championship League venue. The capacity is under 7,000 and it seemed to be mainly terracing. I don't how Burton survive financially. It's quite remarkable that they have done so well.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The weather was terrible, it rained the whole game and the referee must have been close to calling it off as parts of the pitch were like a lake. As for the game Cardiff then we were poor, really poor. The squad contains some League 2 players. One of our sub's who I shall not mention by name, was visibly shying away from any tackle and he's over 6 feet tall! Embarrassing. It was good to see Ben Turner, ex Cardiff player, doing so well for Burton. Why we let him go is beyond me. He bossed the game at the back. Also see Lloyd Dyer playing was good, he had the energy of a 21 year old. It was no surprise Cardiff lost 2-0. The fans were mocking Paul Trollope our Manager.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
For some reason my Sat Nav took me round in circles on the way home so it took me a while to find the dual carriageway.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Apart from the weather and the result going against Cardiff it was a good day out. It was good fun. Shame the Bar wasn't open leading up to kick off. I should add the Bar is also quite small so be prepared to wait.
Burton Albion v Bradford City
Football League One
Saturday 6th February 2016, 3pm
David Oliver (Bradford City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
I have lived in the Midlands for the past 20 years so a nearby away game is always welcome. With Burton top of the table and us struggling for goals I was not expecting the result to go our way. However the chance for a pint, pie and a match close to home is usually a good way to spend the afternoon.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Burton is about a 30 minute drive from my home. I have been to Burton numerous times through work and previous matches so I knew my way, even without local knowledge I imagine it is easy enough to find. There is a large car park opposite the ground which charges £3 and there is plenty of on street parking if you don't mind a few minutes walk.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There is a great pub near the Pirelli Stadium called 'The Great Northern'. Inside there was a friendly mix of both home and away fans, bar snacks were available and they served excellent beer. I can thoroughly recommend the locally brewed Burton Bridge Bitter. The Leicester v Manchester City game was being shown on a large screen in the pub with both sets celebrating as the Leicester goals went in. Leicester possibly winning the Premier League was the topic of conversation as we headed towards the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
Burton have a very tidy little stadium which reminds you of their recent non-league past. Although fairly new it is terraced on three sides. It struck me that for a club of this size to be knocking on the door of the Championship is a superb achievement which draws comparison to Leicester's involvement in the race for the Premier League title. Burton comes across as a well run club which has steadily improved it's status incrementally rather than through any boom or bust strategy/gamble. I would presume that plans are in place for ground expansion if promotion to the Championship happens.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Burton were better than us in every department on the field. It was clear to see why they are deservedly top of the table. Other than a ten minute purple patch from Bradford at the start of the second half Burton dominated throughout. Although their first goal took a deflection on the way in, our late consolation goal probably flattered us with a final score of 3-1.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy enough to get away from the ground, the car park emptied relatively quickly and we were on our way. The attendance was only about 3,700, from which I guess around 500 would have been away fans. I was surprised it was so low considering Burton's league position and it does make you wonder how long life in the Championship could be sustained.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Disappointing from the point of view of the result and our performance, but otherwise a pleasant afternoon out. Despite my concerns about sustainability in the Championship I hope Burton gain promotion this season, unless of course in the unlikely event of us meeting in the play offs! It is the success stories of the underdogs; Leicester winning the Premier league, Burton promoted to the Championship and Bradford beating Chelsea that keeps our national game interesting.
Burton Albion v Shrewsbury Town
Football League One
Saturday 23rd January 2016, 3pm
Ian Bradley (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
Another ground to be ticked off for me, being my 72nd of the 92 visited. Also as the Brewers were top of League One, so it seemed a good time to assess whether their promotion aspirations were genuine.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled by train from Rotherham where I live. The journey from station to station took around an hour and a quarter. The Pirelli Stadium is located about a mile and a half to two miles from Burton town centre. Luckily I was in good time to enjoy a brisk half hour walk to the Pirelli Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I ate in Burton Town Centre before walking to the ground. I chatted to a few home fans explaining that I was a neutral and they came across as a very friendly and welcoming bunch.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
The Pirelli Stadium is a neat, functional ground but way too small for the Championship League with it's low capacity. Also the stadium is predominantly standing terracing which was lovely for me. I stood on the Popular Terrace and it took me back to the days of old. However this would not be to the liking of the Football League if Burton were to reach the Championship, where all seated stadiums are a league requirement.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Firstly the catering. good food with a wide variety and more importantly very reasonably priced. As for the game, Burton started well and deservedly took the lead early on. They seemed in control of the first half and missed some reasonable chances to extend their lead. However in the second period, the wheels seemed to come off as far as the home team was concerned. Shrewsbury came more into the game and equalised from a mistake from the Burton keeper at a corner. From then on, Burton tried to force the game but were leaving gaps at the back and from a fast Shrewsbury break in injury time, Shrews forward Whalley gave them the three points with a well placed first time effort. The atmosphere inside the ground was good to start with, but turned a little subdued as the game went against the home side.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Quite easy to get away after the game, just a half hour walk back to the train station and back home again.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I had a very enjoyable day out at the Pirelli Stadium and I wish Albion and their friendly fans the best of luck.
Burton Albion v Blackpool
Football League One
Saturday 2nd January 2016, 3pm
John Robertson-Begg (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
Family interest on my wife's side was the reason for her first ever visit to a football match. Her cousin's son, Clark Robertson, signed for Blackpool last year after many years with Aberdeen (he is only 22) and against my advice of going to my boyhood club (Preston North End – local rivals of Blackpool). Clark's father follows his son from Aberdeen, is a frequent visitor South of the border nowadays, and was coming to the match so we thought it we be good to meet up. Clark managed to get us tickets. Even though it was Blackpool and I would have to watch amongst their supporters I fancied a day out as the last match I attended was the 2014 Championship play-off final – Derby against QPR at Wembley. As we live in Derby it was only a short hop to Burton. The cousin did not even know where Burton was so had not realised we were so close. It was hastily arranged only the week before when I realised the fixture was on.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As I am fairly local to Burton I knew where the ground was but did consult the Football Ground Guide for parking advice. It listed three options:the ground itself, a nearby trading estate, or street parking. I tried the ground first at just before 2pm but the full signs were already up. The second option of the trading estate was fine (£3 per car). Many local residents are irked by the notion of street parking judging by the number of announcements prior to the match starting.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Clark's father flew into Manchester and hired a car for the remainder of the journey. I suggested we meet at the intersection of the A50/A38 (Toyota Island) just North of Burton where there is a service area. We agreed to meet at the Cherry Tree Farm pub in the service area. It was busy, obviously a popular meeting point, but we parked easily and found a table. There was only one football shirt visible – Wolverhampton Wanderers but at 12.30 I decided it was too far for them to get to Brighton for a 3pm kick-off. The pub was pleasant enough and because of a 40 minute wait for food items on the menu we all opted for the reasonably priced medium size carvery option at £7.95 per head. This was good although there were complaints about no roast potatoes being available by some of the clientele. From here it is less than 10 minutes to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Pirelli Stadium?
There was a pleasant atmosphere with home and away fans mixing outside the ground. We picked tickets up from the collection window behind the Main Stand. We had our bags searched before entry. My wife had not had a turnstile experience before and it was not pleasant for her – felt like being confined in a cage but once through that and into the ground she was fine. We had seating tickets in the main stand, next to the away end. We were conscious of being watched from the police surveillance team all through the match. This was the smallest ground I had ever been in but at kick off there were over 4300 fans assembled there. My first impressions were that it was a tidy ground. I did wonder about how well supported the team would be given the proximity of Derby and Birmingham. I suppose it was a bit like Wigan Athletic and their proximity to Manchester and Liverpool but they do have a dedicated following as do Burton. I did not know much about Burton apart from their relatively famous manager Nigel Clough being back at the club after spells at Derby and Sheffield United. My son informed me beforehand that Burton trained at the National Football Centre nearby and thought they were in line for promotion. I was impressed by the levels of community involvement by the club and much was in evidence before the kick off – ball boys from a local football team for instance. The programmes are very well produced nowadays and we were delighted to see Clark being identified as Blackpool's star player. We were seated by just after 2pm and there was lots to see. I have not been a regular match attendee since the 1970s at Deepdale but lots has changed since then. The warm up sequences are a lot longer these days and quite intense. Even the officials have a warm up.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I did sample a cup of gourmet hot chocolate which was very good. I did not feel the need to indulge in a pie so soon after lunch but they looked good. They had a good build up to the kick off with increased music and the announcer did his best to gee up the home supporters encouraging them to get behind their team. The match was played at at fast pace and the visiting supporters had plenty shout about including the first real chance. Burton are a well drilled team and spent a lot of time attacking down the right so a lot of the game was played just in front of use, about five rows back from the touchline. Duffy (on loan from Birmingham) impressed with his work rate.
The Blackpool supporters were in good voice and there was the usual chants against Preston which I tried to ignore. They were particularly vocal when it came to the sending of of Weir after two yellow cards. A draw must be on the cards at least I told my wife. The second half began with an impressive all out attacking display by Burton at their supporters end. You could sense the anticipation of a gall and Duffy duly delivered with a well taken shot from inside the penalty area. The home crowd erupted. Shortly afterwards there was disappointment in our party when Clark sustained an injury. It looked like the recurrence of an old problem and he had to go off. His dad texted furiously to find out more. As the match went on both sides had opportunities to score. The Blackpool fans became increasing frustrated with the team's performance against ten men and even questioned the players fitness to were the tangerine shirt. The "Oyston Out" banner was seen and they gave the players verbal abuse after the whistle had gone. Several players and Clark's father were visibly upset about this. There is clearly some deep-rooted stuff going on at Bloomfield Road.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out of the ground was easy. We waited by the players entrance to see Clark who was philosophical about the injury. At least six weeks to recover he thought. It was interesting to see behind the scenes activities like delivery of pizzas for the return coach journey – they need their carbohydrates after all those exertions said Clark's dad. We were the last car left in the car park at the trading estate so it was easy to get away.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
This was a pleasant day out and nice introduction for my wife. The atmosphere was non-confrontational. I would like to see both teams doing well. Burton look better placed at the moment and impressed with their speed, fitness and work rate. Blackpool have a bit to do on current form but I will follow their progress with interest. Duffy deserved his man of the match.
Burton Albion v Coventry City
League One
Sunday 6th September 2015, 2.30pm
Russ Moore (Coventry City fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
It was the first ever league meeting between these two clubs and only a short trip for the mass of travelling Sky Blues fans.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Traveled by train and caught a taxi up to the Beech Inn just down the road from the ground. The taxi cost £6.50.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to the Beech Inn pub. It was very reasonable at £3 for a pint of Carling. It also sold cold filled cobs at £2 each and in the car park was also a burger van with cheese burgers priced at £3. No home fans in the pub but met a few walking towards the ground and they were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Tidy little ground with terracing and seating for away fans which in my opinion is the best way to watch footy.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Atmosphere was electric as there was 6,433 fans inside and with Coventry selling out there allocation made the day even better. Even with the game being shown on television it was a good turn out.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Walked back to the train station which took roughly twenty five minutes and didn't see any trouble with both sets of fans mixing well
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great first visit to the Pirelli Stadium, especially as Coventry won the game 2-1. This took the Sky Blues above Burton in the league and into second place.
Burton Albion v Peterborough United
League One
Saturday 22nd August 2015, 3pm
Kevin Chestney (Peterborough United fan)
Why were you looking forward to going to the Pirelli Stadium?
I have previously visited the Pirelli Stadium some years before when Burton were in the Conference. We had the misfortune of going there for an FA Cup Replay and lost 1-0. I remembered it was a modern compact stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Finding the ground was very simple. We came off the A50 and Burton was signposted, the route taking you past the ground. Car Parking is at the stadium cost £3.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We visited the 'Burton Bridge Inn' in the centre of Burton to sample some nice real ales and in an old traditional pub. The pub has many alcoves and some fans were already in there on our arrival at 12 noon. The locals were very friendly. We opted for a Ploughmans at £6.50. When it came it was a lot more than cheese, bread and pickle. It also came with ham off the bone, half a pork pie, homemade coleslaw and a warm ciabatta bread with butter. Probably one of the best I've had!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The ground looked modern and tidy. We opted to stand on the terrace as there are not many grounds left nowadays that have terracing for away fans.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We had about 850 away fans of the 3,500 crowd and the away end enabled a lot of atmosphere to be generated. We played with a 4-3-3 instead of or normal 4-4-2 due to injuries. We conceded in the first half and again early in the second. Then to make matters worse we went down to 10 men after one of our centre halves was red carded. This kick started a revival and we got a goal back and then in the dying seconds of the game had a goal disallowed for no apparent reason. We consoled ourself with the local faggots and peas from the food outlet in the away end.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy and we were back on the road withing 10 minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The real ale pub experience was brilliant along with the Ploughmans, but the game was disappointing as was the result. Hopefully back next season to do it again!
Burton Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 18th July 2015, 1pm
Aimee Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to visiting the Pirelli Stadium?
FOOTBALL IS BACK! After two and a bit months of pretending to like cricket, then tennis for a fortnight, I could finally go back and watch my beloved Wolves. Following a week of training in France, the boys in Old Gold were kicking off their domestic friendlies in Staffordshire. The opponents were last season’s League Two Champions Burton Albion, managed by the former Chelsea and Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. It was also the first day of my six week summer holiday (I knew there was a reason for being a teacher!), so it was a no brainer.
Main Glass Fronted Entrance
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Me, my brother, my dad and my ‘Uncle’ Tony (he’s not really my uncle, we just call him that) decided to go on the train to this one. The 1pm kick off meant a reasonably early start, but after a few bacon butties, we got on the train to Birmingham just after half 9. We changed at New Street, getting the train to Nottingham at twenty past ten, and arrived in Burton just before ten to eleven. The ground is pretty easy to find from the station, take a left after leaving the station, then a right, and it’s then a straight road to the Pirelli. The only problem is it is a very long road. It’s a good fifteen, twenty minute walk. The ground is signposted though. The walk itself is pleasant enough, past various shops, some imposing Victorian factory buildings, and rows of houses. We were also serenaded at one point by a passing car playing that popular mid-July anthem, “Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly”. Only in England.
The Away Terrace
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
As the arduous train journey had tired out my Uncle Tony (ahem), we stopped for ‘rehydration’ in The Alfred, a friendly little pub located on Derby Road, the long road we were walking along anyway. There were a few away fans in their already, and they were happy to accommodate us. They also had food on offer. We then made our way to the ground, in time to greet the players off the coach. It was good seeing them again. I went for a quick look in the club shop. It was pretty small, but had all the usual things you’d expect- replica shirts, hoodies, badges/keyrings etc. There was a nice moment too when one of the Burton players, resplendent with lush blonde hair and tattoos aplenty, walked in, to say hello to the staff. He was also excited as he and his wife had just found out they’re expecting a baby. A nice reminder that amongst all the money, footballers are still real people.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
As you arrive at the Pirelli along the main road, the first thing you see is the glass fronted entrance. It seems to me, from my travels, that more and more grounds have these. I think they’re nice, but they’re not very ‘footballish’, if that’s even a word. More like an office block. The ground is very smart looking though. Feeling flush, we decided to fork out the extra £3 to sit in the seated area to the side, rather than the terrace. The seats were comfortable enough, but there was not much legroom. I was alright, but my Uncle Tony struggled. He often describes himself as having an athletic body, though I do think the athlete in question is a sumo wrestler…
North Terrace
You get a pretty good view of the game, as there are no obstructions, and the ground is quite tight. It’s fair to say that the Pirelli won’t be the biggest ground in League One, but I can imagine if it’s full, there’s a fair amount of noise.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Burton were unlucky not to take the lead in the first couple of minutes. A speculative long range effort was spilled by Carl Ikeme, and it fell for Burton striker Lucas Akins. Perhaps caught by surprise, he could only stab the shot onto the post. Wolves took the lead in the 10th minute, when Benik Afobe intercepted a loose pass, before slipping Nouha Dicko in on goal with a lovely pass. The Malian striker, fresh from signing a new contract, advanced on Brewers keeper Jon McLaughlin before rifling a shot into the far corner. Wolves enjoyed a good spell of pressure immediately after, with winger Michael Jacobs fizzing a shot just wide, and Afobe denied a good chance on goal by a late offside flag. At the other end, Ikeme had to be alert to snaffle a first time strike from Calum Butcher, the stopper holding onto the well struck shot at the first time of asking. The only Wolves new boy on show, £2m signing Conor Coady, was impressing, showing plenty of composure on the ball, and plenty of tenacity off it. Dicko was just crowded out when well placed, and Afobe racing onto Tommy Rowe’s clever cut back, only to miss the ball completely. The half time whistle came with Wolves looking decent value for the 1-0 lead, though Burton had had their chances.
The second half began with Burton’s Stuart Beavon testing substitute keeper Jon Flatt, the youngster equal to Beavon’s low drive. At the other end, Michael Jacobs jinked and jived past two or three challenges before being brought crashing down by Robbie Weir. Jacobs himself took the free kick, but his curled effort floated just wide. Wolves then had a chance to double the lead. Again, some hesitancy in the Brewers backline allowed Afobe to snaffle possession. This time he went on alone, swerving a desperate late challenge, before firing past McLaughlin. The shot thudded against the post, and bounced agonisingly away from Lee Evans, who was following up. At the other end, Burton did have the ball in the net following a scrambled corner, only to be denied by an offside flag, whilst Flatt made one more comfortable save, this time low to his left. The flurry of substitutions did disrupt the flow of the game, but did allow Wolves fans a glimpse of two potential stars of the future. Nigerian striker Bright Enobakhare showed some nice pace and skill, whilst diminutive midfielder Connor Ronan, who looked about 14, did not look out of place either. The game petered out, and whilst the 1-0 score line perhaps doesn’t dazzle or excite, it represented a good 90 minutes for Wolves in the build up to another Championship season.
There was a very relaxed atmosphere, with it being a friendly. I would say the Burton stands were around a third full, whilst Wolves fans packed out the terrace behind the goal, as well as a good section of the seated area to the side too. The PA system did its best to get the atmosphere going before the game, including playing Britpop classic “Life of Riley” by the Lightning Seeds. Though, at one point the system seemed to be stuck on Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”. We heard the intro at least four times, when once is more than enough…
Home End Terrace
Burton’s mascot, who I later found out was called ‘Billy Brewer’, is a rather strange fellow. He’s a sort of cross between Dennis the Menace and one of the Tweenies, and spent most of the game walking round with a selfie stick.
The food on offer inside the ground was very reasonably priced, and I was surprised to see that the menu offered Faggots and Chips. Not seen that at a football ground before. In the end I played it safe and had a cheeseburger. The concourse was small but well organised, and there was a programme seller inside. I paid £1.50 for the programme, which, as is the case with friendlies, was fairly plain, with just a few pages on each team and the usual articles from chairman and manager.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very straightforward, out of the exit and back onto Derby Road. From what I saw, many Wolves fans who had driven up to Burton had parked on Derby Road, rather than at the ground. We were back on the train for about half three, where we bumped into a rather inebriated Wolves fan, who was good fun. He did inform us that the game had in fact kicked off so early so as to accommodate a wedding taking place at the stadium later in the day.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Really enjoyed my trip to Burton. The weather was nice, the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, it was a really nice way to kick off another season of ups and downs following the Wolves…
Burton Albion v Derby County
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday, July 17th, 2010, 3pm
Adam Legg (Derby County fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Always look forward to our annual pre-season jaunt to Burton, with it being 20 minutes away its a great way to kick start the new season
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey from derby is easy, a case of a quick drive down the A38 and following the signs, well signposted. we have parked on the Derby road near the ground for the last 3 years, wether you are meant to or not is another thing! but there is always a stream of fans already parked there.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
The locals have always been friendly when i have visited and have sat in the home stands on my last 2 visits. pre game we have got into the ground around half hour before kickoff and enjoyed a pint and a pie, both tasted great and reasonably priced, well for a football ground anyway.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The pirelli is a nice looking ground and the away end is a nice terrace. its a change from our usual visit of bigger championship grounds in less desirable parts of the country.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself wasn't an inspired performance from either side, but with it being both teams first pre-season meeting it was to be expected, Derby made wholesale changes at half time, fielding a totally different 11. Stewards were friendly and approachable and you could have a laugh with them (whether this was because this steward also worked at Pride Park I don't know!!!) the atmosphere was poor from Burton fans who mustered a bit of a clap at a corner, in recent seasons its been a bit more livelier, but not much more, our fans kept or chanting for most of the game. The toilets were clean and smart.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was an unusual experience as we got home quicker than what we would do on a game at home. location was obviously a factor in this living on the outskirts of Derby and the ground being on the outskirts of Burton. Saying that we were more or less the last ones to leave the stadium and there was virtually no traffic along the Derby Road heading towards the A38
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Burton is a great little ground to visit, it has great beer, and friendly locals. its a game and a day out (well half an afternoon) out that i look forward to after a long hard summer of little football!
Adam Legg long suffering Derby County Fan!
Burton Albion v Bournemouth
League Two
Saturday, April 24th, 2010, 3pm
Les Chase (Bournemouth fan)
I was looking forward to the game because : that if the right result, Bournemouth would get promotion.
I was one of the few to use the M1 from South and found it easy to find my way. Signs to Stoke and Burton using A50. Burton is sign posted well. Car parking is excellent at just £2 at the official club car park. I arrived at 12.15, as I did not know how the journey was going to take.
I took my own lunch, but there is a pub not far from the ground, where there were quite a few Bournemouth supporters enjoying themselves. I had a look around the ground, and had a real friendly chat to some of the Burton supporters. I went also to the club shop, to pick a memento of the day, the staff in there were friendly too.
The ground was three sides terracing, with the away seating next to the away end. I had purchased a seat for the game. The ground looked new, to look at, but I am still surprised that terracing is still allowed. Still it is Burton's first season in the football league.
The stewards could not have been more helpful inside. Toilets were nice and clean. Bournemouth won 2-0 and a pitch invasion ensued after the final whistle. The poor grounds man, just having got league grounds man of the season, must have been worried! However, no real damage was done. Out of the 4,000 crowd, there were 1500 plus from Bournemouth, so the atmosphere was more like a home game. Bournemouth were celebrating their promotion, along with some of the best home supporters in the country, Burton Albion.
Finally, leaving the game, the journey home was great. I travelled on my own, and did the 200 mile journey in around 3.5 hours, using the M1 and A43. The worst bit was, the A34 was closed around Oxford, so I left the M40 one junction later, and got around the Ring Road without too much trouble. I did the journey non-stop and when home had a celebration drink with my wife, who had to work on the game day.
Burton Albion have made many a Bournemouth friend, and myself will follow them , and their results more in seasons to come.
Burton Albion v Bradford City
League Two
Saturday, April 10th, 2010, 3pm
Eamonn Lynch (Bradford City fan)
I was looking forward to this fixture as an opportunity to visit another new stadium. Burton’s brewing history must surely put this venue at the top of the list for visiting supporters and those from Bradford didn’t leave disappointed.
I went by car and the journey took just under two hours. The traffic on the A38 Derby can be very heavy, particularly when heading away from the ground. It’s advisable to leave yourself plenty of time. The A50 links the M1 and M6 and provided a quicker getaway after the match.
I went to the Great Northern, which is only a two minute walk from the ground. This place is more ‘Early Doors’ than ‘Hooters’, but serves an outstanding pint of Bitter as well as a decent selection of sandwiches. It boasts a beer garden (which I didn’t venture in to) and has a large screen with Sky TV. The Great Northern is away fan friendly and I will certainly be heading there before next season’s encounter. A friend who went by train tells me that Cooper’s Tavern in the town centre is very quirky and well worth a visit. Burton fans are friendly enough and wherever you go you can expect a trouble free day out.
The Pirelli Stadium is a new ground and I had a ticket for a seat in the Main Stand. Like all new stadiums it lacks character, but it is functional and provides a good view of the action. The away terrace behind the goal is a reasonable size and it would be possible to create a decent atmosphere if there was anything to play for.
Unfortunately, this was a meaningless end of season game for both sides. Although Burton were clearly the better team, we were fortunate enough to take an undeserved lead before the hosts equalised eight minutes from time. It was definitely a game that won’t live long in the memory. I would describe the catering as good with a decent range of pies, and chips were also available, however I opted for the faggots and peas and wasn’t disappointed. The police and stewards were superb in my opinion and helped make for a relaxed day out.
Getting away from the ground was easy, as the car was parked on a grass verge just outside the stadium. It’s only a two minute drive to get to the A38.
Overall, Burton is a very good day out and is a welcome addition to the Football League. My only gripe would be that we went there with so little at stake. I look forward to returning for a far more meaningful fixture next season.
Burton Albion v Cheltenham Town
League Two
Saturday, March 20th, 2009, 3pm
Rob Campion (Neutral fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
One of the nearest floodlit grounds to Leicester I have not been to and also to meet up with a Cheltenham supporting friend.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Burton is very easy to get to from Leicester and takes around fifty minutes. Picked up said friend from the train station in the town and we made our way to the ground. Car parking at the ground only cost £2.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We were directed to the Beech pub on the Derby Road which is a five minute walk away from the ground. All the away fans were being directed there, but as we were early we were the only ones in there at the time. Outside the pub was a mobile burger van selling the usual array of hot food.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is new and functional. It is a case of “does what it says on the tin”. Away fans are housed the terrace behind the goal on the Derby Road side and also allocated a section of the seated main stand.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc.
My take on the game can be found at http://www.rambler77.net. Stewards were friendly and the toilets were clean. No rivalry between the two teams as both sets of supporters were more interested in their own team than each other. Burton came across as a very friendly club to visit. I did not purchase any food at the ground though hot drinks cost £1.30.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Got back to the car and despite the traffic being heavy at the island outside the ground we were back at the train station inside ten minutes and I was back home in Leicester by 6pm.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Enjoyable afternoon out with the Cheltenham supporters helped of course by the result. I might even make a return visit if Leicester play here in a friendly.