BURTON Albion legend Steve Dolby visited the Pirelli Stadium for the Gillingham fixture after retiring from teaching after 40 years in the job.
Dolby played for the Brewers more than 300 times over a 10-year spell, from 1976 to 1986. He is 12th in the all-time appearance list for Burton Albion.
At half-time during the home game against Gillingham, Steve got the opportunity to speak to the Pirelli Stadium crowd, before being presented with a framed shirt, signed by every member of the current Brewers side, by club Chaplain Phil Pusey and former manager Ian Storey-Moore.
Also at the presentation was Louis Phillip of the Burton Albion Community Trust. Burrows is a former student of Steve’s and was inspired to get involved with the club by the Brewers legend.
Dolby taught P.E. at De Ferrers Academy for 40 years, during which time he worked with a number of promising footballers. According to Dolby, the best player he ever worked with was Richard Jobson, who played top-flight football for Watford and Oldham Athletic, among others.
He said: “There are quite a few who could have (played for the Brewers). I was there at De Ferrers for 40 years and I loved every minute of it, trying to coach the young lads. There have been some good players, the best of which was Richard Jobson, who played for us in 1982.”
In 1985, Steve faced Leicester City in the third round of the FA Cup and was faced with the task of keeping two of England’s finest forwards quiet on that day, as he played against Gary Lineker and Alan Smith, who would go on to play for Barcelona and Arsenal respectively.
“Playing against Gary Lineker was certainly an experience and it was probably the best game that I ever played in. 26 or 27,000 at Derby, it really is a great memory. We lost the first game, but it was replayed, and we only lost the second one 1-0, and Gary Lineker didn’t manage to score.”
Dolby also spoke of his fantastic relationship with Burton Albion Chairman Ben Robinson.
He said: “I have always had a good relationship with the Chairman. I think the work that Ben has done, both in non-league and now the Football League has been unbelievable.”