Accrington Web - 2013 Prediction League; Game 5 (Burton Albion

Accrington Stanley

Burton Albion

2013 Prediction League – Game 5 v Burton Albion (home)

If you’ve nowt better on on 8th October, you might fancy a quick trip to Sutton Coldfield to watch the Brewers (who, according to their manager Gary Rowett “still haven’t lost a game in 90 minutes all season” :p) playing Romulus FC of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division South in the First Round of the Birmingham Senior Cup (Tickets £5.00, £3.00 concessions, capacity 2000) ……….Isn’t it fascinating what information that you didn’t know you didn’t know you can pick up from websites? ……………….. I wonder where Remus FC play? :D Wonder if they’re twinned? ;)…………

The Brewers were non-league from their formation in 1950 until 2009, beginning in the Birmingham and District League, and playing at the Lloyds Foundry ground; in 58/59 they went up to the Southern League, and moved to Eton Park; in 2005 they built and moved to the £7.2 million Pirelli Stadium (they were given the land by Pirelli in exchange for naming rights, apparently, the ground being built on the former site of the Pirelli UK Tyres Ltd Sports & Social Club opposite Eton Park (which was demolished for housing). Meanwhile they’d transferred from the Southern League to the Northern Premier League, winning it in 2002 and joining the Conference; they made the playoffs in 2007/8, losing to Cambridge, but the year after they went up (just :o), having at one time been 19 points clear :eek:, and having swapped manager Nigel Clough for Roy McFarland; they started life in League Two with Paul Peschisolido (Mr Karen Brady) in the Gaffer’s chair; they finished 13th, then 19th, then 17th, then they sacked the aforementioned PP ……………..:( Last season, you’ll recall, they finished 4th, but missed promotion by virtue of throwing away a 3-2 first leg lead over Bradford, going down 5-4 overall ………….. :confused:

They had a fair old turnover in the summer – not all of it necessarily what they wanted; four of their senior (= old, ie 30 plus :)) players were released; MF John McGrath (33), ex Villa and Tamworth, went to Alfreton Town (who may or may not be about to secure new investment from an Asian Consortium, and who may or may not keep Nicky Laws as Manager if they do, and since he’s got a mortgage to pay, he may or may not become the new Manager of Gateshead :D); defender Aaron Webster (32), who played over 500 games and scored 88 goals in his 15 years there (and was understandably “gutted” to be released :rolleyes:) is now at Ilkeston; Nathan Stanton (32, CB) played 237 for the Iron, 139 at Coleydale, and 62 at Burton, but has moved on to ….. I know not where ;); RB Andy Corbett (31) has retired, with an epitaph which reads that he was “noted more for his hard working ethic than his ability as a footballer” :D:D:D; additionally, former Scottish u19 CF Matt Paterson, a 23 year-old striker with the Saints, Southend, Stockport (currently 21st of 22 in the Conference North, on one point from 4 games :o) and Hamilton Accies) signed for Aldershot (last in the Conference on -3, just behind Chester who have 0 points from 5! :p); and striker Adi Yussuf (20) has joined Lincoln.

The two departures they probably didn’t want were CF Calvin “Couldn’t Hit the Floor With His Hat” Zola (28), once of Newcastle, Oldham, Tranmere and Crewe (whose fans gave him his descriptive nickname) went North to Aberdeen, and fellow DR of Congo international Jacques Maghoma (a winger aged 25), who moved on to Hillsborough ……………..In came ex-Stanleyite CB Phil Edwards :D (27) from Rochdale and striker Michael Symes :D (29) from the Orient ……….. also signing on were ex Tranmere, Villa and Hednesford forward Adam McGurk (24), who retired in 2010 when Villa released him, but who changed his mind :); ex Derby and Stoke MF Rory Delap (37) went to Barnsley in January on loan, hoping it might lead to a permanent deal; it didn’t (good move, Rory :p), and he and his slingshot throw-ins are now a League Two feature ;); CB Ian Sharps (32), who began at Tranmere and had two spells at Rotherham (where he was skipper) wrapped around two season at Shrewsbury, came on loan and liked it so much that he stayed (and was made captain); Burnley and Scottish u19 and u21 MF Alex McDonald (24) – who was variously on loan at Falkirk, Inverness, Plymouth (twice – one of which involved him giving us (and especially Toto) a torrid time when they beat us 4-0 chez nous :eek:) and Burton then signed on the dotted line; and last – but certainly not least – striker Rene Howe (26, Bedford, Kettering, 6 loans including Rochdale and Morecambe, and Peterborough) turned down a new contract at Torquay and moved up-country ………………….. Additionally to that, they’ve signed two GKs on loan (who does that remind me of? :D) – Jordan Pickford (19) from the Black Cats, and Norwegian Mats Morch from Derby

In the Capon Cup they contrived to beat Sheff Utd 2-1 away (Lord Sunbeds :) and Symes both played, and Billy Kee came on as a sub on 82) before losing, last night, to a strong Fulham side (including John-Arne Riise, Brede Hangeland, Adel Taarabt, Scott Parker (who is about to become the most-booked player ever, it seems :confused:), Darren Bent and Hugo Rodellega) 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw; again, Phil the Tan played, and Symes came on as a sub on 78, put them 2-1 up in extra time, and got booked :) …………….. In the League, it’s P4 W2 D2 L0 F8 A6 for 8 points and 5th place ;) ………….. draws at Cheltenham (2-2, coming back from 2-0 down :)) and at home to Bury (also 2-2, also coming back from a 2-0 deficit :)), and wins over Rochdale (1-0) and Fleetwood (3-2, away, almost throwing away a 3-0 lead :rolleyes:); they don’t do things the simple way, that’s for sure :D ……………….Billy Kee was a starter in the first 3 games of the season, but is out for (maybe) 3 games, resting a “minor grade two tear” to his thigh (what’s a Major grade two tear? ;)); Phil Edwards played against Cheltenham, was a 77th minute sub against Fleetwood, and sat on the bench for the other two, and Michael Symes has had but 33 minutes of League action (twice on the bench, and an 82nd minute sub against Rochdale and 65th minute sub against Bury ……………… As well as Billy Whizz, they’re currently without the injured Zander Diamond as well ………………Their 6 games have brought them 12 goals; Chris Hussey has 3, Adam McGurk and Michael Symes have two each, Delap, Kee, Jack Dyer and “The Big Beast” (Howe) have one each (plus one o.g.)

Head-to-head is good; P8 W4 D2 L2 F13 A9 :D; we won our first ever league meeting 2-0 away – our goals coming from – would you believe – Billy Kee and Michael Symes! :p:p:p We won at home 3-1 in 10/11 (Edwards, Craney and Proctor), won twice in 11/12 (2-1 at home – Winnard and Fletcher – and 2-0 away – McIntyre and an o.g.) and drew 3-3 at home last season, scorers being Hatfield, Amond and one James Beattie (In Whom We Trust :D:D)

Deadline for entries is, as always, kick-off time, which is 3.00pm this Saturday, 31st August ………… If you believe the statistics – and who does? – this is a toughie ……………but aren’t they all? The fightback starts here! And anyway, we’re only six points off the playoff places ………………..:p

Good luck to everyone …….. Remember, passion overcomes logic ……….. Keep the Faith! ………… and thanks for playing! :D

:alright: