After spending around three months training on a new process for work in Burton I was looking foward to going to watch the Imps take on Burton Albion. For those three months we passed their new stadium everyday. It was in the process of being built back then (2005). I think it was finsihed the week or so after we finished down there.
Since I knew the way i was able to navigate our way perfectly without a hitch or problem! 27-01-10 the flight of the navigator! But dont expect me to repeat the trick for either the Chesterfield of Darlington away matches next week chaps!
Burton Albion's ground is called the "Pirelli Stadium" Pirelli, a tyre company also sponser Italian champions Inter Milan!!! Only the other week Inter stuffed their city rivals AC Milan 2-0 despite have 10 men for over an hour. Lets have a quick peek at the highlights :-)
It's about an hour and a half to Burton. We parked the car in the carpark opposite the ground(only two quid). Just after we pulled up the Imps supporters coach turned up. As we crossed the road i heard them moaning about how the coach hadn't dropped them bang outside the away turnstiles even though it was only a 30 second or so walk over the road, lazy twats!
From the outside the stadium looked smart enough, as you would expect from a new stadium. The reception area looked very smart and clean. As we still had about 50 minutes till kick off we had time to walk round and check out the club shop. The range in the clubshop did seem to be quite limited compared to other league two clubs we had visited this season. The badges were priced at £2.50 and there was a choice of three. I got one that celebrated Burtons promotion, but only because i didnt see the crest badge Doh! I also picked up the Programme for £2.50.
This is one of the strangest looking programmes i have ever bought at a league two stadium. The size is about the size of a CD case which prompted my first thought to be along the lines of what the fuck is this! I didnt read it at the match as it was too cold but after studying it in the bath the next night i can say that it reads alot better than it looks, although somebody may want to check the mascot "Billy Brewer" page for correct content. For some reason he seems to think the two sides played each other in the same league in 2004 where as tonight was the first time the sides had ever met in a competitive league match; Muppet.
We handed over our £13 quid at the turnstile and piled into the ground. Below the away end there is an area where you can grab a pint in the warmth and watch sky sports news. Next to the bar there is a food area selling all the normal crappy football food. Although for the first time this season though, faggots were on the menu. Alas when felice went for some 15 minutes or so into the game they had sold out of the afore mentioned faggots so he had a burger that he said was crap and received a season low of 2.5 out of 10! Although his mood was brightened by the fact there was a smoking area below the stand. I am sure he said something about quitting smoking when we were all in Germany...
From the inside the ground is abit of a let down. Three sides are terracing, with the only stand with seats in to our left. Behind the opposite end of the ground to us the Burton fans had a nice collecton of flags in black and yellow.
Burton haven't lost from a winning postion this season so the one thing we didnt want to do was go 1-nil down. Alas we did so after about 50 seconds. The rest of the first half was a total non event for both sides as too many niggly fouls ruined the match. Although on the balance of play the Imps didnt deserve to be behind.
Lincoln stepped it up in the second half but couldn't force the equaliser we deserved. The Imps won the match even though the home fans were quiet throughout the match. Overall not a bad ground but there is still a very strong non league feel about the place.
Admission £13
Programme £2.50 6/10
Food -burger 2.5 out of 10
Ground 5/10
Match quality 4/10
Imps man of the match - Delroy Facey
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