This year marks the 20th anniversary of Burton Albion’s cup clash against Manchester United, where they held Rooney and Ronaldo to a 0-0 draw at the Pirelli Stadium.
Nigel Clough’s side earned a replay at Old Trafford, and with it a transformative sum of money, generating over £1 million through ticket sales and broadcasting revenue.
Despite losing the replay 5-0, this cash injection laid the foundations for long-term success as Burton earned promotion to League Two in 2009 and by 2016 had reached the Championship.
Clough, the current Mansfield manager, said: “I still use that 2006 team as a motivator, to show that anything is possible.
“They clearly buy into it, we’ve beaten Sheffield United and Burnley in the FA Cup this season.”
So whilst not being world-beaters, but a group of semi-professionals who have gone down in Midlands folklore, where did the 11 end up?
Saul Deeney – The then 22-year-old shot-stopper was man of the match at the Pirelli, saving efforts from Solskjaer and Rooney but there was little he could do at the theatre of dreams.
He spent much of his career on the bench, a rather unreliable number two for local rivals Derby County, as he saw a red card on debut which forced midfielder Robbie Savage to take the gloves.
Still going somewhat strong, the veteran currently on a promotion push with Basford United, still stuck between the posts in the seventh tier of English football.
Jake Sedgemore – An academy product of West Bromwich Albion, fortunately found himself as part of the backline, in one of just nine appearances in short loan spell at the Brewers.
Never got back into the football league after a brief spell at Bury and has played most of his football back at home, 15 years and counting for A.F.C Wolverhampton City.
Darren Tinson – The oldest player in the list had previously won two promotions into the Football League with both Macclesfield and Shrewsbury.
His footballing career ending back in 2012 with Leek Town, he’s since become a Physio after studying at the University of Salford.
Ryan Austin – The name that the Yellow and Black army would fondly remember, the centre-half made over 200 appearances in an eight-year stint at the club.
Now at 41, he’s taken up management in non-league, having most recently coached Congleton Town, fighting the threat of relegation to the eighth tier.
Darren Stride – Captain on the day, and the captain for a ridiculous 12 years, Stride spent 17 years at the club as a utility player, capable across the pitch including as an emergency keeper.
He could leave satisfied in 2010, having survived relegation in the Brewers first League Two campaign following their promotion the season prior.
Andy Todd – Whilst not to be confused with Derby County’s Andy Todd, the Nottingham Forest product had a short but sweet career in League Two with Rotherham and Accrington Stanley.
Todd won Accrington Stanley’s Player of the Season award in the 2006/07 season and later played a crucial role in Mansfield Town’s return to the top four leagues.
Keith Gilroy – The former Sligo Rovers and Middlesbrough midfielders career ended when he left Burton in 2011 having played 140 games.
Since retirement, he launched his own driving school called ‘Gilroy Driving’ whilst working in the academies of both Burton and Derby as a coach.
Andrew Corbett – Another cult hero started against the Red Devils, Corbett making over 300 appearances in a 10-year span ending in 2013.
Ultimately his last game ended in heartbreak, as under the influence of now Leicester City manager Gary Rowett, Burton lost in the League Two playoff semi-finals to Bradford City.
Andrew Ducros – A product of Coventry City, Ducros featured 132 times for the Brewers and came closest to scoring against the Alex Furguson’s men.
Never prolific, Ducros departed in 2007 having scored just 12 times, he never played again as his career was cut short by a recurring calf injury.
Jon Shaw – After playing 18 times for childhood club Sheffield Wednesday, he joined Burton Albion to link up with his former strike partner and current Stoke City manager Mark Robins.
Whilst Robins failed to play in either fixture, Shaw acted as their main outlet and went on to gain 100 appearances for Burton, and there top scorer award in consecutive seasons.
His loyalty discontinued, becoming a journeyman across the EFL, most notably playing for Rochdale, Crawley, Barrow and future Premier League outfit, Luton Town.
Shaun Harrad – Scored 69 times for the Brewers but since departing never found home, spells at founding member Notts County and Hollywood hijacked Wrexham were both short lived.
Harrad was replaced in the 80th minute by substitute Dale Anderson who tragically passed aged 44 in 2023, a clinical fan favourite who left Old Trafford with Gary Neville’s shirt on his back.
