THE RECKLESS GUIDE TO BURY
Bury v Barnet
Coca-Cola League 2
Saturday 5 December 2009 Kick Off 3.00pm
Ground: Gigg Lane, Bury Lancashire, BL9 9LH
Telephone: 0161 764 4881
Club Colours: Light and Dark Blue (A one off "all white" Anniversary kit will be worn at the game).
Nickname: The Shakers
Official Club Website: www.bury.co.uk
Manager: Alan Knill
Brief Directions By Road: The simplest route, although it is worth a meander across the moors to find a pub for lunch, is to use the M62/M60 until junction 18 and turn onto the M66 at its junction 4. Follow the M66 and exit at its junction 2 and turn onto the A58 (Rochdale Road) signposted Bury town centre and football ground. At the traffic lights by the Crown Hotel, turn left into Heywood Street (B6219). At a mini roundabout turn right into Wellington Road (still signposted B6219 Salford and still signposted football ground) and then turn left into Market Street, go over the junction with Parkhills Road and then right into Gigg Lane.
Car Parking: Side street parking is available although the immediate ground vicinity is usually coned off. Holy Cross College on Wellington Road allows parking for around £3.00 a car.
Directions By Train: There is no main British Rail station in Bury but the Metrolink Rail from Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Victoria is your best option. Bury Metrolink station is only about a mile from Gigg Lane. Turn left out of the station and go underneath the dual carriageway. Follow this walkway until you turn left into Manchester Road and the ground is a further 1/2 mile on the left.
Buses 134,135, 36 and 137 run to the ground from the station.
Supporters Coaches: The BFCSA is running a coach to this fixture and seats are priced at £35 adults £30 concessions. The coach will depart from outside the Barnet Odeon at 9.00am. For further details about supporters coach travel and how to book check out the BFCSA website at www.bfcsa.co.uk. You can also phone the Coach Travel hot line on 01707 647365. Please remember that you must be a member of the Association to travel - don't worry you can join on the day. The club wishes me to point out that supporters' coach travel is entirely organised and operated independently by the Barnet FC Supporters Association. Barnet Football Club Limited cannot be held liable for any losses occurred.
Eating And Drinking & Social Club: We will be warmly welcomed in the social club before the game where a £1 entry fee is charged. The club is the hub of this very friendly club and serves food and has Sky TV. The Cornmarket is a highly rated Fish and Chips bar on Haymarket Street only 10 minutes walk from the ground in the town centre. The Staff of Life - 111-113 Manchester Road is the closest pub to the ground and come highly recommended. It has local real ales and inexpensive Bed and Breakfast on offer too. Telephone 0161 764 6426.The Swan & Cemetery (an impressive range of spirits can be found here) is a friendly pub and the best for families. It can be found on the Manchester Road 300 yards past the ground.
The Ground Description: The ground has been completely rebuilt since 1993 and now boasts covered seating on all four sides with a healthy capacity approaching 12,000. The main stand although fairly modern has a very traditional look about it with its pitched roof complete with valance and frontal access via walkways, nice. The South Stand occupies the opposite touchline and holds around 4,000. It houses the first class disabled facilities. It then creeps around to become the Cemetery Stand. The away end at Gigg Lane is the Bridge Group or Manchester Road Stand which suffers slightly from the awkward roof supports. It has room for about 2,200.and offers decent acoustics to help the more vocal of our supporters.
Rivals: Traditionally Bolton Wanderers and Rochdale.
Admission Prices & Programme: £17 for adults £13 for concessions and students with ID. The club are also offering "Kids for a Quid" for those under 16. However these tickets must be purchased from the Ticket Office, they are not purchasable at the turnstiles. A Programme will cost you £3.
Our Last Meeting & Memories: Last season's away trip in January 2009 finished 1-0 to Bury while the game in 2006 finished 2-2, Tresor Kandol and an Ian Hendon penalty were the highlights. Goals from Adam Birchall (2) and Cliff Akurang were enough in a 3-0 win at Underhill in April 2008. In the 1990's games played with Bury we only managed to score 2 goals and never at Gigg Lane. Nicky Evans scored in the 1-0 victory in 1993 (well we would) and Gerald McMahon scored in a 1-1 draw the following season.
Celebrity Watch: Radio 1 DJ Mike Reid is a Bury fan as are the band Elbow. Police presence at Gigg Lane is always picked from the best officers available because Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the Force and a former English Prime Minister was born here. Crooner and pianist Peter Skellern grew up here as did comedian Victoria Wood and hard working housewife Cherie Blair.
Interesting And Not So Interesting Information: Gigg Lane was loaned out to another football team and that is the Man Utd supporter's football club, FC United. Although allegedly invented by the Scots, Bury is home to a culinary giant - animal blood with fillers of barley, oatmeal, suet and bread congealed until cold - Black Pudding. According to some so-called aficionados who shall remain nameless, a full English is incomplete without it! I beg to differ.
Reckless
