Home of Burton Albion FC

Opened 2005

Capacity 6,912

Rating: 4.7

(342) Google Reviews

Argyle on tour! My first visit to the stadium. From a distance it looks like a shopping centre. Little dinky floodlights and not an imposing structure but what it lacked in stature it more than made up for in friendliness and hospitality. An open house bar where all fans mingled and double cheeseburgers were the order of the day was a perfect prereq for the match. Sadly, despite the 1700 away fans who sang their hearts out all match, we could only draw on a shockingly bumpy pitch....
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11 months ago
Is already a pleasant experience when you visit the stadium. Tough i don't go there anymore for the reason why I used to visit, as I used to go here as a press photographer to photograph the games. I do miss the people I used to see when I attended. The staff were all very polite and helpful, even going above and beyond to help. There is plenty of parking though be sure to get there early on game days. The centre often plays host to many events and functions. If you get the chance, I would recommend a visit. On an additional note, this is also a covid vaccination centre, at the rear of the stadium and the staff and volunteers are all very nice and helpful.
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4 months ago
An easy stadium to locate in Burton which as well as being home to Burton Albion FC also hosts Leicester City Ladies matches. Staff are all friendly, direct and pleasant when dealing with anything and you are always provided with a welcoming experience. It is on the doorstep of a vaccination clinic (as per Nov 2021) and the car park is readily available.
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a year ago
We had our flu and boosters and thank you to all the amazing volunteers. It was so well organised, everyone was so friendly and helpful. Massive well done to you, and all the medical staff there.
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5 months ago
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History (from Wikipedia)

Planning and construction[edit]

Plans for a new ground for Burton Albion had existed since July 2003, when it was becoming apparent that the club's progress and ambition on the pitch was not matched by their current Eton Park stadium, despite having spent £1 million to bring the ground up to Football Conference standards following their recent promotion to that league.[4] A new stadium would need to be created to Football League standards in the event of a further promotion. In June 2003 it was revealed that the club were hoping to acquire land on the Pirelli Sports and Social Club, with artists' impressions of the new ground first appearing on 6 August 2003.[4] This date coincided with the club submitting planning proposals to Staffordshire County Council for the new ground, originally intended to have a capacity of 6,000, representing a 25% increase on the capacity of Eton Park.[4] The original proposals also included a new training pitch to be available for community use, whilst also incorporating relocation of the Eton Park Bowling Club and Football Tavern.[4][12]

Club chairman Ben Robinson outlined the need for the stadium to be the focal point of football in the local community, claiming "The new football ground will provide modern facilities for the club to secure its ongoing development, and enable it to offer better coaching within the community and provide better facilities for schools and local clubs."
[4] The planning proposal also included a planning application to allow the redevelopment of Eton Park into residential properties, a move intended to fund the construction of the new stadium, and also a proposal by Pirelli to include new distribution units on their adjacent national distribution centre.[4]

Artistic impressions were submitted to the local council by architects Hadfield, Cawkwell and Davidson, of 
Sheffield.[4] Construction work was carried out by Burton firm Bison,[4] who were the club's shirt sponsors at the time. Work began in December 2003 in anticipation for being ready for the 2004–05 season.[4]

Conference years (2005–2009)[edit]

The first fixture at the new ground was held on 16 July 2005 with a pre-season friendly against Chester City.[13] A crowd of 1,341 saw Chester defeat the Brewers 1–0, with the distinction of scoring the first goal at the stadium landing to Chester trialist Avun Jephcott.[13] The first Albion player to score at the ground was trialist Kevin Street in a pre-season friendly against Hull City, a match that ended in a 2–2 draw.[14] The ground was officially opened on 14 November 2005 with a friendly match against Manchester United.[15] Special guests Sir Alex FergusonPirelli managing director Dominic Sandivasci and Barbara Clough, widow of Brian Clough and mother of then-Brewers manager Nigel Clough, marked the ceremony by unveiling a plaque.[15] In the match itself, a crowd of 6,065 saw the Brewers defeat the young United side 2–1.[15] Just before this match the stadium's official capacity having been fully completed had been set by Staffordshire County Council's safety committee at 6,068.[16]

The first competitive fixture held at the ground was a Football Conference fixture against Grays Athletic on 13 August 2005.[17] 1,654 people witnessed a 1–1, with Aaron Webster scoring the stadium's first competitive goal.[17] Later that season on 8 January 2006, with the stadium's capacity now increased to 6,200, the stadium's capacity record was broken in an FA Cup third-round match, ironically again against Manchester United, against whom the previous record had been set. 6,191 saw the Brewers bely their non-league status against the Premier League side, earning a 0–0 draw, forcing a replay at Old Trafford.[18] This is still the record FA Cup attendance at the ground. The match also saw the introduction of a new electronic scoreboard, placed in the Eastern side of the South Stand, however this was the only game that the board functioned.[18]

CCTV was installed around the perimeter of the stadium in 2007 following a spate of vandalism,[19] including rocks being thrown at the shop window, and trees planted as part of a landscaping project around the stadium being uprooted and damaged. On one occasion a wooden cable drum was rolled across the car park through a fence and into a drainage channel.[19] A new electronic scoreboard was installed prior to the 2008–09 season, however it first functioned in a Setanta Shield match against Kidderminster Harriers on 4 November 2008.[20] The new board is suspended from the roof of the Coors Visitor Stand, prohibiting its view from the away supporters.[21]

Football League (2009–present)[edit]

Prior to the club's inaugural season in the Football League, in June 2009 the club was given the go-ahead to raise the official capacity of the ground by 712, indicating a rise from 6,200, which had been the agreed capacity at the inauguration of the stadium, to 6,912, an increase of more than 10 percent, following discussion with safety inspectors and Staffordshire County Council.[22] The club was also encouraged to fund a toucan crossing for pedestrians crossing the adjacent Princess Way, due to the increase in fans that had coincided with the club's promotion.[23] Work on this project began on 2 August 2009, having originally been proposed during the planning stages of the stadium construction.[24] These moves were acknowledged with a renewal of the stadium's safety certificate on 12 July 2010 by the council's safety advisory group.[10]

The stadium hosted its first ever Football League match on 15 August 2009 against 
Morecambe, in a match that attracted a crowd of 2,742. Goals from Shaun HarradJohn McGrathRussell Penn and a Greg Pearson brace ensured a 5–2 victory for the Brewers against their former Conference rivals.[25] The first hat-trick at the stadium was also the first hat-trick scored by a Brewers player in the Football League, achieved by Greg Pearson in a 6–1 victory over Aldershot Town on 12 December 2009. This scoreline is also the Brewers' record victory margin at the stadium.[26] The stadium also witnessed one of the highest scoring matches in Football League history on 13 March 2010 when the Brewers were defeated 5–6 by Cheltenham Town.[27]

Things to do in Burton upon Trent.

The Winery.

13 Reviews
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The winery used to be amazing. Through covid it was great still but I don't know what's happened since - everything's gone downhill. The food quality,... Read More

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Sadly I have to update and demote this beautiful place from 5 stars to 3 stars. I have been a few times since my last review and to be honest it has wobbled... Read More

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Love the winery and for the most part, my experience drinking here has been wonderful because they do have excellent variety and with various price points.... Read More

Devonshire Arms.

6 Reviews
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The Devonshire Arms is a cozy, quaint little neighbourhood pub just a few minutes from Burton station. The real ale selection is adequate, and the decor... Read More

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My friend Erik and I have an internship here in England for 7 months. We've been meaning to find a good pub to start off a good England experience and this... Read More

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Not my closest pub, but certainly the one I'll go to for drinks due to the selection behind the bar of ale and soft drinks, and the amazing staff and... Read More