On Sunday they finally made it, despite suffering their fifth defeat in six matches.

The Brewers were a remarkable 19 points clear of the field six weeks into 2009 and romping towards the Blue Square Premier title.

But by then they had lost Nigel Clough to Derby County and Roy MacFarland had been installed as the caretaker boss at the Pirelli Stadium.

Clough had left in January, not long after a run of 11 successive wins, and Albion won the next six as well.

But a bad run meant a nailbiting finish to the season before they were confirmed as champions despite defeat at Torquay.

MacFarland was always on a hiding to nothing at Burton where Clough was a revered figure.

He had 10 seasons with the club, lifting them from the Southern League to the verge of the Football League.

MacFarland admitted in the aftermath of Albion's eventual triumph that he had endured many sleepless nights.

And I am not surprised.

It was always going to be Clough's work that won them the league.