Dear Jason, the coaching staff, volunteer support team, and our incredible squad.

On behalf of the Football Supporters Society Board Members, we want to extend our heartfelt congratulations on winning the North West Women’s Regional League (NWWRL) Plate Final this weekend.

Reaching your highest ever league finish in the same season makes this achievement even more special. Well done to every single one of you — your hard work, commitment, and togetherness continue to push this club forward.

Up the Shakers!

Ahead of the last league fixture at Gigg Lane, FSSB Chair Tina Newall, wrote this piece for Saturday's match programme:

We stand today on the edge of something truly special - with two games* remaining we are top of the league challenging for a double promotion season. That doesn’t happen by accident. It takes effort, belief, resilience, and a shared commitment from every corner of this football club.

Our players, our coaching and management staff, our volunteers, our hardworking staff, and you - our incredible supporters who travel far and wide in all weathers - have all played your part.

Dave McNabb said to me recently, “Fans are the blood of the club, but the staff and volunteers are the heart that keeps us going.” I couldn’t agree more.

Over the last week, we’ve seen so much appreciation for our volunteers, and today I want to build on that. Because at Bury FC, we often talk about being a community club, a fan-owned club, a club built on pride and passion, but those words mean nothing without the people who bring them to life — our volunteers.

The Team Behind the Team

Over 250 people across more than 45 volunteer roles keep this club moving forward. Every match day, every training session, every community event, every grassroots moment of joy, it all happens because ordinary people choose to give extraordinary time and effort.

Our volunteers support every part of the club:

• Matchday operations: turnstiles, stewarding, hospitality, media, customer service, litter-picking, car park support, club shop, programme teams, flag teams, pound for the ground team, mascots, face painters, cleaners, and more.
• Football operations: secretaries, kit teams, safeguarding, analysts, admin support — the people who keep our players ready to perform.
• Community programmes: the heartbeat of Bury, reaching schools, families, and local groups.
• Grassroots and development: coaches supporting boys, girls, men, women, recreational players, and disability footballers at every stage of their journey.
• Committees and leadership: commercial support, heritage, fundraising, finance and audit, community trustees, and our Board of Directors and advisors.

You are the people who make match days feel like home. You are the people who keep this club safe, welcoming and thriving.

Football for Everyone

We are proud to offer football for:

• Baby Ballers taking their first kicks at age two.
• Youth teams growing in confidence and skill.
• Women’s and men’s teams representing the badge with pride.
• Walking footballers proving passion never ages.
• Children with disabilities who remind us what joy in sport truly looks like.

Our staff and volunteers make all of this possible. You create safe spaces, welcoming environments, and opportunities that genuinely change lives.

A Community That Spans Generations

From newborns to over 90, our club is a family. And like any family, it’s held together by people who care — people who show up, week after week, not for recognition, but because they believe in what Bury FC stands for.

To Our Staff and Volunteers — Thank You

Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your energy.
Thank you for your passion.
Thank you for your belief in a fan-owned future.
Thank you for your commitment to keeping Bury FC on the right pathway.

You are the reason this club is growing, thriving, and inspiring the next generation.

And as we continue to grow, we will be advertising some new volunteer roles — so keep your eyes on our social media channels during the close season.

Bury FC is more than a football club — it is a community built by volunteers. And today, we celebrate you.

Up The Shakers

Tina

Tina Newall
Chair
Football Supporters’ Society of Bury

*...and now just one big game to go! Wishing Jonno and the squad all the very best this weekend at Atherton Colleries. UTS

The Football Supporters’ Society of Bury, alongside the Bury Football Club group of companies, would like to provide an update regarding the future of the FGRS Community Hub currently based at Gigg Lane.

FGRS (serving Fishpool, Goshen, Redvales & Springs communities) currently operates from within the stadium, delivering vital and valued services to the local community. Their work continues to go from strength to strength, and all parties are committed to supporting their ongoing growth and long-term sustainability. Ensuring that FGRS can continue to deliver its services to the community throughout this process is a key priority.

As part of wider stadium planning, we have been reviewing how space across Gigg Lane is used — particularly on matchdays, where demand on facilities continues to increase. This includes exploring options to enhance supporter and player facilities, while ensuring that community provision remains protected and strengthened. As part of these considerations, the current hub space is being explored for potential use as a players’ and family lounge on matchdays.

Following initial discussions, it has become clear that a longer-term solution is required that meets the evolving needs of both the Club and FGRS. The shared objective is to relocate FGRS into a dedicated, purpose-built modular facility within the stadium footprint. This would be situated in the car park area, on land made available following the recent removal of a long-standing, but significantly dilapidated former Forever Bury Cabin.

This approach would:

• Provide FGRS with a space designed specifically for their needs, enabling them to expand and enhance the services they offer to the community
• Improve accessibility, including for those with disabilities
• Allow the Club to develop additional space within the stadium to support matchday operations and future growth

We want to be clear that this is a collaborative project. All parties are working together to identify a solution that delivers the best possible outcomes for both the community and the football club.

Work is now underway to explore funding opportunities, including grant applications, to support the delivery of a new modular facility. At this early stage of the project, there are no formal timescales in place. Maintaining continuity of FGRS services for its customers remains central to all planning.

Supporters visiting Gigg Lane will have noticed that the cabin is currently being removed. We would like to thank our dedicated volunteers who have given their time to support this work while these future plans are developed.

At this stage, no immediate changes will be made, and FGRS will continue to operate as normal while plans are developed.

Further updates will be shared as the project progresses. In the meantime, we hope this provides clarity and reassurance that all discussions are focused on supporting both the continued growth of FGRS and the long-term development of Gigg Lane.

The club can confirm that Gigg Lane has met the FA’s Stadium Accreditation requirements for Grade 4.

Grade 4 is the standard required for clubs competing at this level of the National League System. Achieving the accreditation confirms that the stadium meets the necessary criteria across facilities, safety and operational management.

Since 2022, work has been ongoing to restore and maintain the infrastructure at Gigg Lane. The recent grading reflects progress in key areas including:

Stuart Wright, Stadium Manager

Ben McConnell, Deputy Stadium Manager

Stadium Manager Stuart Wright said:

“This is about meeting the required standard and doing the basics properly. Clean facilities, the correct provision for supporters and a safe environment on matchdays. A lot of hard work has gone into ensuring those standards are in place, both from our team of full-time stadium operatives and our band of dedicated volunteers.

The club continues to support these efforts with significant investment and, as we hopefully progress up the leagues, the ground will be ready to meet even more rigorous accreditation levels.”

FSSB Chair Tina Newall added:

“Grade 4 accreditation confirms that the stadium is operating at the level expected for this step. It reflects the investment and the great deal of hard work that has taken place over the past few years to bring Gigg Lane up to standard, whilst providing a solid platform to continue improving.

We hope supporters can see the extent of the work that has gone into Gigg Lane and are proud that we have a team in place who continue to push our facilities forward.”

The club will continue to review and upgrade facilities where appropriate as part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining standards at Gigg Lane.

Supporters may have noticed works ongoing on the Main Stand whilst attending the game against Sporting Khalsa at the weekend.

We’re pleased to confirm that this activity marks the installation of solar panels on the Main Stand roof at Gigg Lane, representing another important step forward in the stadium’s long-term sustainability plans.

The project reflects the continued cooperation between the elected members of our FSSB board and club Benefactors who work closely on our Stadium board, to ensure Gigg Lane continues to have improved facilities and operates sustainably.

Pictured, FSSB Board member Ian Pearson (left) and Benefactor Ian Harrop following the deal being setup

Delivered by HDM Energies, with funding support from Paragon Bank, the scheme is being introduced through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This means there is no upfront capital cost, with the stadium purchasing the clean energy generated on site at a fixed, competitive rate.

What’s Being Installed?

• 268 solar panels
• A system size of 166kWp
• Covering over 700 square metres of the Main Stand roof

Together, the system will generate a substantial proportion (estimated at around 68%) of the stadium’s electricity requirements directly on site, reducing reliance on grid power and lowering carbon emissions.

As part of the project, an EV charging facility will also be installed in the Gigg Lane car park, supporting the growing number of electric vehicle users - a number of which visit the site for training, events and matches.

This installation forms part of a wider long-term environmental strategy aimed at reducing operating costs, protecting the stadium against rising energy prices, lowering our carbon footprint, and modernising infrastructure at Gigg Lane.

Further updates will be provided at completion.

The Bury Football Club Company (TBFCCL), the stadium company that owns and manages Gigg Lane, can confirm a change to its operating board.

Under the latest changes, Ian Pearson has stepped down from the TBFCCL board, along with Mike Goodier, who left his role on the Football Supporters’ Society of Bury (FSSB) board during the most recent election cycle. Both depart with our sincere thanks for their time, commitment, and efforts while holding their positions.

Newly-elected FSSB director Brad Seymour and current director John Raftery will take up the vacated positions on the TBFCCL board, with John Raftery appointed as Chair.

Commenting on his appointment, John said:

“I am delighted to become Chair of The Bury Football Club Company and consider it an honour to represent our club. I look forward to working with my fellow Supporters’ Society board members and our benefactors to help secure a strong, sustainable future for Bury Football Club and Gigg Lane.”

The full list of TBFCCL board members is as follows, including three representatives from Bury FC Benefactors (BFCB):

• John Raftery (Chair) – FSSB
• Mike Howarth – FSSB
• Jon Wiggans – FSSB
• Brad Seymour – FSSB
• Matt Barker – BFCB
• Ian Harrop – BFCB
• David Manchester – BFCB

The board are due to convene again shortly and any significant updates from the meetings held will be shared with members in the regular updates that feature on this website.