BURTON Albion Manager Nigel Clough and Chairman Ben Robinson were in attendance to see staff from both the club and Burton Albion Community Trust play prisoners of HM Sudbury Prison in a game of football.
The fixture, which was played in front of around 200 watching prisoners, was organised as part of a community partnership with the local prison as the club continues to try to help with rehabilitation of past offenders.
The game itself ended in a narrow win for Burton Albion staff on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after full-time. Club groundsman Stan Wallis converted a penalty in the late stages of the game to send the tie straight to spot-kicks.
Ben Robinson said: "It was a really great game to watch and was played in the best manner possible.
"We’re glad that through the help of Burton Albion Community Trust, we can continue to keep a partnership with the prison and can help to give people a chance to work within the local community both towards the end of their sentence and also with the possibilities of working closely with us in the future as part of their rehabilitation."
Adrian Turner, Governor of HM Sudbury Prison, said: "As Governor of HMP & YOI Sudbury I was proud to welcome Ben Robinson, Nigel Clough and players from Burton Albion Community Trust to the prison to play a football match against a team of our men.
"Relationships such as this are a key part of our ambition to provide genuine opportunities to allow men to re-establish community ties and prepare for a crime free life on release.
"We can now look to build on this successful event and provide further opportunities in the future."