How Palmer is rebuilding career with Notts after tricky years
IN AN ideal world, many Burton Albion supporters would like to have seen Matty Palmer running the Brewers’ midfield still.
Just maybe, Palmer would like to have been doing so, too.
But, four years after he left the Pirelli Stadium for Rotherham United in January for an undisclosed fee, Palmer has just scooped the player of the year award and the players’ player of the year prize for Notts County in the National League.
They are personal awards that will give the Derby-born player pride but that will be tempered by the disappointment of Notts’ third successive failure in the play-offs as they bid to return to the Football League.
They will be looking for a new head coach, Ian Burchnall having now departed to join Forest Green Rovers and whoever it is may well look to shape their midfield around 26-year-old Palmer.
At one time, it certainly looked as if Burton might do the same.
Released by Derby County, he joined the Brewers’ academy in 2012 and immediately took the award for most improved young player.
He made his debut in November 2012, a late substitute with Albion comfortably 2-0 up in an FA Cup tie away to Altrincham.
They were very comfortably behind, on the way to that awful 7-1 defeat away to Port Vale, when he made his League Two debut from the bench in April 2013.
His first career goal was a beauty, fired in from 20 yards at home to Hereford United as Burton won an
FA Cup tie 2-0.
Manager Gary Rowett always felt there was more to come from Palmer but he also described him as the best passer of the ball in the club and Palmer’s technical ability was not in doubt.
He was a regular in 2013-14, making 48 appearances, and he followed that with 37 in the League Two promotion season which followed, scoring his four goals for the season from January onwards, all in victories.
However, in League One, he did not convince Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the first half of the season and was loaned to Oldham Athletic, then also in League One, making 14 appearances.
With Nigel Clough back at the club, Palmer was recalled and ended the season with five games, all starts as the team completed promotion to the Championship.
Palmer made 39 appearances in the first Championship season and finally seemed to be a regular fixture, hailed as “one of our own” by supporters.
But success or failure for some players under Clough could often hinge on one incident which displeased him.
Palmer’s moment came against Derby County at Pride Park Stadium in December.
The Brewers had taken four points off Derby in their first season and were looking good for a second successive goalless draw away to the big club down the A38.
In the 79th minute, Palmer did not put his foot through a clearance in his own box. He tried to bring the ball under control, momentarily miscontrolled it and Johnny Russell pounced to smash in the only goal of the game.
Clough fumed: “He is a young player but it was just a very poor decision, you don’t take two touches in your own penalty area,” he said.
“But that’s the learning process for young players, that’s why a lot of managers don’t play young players.”
The result put Burton on the bottom of the table and Palmer made only one more appearance before being sold to Rotherham.
They loaned him to Bradford City, then he went on a free transfer to Swindon Town.
From there came a loan to Wigan Athletic – struggling at the time – before returning to Swindon. He played for both clubs against Burton last season.
The concern for Palmer at this stage was that his career was not by any means in an upwards trajectory and, with Swindon relegated at the end of the season, he was again released.
The chance to rebuild that career came with Notts.
The Magpies fell short at the last hurdle again but Palmer has impressed all at the club.
The outgoing head coach, Burchnall, said: “He sets incredibly high standards for himself day in, day out and that flows into consistent performances on the pitch.
“Beyond that, he’s a wonderful technician who is the perfect fit for our style. He’s been a brilliant signing and a huge asset to the club.”
Time is still on Palmer’s side. It would not be a surprise to see him playing in the Football League again.
He’s a wonderful technician who is the perfect fit for our style. A brilliant signing and a huge asset.
Ian Burchnall