Non League: Football will return to Gigg Lane

Football will return to Gigg Lane next season for the first time since 2019.

A vote to merge Bury FC and Bury AFC passed and paved the way for football to return to the iconic stadium.

<More Non League news>

Members of both clubs failed to reach a two-thirds majority in a previous first merger vote in October.

This time over 90% of the Bury FC Supporters' Society and 97% of Bury AFC members voted to form one club to play at Gigg Lane from next season. This unified club in Bury also qualifies for local council and government levelling up funding.

What league with the team play in?

When Bury F C was expelled from the English Football League in 2019, some fans going formed Bury AFC.

That club now plays in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League, the ninth tier of the English football pyramid and they staged their home games a few miles down the road from Gigg Lane at Stainton Park in Radcliffe. The newly merged Bury Football Club will therefore play in that same North West Counties Premier League.

From speaking to Bury AFC fans, it is clear that many of them have enjoyed the experience of playing Non-League football. Steve, a Bury AFC Member, told us: "AFC has been great for us and given fans some amazing experiences, including a memorable trip to the Isle of Man."

@theawayfans @OfficialBuryAFC had 600+ away fans travel to the Isle of Man at the weekend for a @nwcfl fixture. Fantastic for this level but not totally unexpected from the Bury fans 👏🏻

— BB4 SHAKER (@RossendaleWhit1) April 19, 2023

Another added: "It's time to go home. AFC kept me passionate about football when it had vanished. The memory of us winning the league last season will stay with me forever. I can't wait to return to Gigg Lane."

Danny told us: "I have seen Bury playing in the Football League for 30 years but the Non-League experience has been great so far. It will be even better at Gigg Lane."

A statement on the Bury Football Club Society website reads:

"Bury Football Club Supporters Society would like to thank all fans who voted on the future of your club. A fan owned club is nothing without its loyal fans, you are all valued and have a part to play.

"Under Section 111 of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 this resolution must be passed by not less than two thirds of those members present and voting at the meeting (whether in person or by proxy), and must be confirmed by a further Special Resolution at a second general meeting."

Read more: 2nd PROPOSED AMALGAMATION VOTE RESULT – Bury FC Supporters' Society (buryfcss.co.uk)

A further statement on the Bury AFC website added: 

"The motion to adopt of the Gigg Lane Stadium as the football club’s home playing venue was approved by 97% of the vote. 1116 were in favour, 34 against and 9 abstentions.

"The motion to adopt Bury Football Club as the playing name was approved by 92% of the vote. 1046 were in favour, 95 against and 24 abstentions. The Resolution that the Society and Bury Football Club Supporters’ Society Limited shall be amalgamated pursuant to section 109 of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 was approved by 97% of the vote. 1109 were in favour, 35 against and 15 abstentions."

Read more: General Meeting Vote Results – Bury AFC

Best of luck to everyone at the newly merged club. It promises to be a very interesting season in the North West Counties.