BURTON Albion return to home action in Sky Bet League One tomorrow for the first time since New Year’s Day, welcoming AFC Wimbledon to the Pirelli Stadium (3pm kick-off).
FORM GUIDE
The Brewers head into tomorrow’s following two consecutive away matches, with the most recent being a 3-1 victory at Gillingham last Saturday. The win over Gillingham continued Albion’s unbeaten start to the year and saw goals from Tom Hamer, John Brayford and Jonny Smith.
Wimbledon are without a win in their last six matches in all competitions, with their last two matches both ending in 0-0 draws against Morecambe and Portsmouth respectively.
HEAD 2 HEAD
Albion edge the head-to-head record against Wimbledon, with the Brewers winning six of the 15 games in which the two have faced off competitively in the EFL. AFC Wimbledon have won on three occasions with six ending in a draw.
The Brewers have not lost against the Dons in the last eight times the sides have faced off, with the most recent ending in a 1-1 draw at Plough Lane earlier this season.
BREWERS TEAM NEWS
Connor Shaughnessy and Jacob Maddox will return from injury and be available for selection in tomorrow’s squad, according to manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Hasselbaink also confirmed in his pre-match press conference that striker Louis Moult has this week tested positive for COVID-19.
WIMBLEDON TEAM NEWS
AFC Wimbledon defender Ben Heneghan could return after previously missing the Dons midweek draw with Portsmouth due to a positive COVID-19 test.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The referee for tomorrow’s game will be Andrew Kitchen. He has handed out 47 yellow cards and two reds in the 18 games he has refereed in all competitions this season.
He will be assisted by Robert Atkin and Richard Woodward. The Fourth Official for tomorrow will be Anthony Moore.
COLLECTION - BACT GHANA PROJECT
There will be a bucket collection at the turnstiles at tomorrow’s game to help raise money towards Burton Albion Community Trust’s 2022 Ghana Project.
Fifteen volunteers from BACT will travel to Ghana, in April, spending 10 days there as part of a charity project to support a local school in Woe. This is the fifth trip BACT has undertaken in partnership with African Adventures.
The trip aims to raise money for Burton Albion Community Trust, whilst supporting African Adventures’ partner projects In Ghana, providing local people with a life-changing experience.
SPONSORS
Match Sponsor - Burton Kia
Burton Kia, of Centrum Gate, Burton, is a franchise dealership retailing new and used cars plus Kia aftersales. The firm has been local sponsors of Burton Albion for several years and has been able to supply various sponsored cars to the first team squad.
The multi-award-winning dealership has recently added more accolades to its portfolio including the Platinum Prestige Dealer Award at the 2021 Kia Dealer Excellence Awards. The annual and globally recognised award is presented by Kia UK to the best performing UK dealer partners.
This year, Burton Kia is the only UK recipient of the award, with just three per cent of Kia dealers globally awarded the Platinum status. Additionally, Burton Kia came in second place for the Dealer of the Year Award, which takes into consideration overall performance in sales, after sales and customer experience throughout the past year.
In both sales and after sales award categories, Burton Kia ranked in the top ten of the entire Kia UK dealer network. Representing the firm today is Managing Director Ian Bullock and his guests.
Programme and Man of the Match Sponsor - Mick Clifford and Paul Reynolds
Our Programme and Man-of-the-Match Sponsors are two lifelong Brewers fans, Mick Clifford and Paul “Rusty” Reynolds, who are jointly celebrating their 70th birthdays with close family and friends in hospitality.
Mick remembers being taken along to those early matches at Lloyds and then meeting up with his Grandad at Eton Park behind the goals at the Derby Road end. Mick’s Grandad and his father Walter, who was also a schoolboy referee, believe that both of them bought some of the original shares.
Mick's son Shaun was a steward at Eton Park in his youth and Mick turns out come hail, rain or shine to continue supporting the Brewers to date. Paul has been to many matches over the decades and recalls as a schoolboy being there on the very day when in 1964 the Brewers won the Southern League Cup final against the “mighty Weymouth” 5 -2 on aggregate, with the likes of Richie Barker and Stan Round.
FAMILY ZONE
Families can start their matchday experience 90 minutes before kick-off, with activities on the 3G pitch next to the BACT building.
The Family Zone will feature music, lots of games and activities, teas and coffees. Visitors to the Family Zone will be encouraged to grab an ‘honesty flag’ to use during the game to cheer on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s team which we ask you to return after the match.
The Family Zone will be open from 1.30pm to 2.45pm.
DON BURGER
The popular Don Burger catering unit will be back at the Pirelli Stadium for this game, serving gourmet burgers in their usual spot on the pedestrian walkway leading from Princess Way to the Pirelli Stadium.
They will be serving their popular Don Burger and a contribution will be made to Burton Albion Community Trust - so make sure to get a burger on matchday!
COVID SAFETY
BURTON Albion fans will not be required to provide proof of Covid vaccination status to attend games at the Pirelli Stadium.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to all home games as usual and we will be taking extra measures to ensure your safety. All Burton Albion staff will wear masks at all times and will undertake lateral flow tests before entering the ground.
We also encourage supporters to wear a face mask in all areas of the stadium when not eating or drinking.
Hand sanitisers will be widely available around the ground and fans are encouraged to use them.
We would also encourage fans to take a lateral flow test before attending games and to NOT come to the Pirelli Stadium if they are unwell. You can read our Covid Code of Conduct HERE https://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/covid-code-of-conduct/
IFOLLOW
This game is not available to live stream, but you can buy an audio only Match pass for £2.50. https://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/ifollow/subscribe/
TICKETS
Prices increase by £2 on matchdays - but you can back us by paying in cash on the turnstiles for the terraces (home fans only).