Legend Lucas laps up life as an underdog with Brewers
FTER playing in every outfield position for Burton, it is no wonder Lucas Akins was hailed by former boss Nigel Clough as one of the club’s best-ever signings.
Akins’ commitment to the cause has made him a Brewers favourite with consecutive supporters’ and players’ player-of-the-year awards.
Yet the likeable Yorkshireman looked set on a very different path as a child, as he competed in ballet, tap, modern and jazz dance competitions.
Team-mates never teased him at the time, says the 6ft 1in Akins. ‘I’ve always been a decent size so they might have thought about that,’ he jokes.
He got all his grades but it was not a difficult decision to play football instead, even if he could have dropped out of the game after an unsuccessful early career in Scotland and failed trials down south.
Happier spells at Tranmere and Stevenage followed before Akins dropped into League Two for the first time to join the Brewers in 2014, helping them race to the title in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s first managerial job.
‘That momentum carried over into the next season. We had a fantastic start,’ he recalls. The Dutch boss was poached by QPR in December 2015 and Clough returned to lead the club into the Championship. ‘It was a ridiculous feat,’ Akins adds. ‘Getting promoted to the Championship was probably the best moment of my career.
‘It is a fantastic league with some big clubs and massive stadiums.
‘Burton were relegation favourites but Nigel brought in some decent players and we managed to survive.’
Repeating the trick proved tougher. ‘We took it to the last day but it wasn’t meant to be,’ says Akins.
‘But Nigel gave us some more memorable moments – getting to the semifinal of the Carabao Cup. Going to Etihad and playing Pep Guardiola and getting humbled by Manchester City 9-0.
‘At the time it hurt but you look back and say, “I played one of the best teams
AKINS HAS SCORED IN 336 FIRST-TEAM APPEARANCES FOR BURTON SINCE ARRIVING ON A FREE TRANSFER FROM STEVENAGE IN 2014
FOR AKINS DURING HIS TIME WITH BURTON AND HE SCORED THEIR FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP GOAL IN A 4-3 DEFEAT AT NOTTINGHAM FOREST IN 2016
to grace the pitch,” which is not something everyone can say.’
It was Clough who spotted Akins, primarily an attacker, could be used across the backline and in the heart of midfield – experiences he has enjoyed.
‘That position means less running but more concentration, you are more mentally tired, trying to keep your position,’ 32-year-old Akins adds.
‘You have to do what you have to do to get in the team. I always say availability is the best ability.’ A spot between the sticks has eluded him and Akins
says: ‘If the opportunity arose I would jump on it, especially as [defender] Darren Stride has already done that for Burton. He’s a club legend.’
So too is Akins, who holds the club record for most league appearances and goals scored for Burton, including their 700th since becoming a Football League club in last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at league leaders Plymouth.
With the second lowest gate in the division of less than 3,300 – a fraction of Sunderland’s 29,600 – tenth-place Burton remain League One minnows.
‘Burton matches my personality in terms of being the underdog, punching above my weight,’ says Akins ahead of tonight’s game with Morecambe.
‘When I played gaming consoles I would always pick the team in the smallest division as a manager.’
Hasselbaink returned to the Pirelli Stadium in January with the club eight points adrift of safety and Akins hails his feat in keeping them up.
‘The situation he inherited was bleak and he did the impossible with games to spare,’ he says. ‘Now he has turned it around to where people talk about getting back to the Championship.
‘His attention to detail is impeccable, he loves the game and has been phenomenal for the club. This journey has been crazy, really, really mad and I look forward to it continuing. I’m grateful for what Burton has brought to my life.’