Pirelli Stadium
Encyclopedia
The Pirelli Stadium is an association football stadium
on Princess Way in Burton upon Trent
, East Staffordshire
, England
. It was built in 2005 and is the current home of Burton Albion F.C.
, replacing the club's old Eton Park
home, also on Princess Way, which was demolished and developed into housing. The ground was built on the former site of the Pirelli UK Tyres Ltd Sports & Social Club, and having had the land donated to the club by Pirelli
, in return for naming rights, the ground cost £7.2 million to build.
The ground was designed by architect
s Hadfield, Cawkwell and Davidson, and has served as the inspiration for numerous newer grounds, including Morecambe's
Globe Arena
, and the proposed Hayes & Yeading stadium. It gained its most recent safety certificate from Staffordshire County Council on 12 July 2010, having been subject to crowd trouble on 8 May 2010 at the hands of Grimsby Town
fans following their relegation from Football League Two
.
The ground has seen minor capacity changes since its construction, and the current capacity stands at 6,912, with 2,034 being seated in the South (Main) Stand. The current record attendance for the stadium stands at 6,192, in a Blue Square Premier
1–0 defeat against Oxford United
, during the club's title-winning season
. The previous record attendance stood at 6,191, for an FA Cup
third round match on 8 January 2006 against Manchester United
.
stadium, despite having spent £1 million to bring the ground up to Football Conference
standards. The new stadium would need to be created to Football League standards should the club's rise on the pitch continue. 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 2008. 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. 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.
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." 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.
Artistic impressions were submitted to the local council by architects Hadfield, Cawkwell and Davidson, of Sheffield
. Construction work was carried out by Burton firm Bison, 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.
. 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
. 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. The ground was officially opened on 14 November 2005 with a friendly match against Manchester United
. Special guests Sir Alex Ferguson
, Pirelli
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. In the match itself, a crowd of 6,065 saw the Brewers defeat the young United side 2-1. 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.
The first competitive fixture held at the ground was a Football Conference
fixture against Grays Athletic
on 13 August 2005. 1,654 people witnessed a 1-1, with Aaron Webster
scoring the stadium's first competitive goal. 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
. 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.
CCTV was installed around the perimeter of the stadium in 2007 following a spate of vandalism, 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. 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. The new board is suspended from the roof of the Coors
Visitor Stand, prohibiting its view from the away supporters.
, 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 inaugration of the stadium, to 6,912, an increase of more than 10 percent, following discussion with safety inspectors and Staffordshire County Council. 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. Work on this project began on 2 August 2009, having originally been proposed during the planning stages of the stadium construction. These moves were acknowledged with a renewal of the stadium's safety certificate on 12 July 2010 by the council's safety advisory group.
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 Harrad
, John McGrath, Russell Penn
and a Greg Pearson
brace ensured a 5-2 victory for the Brewers against their former Conference rivals. 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. 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
.
end, currently named the Rotala
stand for sponsorship purposes), and the North Stand (currently named the nPower
Family Stand, although commonly known as the Popside) are the two home terraces, whilst the East (Coors
Visitor) stand terrace accommodates the away support.
The Main stand also boasts off the pitch facilities, including conference rooms, with the largest holding 300 people, the press room, medical facilities, club shop and the Burton Albion Study Centre. On match days there are eight directors boxes available, across the Main stand. The club's main administration facilities are also located in this stand. There are four bars, one located inside each of the stands, which are all open before and during games. Other features of the stadium include the scoreboard located on the roof of the East stand, and the Police Control Box located in the corner between the South and East stands.
Groundsman Simon Marshall has received several accolades for his maintenance of the Pirelli Stadium pitch, including runner-up for Groundsman Of The Year in the Football Conference
for the 2008–09 season, and Groundsman Of The Year in Football League Two
for the 2009–10 season.
on 29 November 2006. Goals from Steve Morison
, Kieran Charnock
, George Boyd
, Craig Mackail-Smith
resulted in a 4–1 victory for the home side. On 26 August 2009 the ground hosted an England Under-17's
international match against Italy Under 17's
, the match ending in a 1–1 draw. On 30 April 2010 the ground played host to an England Under-18 Schoolboys international against the Republic Of Ireland, which ended in a 1–0 victory for the Irish. The stadium acted as a neutral venue for a 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification
match between the Czech Republic
and the Netherlands
. Two goals from Jordy Brouwer
resulted in a 2–0 victory for the Dutch.
Between 2006 and 2008 the stadium hosted the Conference North
playoff finals before being dropped in favour of drawing one of the finalists' own grounds. During the 2007-08 season Derby County
announced that a number of their reserve matches would be placed at the ground, although this arrangement was discontinued following the Brewers promotion to the Football League.
league match against Oxford United
on 17 April 2009. The match was of significant importance as a draw or win for the Brewers would have earned them the Conference title, however the match finished 1–0 to Oxford, thanks to an Adam Chapman
free-kick. The previous record attendance and also current FA Cup
record attendance at the ground is 6,191, set on 8 January 2006 in a third-round match against Manchester United
. The match ended 0-0 with the then non-league Brewers forcing a replay at Old Trafford
against their Premier League opponents. The highest attendance for a Football League match at the ground is 5,801, set on 28 December 2009 for a 4-1 defeat to local rivals Notts County
. The record attendance for a non-competitive match was set on 14 November 2005, also against Manchester United. The Brewers won the match 2–1, in a match organised for the stadium's official opening, which attracted 6,065 people. The lowest league attendance at the ground is 1,235, set on 25 April 2006 for a Nationwide Conference
match against Dagenham & Redbridge
. The lowest attendance at the stadium for any competitive match was set on 4 November 2008 for a Setanta Shield
match against Kidderminster Harriers
, which attracted a mere 554 people.
Car parking is available adjacent to the ground with spaces available for 400 vehicles, with space for further vehicles available at the Rykneld Trading Estate on Derby Road. On 22 October 2005 the club introduced a £2 parking charge for fans using the car park on matchdays, having previously withheld from charging fans at Eton Park
. The club was forced to appease residents of nearby Stretton
by allocating no-parking zones on surrounding roads around the ground following congestion concerns as a result of roadside parking. Burton upon Trent railway station
is served by local services operated by CrossCountry
towards Derby
, Nottingham
and Birmingham
, with further connections available, however it is located over a mile and a half away from the stadium. Arriva Midlands
and Trent Barton
operates bus services from the stadium towards the town centre and also towards Derby
.
The training pitch on the complex that had been submitted as part of planning proposals, originally intended to be used for club training and community purposes, has also not yet been built, due to ongoing developments at the St. George's Park
complex in Rangemore
allowing the Brewers to use it as their current training ground for the foreseeable future.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
on Princess Way in Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire is a local government district with borough status in Staffordshire in England. It has two main towns, Burton upon Trent, famous for its breweries, and Uttoxeter, for its racecourse....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was built in 2005 and is the current home of Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
, replacing the club's old Eton Park
Eton Park
Eton Park was an association football stadium located in Burton upon Trent, England. It was the home ground of Burton Albion F.C. from 1958 to 2005 when they moved to the £7.2 million Pirelli Stadium. The Brewers moved to the ground on 20 September 1958, coinciding with their promotion to the...
home, also on Princess Way, which was demolished and developed into housing. The ground was built on the former site of the Pirelli UK Tyres Ltd Sports & Social Club, and having had the land donated to the club by Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
, in return for naming rights, the ground cost £7.2 million to build.
The ground was designed by architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s Hadfield, Cawkwell and Davidson, and has served as the inspiration for numerous newer grounds, including Morecambe's
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
Globe Arena
Globe Arena (football stadium)
The Globe Arena is a football stadium in Morecambe, Lancashire, England, which is used by Morecambe F.C. It is named after Globe Construction, the company that built the stadium. The stadium holds up to 6,476 supporters, with 2,173 seats available in the Main Stand, which runs the length of one...
, and the proposed Hayes & Yeading stadium. It gained its most recent safety certificate from Staffordshire County Council on 12 July 2010, having been subject to crowd trouble on 8 May 2010 at the hands of Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
fans following their relegation from Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
.
The ground has seen minor capacity changes since its construction, and the current capacity stands at 6,912, with 2,034 being seated in the South (Main) Stand. The current record attendance for the stadium stands at 6,192, in a Blue Square Premier
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
1–0 defeat against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, during the club's title-winning season
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
. The previous record attendance stood at 6,191, for an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third round match on 8 January 2006 against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
Planning and construction
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 ParkEton Park
Eton Park was an association football stadium located in Burton upon Trent, England. It was the home ground of Burton Albion F.C. from 1958 to 2005 when they moved to the £7.2 million Pirelli Stadium. The Brewers moved to the ground on 20 September 1958, coinciding with their promotion to the...
stadium, despite having spent £1 million to bring the ground up to Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
standards. The new stadium would need to be created to Football League standards should the club's rise on the pitch continue. 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 2008. 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. 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.
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." 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
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
to include new distribution units on their adjacent national distribution centre.
Artistic impressions were submitted to the local council by architects Hadfield, Cawkwell and Davidson, of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
. Construction work was carried out by Burton firm Bison, 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.
Conference years (2005–2009)
The first fixture at the new ground was held on 16 July 2005 with a pre-season friendly against Chester CityChester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
. 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
Avun Jephcott
Avun Jephcott is a professional footballer recently released from Conference South side Worcester City, where he made two appearances as a striker.-Club career:...
. The first Albion player to score at the ground was trialist Kevin Street
Kevin Street
Kevin Street is an English footballer whose playing position is as a midfielder for Stafford Rangers.-Playing career:...
in a pre-season friendly against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, a match that ended in a 2–2 draw. The ground was officially opened on 14 November 2005 with a friendly match against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Special guests Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
, Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
managing director Dominic Sandivasci and Barbara Clough, widow of Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
and mother of then-Brewers manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
, marked the ceremony by unveiling a plaque. In the match itself, a crowd of 6,065 saw the Brewers defeat the young United side 2-1. 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.
The first competitive fixture held at the ground was a Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
fixture against Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
on 13 August 2005. 1,654 people witnessed a 1-1, with Aaron Webster
Aaron Webster (footballer)
Aaron Webster is an English professional association football player currently playing for Burton Albion.He plays as a left back or attacking midfielder and has been known to play in other roles including left winger and centre forward.-Career:Webster has been part of the first team since...
scoring the stadium's first competitive goal. 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
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
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
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
. 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.
CCTV was installed around the perimeter of the stadium in 2007 following a spate of vandalism, 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. A new electronic scoreboard was installed prior to the 2008-09 season, however it first functioned in a Setanta Shield
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
match against Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
on 4 November 2008. The new board is suspended from the roof of the Coors
Coors
Coors Brewing Company, or Coors, is a division of the Molson Coors Brewing Company.Coors may also refer to:-Companies:*Adolph Coors Company, a former holding company controlled by the heirs of founder Adolph Coors...
Visitor Stand, prohibiting its view from the away supporters.
Football League (2009–present)
Prior to the club's inaugural season in the Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, 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 inaugration of the stadium, to 6,912, an increase of more than 10 percent, following discussion with safety inspectors and Staffordshire County Council. 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. Work on this project began on 2 August 2009, having originally been proposed during the planning stages of the stadium construction. These moves were acknowledged with a renewal of the stadium's safety certificate on 12 July 2010 by the council's safety advisory group.
The stadium hosted its first ever Football League match on 15 August 2009 against Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
, in a match that attracted a crowd of 2,742. Goals from Shaun Harrad
Shaun Harrad
Shaun Nicholas Harrad is a professional footballer currently playing with Bury in League 1, where he plays as a striker.-Career:...
, John McGrath, Russell Penn
Russell Penn
Russell Penn is a professional footballer currently playing for Cheltenham Town in Football League 2, where he plays as a midfielder....
and a Greg Pearson
Greg Pearson
Greg Pearson is an English footballer who plays for Aldershot Town on loan from Burton Albion in League Two.His previous clubs include West Ham United, Rushden & Diamonds, and more recently Bishop's Stortford....
brace ensured a 5-2 victory for the Brewers against their former Conference rivals. 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
Greg Pearson
Greg Pearson is an English footballer who plays for Aldershot Town on loan from Burton Albion in League Two.His previous clubs include West Ham United, Rushden & Diamonds, and more recently Bishop's Stortford....
in a 6–1 victory over Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
on 12 December 2009. This scoreline is also the Brewers' record victory margin at the stadium. 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
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
.
Structure and facilities
The stadium is divided into four single-tier stands. The South (Main) stand is the only all-seater stand, boasting a capacity of 2,034, which is segregated to provide seating for both home and away fans, whilst the ground also has three terraced stands, the West Stand (formerly the BovrilBovril
Bovril is the trademarked name of a thick, salty meat extract, developed in the 1870s by John Lawson Johnston and sold in a distinctive, bulbous jar. It is made in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, owned and distributed by Unilever UK....
end, currently named the Rotala
Rotala
Rotala is an Alternative Investment Market listed company, which owns a variety of UK transport operators.Rotala was set up in 2005, with the main intention of acquiring or gaining majority interest in businesses within a number of areas.-Surrey Connect:...
stand for sponsorship purposes), and the North Stand (currently named the nPower
Npower
Npower may refer to:* Npower , a gas and electricity supply company in the UK, a subsidiary of RWE* NPower , a network of nonprofit technology assistance providers in the United States...
Family Stand, although commonly known as the Popside) are the two home terraces, whilst the East (Coors
Coors
Coors Brewing Company, or Coors, is a division of the Molson Coors Brewing Company.Coors may also refer to:-Companies:*Adolph Coors Company, a former holding company controlled by the heirs of founder Adolph Coors...
Visitor) stand terrace accommodates the away support.
The Main stand also boasts off the pitch facilities, including conference rooms, with the largest holding 300 people, the press room, medical facilities, club shop and the Burton Albion Study Centre. On match days there are eight directors boxes available, across the Main stand. The club's main administration facilities are also located in this stand. There are four bars, one located inside each of the stands, which are all open before and during games. Other features of the stadium include the scoreboard located on the roof of the East stand, and the Police Control Box located in the corner between the South and East stands.
Groundsman Simon Marshall has received several accolades for his maintenance of the Pirelli Stadium pitch, including runner-up for Groundsman Of The Year in the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
for the 2008–09 season, and Groundsman Of The Year in Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
for the 2009–10 season.
Other uses
The ground hosted an England C European Challenge Trophy match against Netherlands CNetherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
on 29 November 2006. Goals from Steve Morison
Steve Morison
Steven William "Steve" Morison is a Welsh international footballer who plays for Norwich City as a striker.Morison started his career at Northampton Town at the age of 16, progressing through the club's centre of excellence...
, Kieran Charnock
Kieran Charnock
Kieran James Charnock is an English footballer who plays as a defender for League Two side Morecambe, on loan from Torquay United.-Career:...
, George Boyd
George Boyd (footballer)
George Ian Boyd is a footballer who plays for Peterborough United as a winger.Boyd started his career in the Charlton Athletic youth system, joining Stevenage Borough of the Conference National in 2001 and making his first-team debut in 2002. Boyd spent five seasons at Stevenage, scoring over...
, Craig Mackail-Smith
Craig Mackail-Smith
Craig Anthony Robert Mackail-Smith is a footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion as a striker. He has also played for England C and at full international level for Scotland...
resulted in a 4–1 victory for the home side. On 26 August 2009 the ground hosted an England Under-17's
England national under-17 football team
-Elite Qualifying Group 3:-Group stage:-Fifth place play-off:-FA International U17 Tournament:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round....
international match against Italy Under 17's
Italy national under-17 football team
The Italy national U-17 football team is the national under-17 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, held every year.-UEFA U-17 Championship Record:...
, the match ending in a 1–1 draw. On 30 April 2010 the ground played host to an England Under-18 Schoolboys international against the Republic Of Ireland, which ended in a 1–0 victory for the Irish. The stadium acted as a neutral venue for a 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification
2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification
UEFA U-19 Championship 2007 is the second round of qualification for the final tournament of the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. Spain, Italy, and England automatically qualified for this round...
match between the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands national under-19 football team
The Netherlands national under-19 football team represents the Netherlands at this age level and is governed by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond — KNVB...
. Two goals from Jordy Brouwer
Jordy Brouwer
Jordy Brouwer is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for ADO Den Haag, as a striker.-Career:Born in The Hague, Brouwer moved from Ajax to English side Liverpool in January 2007...
resulted in a 2–0 victory for the Dutch.
Between 2006 and 2008 the stadium hosted the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
playoff finals before being dropped in favour of drawing one of the finalists' own grounds. During the 2007-08 season Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
announced that a number of their reserve matches would be placed at the ground, although this arrangement was discontinued following the Brewers promotion to the Football League.
Records
The record attendance at the Pirelli Stadium is currently 6,192 for a Conference NationalConference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
league match against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
on 17 April 2009. The match was of significant importance as a draw or win for the Brewers would have earned them the Conference title, however the match finished 1–0 to Oxford, thanks to an Adam Chapman
Adam Chapman
Adam Chapman is a Northern Irish footballer who currently plays for Oxford United.-Playing career:Chapman was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Scouted by Sheffield United as a youngster, he went on to sign a professional deal with the club in the summer of 2007. He established himself as a...
free-kick. The previous record attendance and also current FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
record attendance at the ground is 6,191, set on 8 January 2006 in a third-round match against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. The match ended 0-0 with the then non-league Brewers forcing a replay at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
against their Premier League opponents. The highest attendance for a Football League match at the ground is 5,801, set on 28 December 2009 for a 4-1 defeat to local rivals Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. The record attendance for a non-competitive match was set on 14 November 2005, also against Manchester United. The Brewers won the match 2–1, in a match organised for the stadium's official opening, which attracted 6,065 people. The lowest league attendance at the ground is 1,235, set on 25 April 2006 for a Nationwide Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
match against Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
. The lowest attendance at the stadium for any competitive match was set on 4 November 2008 for a Setanta Shield
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
match against Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
, which attracted a mere 554 people.
Transport
Car parking is available adjacent to the ground with spaces available for 400 vehicles, with space for further vehicles available at the Rykneld Trading Estate on Derby Road. On 22 October 2005 the club introduced a £2 parking charge for fans using the car park on matchdays, having previously withheld from charging fans at Eton Park
Eton Park
Eton Park was an association football stadium located in Burton upon Trent, England. It was the home ground of Burton Albion F.C. from 1958 to 2005 when they moved to the £7.2 million Pirelli Stadium. The Brewers moved to the ground on 20 September 1958, coinciding with their promotion to the...
. The club was forced to appease residents of nearby Stretton
Stretton, Derbyshire
Stretton is a small village and civil parish in Derbyshire, England. It is located near the towns of Clay Cross and three and a half miles from Alfreton on the A61. The nearest waterways are the River Amber and Smithy Brook...
by allocating no-parking zones on surrounding roads around the ground following congestion concerns as a result of roadside parking. Burton upon Trent railway station
Burton upon Trent railway station
Burton-on-Trent railway station serves the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It was known as simply Burton until 1903 when it became Burton-on-Trent, by which it has been known for many years, in spite of the town's charter of 1878 which was for "Burton upon Trent"...
is served by local services operated by CrossCountry
CrossCountry
CrossCountry is the brand name of XC Trains Ltd., a British train operating company owned by Arriva...
towards Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, with further connections available, however it is located over a mile and a half away from the stadium. Arriva Midlands
Arriva Midlands
Arriva Midlands is a division of Arriva. It operates bus services around the Midlands area of England and is made up of various previous bus operators.-Arriva Midlands North:...
and Trent Barton
Trent Barton
Trent Barton is one of the very small number of significant independent bus operators in the United Kingdom. It was formed as the result of merging Derbyshire's Trent Buses with Nottinghamshire's Barton Transport....
operates bus services from the stadium towards the town centre and also towards Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
.
The future
Since the stadium's construction stages, plans have existed for further facilities to be built as part of the stadium complex. These include plans for a pub and 40-room hotel development in undeveloped land adjacent to the club's car park, as well as a bowls green and pavilion. Whilst the club have obtained planning permission for these projects, the spiralling costs of construction of the stadium has led to the projects being shelved.The training pitch on the complex that had been submitted as part of planning proposals, originally intended to be used for club training and community purposes, has also not yet been built, due to ongoing developments at the St. George's Park
St George's Park National Football Centre
St George's Park is the FA's National Football Centre which is situated near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire and is due to be completed in 2012. It was originally referred to as NFC by The FA and was informally referred to as "Burton" but following a public consultation the FA favoured a name...
complex in Rangemore
Rangemore
Rangemore is a village in the borough of East Staffordshire, situated approximately west of the town of Burton upon Trent, on a ridge of high ground about a mile due west of the village of Tatenhill....
allowing the Brewers to use it as their current training ground for the foreseeable future.