From: archer@hsi.com (Garry Archer)
Subject: Re: Burton's teams (was Football League Div Two Centenary) *LONG*
Organization: 3M Health Information Systems, Wallingford CT
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 20:06:53 GMT

In article <MNEWS.715945310.7527@gate.demon.co.uk> J.M.Ross@man0507.wins.icl.co.uk (J.M.Ross) writes:
>
>As a follow up to recent posting on Burton's Football League clubs,
>here's a brief history culled from "Rejected FC Volume 1",  a
>history of ex-League clubs by Dave Twydell.

Another fantastic job, James.  I was extremely impressed with all the
detail about the Burton teams!!!

Here's some memories of Burton:

>Burton Swifts
>Founded 187? as Outward Star, became Burton Swifts 1883
>Ground to 1891 Shobnall Street (Cricket Ground) and Kidgers Field,
>       from 1891 Peel Croft

Didn't know about Outward Star.  Don't even know what it refers to!
I know Shobnall Street very well.  There a dozen or more football
pitches down there now, where Saturday and Sunday league games are
played.  BTW, Burton and District Sunday League used to be one of the
largest town leagues in England (including all age groups).  I think
Nottingham were one of the few who had bigger leagues.  Peel Croft is
where Burton Rugby Football Club play now.  I don't know Kidgers Field.


>Burton Wanderers
>Founded 1871
>Ground Derby Turn

Hmmm.  I know the pub the "Derby Turn" (pub sign is a number of horses
racing around a bend at the famous Derby horse race).  The name is
actually derived from the junction, where Derby Road turns off of the A50
in Burton.  The pub is right on the corner.  I wonder where the ground used 
to be (its not there now)?


>Burton United (amalgamation of Swifts and Wanderers)
>Founded 1901, disbanded 1910
>Ground Peel Croft
>
>Initially  Derby Turn was the premier ground in the town ...

Now I _really_ wonder what happened to it!  Wait a minute...  I wonder if 
its now Eton Park, which is a bit further up Derby Road.  Eton Park is the 
current home of present day Burton Albion.


> .... Meanwhile Swifts  had  been
>attracting  substantial financial help which enabled the  purchase
>of  Peel Croft from Burton Rugby Club (who reoccupied the site  on
>United's  demise in 1910) in 1890.  ....

Interesting how Burton's rugby club moved out then back into Peel Croft!


> .... [Wanderers] played their first  league
>game on 1st September 1894,  winning 3-1 at Rotherham.  On  Boxing
>Day they trounced Manchester City 8-0,  City's worst ever  defeat.
>Another   record  defeat  was  inflicted  on   Newcastle   United,
>humiliated by 9-0 on April 15th,  but Wanderers could only  finish
>7th,  Swifts were 11th.  ....

Fantastic results.  Manchester City's 8-0 thrashing may have been
their worst defeat ever up until then.  Their record defeat is 9-1
against Everton on 3rd Sept 1906 in Division One.  However, Newcastle
United's 9-0 thrashing by the Wanderers is a record that still stands
today (as the Magpies' worst).


>.... Burton Town assumed the mantle of Burton's premier club until they
>disbanded in 1939. A new club, Burton Albion, were founded in 1950,
>this club now plays in the Beazer Southern League Premier Division,
>just two promotions away from Football League status.

As I said earlier, Albion play at Eton Park these days.


As I said before, a great piece of history that I, if no-one else,
was _extremely_ interested in (as mentioned previously, I was
born in Burton-on-Trent) and this posting will go into my personal
archive :-)

	Cheers and thanks _very much_ !!!


-- 
|                     Garry Archer Esq.     archer@hsi.com                     |
|                                                                              |
=========| Gresley Rovers Football Club ("The Moatmen"), founded 1882 |=========