Burton Albion

Oxford United and Burton Albion are no strangers to each other, having played as recently as 17 April 2009 at the Pirelli Stadium, just a week before Burton's promotion as Conference champions was confirmed. Albion were due to have had their promotion party at the Oxford game, but a free-kick by Adam Chapman earned United a 1-0 win and the champagne had to be put back on ice.

Of the eight meetings between the clubs Oxford have won five, including all four of the away fixtures. The sides first met in the Southern League, with Burton winning the opening fixture 3-2 at the Manor in November 1958. United won the reverse fixture 2-1 in April, and after that the sides didn't play each other again until United's relegation to the Conference. Oxford's third game at that level was a 2-1 win at Burton, with the return game ending 0-0 to record the only draw between the sides so far. Oxford's second away fixture the following season was the traditional win in Burton, but the Brewers were avenged when they won 3-0 at the Kas in March 2008. In Burton's promotion season United did the double over Albion, beating them 2-1 at home in October before pooping Burton's party in April.

Albion are a relatively new club, having been formed as recently as July 1950 when they joined the Birmingham Senior League. There had been a long tradition of football in Burton-on-Trent, with the town once boasting three League sides in Burton Wanderers, Burton Swifts, and Burton United. However, the demise of Burton Town at the start of the Second World War left the place without a team until the formation of Albion.

In 1958 the club joined the Southern League, and in the same season moved from Wellington Street to Eton Park. In 1971 Albion switched regions, joining the Northern Premier League, although in 1987 they switched back to the Southern League again, where they remained until 2001. That year they moved back to the Northern League, which they won at the first attempt to earn promotion to the Conference. They moved to the Pirelli Stadium three years later and reached the play-offs in 2008, losing to Cambridge United in the semi-finals. Their historic promotion came the following season, and last season they came close to reaching the play-offs in their first season as a Football League club.

The Pirelli Stadium has a capacity of 6,912 with 2,000 seated. Ticket prices for the new season are unchanged from last year, costing £13 on the terrace (over-65s and students £11, under-16s £4) or £15 for seats (£13 and £6). Burton is exactly 100 miles from Oxford (depending on your start and end points, obviously).

View Larger Map

Oxford's captain Adam Murray is an ex-Burton boy, as was iconic Scottish defender Bobby McDonald and former player of the season, goalkeeper Richard Knight. The Albion squad features former United striker Richard Walker, who hardly set the pulses racing when with the Us. [@opponent]burton albion[/@opponent] [@connection]burton albion[/@connection]