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Ups and downs leave the boot on the other foot

What happens when your top local football team loses its Premiership status?

One Staffordshire town is coming to terms with a changing sports news agenda… because as one team goes down it finds another – non-league – club making all the headlines.

The Burton Mail’s traditional back page priorities have been turned upside-down in the past few months as local giants Derby County stared relegation in the face and minnows Burton Albion were getting promoted to the Conference and lining up big-name signings.

The Rams always took precedence over the Brewers but exciting times lie ahead for both teams and an unpredictable season lies ahead for Mail readers.

Deputy sports editor Andy Tilley said: “There’s been phenomenal interest in Burton Albion and hits to our website have gone through the roof with ten times the projected hits. We’ve also been bombarded with e-mails of comment and congratulations.

“Derby County fans have not been treated to anything approaching exciting football. They have been right at the bottom of the league for two years.

“If County were at home they were traditionally the back-page lead on the Monday afterwards. But this season we’ve never been sure which team would be making the headlines.

“With the Brewers winning promotion there has been a wave of enthusiasm for football in the town.”

Derby have had their share of back page leads too, with the managerial merry-go-round and the arrival of Fabrizio Ravanelli, at one point also touted as a contender for the manager’s job and now almost certain to leave the club.

Andy said: “Burton Albion, managed by Nigel Clough, have also had their own star names – like Gary Crosby, Jason Kavanagh, Darren Wassall and Des Walker playing for them – and there might be more to follow.

“And Clough is linked with every managerial vacancy that comes up, so there’s always a story there. There’s no name bigger than Clough in football.

“It’s been quite a season for them, with the second leg of their FA Trophy home leg at Eton Park being the first match ever screened live on TV from the ground.”

It’s not just the footballers who will see a difference. Bleak, exposed press boxes now beckon for Andy as he follows Derby County around Division One, where cash-strapped clubs are cutting back on plush hospitality.

But he said: “In a strange kind of way we’re looking forward to next season following Derby too.

“There won’t be a Highbury, Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford on my travels but I am looking forward to going to places like Grimsby. There should be a lot of good football ahead.

“I’m not sure how good the first division teams are at half time hospitality but Derby County has some of the best grub around. I’m hoping the Rams can serve up something useful on the pitch as well as off it.”

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