AT today's home game against Crewe, Burton Albion will be remembering those connected to the football club who have sadly passed away during the last 18 months.
We asked you to submit your names and dedications to remember those we have lost during the pandemic, whether through Covid or not. This afternoon we will hold a minute’s silence before kick off to remember the following:
PETER HERBERT HOPKINS (submitted by Mick Machin)
VIC VENUS - Beloved Burton Albion fan whose favourite player over the years was fellow Northern Irishman Liam Boyce (submitted by his son Adam Venus).
DON SMITH - 21st August 1934 - 8th March 2021 - Don started supporting the Albion right from its very beginning. His Dad, Syd was Burton Albion’s first ever trainer, which made Don’s connection even more personal. Dearly missed by his wife Mary, brother Gary, his four children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family (submitted by his son David Credell).
JIM ROBERTSON - Passed away during the pandemic from Covid in September 2020. He enjoyed his Brewers games with his son and grandson. Sadly missed by all of us (submitted by his daughter-in-law Sue Robertson).
PATRICIA CAROL TOWNER - You will always be in my heart and will love you forever (submitted by her husband, Maurice Towner).
ADELE BRADLEY - A dedicated Albion supporter who loved going and cheering on the Brewers (submitted by Eamonn Bradley.)
DAVE BARTRAM - who died in 2020, a season ticket holder (submitted by A O’Hara)
DEREK GOODWIN - would have been 81 this year. He leaves behind three children and eight grandchildren. Although he grew up as a Derby fan, he has passed his love of football onto two of his grandsons who are both Season Ticket Holders and one of his granddaughters Amy works for the club in hospitality (submitted by his son Nigel)
GORDON MARJORAM - who died 12 March 2021 - a lifelong supporter of Burton Albion and dearly missed by family and friends (submitted by his wife Claire).
PETER JOHN GREEN – devoted Burton Albion supporter missed by his fellow supporters (submitted by Steve Green and many of his fellow supporters)
PAULINE HUBBARD – who had a seat in the stand and passed away in March 2021 (submitted by Pat Parker).
STEVE PERRY - who sadly passed away earlier this year. Steve was a very popular Burton Albion fan who would be seen at home and away games. He loved all things sport related and everything to do with Burton Albion. Steve would love to chat with anyone about football whether he agreed with them or not, but you couldn’t wish to meet a nicer bloke. Steve was 63 when he passed away in June of this year (submitted by Tim Miles).
ANTHONY JOHN WARD - better known as ‘John’ - an avid Burton Albion supporter, he dearly loved the club and also made many friends on match days. His daughter Ruth says: “Dad sadly passed away on 2nd June of this year, after a sudden illness, with his family by his side. His funeral was Burton Albion-themed and his funeral party and congregation dressed in Albion colours, his coffin was draped with an Albion flag together with an Albion woolly hat adorned with pin badges. I am sure my dad would be honoured to be in your tribute as so would I, my mum and brother and his grandchildren and great grandchildren and also son-in- law and daughter-in-law.”
BERNARD ROYALE - a lifelong supporter of Burton Albion, one of the originals going back to the 50s at the Wellington Street ground. Bernard worked on the railway based mainly in Derby. As he was classified an ‘essential trade’ he was posted to serve and support railways in the Far East during WWII (submitted by John Cunningham).
PHIL PARKES - of Rolleston Road - a big Brewers fan home and away, Burton Albion through and through (submitted by his wife Gill) also sadly missed by the "Footy Family" - “Gone but never forgotten”.
JIM WOOLWICH – ardent Brewers supporter.
DAVID TEBBETT - a lifelong football fan - following Burton Albion brought him a lot of pleasure. He enjoyed running the official away travel until his grandchildren arrived and needed his full attention at the matches. He was a season ticket holder from Eton Park days (submitted by his daughter Yvonne Luce).
ROBIN WOOLLEY - was a lifelong supporter, attending both home and away games. He passed away on July 31st 2021 whilst walking back to his car after the Brewers match that evening (submitted by his wife Lynne Woolley)
CLIVE BESTALL - He was a season ticket holder for many years . Passed away 4 Feb. 2021. “Very sadly missed. I have missed his banter at matches,” says Roy Jones.
MARGARET THURMAN - died in September 2020 after a life spent in Burton. She first met my Dad at the Albion circa 1953 at Wellington Street and had tales of trips away in the great FA Cup run in 1955/56 – (submitted by her son Ian Thurman)
PETE FORD - who we lost in January 2021. He was passionate about watching the Brewers, especially at home matches. These are the names of his family members - Sue Ford his wife; Vicki daughter; his son Tim and Martyn (son in law) and friend Chris Joyce, who would like to pay their respects. Also, these supporters would like to pay their respects as well, Gavin and Rhianna Walker, Ady and Owen, Dave Bamford, Mick Bladon, Phillip Wright, Bryan, Steve Sutton, Steve Ahcarner, Tracy Dundson, Denise Key, Kay Bailey, who he stood with on the popside at the Pirelli Stadium. Also Rob Morris, Lucy Meredith and June Francis who worked at Sense charity shop in Burton Place.
MERVYN SMALLEY - Passed away on the 17th May 2021 he loved to come to watch Burton Albion with his grandson Reece and Wayne and David Hill. Forever in our hearts love from all the family.
My dad MELVYN HILL and my brother BRIAN HILL who both passed away in 2021 and always took a keen interest in Burton Albion’s progress/scores and attending games.. Much loved and missed and now at peace with Mum Ann Hill (submitted by Mark Hill)
GREG SMITH - local football stalwart. Player, manager and coach of Barton United (adult) and Barton Rovers (Juniors) amongst other clubs. Whilst Greg had moved away from the area, he wore a Burton shirt with pride. Greg was the heart of the football community in Barton and surrounding villages and was well known across Burton, due to his passion for the game, being a fantastic player and his entertainment in the bar afterwards with his impromptu singing and dancing. Greg leaves behind his partner Natalie, four children and a stepdaughter. His tragic passing left a huge hole in our community and he is sorely missed by all (submitted by Danny Hickinbottom).
STELLA SALT - sadly passed away in November 2021. Born in Burton, she attended the first match played at Wellington Street. Latterly lived in Tettenhall Wood and made 90-mile round trip to every home game and some away matches, until forced to watch on iFollow. Last visited Pirelli Stadium 7 July 2021. Much-loved and sadly missed – Kay, Julie and Travis.
NIGEL PECK - for many years a stalwart of the local football leagues as a referee and one of the longest-serving committee members of the Bass Charity vase (submitted by Dave Mellor)
MICK REDFERN - aged 79 passed away earlier this year, unfortunately with cancer. Mick lived in Rolleston-on-Dove all his married life and leaves a wife (Ann) and a son (Mark). An electrician by trade initially at W T Parker and Allied Breweries (later Coors) he was a Burtonian at heart and the Brewers result was the first to be acknowledged. Supporting Burton Albion in mind if not in attendance some enjoyable moments were experienced if not always the right result … the Manchester United and City games come to mind! Unfortunately, one less supporter for the club but there for them in his lifetime (submitted by Haydn J Vernon, brother-in-law).
TREVOR DUNN - his grand-daughter Chloe Speedie writes: “Trevor was a Burton Albion fan from day one and never missed a home game (holidays and days out were always planned around games). He was a well-loved man who spent his time since retiring volunteering at Burton hospital weekly and really made a lasting impact on a lot of people’s lives. He really was a special man who is truly missed."
JOHN APPLEBY - Known affectionately as Mr Staffordshire, John was secretary for Staffordshire Schools’ Football Association as well as a former teacher at Paulet High School in Burton and was involved heavily in supporting local youth football at all levels. Before our Academy system was established, John oversaw the development of young Brewers players within the club’s youth team set-up, including the likes of Aaron Webster as they made their journey to the first-team. John was one of the first trustees of Burton Albion Community Trust and was regularly seen at the Pirelli Stadium to offer his ongoing support to Trust staff, volunteers and programme participants.
RICHIE BARKER - The most prolific goal scorer in Burton Albion history who passed away at the age of 80. He forged a legendary partnership with another Brewers hotshot Stan Round in the 1960s, creating the most feared strike duo outside the Football League. The peak of their powers was the 1965/66 promotion-winning season which saw the Brewers earn a spot in the Southern League Premier Division for the first time. The pair bagged 115 goals between them that campaign – 59 for Round and 56 for Barker.
DAVE REDFERN - one of Burton Albion’s 1987 Wembley heroes, who passed away at the age of 60. He returned to the club in the 1986/7 season, recruited by manager Brian Fidler to partner hot shot Bob Gauden in attack. In those semi-professional days, Redfern had to juggle football with his work as a Derby police officer, but that didn’t stop him playing 50 times for the Brewers in that epic season.
COLIN BRODIE – Burton Albion Director from the mid-1970s who passed away just before Christmas aged 92. A well respected and fondly remembered teacher at the Forest of Needwood School in Rolleston, he went to be a headmaster at what is now the Mosley Academy and for 20 years at what is now the Edgehill Academy (Stapenhill).