We continue our look at this seasons Sky Bet League 1 opposition
Burton Albion managed to avoid Shrewsbury’s grasp and cling on to become champions of Sky Bet League Two last season. Here we take an in depth look at the Brewers who will be competing in the third tier of English football for the first time in their history.
Name: Burton Albion Football Club
Nickname: The Brewers
Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
Founded: 1950
Last season:
Burton finished the season six points shy of reaching 100 in the league. They won 28 times, only being defeated on eight occasions. The Derbyshire team scored a division topping 69 goals, conceding 39 leaving them with an impressive +30 goal difference.
Burton secured their promotion back in April with a 2-1 win over Morecambe and were confirmed champions on the final day with a 3-2 victory at Cambridge.
Lucas Atkins finished top scorer for the club, finding the net nine times in the league.
The Gaffer:
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had a perfect start to life at the Pirelli stadium as he secured promotion in his debut season.
The former striker enjoyed a trophy laden playing career which started with Dutch club Telstar in 1990. He moved to AZ Alkmaar in 1991 before winning his first silverware in the form of the Taca de Portugal with Boavista in 1997.
The 43 year old then made moves to Leeds United and Atletico Madrid where he made a combined 103 appearances and scored 58 times, more than a goal every other game. Hasselbaink won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 1998/99 campaign.
The Dutchman’s eye catching performances attracted Chelsea to sign him in 2000. During his spell at Stamford Bridge he was prolific in front of goal, smashing home 70 times in 136 appearances. This form earned him his second Premier League Golden Boot award and helped Chelsea to a Charity Shield win in 2000 before securing a Premier League runner up award in 2003/4.
Hasselbaink finished his playing career at Cardiff City in 2008.
After his retirement the Burton boss joined the coaching staff at Chelsea’s youth team before being appointed manager at Royal Antwerp. His tenure their only lasted a season before he returned to England as the Burton Albion manager in 2014.
Stadium:
The Pirelli stadium was built in 2005 at a cost of £7.2 million. It replaced the club’s old ground, Eton Park. It has a capacity of 6,912.
Past Meetings:
Shrewsbury defeated Burton in a 1-0 win in the league in November last year. Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro scored the all-important goal in the 82nd minute. Burton won the reverse fixture by the same score in January this year. George Taft sealed it for the Brewers in the second half at the Pirelli Stadium.