Imps News

“He pulls together a squad every season on a shoestring and he’s got us playing some brilliant stuff.”

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The last time The Imps played today’s opponents Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium was on Tuesday 8th March 2011 in League Two, in front of a crowd of 2,051. The Brewers won 3-1 that night thanks to a Sam Winnall brace (11′ and 75′ PEN) and Aaron Webster (48′), with Ashley Grimes scoring a consolation goal for City in the 82nd minute.

Ahead of today’s match, we have done a Q&A with Burton Albion supporter Craig.

How long have you supported Burton Albion?

Since 1998.

Where did you finish last season?

In 9th – 10 points outside of the P/O’s, we had a bad start, didn’t really click until around Christmas and left ourselves with too much to do.

What do you think of your Manager?

I’m biased here but I think he’s very good and underrated. He pulls together a squad every season on a shoestring and he’s got us playing some brilliant stuff. His record in the transfer market we operate in is brilliant. We’ll sign someone on a free or for a few quid from up in Scotland, then 12-18 months later flog them for a profit. He’s unlucky not to get another chance at a bigger club but I’m delighted he’s at Burton and long may it continue.

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2019/20 season?

Hopes – Top 6 and 5th round of the FA Cup.

Expectations – top 7 and 4th round of the FA Cup.

One(s) to watch?

If fit. Quinn for a midfield masterclass. Scot Fraser and his driving runs with the ball at his feet. Liam Boyce for his intelligent hold-up play and ability to bring others into the game and David Templeton on the left for his ability to cut inside and score a pearler.

Which teams you think will finish in the top six?

Wycombe Wanderers, Ipswich Town, Rotherham United, Oxford United, Portsmouth and Burton Albion.

Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom three?

Bolton Wanderers, Southend United and AFC Wimbledon.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

Big club at this level with a good tradition and a good following. It’s good to see back at this level. Obviously losing the Cowley bros has impacted you massively as I expected you’d be doing a lot better this season. I thought with the momentum from the last couple of years you may challenge top 8 and even flirt with the playoffs. I don’t rate Michael Appleton highly as a manager and think he’s one of the brand of coaches who came through talking a good game but rarely delivering one.

Oh, and by the way, I’ve always had a soft spot for Lincoln since I dated a gorgeous lass from there called Jo, Gorgeous and brilliant at pool, what’s not to love. Many a happy Friday night out followed by trips to Sincil Bank on a Saturday. Weekends made in heaven.

What do you think the score will be?

2-0.

Will The Imps win, lose or draw against Burton Albion?

Win

Win

Lose

Draw

Random fact about your Club?

We’re the 83rd poorest supported club in the top 4 division.

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

I’ve not watched much of you boys this season, then I remembered you’ve got young Tyler Walker, I’d take him in a heartbeat.

We had him on loan when we were last in League One and he was very raw, but you could see he had something and his work rate, while he was with us, was unreal. He seems to have turned into more of an out and out striker over the last season or so, and the one thing we lack is a natural finisher and a goal poacher. Plus, if he came back it would give me the chance to buy his old man a beer 😉

I’ve got a lot of time for Jake Hesketh, another who we had on loan who was brilliant for us in his short spell. He got better every game and scored a couple of brilliant and crucial goals for us. A very positive player who I think will step up a level or two. Not a massive fan of Jason Shackell, for me he always threatened to be a really good defender but lacked a bit of toughness and always looked to blame someone else when he dropped a bollock. Too many Hollywood balls out from the back for my liking. Having said that, he should be bloody good at League One level and he will be a threat from set-pieces.

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Burton Albion Supporter?

Proudest coming up from the Southern Prem to the Conference with record goals and record points.

Never really had an embarrassing moment, we’ve always been the underdog. Maybe the lowest point was losing 0-5 at home to Hull in the championship.

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

Scot Fraser. If he’s not on the radar of clubs in the Championship, they’re missing a trick. If you let him run at you with or without the ball, he will cause you problems.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

No, don’t think so.

Which was your favourite match involving Burton Albion?

Burton 2-1 Gillingham. Tom Naylor scoring the winner in stoppage time which pretty much won us promotion to the championship.

Which was your least favourite match involving Burton Albion?

Preston 2-1 Burton, the game that sent us down. Not the performance or even the result but the manner in which it happened. 5 minutes from staying up and suddenly Forest lose their bottle, we lose our heads for 2 minutes and we’ve gone from the miracle of staying up to the heartbreak of going down.

Do you have a Former Players Association at Burton Albion?

There’s a hall of fame and there’s a Community Trust team where ex-players and legends are heavily involved. Aaron Webster, Keith Gilroy, Danny Holmes, all ex-players still work for the club.

What’s the best thing about Burton?

I’m not from there and only go for games, so I’d have to say, the Pirelli, oh and for a pre-match pint for home fans, the Stretton Social Club is legendary.

Gary Rowett, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink or Nigel Clough?

Nigel Clough.

What has been your favourite season of supporting Burton and why?

The conference promotion season, we won 12 on the bounce before Nigel left to go to Derby. We literally went into every game knowing we were going to win. Then the wheels fell off and we barely scraped over the line. For the sheer emotional highs and lows of a football season, that’s impossible to beat,

Who do you think is your clubs ultimate cult hero and why?

Chairman Ben Robinson. Under his stewardship, the club has achieved remarkable things, especially on the pitch. He’s picked and backed a series of managers who have been able to keep progressing the club forward. The fact we’ve done it all while continuously making a profit, while not paying crazy wages and while building a squad of players on free transfers season after season. He’s been brilliant.

Which beers are brewed in Burton?

No clue but I’m told there are some belters. I know the garage sells a decent coffee and bags of Bassett’s Fizzy Fish and that’s my pre-match meal sorted.

ZveÅ™ejnil(a) Vital Lincoln City dne Sobota 7. prosince 2019

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