…I had to park out the back of the industrial units, near to a sandwich packing factory. As I got out and put on my coat, I noticed the fattest man I have ever seen wearing a hairnet smoking a cigarette. He finished it, and whilst staring at me, slowly got out another and lit it. At this point I was not entirely sure that he was employed by the company.
As I approached the stadium near the away end, I caught a glimpse of the terrace I would be in, the West Stand. Massive flags everywhere, reminding me of a miniature version of Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park (which, for the record, sounds nowhere near as good as Westfalenstadion). Even with a modest history, it seems the Burton fans are desperate to promote a good atmosphere and club feel; my initial theory is that it would be like my trip to Dagenham, but transplanted into the Midlands – all Derby, Forest and maybe Leicester fans choosing to watch a more local team to save some money and get their kids into the game. Wrong. Everyone I met was Albion through and through, and some of the most knowledgeable fans I’ve met this year.
Now for some criticism. I apologise in advance, because Burton really is a cracking club and I had a great day. But: their club badge is stupid. Really horrible.
It’s like someone saw the Ajax badge (made up of just a few lines) and thought it could be recreated. It can’t. A guy in the ground had a proper retro flag that would have been a MUCH better choice. I’m just putting this out there. There’s isn’t much other criticism, honest. Certainly not of the ticket prices, because they’re easy to get: £15 to stand, £20 to sit. Same for both home and away fans (which is incredibly rare higher up the leagues so I’m always pleasantly shocked by it). Three stands are terraced, then the main stand has seats where you actually have to buy a ticket from the main office. For us lucky standers, it’s just cash on the gate, exactly how football should be.
Once in the ground, I needed food. I’ve been on a diet for two weeks since meeting wrestler turned Yoga guru “Diamond” Dallas Page and starting his DDP Yoga programme, so was allowed something unhealthy. Burton is the place you want to go if you fancy something naughty, trust me…
Jim Smallman - The Football Neutral 
Thanks for the nice article. To correct some of its more glaring mistakes: sadly Wimbledon have already played the ASDA-Walmart supermarket property deal last year in the cup. Football lost. Aldershot reject and part-time racist Danny Hylton was the “striker” completely dominated by Bob Holness (who was sent off for a punch in the return fixture earlier this season). Pell (one of the five midfielders) was sacrificed for Wyke at half-time as our usual first-half defensive formation failed yet again. Burton are a good side and Rowett a good manager, but anyone who makes a time-wasting sub in the 4th minute of stoppage time deserves all they get.
Good read here, I’m a Burton fan myself, I was so angry when the equalised.
Holness was actually filling in for Ian Sharps, who is much more commanding a Centre half, but Holness has done very well in the two games he’s covered for Sharpsy
When they equalised*
Good report but when will people realise that the 4th official is not the official timekeeper of the game (it is the ref) and the minutes he shows are the MINIMUM time to be played.