Bury FC: Keep the faith — Terrace Edition

Words: Debs Parr

Images: Debs Parr

When Saturday comes it’s a bright sunny autumnal day and football fans are preparing to watch their football team; thoughts consumed with plans to meet mates, clobber to wear and with pre-match tension building as match predictions, current players and team tactics are discussed.

If you love football but think the game is all about the Premier League or the EFL, it’s time to think again.

Non-league is growing in popularity, showing it to be the heart and soul of the sport…a world where passion runs deep, players give their all for the badge, and fans are right at the centre of it.

Football that feels like it’s for the people and about the people like it was in the 70s and 80s before commercialism took over and changed football from a community rooted sport into a global entertainment business.

©Debs Parr/ Terrace Edition. Bury FC vs Harrogate Town.

It’s the FA Cup fourth qualifying round against Harrogate Town AFC; almost 5000 fans descend on Gigg Lane, excited, nervous but always loud, proud, joyful and colourful.

Compare this to 2019 when Bury FC were expelled from the English Football League following financial struggles despite them gaining automatic promotion to League One only three months earlier.

Their expulsion marked one of the darkest days in the league’s history.

Some fans created the Shakers Community Society and established phoenix club Bury AFC to keep football alive in the town and the team started competing in the North West Counties League.

Bury FC Supporters Society bought back the historic Gigg Lane and the club’s intellectual property after administration.

Both societies merged in 2023, were approved by the FA and finally returned to Gigg Lane to play as Bury Football Club in the ninth tier of the English football pyramid; its club and stadium are controlled and operated by its supporters and community stakeholders rather than private owners.

I first went to Bury for a photo commission three years ago but was so bowled over by the warmth and welcome I received from the club and fans that I’ve continued to return despite the cheeky Bolton bants and chants which they tell me I secretly like.

I’ve been proud to watch and capture their two promotions to now play in the seventh tier.

I also love the fact that both clubs have female Chairs which is still highly uncommon in the world of football

Bury and Bolton were always fiercest rivals back in the day and the latter almost suffered the same fate the same year so I guess a Bolton fan shooting Bury fans is fate somehow.

I love each season having the opportunity to capture the fans passion and loyalty for their club; listening to their football stories past and present and admiring their resilience and hope, their banners and flags around the ground declaring their mantra ‘keep the faith’.

A hard fought match followed, end to end action and a 1-1 draw, the visitors goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson making a magnificent save; coincidentally a player on loan from Bolton Wanderers.

Jonno the Gaffer hailed his Bury side for “showing the best version of ourselves” and Bury will regroup for the replay Tuesday night against Harrogate, a team who last season were in League two and who are now flying high, second in the league in the fifth tier.

The loyal leagues of Bury fans are undaunted. Up the Shakers.