A message from our new Chair

Dear Member,

Following my election to the Board in December and my appointment as Chair last week, I wanted to share some initial thoughts on how I hope to help take the club forward over the coming months and years.

Bury Football Club has always meant more to me than just football.

I have been a supporter for coming up 20 years now, and I have been down at Gigg Lane for the good, the bad, and sometimes – the ugly.

From those uglier times, like many others, a fire burnt inside. Righting wrongs felt important. Necessary.

The rebirth in 2019 set me on my way, moving from supporter to volunteer, to secretary of our successful Under-23s side, and often operating the turnstiles on home matchdays. I was back on the turnstile again for last weekend’s visit of Avro, welcoming supporters — now, incredibly, in the very privileged position of serving as Chair of our club.

I feel immensely proud and humbled to take on the role, and very conscious of the responsibility that comes with it. The interests of Bury FC have always been, and will always be, at the heart of everything I do.

Over the past year I’ve spent time listening, learning, and understanding how the club operates day to day, the challenges we face, and the huge amount of work that happens behind the scenes. What stands out most is the commitment of our members, volunteers, staff and supporters, and just how far we have come together.

Looking ahead, I believe strongly in the need for a clear overarching strategy for where Bury FC is heading, and how we move forward in a sustainable way. That means building on three foundations:

• long-term financial stability,
• a strong and committed membership, and
• a club that communicates clearly, honestly and confidently with its supporters and the wider community.

Gigg Lane should be a welcoming place for everyone – somewhere people are proud to visit, proud to support, and proud to be associated with.

As Chair, my role – and the role of the Board – is evolving. We want to spend less time “rowing” in the day-to-day, and more time “steering”: setting direction, supporting the people doing the work, and making sure the club is well governed and prepared for the future.

There are several areas I care deeply about and will continue to champion:

• Improving communication and visibility of the Board, so members understand what we are doing and why.
• Recognising, valuing and growing our volunteer base, with proper support, training and development. Our club simply does not function without you.
• Supporting our employees and continuing to be a responsible, fair employer.
• Building on our relationships with club sponsors, improving our commercial performance, and strengthening our links with our benefactors, as we continue to develop Gigg Lane into a facility fit for purpose and ready for seven-day-a-week use.
• Sharing our financial position in a clear and uncomplicated way, against defined objectives, so members can see progress and challenges openly.
• Developing a visible player pathway, for boys and girls, from early years through to an academy and the first team in the future.
• Improving accessibility at Gigg Lane, including disabled access to the main stand.
• Exploring facilities that strengthen our community role, such as community changing rooms linked to the 3G pitch.

Alongside this, proactive and honest communication will be a priority. That includes being open about challenges when they arise, not just successes, and continuing to celebrate how far we have already come.

I also hope my own journey – from fan, to volunteer, to Board member, to Chair – shows that this is a club built by people stepping forward. I would love to see more supporters do the same, in whatever way they can, whether that’s volunteering time, sharing skills, or simply getting more involved.

Over the next couple of months, my focus will be on putting the right structures in place to help turn these priorities into reality. That work won’t always be visible straight away, but it is essential if we are to build a club that is sustainable, well run and ready for the future.

I will share updates with you along the way, and as progress is made I plan to hold a members’ forum to outline the early steps we have taken and, just as importantly, to listen to your feedback on how we continue to move this club forward together.

I will aim to be visible, approachable, and to listen. I won’t pretend every decision will be easy, but I promise they will always be taken with the long-term best interests of Bury FC at heart.

Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me. It truly is a privilege to serve this club and its members, and I’m excited about what we can continue to build together.

Yours,

Tina Newall