Burton Albion Football Club

Burton Albion boss Gary Rowett has won the League 2 Manager of the Month Award. Gary Rowett and Rochdale striker Ashley Grimes are rewarded for their fine form this month as Football League sponsors npower are proud to reveal the prizes for both the npower League 2 Manager and Player of the Month Awards. 

Brewers manager Gary Rowett manager guided his team through the hectic Christmas period with just a solitary defeat, picking up 10 points from a possible 15 in the process. Burton Albion finished the year in the play-off positions and will be looking to cement that place in 2013.  

Speaking after receiving the award Rowett said, ‘It’s a nice accolade to receive the Manager of the Month award for December.  I’d seen one or two of the nominations over the months so far this season and wondered if we’d have a chance. 

‘Actually the month has been that busy I hadn’t reflected on quite how well it went. December was a good month and included the Crewe Cup match. The crucial thing for me is that it is for the whole group. I know it’s a bit of a cliché but all of the staff have worked really hard, it’s a group effort here and we’ve got five or six staff members who have all done more than enough to get to this point.’

It was five goals in five games for the enigmatic Ashley Grimes, who demonstrated his goal scoring ability with a series of stunning finishes, including two in the 4-1 win over Cheltenham Town. Seemingly impossible to contain in December, he led a Rochdale attack which scored a mammoth 16 goals in December.

The two awards are determined by two separate expert panels. The Manager of the Month award is decided by former Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley, Football League Chief Operating Officer Andy Williamson, League Managers Association Deputy CEO Olaf Dixon and npower Sponsorship Manager Emma Collins. The Player of the Month panel sees Emma Collins joined by Wolves legend Don Goodman, BBC Sport’s Mark Clemmit and The Football League’s Head of Communications, John Nagle. 

Speaking about Gary Rowett’s win, panel member Alan Curbishley commented;

“Under Gary’s guidance, The Brewers are improving all the time and are getting their timing just right for a concerted promotion push.” 

Commenting from npower, Sponsorship Manager Emma Collins added;

“When chasing promotion hitting form at the right time is essential and The Brewers look to be doing exactly that. I’m sure Gary will be very keen to ensure that this consistency is replicated until the end of the season. 

“Rochdale couldn’t stop scoring in December and the man leading the charge was Ashley Grimes. It wasn’t just the number of goals that was impressive, the quality of the finishing was jaw-dropping at times and Dale fans will be hoping for more of the same.”