FA Cup: Heartbreak for Bury FC

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Harborough Town 1 - 0 Bury FC

It was heartbreak for fans of Bury in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Many of their fans will be glad to just have a team to support now after all their problems. 

Harborough Town 1 - 0 Bury FC - 1

It was reported that 600 away fans travelled down from Bury. They travelled with their tinfoil FA Cup trophies, There was a flag of sheer defiance that stated: "Shook by anger, we shed many tears, they tried to destroy us, we are still here."

These fans travelled to Harborough full of hope as they remained unbeaten in the North West Counties and believed they could reach the FA Cup proper for the first time since their expulsion from the EFL in 2019.

Those have been a long five years. The first two empty as the pandemic stalled the launch of the phoenix club Bury AFC. However, their return to Gigg Lane last season was a sign that happy times were returning. Even if it might take a few years for the club to return to the English Football League.

FA Cup: 2024/2025 season (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)

How the action unfolded in this match and what happens next

Ben Stephens scored the only goal of the game, a penalty disputed by Bury who were aggrieved not to be awarded one of their own as they rallied towards the end.

Harborough are now in the first round for the first time in their history and will face Tonbridge. Perhaps, not the glamour tie they hoped but that represents an opportunity to progress even further.

For Bury, their 600 fans returned north as they retrained their focus once again on the long climb through the tiers of English football.

A closer look at the future

Following that first season back at Gigg Lane, the stadium has been spruced up again. It is licensed to open to its full 12,500 capacity, and a new 3G pitch has made it a community hub. One Bury FC told us: "Even when we were in League One, things never felt this positive. I have never seen so many young people following the club."

For Harborough, a good cup run can do wonders for a club. For now, it will make local people aware that the club exists. Two more wins this season in the competition and they could have a trip to Old Trafford or Anfield. This could mean new fans. New fans means new sponsorship money. Spend that wisely and the club will be transformed. 

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