Neuven Stadium , also known as Stainton Park is a football ground in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester , which has hosted Radcliffe F.C. since 1969. It has a capacity of 3,500 (350 seated).
78-520: Prior to 1968, the Club had played its home games at a ground at Bright Street, Radcliffe, until the site was selected for redevelopment. After a 12 month period in which Radcliffe Borough were forced to play their Lancashire Combination games outside the town (at the Whitehouse Sports Ground, Crumpsall) the Club were then able to move to the current site at Red Bank, Pilkington Road, Radcliffe, which
156-566: A QC to lead a legal claim for damages against the EFL, and to have applied to the FA for a place in the National League or National League North (tiers five or six) in the 2020–21 season. However, on 7 August, the application was rejected by the FA, who cited the club's "financial resources, ownership and insolvency status"; the club said it planned to submit an application for the 2021–22 season, but none
234-515: A friendly match instead, which Bury lost heavily by 10–0. Some sources, including the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF), have recorded the friendly as a first-round FA Cup tie. The Football Association , however, lists the result as a walkover by Blackburn, recognising that Bury withdrew from the competition. This is confirmed by the Lancashire Evening Post 's evening edition of
312-530: A 1–1 draw at Tranmere Rovers on 30 April. Businessman Steve Dale bought the club from Stewart Day for £1 in December 2018 and, in February 2019, paid an outstanding tax bill to avoid a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) winding-up order. However, financial problems resurfaced on 2 April after staff and players did not receive their March salaries on time. On 10 April, former head coach Chris Brass , claiming to be
390-425: A company limited by guarantee whose members were Gigg Lane Propco Limited and Bury Football Club Supporters' Society Limited, a registered society. This meant that, when a Bury FC team played at Gigg Lane in future, it would represent Gigg Lane Stadium Limited. Meanwhile, the original club incorporated in 1885 – The Bury Football Club Company Ltd – remained in administration under the ownership of Steve Dale (its name
468-470: A creditor of the club, issued a winding-up petition to be heard in the High Court . The winding-up petition was adjourned until 15 May (after the end of the league season). In addition to Brass's claim, HMRC was claiming approximately £277,000. On 25 April, Dale said the club's financial problems were "far in excess" of what he understood when he took over, and placed the club on the open market. Around £1.6m
546-459: A deal that would have secured the survival of the club, believing he could get a better offer. Bury North MP James Frith wrote to EFL chair Debbie Jevans asking for the expulsion deadline to be extended; Andy Burnham , the Mayor of Greater Manchester , also requested an extension. On 22 August, the EFL gave an extra 48 hours to avoid expulsion after it emerged that four parties were interested in
624-450: A fans-backed group, Est.1885, among the bidders to buy the ground and club. Supported by local MPs James Daly and Christian Wakeford and by Bury MBC , the Est.1885 bid was backed by an "anonymous benefactor willing to bankroll ambitions for a fans-led club". On 22 October, the administrators confirmed that Est.1885 had been given exclusivity to buy both the club and Gigg Lane. The benefactor
702-544: A financial contribution of up to £450,000 towards the costs of recommissioning Gigg Lane (this was later made conditional on a successful merger with Bury AFC). On 18 February 2022, Est.1885 completed the purchase of Gigg Lane from the administrator and announced the acquisition of the club's trading name, history and memorabilia. Est.1885 had been assisted by the Forever Bury supporters' group and said they would soon announce "the rebranding and future role of Forever Bury and
780-403: A formal notice that the previous CVA had been terminated on 9 March. The supervisor of that initial CVA, Steven Wiseglass, warned that if no new CVA is agreed by 1 April, he would seek to wind-up the club and appoint a liquidator. The consortium attempt to complete a solvent takeover of the club fell through at the end of March. In late April, Dale was reported to have spent £250,000 in appointing
858-520: A goal in any round. En route to the final against Derby County , Bury defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers , Sheffield United, Notts County and Aston Villa . As in 1900, the final was played at the old Crystal Palace ground in south London. A crowd of 63,102 attended. As the two teams wore identical kits, agreement on colours for the day was necessary and they both changed with Bury wearing Cambridge blue shirts and navy shorts while Derby chose red shirts and black shorts. Six of Bury's 1900 finalists were in
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#1732855650812936-586: A merger of the two principal supporters' groups (BFCSS and the Shakers Community Society) to bring Bury FC back to its "spiritual home with wider benefits for the whole community". Football League Fourth Division The Football League Fourth Division was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to
1014-535: A merger with Bury AFC (promoted to the NWCFL Premier Division on 26 March 2022), the statement recognised there were conflicting loyalties: "There are many supporters who have followed Bury AFC who are emotionally invested in the team and enjoying the success. We also have a significant number of supporters who did not choose this path and their feelings have to be seriously considered to avoid division and alienation." There were also FA restrictions about using
1092-512: A payout to a newly formed company, RCR Holdings, run by his daughter's partner, and 140 youth players were released by Bury's academy. On 30 August, Bury was "actively considering" legal action against the EFL over its expulsion. After local MP James Frith said he would propose that the EFL reinstate Bury in League Two in 2020–21, the EFL said it would consult member clubs. The EFL also announced an independent review of EFL regulations concerning
1170-523: A re-election vote by other league clubs to determine whether they would remain in the league. Automatic relegation to the Conference was introduced in 1987, the same year the fourth promotion place began to be decided through a play-off . The highest average league attendance in the Fourth Division was 19,092, achieved by Crystal Palace in the 1960/61 season. The highest attendance at an individual match
1248-440: A resurgence under manager Stan Ternent who engineered two successive promotions in the mid-1990s. In 1996, third place in what was now the fourth-tier Division Three, followed by the third-tier Division Two title in 1996–97 , brought Bury back to the second tier for the first time in 30 years. They went back to the third tier on the last day of the 1998–99 season on the basis of having a lower goals scored total than Port Vale ,
1326-625: A sports clinic. The ground has always been known as Stainton Park but has been officially renamed Neuven Stadium for its sponsorship by Neuven Solutions Limited. Radcliffe FC have had a ground-sharing agreement with Bury AFC since August 2020 although this arrangement ended during the first half of 2023 with the Bury club having now moved back to Gigg Lane after a temporary ground share at Mossley. 53°34′3.299″N 2°20′26.542″W / 53.56758306°N 2.34070611°W / 53.56758306; -2.34070611 Bury AFC Bury Football Club
1404-402: A takeover. Late on 23 August, Dale was said to have agreed a sale to analytics company C&N Sporting Risk. The following morning, an EFL board meeting gave Bury 27 August to complete the sale, though Jevans later said a further short extension might be granted if the sale was very close to conclusion. Shortly before the deadline, however, C&N Sporting Risk pulled out of the deal saying it
1482-408: A top flight return was in 1936–37 when they finished third (only the first two teams were promoted). With first-class league and cup football suspended for the duration of World War II , regional wartime competitions were organised in which Bury took part. Like all other clubs, they often relied on guest players because of service calls. There were ten regional leagues in 1939–40 and Bury were in
1560-526: A total of eleven times, most recently in 2017–18. The club's nickname—"The Shakers"—was first used at the 1892 Lancashire Cup final against Blackburn Rovers. Before the match, J. T. Ingham, the club's chairman manager, reportedly inspired the players by saying: "We shall shake 'em! In fact, we are the Shakers". His words were popularised by the media and the club subsequently adopted the term as their official nickname. Also in 1891–92, Bury contested an FA Cup tie for
1638-751: Is an English association football club based in Bury, Greater Manchester , which plays in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League , the ninth tier of the English football pyramid , following a 2023 merger with phoenix club Bury A.F.C. . Before expulsion from the English Football League , Bury F.C. had played in EFL League Two , the fourth tier of the English football pyramid, in
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#17328556508121716-541: The 1992–93 season. Following the creation of the Premier League, the fourth tier of English football was renamed the Football League Third Division , before being rebranded as Football League Two in 2004. The Fourth Division was created in 1958 alongside a new national Third Division by merging the regionalised Third Division North and Third Division South . The original economic reasons for having
1794-551: The 2018–19 season . The team are known as The Shakers and play in white shirts and navy blue shorts. Gigg Lane has been the club's home since 1885. The club has long-standing rivalries with Bolton Wanderers , Oldham Athletic and Rochdale . Established in 1885, Bury was a founder member of the Lancashire League in 1889 and champions in 1890–91 and 1891–92, before being elected to the Football League in 1894. Bury won
1872-586: The North West League , finishing as champions. The team were unbeaten in a sequence of 16 matches from October to February. On 30 December 1939, they played a friendly against Stoke City which resulted in a 7–6 win for Bury. Bury were close to relegation from the Second Division several times after the war. They finally dropped into the Third Division North for the first time in 1957. 1957–58
1950-660: The Second Division in 1894–95 and promotion to the First Division in which they played for 17 seasons. They won the FA Cup in 1900 with a 4–0 victory over Southampton and again in 1903 with a record 6–0 win over Derby County . Bury were relegated to the Second Division at the end of the 1911–12 season and were there for twelve years until securing promotion as runners-up in 1923–24 . They were relegated in 1928–29 , their last top-flight season. In 1956–57 , they dropped into
2028-457: The 1900 and 1903 FA Cup finals, but he was never formally appointed team manager. The first specialist team manager was goalkeeper Archie Montgomery who was appointed on 1 February 1907. He was in charge when the team were relegated in 1912 and stayed on until 30 April 1915 when he was dismissed because of the club's lack of income in wartime. The club had a windfall in 1922 when Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby , unexpectedly gifted them with
2106-420: The 1903 team, led by skipper George Ross who scored the opening goal after 20 minutes. Derby's keeper Jack Fryer played despite an existing injury which he aggravated early in the second half when he was trying to prevent Charlie Sagar from scoring Bury's second goal. As a result, Fryer was forced to leave the field and, as substitutes were not allowed then, one of the full-backs deputised in goal and their team
2184-413: The 2018–19 season as runners-up in League Two, earning promotion to League One for the 2019–20 season . However, the club was unable to begin the season because of longstanding financial difficulties, and was expelled from the Football League on 27 August 2019. In November 2020, the club was placed into administration . In February 2022, Bury fans' group Est.1885 completed the purchase of Gigg Lane from
2262-689: The Bury FC Supporters' Trust, Bury South MP Ivan Lewis , Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Bury Metropolitan Borough Council ) was sent to the EFL on 20 September, but was rejected at a meeting of the EFL's remaining 71 member clubs on 26 September. Following the EFL ruling, the working group suggested that Bury apply for a place in the National League in 2020–21, subject to ownership and financial issues being resolved. Another winding-up petition
2340-509: The Bury FC name as football creditors to the old regime had not been paid. Although Bury FC were yet to enter administration and still continued to exist as a dormant club, in December 2019, a group of supporters resolved to form a phoenix club which they named Bury Association Football Club (Bury AFC). Some 300 Bury FC fans came forward to help and they formed a company registered as Bury Football Club (2019) Ltd (trading as Bury AFC). The club
2418-449: The CVA would be ended; debts totalling around £5m would become immediately due, with creditors able to petition for the club to be wound up. On 14 February, Dale was reported to have defaulted on the plan to settle outstanding debts, casting fresh doubt over Bury's future, and making liquidation more likely. A month later, on 16 March 2020, Dale was reported to be seeking a new CVA; this followed
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2496-435: The EFL. Satisfactory proof was not provided, and on 29 July the club's opening league match of the season was suspended, as were four further league games. On 8 August, Bury was given 14 days to provide the EFL with a plan to pay off outstanding creditors. On 12 August, Dale said he would consider selling the club after staff 'implored' him to accept a newly received offer to buy the club, but, on 20 August, he rejected
2574-483: The League having decided to use this metric rather than goal difference as its tie-breaker. Bury's goal difference was higher than that of Port Vale, and the League reinstated goal difference as the tie-breaker for the following season. In 2001–02, financial problems caused by the collapse of ITV Digital brought the club into administration and to the brink of folding. A supporters' campaign raised enough money to keep
2652-456: The Second Division after the 1911–12 season (they finished in the relegation positions in the 1904–05 season but avoided relegation when the capacity of Division One was increased from eighteen to twenty clubs). In 1900 and 1903 , Bury won the FA Cup, scoring ten goals in the two finals without conceding any. In the 1900 final , they beat Southern League team Southampton 4–0. Bury's run to
2730-590: The Third Division before the next relegation. The club celebrated its centenary in 1985 by gaining promotion back to the Third Division. Bury came close to promotion from the Third Division in both 1990 and 1991 when they finished fifth and seventh respectively to qualify for the play-offs. They were eliminated at the semi-final stage in both play-offs, losing 2–0 on aggregate to Tranmere Rovers in 1990 and 2–1 on aggregate to neighbours Bolton Wanderers in 1991. Relegation followed in 1992 and then Bury qualified for
2808-638: The administrator and announced that they had acquired the trading name, history and memorabilia of Bury FC. After the sale was completed, efforts began to bring professional football back to Bury. In October 2022 supporters were urged to vote in a poll regarding a potential amalgamation of the Bury Football Club Supporters' Society (who owned Gigg Lane and the "Bury FC" trading name) and the Shakers Community Society (who owned phoenix club Bury AFC). The proposals initially failed to reach
2886-471: The biggest winning margin. Bury remained sole holders of the record until the 2019 final in which Manchester City defeated Watford by the same score. The ball used in the 1903 final is on display at the National Football Museum . Until 1907, the team was always managed by one or more committee members. Club secretary Harry Spencer Hamer is believed to have been in charge of the team in both
2964-438: The club afloat, and in recognition of his role within that process, UEFA presented club press officer Gordon Sorfleet with their Best Supporter award for 2001–02. Bury were relegated to fourth-tier Division Three at the end of that season. They finished seventh in 2003 and qualified for the play-offs but, yet again, their semi-final hoodoo struck and they were beaten 3–1 on aggregate by Bournemouth . In May 2005, Bury became
3042-455: The club argued that it had continued to automatically pay taxes on unpaid wages. The judge agreed that an extension was necessary for HMRC to establish if the club had overpaid. On 4 December, the club was granted a further extension until 18 December with HMRC ordered to process the club's returns and ascertain the exact amount still owed. When the High Court reconvened, this winding-up petition
3120-429: The club for Scunthorpe United . Youth team manager Richie Barker took over as caretaker manager and secured the club's promotion to League One , the team finishing second. In December 2012, Bury were placed under a transfer embargo after falling into financial difficulty as a result of poor attendance figures, and ended up being relegated at the end of the season. Property investor Stewart Day became chairman of
3198-455: The club in May 2013 and later that year he noted that £1.5 million had been invested in the club, mostly to pay off debt. Bury finished the 2014–15 League Two season in third place with a club-record points haul of 85 and earned promotion back to third-tier League One, where they spent the next three seasons. The team finished bottom of the 2017–18 EFL League One table and returned to League Two for
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3276-449: The club leased a plot of land on Gigg Lane from the Earl of Derby 's estate. On 12 September 1885, the first match played there was a friendly against a team from Wigan and Bury won 4–3. The club first entered the FA Cup in 1887–88 and were drawn to play Blackburn Rovers away from home in the first round. They travelled to Ewood Park but scratched before the game. The two teams played
3354-586: The club qualified for the Third Division playoffs, but were then relegated in 1992. In 1995, Stan Ternent became team manager, leading the team back to the second tier for the first time in 28 years after securing two consecutive promotions in 1995–96 and 1996–97 . The club stayed there for just two seasons before being relegated twice in four seasons. They secured promotion out of League Two in 2010–11 . After that, Bury switched between Leagues One and Two, being twice relegated (in 2012–13 and 2017–18 ) and twice promoted (in 2014–15 and 2018–19 ). Bury finished
3432-479: The club website, branding the fan-owned Bury AFC as "fake". On 27 November 2020, Dale finally placed the club into administration , with Wiseglass appointed administrator. In January 2021, a Nottinghamshire-based businessman and investor in Ilkeston Town , David Hilton, was reported to be interested in buying Bury FC, which was said to have debts of over £15 million. In May 2021, the club's Gigg Lane ground
3510-489: The club's lowest-ever position, narrowly avoiding relegation from the Football League. In the 2008–09 season, newly appointed manager Alan Knill , led the team to a fourth-place finish, missing automatic promotion by a single goal; in the play-off semi-final, Bury were beaten on penalties by Shrewsbury Town after a 1–1 aggregate draw. Towards the end of the 2010–11 season, with the team chasing promotion, Knill left
3588-452: The earliest opportunity. Having three times reached the northern semi-final stage of the EFL Trophy in its earlier incarnations, Bury in the 2018–19 tournament advanced to the national semi-final where they lost 3–0 at home to Portsmouth . The team had a good season in League Two and, during the winter months, went 14 successive matches unbeaten before winning promotion to League One after
3666-596: The final was remarkable in that they were drawn away from home in every round but won through with victories over Burnley , Notts County , cup holders Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest . The semi-final against Forest was played at Stoke and ended 1–1 after Bury missed a penalty. A replay was held at Bramall Lane in Sheffield and Bury began disastrously by conceding two goals in the first two minutes. Charlie Sagar pulled one back after 55 minutes and then Jasper McLuckie equalised with only five minutes to go. Extra time
3744-572: The financial sustainability of member clubs, which in February 2020 concluded that any additional EFL action "would not have made any difference to the eventual outcome" – "a lack of owner funding" ultimately caused Bury's demise, exacerbated by excessive wages paid to players under Day's chairmanship. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was investigating a fraud allegation made in June 2019 in relation to Bury's finances. The Frith-led working group's proposal to admit Bury to League Two (backed by
3822-431: The first (and to date the only) football club to score a thousand goals in each of the top four tiers of the English football league. A year later, in December 2006, the club was expelled from the FA Cup after they were found to have fielded an ineligible player in a second-round replay win against Chester City . In addition to that debacle, the team's 2006–07 league form was poor and they eventually finished in 21st place,
3900-485: The first time when they defeated Witton and Heywood Central before losing to Blackpool after a replay in the third qualifying round . In 1894, the club was elected to the Football League . In their first season, 1894–95 , they won the Second Division title by a nine-point margin and beat Liverpool , the First Division 's bottom club, in the test match to gain promotion . Bury retained their top-flight status for seventeen seasons until they were relegated to
3978-582: The following season in 4th place on 83 points, four points from a play-off spot. In May 2022, the Bury FC Supporters Society signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the future of the club. Other signatories included Bury MBC, the Football Supporters' Association , Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Shakers Community Society on behalf of Bury AFC, and The Bury Football Club Company Ltd. In July 2022, Bury fans were asked to back
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#17328556508124056-399: The fourth-tier play-off in 1993 by finishing seventh but, yet again, lost their semi-final tie by going down 1–0 on aggregate to York City . Bury were back in the play-offs again in 1995 after finishing fourth. This time, they won their semi-final by beating Preston North End 2–0 on aggregate and so went to Wembley for the final, where they lost 2–0 to Chesterfield . The club then enjoyed
4134-522: The freehold of Gigg Lane. The team returned to the First Division for a five-season spell in 1924 and achieved their highest-ever league position, fourth, in 1925–26 . Bury have not played in the top flight since relegation back to the Second Division in 1929. Striving to recover First Division status, Bury had four top six finishes in Division Two in the 1930s. The closest that they have ever come to
4212-559: The period of administration of The Bury Football Club Company Ltd to 27 May 2023 to allow time for the administrator to complete the sale of the stadium and to conclude investigations into the club's financial affairs and the actions of its current and former directors and officers. On 7 January 2022, Est.1885 said contracts had been exchanged on a deal to buy the stadium, the club's trading name and memorabilia, with plans to resume competitive football in August 2022. On 13 January, Bury MBC agreed
4290-581: The pitch having been deemed to be unfit. The ground record attendance for a match involving Radcliffe was the Bank Holiday Monday game (28 August 2023) game when 2,338 fans turned up to watch Radcliffe defeat FC United of Manchester 5-0. 2,473 spectators were at the venue on Saturday 17 September 2005 for a North West Counties League Division Two fixture between Castleton Gabriels and FC United of Manchester. The ground has in recent years been upgraded with floodlights, an all-weather pitch, terracing, and
4368-412: The required 66% threshold from both societies, but, on 5 May 2023, the merger of both societies was approved following a second poll. Bury AFC adopted the Bury FC playing name ahead of the 2023–24 season and returned to Gigg Lane, following FA approval on 5 June 2023. Upon merging, the two team's histories were combined — retroactively counting Bury AFC's seasons as seasons for Bury FC. Bury Football Club
4446-441: The same day, which reported that "Bury scratched before the match, and played an ordinary game". Bury FC do not include the tie in their complete FA Cup record. Bury were founder members of the Lancashire League in 1889, finishing as runners-up in the inaugural 1889–90 competition. They won the championship the next two seasons. In 1891–92, Bury were Lancashire Cup winners for the first time, and they have won this competition
4524-403: The second time in five seasons. In May 2018, the former Bury striker Ryan Lowe was appointed first-team manager on a two-year contract, having been caretaker-manager twice during 2017–18 after two other managers were sacked. In June 2018, Lee Dykes became the club's first sporting director and introduced a youth development strategy designed to fast-track academy players into the first team at
4602-674: The third tier for the first time but won promotion as champions of the Third Division under Dave Russell in 1960–61 . From 1967 to 1971, they had one promotion and three relegations, the last of which was from the Third to the Fourth Division . Bury won promotion at the end of the 1973–74 campaign and remained in the Third Division until 1979–80 . Under manager Martin Dobson , Bury won promotion back to Division Three in 1984–85. In 1990 and 1991,
4680-415: The transition of Est.1885". The statement also declared commitment towards "finding a consensual path with Bury AFC". Matt Pickup of Est.1885 said all parties had set a target of football returning to Gigg Lane by August 2022, in time for the 2022–23 season . On 21 February 2022, it was confirmed that the owner of Gigg Lane – and of the Bury FC trading name – was the newly formed Gigg Lane Stadium Limited,
4758-435: The two regional leagues had become less apparent and thus it was decided to create two national leagues at levels three and four. The twelve best teams of each regional league in 1957–58 went into the Third Division, and the rest became founder members of the Fourth Division. Founder members of Fourth Division were: Before 1987, the top four teams were promoted to the Third Division and the bottom four teams were subject to
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#17328556508124836-493: Was fan-owned on the basis of one member one vote. The new club immediately applied to the North West Counties Football League , the tenth tier of the English football league system, for membership in the 2020–21 season which was approved. The 2020–21 season was the club's inaugural season. The FA Vase tie, played on 19 September, was the team's first competitive game, but they lost 2–1. The season
4914-456: Was "unable to proceed". On 27 August, the EFL announced that Bury's membership of the league had been withdrawn. Bury were the first club to be expelled from the Football League since Maidstone United in 1992. After the expulsion, it emerged that a late bid from a Brazilian-backed potential buyer had been rejected. The Insolvency Practitioners Association said it would investigate Bury's CVA over allegations that Dale had tried to engineer
4992-578: Was English-born but now California-based businessman Peter Alexander, a lifelong Shakers fan who also wanted to reconcile any differences with Bury AFC. On 23 December 2021, the UK Government, through the Community Ownership Fund run by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities , pledged £1m towards the bid to buy back Gigg Lane. In November 2021, a court order was made extending
5070-416: Was approved by creditors on 18 July. As a result, the winding-up petition was dismissed by the High Court on 31 July. Bury's preparation for the new season was further impacted by the loss of manager Ryan Lowe and several members of the first-team squad. On 25 July, the EFL sought further details on how Bury would satisfy the CVA; without proof of the club's financial viability, Bury could be expelled from
5148-404: Was brought before the High Court by HMRC on 16 October 2019. It was adjourned for 14 days to allow the club more time to settle with small business creditors. Everton chairman Bill Kenwright attempted to give Bury £1m to help save the club, but this was disallowed under EFL conflict of interest rules. On 30 October, the petition adjournment was extended for another 35 days to 4 December after
5226-628: Was changed to CCFB Realisations 2022 Limited in April 2022 so that the new owner of the trading name could assume the original name; Dale was declared bankrupt in July 2022; Stewart Day was also declared bankrupt, in October 2022). A Bury FC Supporters Society statement on 15 March 2022 said that the club's application to join the Northern Premier League had been rejected. While the FA and Bury MBC favoured
5304-420: Was dismissed; HMRC said an unspecified debt had been paid. Whilst the formation of the fan-owned phoenix club was underway, Bury FC owner Steve Dale continued to fight administration and for a return to the football pyramid. On 31 January 2020, the club was in danger of liquidation as Dale had failed to pay any money to creditors under the terms of the July 2019 CVA. Dale had to pay at least £2m by 11 February or
5382-486: Was down to ten men for most of the last forty minutes. Bury scored three goals in four minutes just before the hour was up and their sixth after 76 minutes. Joe Leeming scored the third and last goals. Willie Wood and Jack Plant scored the other two. The final was a no contest and Derby were lambasted by the press for their poor performance. One reporter commented that, but for being merciful, Bury should have scored twenty. Bury's 6–0 win established an FA Cup final record for
5460-520: Was founded on 24 April 1885 after Aiden Arrowsmith, a local enthusiast, had brokered two meetings between church teams Bury Wesleyans and Bury Unitarians at the Waggon & Horses Hotel and the Old White Horse Hotel. It was agreed from the outset that the team should be professional. The FA had recently legitimised professionalism but it was still a controversial topic. Ahead of the 1885–86 season,
5538-480: Was needed to pay wages, HMRC and pensions to the end of May, with only £180,000 income expected during that period. On 19 June, a High Court hearing on the winding-up petition was adjourned until 31 July, to allow additional time for a potential sale. To secure the club's future, Dale proposed a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to ensure payment of the club's football creditors in full while unsecured creditors, including HMRC, would receive 25% of monies owed. That
5616-444: Was played and Sagar scored the winner after 110 minutes of play. The final at the old Crystal Palace ground was played in a heatwave and Bury, captained by Jack Pray , dominated from the start. The goals in a one-sided match were scored by McLuckie (2), Willie Wood and Jack Plant . The players were on a win bonus of £10 each in the final, ten times more than their usual £1 per match bonus. Three years later , Bury did not concede
5694-448: Was put up for sale by the administrator. In June, Wiseglass said he had received two ultimately unsuccessful offers to buy the club, and that a deadline of 5 August had been set for bids to buy Gigg Lane. He also confirmed, in an update to the administration records filed at Companies House , that the club's total liability amounted to £12,545,559. On 26 August, Wiseglass said offers had been received from several 'interested parties', with
5772-594: Was sent. On 30 August 2020, 12 months after the club's EFL expulsion, the Manchester Evening News said: "Bury FC still exists, though, if only on paper. With no players, no league to play in, and no employees to speak of, it is little more than a hollow shell of the club fans knew and loved." The MEN report said that the club "continues to limp on" but its future was uncertain and the danger of liquidation remained, though most fans still hoped for an eventual resurrection. Meanwhile, Dale began making statements on
5850-420: Was subsequently named Stainton Park after Mr. Henry Stainton, a local builder and the Club's president. The first competitive fixture at the new ground is understood to have been Radcliffe Borough's home Lancashire Combination league fixture against Wigan Rovers on Saturday 6 September 1969. A Lancashire Combination Cup tie against Formby had been scheduled for the previous Saturday, but was called off late due to
5928-504: Was suspended in December due to COVID-19 restrictions, and was subsequently abandoned on 24 February 2021. In the 2021–22 season, Bury AFC played in the North West Counties Football League Division One North . On 27 March 2022, before a crowd of over 1,800 people, a 4–0 home victory over St Helens Town secured the club's promotion to the NWCFL Premier Division as divisional champions. They finished
6006-514: Was that division's last season before the regional sections were amalgamated into national Third and Fourth Divisions . Under manager Dave Russell , a young Bury team were Third Division champions in 1960–61. They spent seven of the next eight seasons back in the Second Division with a best position of eighth in 1962–63. In the 1962–63 Football League Cup , they reached the semi-final but lost 4–3 on aggregate to eventual winners Birmingham City . For three seasons from 1963, Bury's best player
6084-475: Was the future England midfielder Colin Bell , who was team captain while still a teenager. He transferred to Manchester City in 1966 and Bury were relegated the following season. They bounced straight back as Third Division runners-up in 1968 but went down again in 1969. In 1971, relegation from Division Three took Bury into the Fourth Division for the first time. They gained promotion in 1974 and spent six seasons in
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