Ben’s tribute to ex-director Colin Brodie
BURTON Albion chairman Ben Robinson has paid tribute to longserving Brewers director Colin Brodie, who has died at the age of 92.
The news of Brodie’s passing came in time for him to be included in the list of people connected with the club who have died in the last 18 months.
They were all named at Saturday’s game against Crewe Alexandra, when a minute’s silence was held before kick-off.
Colin first joined the board in the mid-70s at the request of Robinson and, in total, served for more than 30 years as a director in key periods of the club’s history.
Away from football, Colin was a much-loved and well respected teacher and headmaster.
The Pirelli Stadium hosted a school reunion event to celebrate his 90th birthday in 2019 with former pupils and staff from the old Forest of Needwood School between 1952 and 1966 joining him to mark the occasion.
Colin grew up in Jersey and originally worked in an electrics factory.
He came to Burton to pursue a teaching career but that was also the start of his love of football and Burton Albion.
He started work at the Forest of Needwood in 1952, two years after the Brewers were formed.
One of his pupils was Robinson, who he always remembered as a good pupil “willing to work hard to succeed.”
When a job came up at a primary school, Colin joined as deputy head and then became headmaster at Edge Hill in Stapenhill, where he stayed for more than 20 years.
Colin was married to Elizabeth for more than 60 years and has a daughter, Claire.
Robinson said: “Colin was an inspirational teacher who made a lasting impression on so many lives.
“We all learned so much from Colin and took his life lessons with us long after we had left school.
“As a Burton Albion director, he made a major contribution to the board of directors for more than three decades and his wisdom and passion for football and Burton Albion will long be remembered.”