Wear your old shirt day, then and now.

Remember 20 years ago?

Like it was yesterday for those of us who were there. Gary Kelly v Lee Bracey for the goalkeepers jersey, Mark Carter and David Johnson doing the master and apprentice role, Chris Lucketti and Tony Rigby in their pomp and the final memorable Saturday when the Shakers won 3-0 and everyone in the ground was listening to Radio Manchester commentating on Scunthorpe v Darlington, the result of which would either confirm promotion or condemn the Shakers to ply off agony once again.

When you look at the footage of the final few seconds with everyone milling about on the pitch awaiting the final whistle from Glanford park, the eagle eyed observer will notice a strange phenomenon. The Shakers fans certainly aren't wearing a uniform colour of shirt, even though the replica kit market was at least 10 years into it's high priced swing by then.

The reason can be laid firmly at the door of WWYATS? In an attempt to liven up the last day of the season we had declared it 'wear your old shirt day' and the fanbase had embraced the concept. The Bury Times had given the idea some print inches and as over 5000 gathered for the final fixture shirts of every vintage were on display much to the pleasure of the team knocking out fanzines for 50p on the forecourt.

It certainly relieved the tension of the final day, spotting the Hobbot shadow stripe from 83/4, looking for a spray breaker, wondering if anyone had the lucky Blue Umbro and comparing the offerings home and away from the Ribero/Macphersons years. One of my favourite memories of that day was the TV gantry stringing up a washing line with about half a dozen different shirts pegged up.

A few years later we did it again, early on in the season as a nod to the fact that by early September the current season's kits hadn't yet arrived in a container from somewhere in Aisa. Some benefit did come from it, as we collected unwanted kits that were boxed up and sent out to India where they were donated to a football league for kids in Goa.

So, ever the old nostalgic I wonder could we do it again? We have another 20 seasons of kits to go at. I reckon between 50 and 60 shirts to add to the mix. Some shirts that have gone down in Shakers history; the Purple and Green years, the Golden birthdays shirt, Choccy and Blue numbers, some black ones, some blue ones, a grey one, a silver one not to mention 2 decades of home shirts.

Lets do it, the final home game on Sunday May 8th v Southend 12.30 kick off will be a sunny spring lunchtime. Lets celebrate the season, 20 years since that amazing promotion day and look back on some sartorial history. I'll be wearing my old shirt, which one will you choose?

#UTS

Talking about a Revolution

Like all Bury fans I breathed a sigh of relief at the end of May when the white smoke emerged from the Cistine chapel (or at least Mike the groundsman's storeroom) to confirm the end of the protracted take over negotiations and signal relief from the financial woes of the last few months.
The Gigg Lane PR machine has been in overdrive ever since promising a smarter corporate image, an overhaul of facilities and most refreshingly a much needed simplification of the pricing structure, a move which has been met with a positive response from supporters, especially as it shows a degree of understanding of where 3rd and 4th tier football should be realistically pricing itself.

The new board seem happy to enter into dialogue with interested parties and present their views of what they've found so far which is always a good sign, but there are certain elements of the last few weeks which have felt clunky at best. The branding of the 'revolution' with the inundation of posters, hashtags and clever marketing, #BuryareBack made me wonder as, thankfully down to the actions of the new owners, we hadn't been anywhere as far as I can see (even though it was mighty close). The lack of photographic evidence of who the new regime were, whilst a minor detail, made Shakers nervous, as does the perceived lack of movement on the 'players in' side of the ledger. We were promised 'exciting news' almost straight away but since then KB, like a miserable party spoiling uncle turning down our music, poured cold water on expectations warning not to expect too much, and I fear "We are 5 weeks behind" will become this years banker on Blackwell Bingo as he trots out a favoured sound byte or two.

Having had an anxious end of the season, and a start to the close season offering days at a time with a months worth of information in an afternoon, all Shakers fans need now is a period of consolidation where everyone does their bit and puts together a club we can be proud of on August 3rd, an excitement peaking at news of a new signing we've heard of or a tantalising peak at a new kit .
As I write signs are positive, fan concerns over who may be lurking on the periphery of the take over were quickly addressed, pre season has an interesting feel to it with some old (Radcliffe Boro), some new (Cornish tour) and a game v European opposition at Gigg giving the faithful something to look forward to. New sponsors are getting on board and the new guard seem to know what they should be giving them, and are working to put that in place.

My own take on the events of recent weeks is that Bury FC are obviously under very new management, new management who obviously want the best for the club and seem well placed to make that happen. The danger with any 'revolution' is that there are almost always casualties, and the possible collatoral damage of this revolution will be some of the things that make Bury FC the entertaining, infuriating but always ever present part of our lives that it has been. The club has been around for almost 130 years, not everything it has done has been wrong, out dated and needs dumping in a skip at the reception door.
Thank you massively to the board for saving our club. As fans we need to gratefully acknowledge the financial implications taken on our behalf, respectfully can we ask you to acknowledge that you have implications towards us also, in guiding something we hold extremely precious. There will be times when emotions are fraught, decisions questioned, motives doubted and minutiae scrutinised but please remember its only because we care.

Up the Shakers

Leagues Apart

So we head into the summer still as desperate for news as we were 6 weeks ago, still hoping for the best yet knowing that optimism rarely goes hand in hand with the usual role of the Shakers fan.

The Bury skipper Steven Schumacher has now been removed from the wage bill in the same manner that Joe Skarz was, the young lads have been pruned away and the only pre season confirmed so far is the annual trip to Radcliffe. Never has my Dad's comment "bring your boots, you'll get a game" felt more accurate.

During the 2002 SOS campaign Bury received a huge amount of support from the fans at Brighton who had campaigned to save their own club following the loss of the Goldstone ground. When Bury played B&HA at the Withdean the team paraded a thank you banner, and Albion's poet in residence - Attila the Stockbroker - produced this poem in support of the Shakers.

It remains as relevant today as it did then. The only difference is that Brighton, and their superb supporters, were so close to making it back to the top flight and have their own stadium once again. A reminder of what can be achieved and that bad times don't have to last forever.

 LEAGUES APART

A few clubs earn the Royal Mint.
Most live beyond their means.
And now they tell us Wimbledon
is part of Milton Keynes!

The rich elite don’t care about
a Womble or a Shaker -
The only thing they want to shake
is Murdoch’s money maker.

It’s market forces, they will say.
Don’t care if your club dies.
There’s not one crust to come your way:
We’ve eaten all the pies.

The game’s awash with corporate cash:
besmirched by corporate greed
But, we, the fans through thick and thin
will help out those in need.

They’ll never bury Bury,
Nor the grass roots of our game.
And those who stitched up Wimbledon
should bow their heads in shame.

And now your team is threatened too.
Let’s find a new solution.
So hear this, Chelsea & Man U -
 We want redistribution!

Attila the Stockbroker - March 16th 2002

Reproduced with thanks.

An hour with Joe Skarz

One of the regular accusations from the 21^st century football fan is that the players don’t care, and that they don’t feel it like we do. The poor unfortunates with the life sentence supporting the club, ten, twenty, thirty plus years of service; we feel it, we live it, they just dip in and out.

This week I had the pleasure of spending an hour with Joe Skarz, virtually ever present at left back for the past three seasons and another victim of the cash flow problems that have taken over the Shakers season.

We started by talking through events that had led up to his move away from Gigg on deadline day. Joe explained that he had had discussions with Stevenage but as there was no manager in place, and a long distance away. He didn’t fancy such a long distance move and wanted to stay at the club to try to salvage the season. However word had gone around and Rotherham tested the water and the move came about to get him off the wage bill.

Talking to Joe you got a sense of the frustration with how the season has gone at Bury FC. “Pre season was really good, everyone was settled and we were going into it in a really positive mood wanting to improve on what we did last year. The side was full of plenty of lads with things to prove; Marshy, Lenny and others. We played Bradford and battered them, then Richie left and it hit the lads really hard. We’d had every day with him over pre season and Shirty and Futch got thrown in at the deep end.”

The early season obviously still grates on Joe; “we had no luck at all, Notts County was a perfect example, it was the most one sided game I ever played in but they scored in first and last minutes and we lost 2-0. Unfortunately the run of 8 games set in and it felt like a really long time, runs like that feel like a long time.” (I agreed it felt equally as long from our perspective too.)

The arrival of Kevin Blackwell changed the focus of the club, Joe explained:

“the run of 8 games showed something wasn’t working and the gaffer tried to change it. He knew what he wanted and brought in some more experienced players who’d been there and done it a bit. Dom Poleon did really well, Tom Soares was a great signing, Matt Docherty is now in the Wolves team but everything we tried to do, something else popped up to stop us. The Bournemouth game was a killer, we’d gone on a run and the last minute goal that saved Eddie Howe’s record for the draw stopped us from getting out of the bottom four, and from then there was always another hurdle that stopped us doing it. There was always something.”

I really felt for Joe, and the lads, when he tried to express his thoughts on the latter stages of the season “I know some people will be angry at what’s gone on, but he did his best with what he could do. Tom Soares did everything he could to help us out. It feels like the club fought so hard to get out of league 2 and it’s just been thrown away.”

I moved Joe onto his arrival at Gigg Lane, Shrewsbury had shown an interest and a few other clubs but once he’d met Alan Knill and heard what he wanted to do he wanted to play for him. 

“He’s the best manager I’ve played for in my career so far. He got my career going again, I was low in confidence and my career was going downhill, but he picked me up and got it going again. Everything he had us set up to do was right, and worked. Some good lads brought in, people with things to prove and the loan lads and the experienced core of Lowey, Sodje, Sweens and Schuey. Everything about it was enjoyable, we started slowly and were mid table but from November on we were playing teams off the park, passing them to death, especially away. I enjoyed every minute of the first two years, it couldn’t have been more perfect really.”

Alan Knill’s departure was obviously a blow and I was curious how it had impacted on the team. “I was really sad, he’d brought me and many of the lads in and first training afterwards was a shambles with Sodje, Schuey and Lowey. We realised we’d need someone in charge quick and we’d been told to expect to see Iain Dowey the following morning. But the experienced lads suggested we needed some continuity and it’d be better if Richie (Barker) did it til the end of the season keeping it going and just tinkering with a few things.”

Joe obviously took as much pleasure from the final 8 games as we all did and was animated as he described the process of how the momentum built from Nicky Ajose’s first minute goal v Oxford “I’ve never heard Gigg Lane so loud, it was like a release and we just kept winning, the lads were flying out of the traps Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday for 3 weeks we just kept winning, suddenly we were at Chesterfield and it was my best day in Football.”

For some of the Shakers I mentioned at the beginning, this was their first season supporting Bury where something positive came from it, for others it had been 14 years since the champion team of Lucketti, Butler, Johnson and Carter so that emotion was equally shared.

The way the side that year played and their togetherness is a marked contrast from the revolving door of players this year. Joe waxed lyrical about his friend Tom Lees and the part he played in that side

“He’s the best player I’ve played with for sure, the best with everything he had. We travelled in together every day for a season and I see him regularly still for something to eat and a catch up.  Look at him now, 150 league games for Leeds by 22 and England U21 international. He’d win games for us on his own, popping up with a header, just class. I’ve played with a few though, Peter Sweeney can manoeuvre his way out of a situation no one else can and then pick you out on the other wing with a 70 yard pass, Schuey, Jonah (Mike Jones), Nicky, Lowey were all class players. If we’d been able to have kept all those players we’d have gone up again.”

The delight in talking about this side and the players had us both talking with beaming smiles reminiscing. “The whole side went out after, you sometimes get players wanting to do their own thing but everyone was there, celebrating together.”

Joe returned to the managers he’s worked for at Bury, I asked him about the differences between them all.

“Alan Knill was a quiet guy, a lot calmer, got things set up right and if you didn’t follow it through he’d just tell you he was disappointed, you don’t need a DVD to know if you’ve made a mistake. He had Brassy who would be the one to give out the bollockings or pick up everybodies spirits if we’d lost, then Knilly would come down and it was time to work again.

Richie Barker was similar to Knilly, quite calm training was really good and he makes it enjoyable. At times you could tell it was his first job sometimes things would get on top of him, especially when we went on that run (after Christmas) and people getting on his back, but I think he learned a lot from it and made him a stronger manager and person. He lets you go out and enjoy yourself on the pitch.

Under Kevin (Blackwell); one to one when you talk to him he’s so knowledgeable and he likes high tempo training and wants you to work really hard, like I do. He’s been at big clubs and has high expectations which he’s had to pull back through no fault of his own with circumstances this year, he came in and decided we weren’t fit enough and changed the training. I can tell you this, Bury aren’t going down because they weren’t fit or training hard.”

I suggested that the training may have led to some of the injuries which have plagued the season, Joe was honest “some people need different things, it did me no harm but others may need a rest, it may do, who knows?” Later we mused if Kevin’s high standards would allow him to manage in league two, and agreed that it was going to be interesting to see what happened next.”

I suggested he was still a front runner for player of the season, Joe laughed and told me “Schuey is player of the season, 10 goals from midfield in a struggling side is great, a top side would take that, it’s just a shame we could never get a striker in form to go with him and knock in the chances we creating. We drew too many we might as well win one lose one than all those draws, conceded as many as last year but couldn’t score enough.”

Joe’s memories from Gigg are all positive; “from the day I joined to the day I left its all positive. There’s been some downers obviously, losing home and away at Rochdale, that’s not good getting some Twitter abuse etc but that’s part of it taking the lows and the highs, but then you balance that with what happened at Chesterfield I don’t think anything will beat that, the way it happened, and staying up the next year, first day at Huddersfield showing we were ready for league one was brilliant. The whole three years I’ve not a missed a game through injury, just one suspended, never missed a day training, its just been a great experience for me. Travelling over, some of those car shares with Leesy, then Giles (Coke), Nathan (Clarke), Grella. We had a spell of tyre blow outs and could never change them, but good laughs too.”

Reflecting on the year he commented “I just hope Bury can come back stronger, as long as the club is still there that’s the most important thing. It’s been a tough year but as long as the club survives is the main thing, doing it somehow without stretching themselves. Yes it’s league two but it’s still a good league with a few decent grounds. The fans have been always been brilliant with me, when I left I got lots of lovely messages on twitter and wishing me well and sending their thanks, really touching. Its really sad to leave but I’ve really enjoyed it.”

As we went our separate ways on the car park I reflected on our hour, chatting about a club that we both love from different perspectives. Mine from the fan angle of hopes and dreams for my team, Joe’s from the impact on his career, lifelong friendships made and personal development.  Thanks to Joe for his time in chatting to me, and for his service to the club especially as part of that special 2010/11 team.

Good luck, come back soon.

What's so bad about league two?

In HG Wells War of the Worlds the Journalist character, who narrates the story, meets up with a young soldier, hiding away with the world at its lowest ebb and all hope lost. They share experiences before the artilleryman reveals his plan to restart human existence underground, asking the question 'what's so bad about living down there? It's not been so great up here if you want my opinion'.

This made me think of the recent events at Gigg, and posed a similar question, is league two such a bad place to be because for the last two seasons League one has been a  fairly dispiriting challenge.

There are plenty of local teams, Morecambe, Fleetwood, Accy, Dale, possibly Oldham depending on how the next few weeks pan out, all of whom may bring a reasonable number should they start ok. Slightly further afield the trip back to York is one to look forward to, Bradford home and away haven't been bad games in recent years and possibility of new grounds at Rotherham and Barnet to whet the appetite of the ticker make it a not wholly unappealing prospect.

In all probability the team that is going restart the Shakers adventure in the 'Brave New World' is going to look very different from the current one, so much nostalgia for the owners of the 2013 calendar to look forward to by October and November, and the prospects for whoever does the root and branch reform that has been promised to put us together a team that will be stable, vibrant and fit for purpose at a price that suits the position we will be in.

Having had a couple of seasons of poundings by championship rejects and wannabes, it might be nice to see my team winning again, maybe playing some nice stuff occasionally and not having to constantly explain why things are as bad as they appear to be. In the 'Brave New World' of League Two whoever is in charge might just be discussing how they have brought on a gem from non league and extolling the virtues of Craig Jones's wonderful crosses.

Who knows? With just a handful of men, maybe we can start all over again. Here's hoping.

Up the Shakers.

We need to talk about Kevin

Firstly, I should acknowledge the lack of posts over the last month as the Good Ship Shaker listed from one crisis to the next. I'll be honest, I'm sick of talking about this season and wish it was due to end tomorrow, not the end of next month. Like many Shakers I've long since resigned myself to our fate and recognise that whatever happens results wise between now and then is only going to be the fore runner to a summer that offers as yet uncertain dramas.

Another reason for my lack of vocal musings on the situation is a reluctance to join in with the negativity that seems to be enveloping Bury FC like a dementor's gaze (one for the Harry Potter fans out there) and is sucking away the life blood of the club. Having said that I have been pondering this post for a couple of weeks, during which my respect for our manager fell to new, and I thought, previously unreachable depths.

I have already discussed the handling of some of the younger players in the new years revolution post, but since that was published it would appear that Kevin Blackwell is doing his best to rip the heart out of everything that Bury FC stands for. I cannot understand what goes through the man's head any more, when he comes out with statements about how much players earn, how the entire club needs restructuring, how no one has told him about what is happening, signing on players to dismiss them the next day paints the worst possible picture of our club, and he is allowed to do it over and over again. It's easy to buy into the attitude that the club is tinpot, if every message from the manager says this is case.

Bury FC over the last few years has been seen as a supportive place where good young players come, develop and move on in the company of a few experienced pros. Take away the manner of departure from Alan Knill and Richie Barker's stewardship and underneath was a culture of improvement and guidance where good youngsters were encouraged. Surely this has now been consigned to the dustbin with the treatment of the 2012/13 vintage, who having been welcomed in July by one manager were just as quickly told they were unwanted and substandard by the next in September. No nurturing, no development, no plans for improvement, just a quick undignified exit.

The tactics have been baffling, Blackwell's stubborn refusal to fill the bench, to use players who were able to fill the roles required and use that point to try to reinforce his own position and score points has made turning up for games a misery. I salute those supporters who travel long distances paying good money in difficult times. I once heard a quote that said the opposite of love isn't hate, because hate still shows an attachment. The real opposite of love is indifference, and I fear that under the current regime many Shakers fans are becoming indifferent to what is going on, in the hope that this will ease the pain. I saw several messages following the announcement of the postponement of the recent Scunthorpe game along the lines of 'thank Goodness, couldn't be bothered' etc showing a worrying lack of enthusiasm for the club just now.
I don't think that this is just the fact that relegation is looming, but a real sense of disappointment with how everything seems to be rapidly unraveling after several years of hard work to get the club back on a stable footing

I recognise the financial constraints can't be easy to work under and it must be frustrating, but to show that frustration over and over, and blame everyone but yourself is putting an unmovable wedge between the manager and supporters. Some (but a dwindling number I observe) applaud KB's honesty in his media work in identifying the situation he is working under. What I resent is the dishonesty liberally sprinkled through his comments. The painting of himself in a better light than has ever been the case (we were 14 points adrift when I came in etc) and the constant down grading of the club surely wouldn't be accepted anywhere else and, if he has been challenged about it and briefed about how to handle such questions, a blatant disregard for the club who's family, nurturing environment is being rapidly destroyed.

With hindsight, maybe a manager who was prepared to buy into the club's ethos would've been a better idea than one so keen on his own reputation and stats (real or believed). One who recognised that a long serving player may have had a few final cameos to make, that a young player may have stepped up to make a bid for a regular spot or one who wasn't going to cause years of damage to the whole collective being that is Bury FC.

It's now over ten years since we had to Save our Shakers. This time we need to save the soul of the club before everything that makes our little club special disappears.

Mid winter break, the way forward?

It was almost a relief to return to Gigg Lane on Saturday, not just for the very welcome 3 points and the little trip out of the relegation zone for the first time in months, but the actual opportunity to take in a home game, something we'd been unable to do for a full month.

The weather had imposed a very continental full on mid winter break on the majority of the Shakers faithful, and had caused me to reflect on would this be a sensible move going forward, especially in the lower leagues. Of course there are many pros and cons but this season has thrown up in stark reality how the weather can impact on a club, causing damage to revenue streams and imposing unforeseen costs - from policing and away travel, to sponsors, catering and programmes.

The British weather is inconsistent, but a mid winter break in England from 3rd Round FA Cup day on January's first Saturday through to the 4th Round on it's last weekend could be a sensible window The opportunity to plan budgets knowing where their expenditure would be in the most unpredictable of months would surely be a welcome benefit? Opponents suggest that the break disrupts form and slams the brakes onto much needed momentum, the clubs in continental Europe who have had a scheduled break for years view their season in two distinct parts - the Germans even have a name for it, Herbstmeister is the Winter Champion in their leagues, the team top of the league at the onset of the winter break, and are able to plan for it. As a Shakers fan I think the opportunity to reverse momentum and catch our collective breaths has been a positive this January.

Another bonus of a winter break would be to allow the wheeling and dealing of the transfer window to go on without it affecting the onfield action. I remember arriving at Lincoln just prior to David Nugent's sale to Preston. The imminent sale was common knowledge and to see him playing, knowing the importance of the transfer money to the Shakers finances, was like watching someone juggle a priceless Ming vase, every tackle and challenge was a heart stopper.

Mid winter training is always a problem, especially at Gigg. Lower Gigg and Goshen are often under water or frozen solid, there are only so many favours that can be called in to share facilities in Carrington by one or the other of our money bag big city neighbours, and it can't be pleasant to be rubbing shoulders with the proletariat at Trafford Centre's Soccer Dome. Last season the club were able to hurriedly arrange a warm weather training camp and match in Gibraltar with our scheduled opponents still in the FA Cup, a planned midwinter break would allow such plans to be made and budgetted for at the start of the year.

The transfer merry go round has been much more active at Gigg Lane this year than in many previous seasons. It was like the start of the season again on Saturday as we got used to a redesigned defense, and returning favourites settling back in. Obviously some of the Shakers hand was forced by the transfer embargo but even the away games played in January featured markedly different personnel to Saturdays side. The loanees and signed on trialists gelled immediately and produced a superb battling win, surely a midwinter lay off would have given a more comfortable trial window and allow the manager to make a decision without the pressing need to select a side for Saturday hanging over him.

The traditionalist in me loves the cold deep winter matches, but the risk factor of setting off to those away games (especially in a national 3rd division, but that's another discussion) when the almost certain outcome is that you'll get a call at 11am saying it's off is surely too much for cash strapped fans, for whom no one gets a refund from the hosting club. I remember several trips to Walsall in the 90's when games were called off late, and on one famous occasion was called off on the radio incorrectly, and then reinstated, but not before many Shakers had turned around and were heading home.

There are as many arguments against the Mid Winter break as there are for it. However events at Gigg Lane this January suggest that the lower down the divisions you look, there are less reasons why a January 3 week shut down might not be the way forward.

Les Miserables? They've got nothing on us.

Occasionally our hardy band of contributors would turn to adapting the lyrics of popular tunes in the feature 'Gigg Lane Rock Lyrics'. Included in these were 'Gigg Oddity', 'A Town called Bolton' and a Beatles inspired tune called 'Tony Rigby'.

As the musical Les Miserables hits the big screen this weekend, it seemed appropriate to mix an old favourite with latest events and borrow the best tune from that show.

(If you don't know the song, here's a link to the original http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwM8fSDsgLI )

Do you hear the Shakers sing?

(With apologies to Claude- Michael Schoenberg)

FOLK OF GIGG

Do you hear the Shakers sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who’ve been asked for cash again!

When the sinking of your heart

Echoes the cemmy ender’s drum

There is a crisis about to start

When tomorrow comes!

BOARD

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will buy next season's ticket now?

Beyond the embargo

Is there a player you long to see?

Then join in the fight

That will give us some funds for a free!

ALL

Do you hear the Kevin sing?

Singing a song of angry bloke?

It is the music the only guy

Who didn't know we're broke!

When the bleating of his voice

Tells you the same stuff every time.

There’d be a season about to start

If the swear box was full.

KEVIN

Will you give all you can give

So that my win rate may advance,

We were 14 points adrift you know

Who cares about the facts?

We can’t fill a bench

But the fault lies with everyone else.

ALL

Do you hear the Shakers sing?

Singing the songs we always will?

It is the music of a people

Who love Lucketti, Farrell and Hill.

When the beating of your heart

stirs as you walk up Manny Road

There is a game that's about to start

When a matchday comes!

Up the Shakers

New Years Revolution

140 Characters is not much when you want to have a moan is it? However my tweet from New Years Day evening summed it up quite succinctly for once I felt:
[Excuse the lack of punctuation] "Dismal times at Gigg Lane Sick of excuses from manager blaming everyone but himself & hoping for a leader to inspire my club"
As those of you who were present for the game v Tranmere on New Years Day there was much to give credit for from the inexperienced Shakers, who inevitably conceded just once and slid to another dispiriting defeat, however the growing mood of gloom and disenchantment seems to be taking over the entire club and one wonders what can be done to stop a slide back to the basement and a return to the misery of the real 4th division.

In my eyes there are several reasons for the situation.

On the playing front Richie Barker had had a decent first full season in charge and had added to the squad with development and nurturing in mind to coax some above potential performances from the kids he'd brought in. Loans have become the way forward for teams at all levels and I'm sure would have supplemented the squad as the early months progressed. We all know what happened in early August and RB's decision was inevitable, even if his timing as bad as his predecessor's.
The impact on the players was more marked this time around. When Knill left they banded together to ride out the crisis to a glorious conclusion, the 8 games remaining had a clear purpose - to end what we started, all for one and one for all etc. However the departure of Barker must have left them with a horrible feeling of deja vu just 15 months on and a full season of uncertainty to aim at.

In the boardroom there was a dual problem, the loss of Mark Catlin was a big blow. He spoke the fans language, knew what needed saying and how to say it. Shakers supporters liked and trusted him and he felt like a big part of the previous 2 year progression. Without him the conduit of information disappeared just when we needed it most. Secondly the decision to give Peter Shirtliff an extended run in charge backfired spectacularly as the team licked it's wounds and retreated, leaderless to the bottom of the table.

On the pitch, as I mentioned above, the team was flat and unable to raise itself. Several players went missing and some have yet to return to anything like the displays they are capable of. Young lads with 2 or 3 seasons experience were now to be leading the side. Recruitment of new players caused occasional sparks of life but little more, returning players raised more questions about wages than contribution, loanees were sometimes inspired, more often shots in the dark.

The appointment of Kevin Blackwell appeared to have steadied the listing ship. A first victory, a run of results to raise us from last place to the dizzy heights of 3rd bottom indicated progress before the PFA loan/ transfer embargo ripped morale to pieces once again. The weather and poor crowds had brought about short term financial problems yet the manager has chosen to use this as a reason to create a them v us mentality within the club, his constant whining about 'you'd better ask them', 'nobody told me' (as if the board can plan the weather) and cursing through post match interviews sounds too much like a man preparing his exit strategy with reputation intact than a motivational tool.

Speaking of motivation, the players brought in by RB needing an arm around and a bit of gentle persuasion were dealt the iron blow of 'mistakes were made preseason', 'I can't even fill a bench' and the latest gem 'what you'd get for their wage wouldn't buy a hat'. Any chance of the young lads getting a game and progressing were torn to pieces as he made clear his views that they wouldn't play under him and it's all someone elses fault.

So where does my hoped for 'New Years Revolution' come from?

Ideally it will come from within. The team need to develop a siege mentality and a few seniors step up, just like they did during the final throws of promotion. They need to become a unit (which is tough when half the team is made of loanees). I would love to see Steve Schumacher, Andy Bishop & Efe Sodje take the lead in this, just like Ryan Lowe did.

I'd love to see the manager backing this action and supporting it, and recognising that sometimes motivation can happen in positive ways rather than simply telling someone they're crap. Moaning through press conferences isn't inspirational for supporters who deserve better. Hopefully the 'them v us' message being portrayed is just a clever way of trying to stimulate some dressing room cohesion, who knows?

The fans have done their bit, dipping into pockets once again to buy into the emergency funding offers, so keep us in the loop. Let us know how it's going, are we close to paying it off and getting back to normal or are we lurching into another financial crisis?
We are going to have to pull together once again. A revolution in thinking at Gigg Lane means getting off the backs of the young kids who have carried the team to where it currently lies. I know that frustration is at simmering point and the expectation of disappointment seems to have replaced the anticipation of hope, however crucifying every mistake will not save the season, no matter how regularly they happen or damaging it is.

Generating some atmosphere in the ground also needs a revolution in thinking, can we please put out own feelings aside and shut the Manchester road end, put visitors in the Cemmy and get closer to the away fans. The recent match v PNE had good banter and increased volume levels to way above the recent norm despite the smaller crowd. Surely this would help the players (both established and loanee) and may encourage the occasional visitor to return to the ground?

Any or all of these requires some leadership. It may salvage the season, it may not. But as even the most committed begin to question their sanity once again it must be time for something to happen? Come on Bury, let's not end the season wishing someone had tried something.

Please Bury FC - Make our new year resolution be to start the revolution. Up the Shakers.

Grounds for improvement?

As Christmas time is a time for reflection (and as this season has been so toe-curlingly awful so far) I often find myself drifting off, thinking back to days gone by. New books delivered by Santa meant a bit of re-organisation of the shelving, during this task I was waylaid by my elderly copy of Simon Inglis's Football Grounds of Britain (my edition dated 1996) and as I flicked through more and more I was transported back by the excellent descriptions of grounds and the pictures of the lost grounds I visited in my formative years of supporting the Shakers.

Many games jumped out of the pictures, Rotherham's Millmoor ground, scene of Baichung Bhutia's fine goal - maybe his best moment in a Bury shirt - flashed by, I regressed further to David Lee's 1990(?) team when I was lucky to escape on the train with my life as some local hoolie wannabees spotted me as they got off a couple of stops before my return to college. Millmoor was a tidy ground with a narrow alley at the back of the away end by a scrap yard. It had a big social club (the Tivoli) on the front that sold stones or wards bitter and was probably the warmest place on the ground. Millmoor was a lucky ground in recent times, I don't remember losing too many there and it was generally a good trip.

Wigan's Springfield Park fell open before me, an unlovable bowl with a grassy away end, and a small stand plonked on the terracing down one side. I recall laying out on my flag sunbathing during one end of season game, and slithering down it celebrating goals during wet Tuesday nights in the middle of winter. It was rarely a pleasure to visit Springfield Park with its big empty wide open spaces and big fence, strangely when they moved to the JJB Stadium it remained difficult but I do happily recall a Steve Redmond header salvaging a Boxing Day point a few years ago.

Simon Inglis describes Scunthorpe and Walsall as 'tin shacks' as he registers his dismay at the modernisation of grounds 'off the shelf'. The Walsall chapter had me waxing nostalgic as I returned to Fellows Park, one of my first away visits on the coach. Fellows Park is a supermarket now but was surrounded by decent pubs and had a good chippy and was a club in the heart of its community, unlike its replacement down by the motorway which isn't exactly supporting local business, and like many pubs and shops left behind those excellent services struggled once the clubs moved away.

I enjoyed skimming through Oxford's manor ground chapter, calling in at David Adekola's hat trick day at Scarborough (which deserves a blog entry all of it's own) and recalling visits to Leeds Road Huddersfield, Northampton's county ground, Roker Park and Stoke's Victoria ground where Reginald T Roofer once scored twice to stun the locals.

Of course I paused to re read the most read entry of all. Inglis perceptively describes Gigg Lane as 'the corner shop we all desperately want someone else to fraternise to ensure its survival'. This certainly continues and the ground he presents to his readers is more or less still the Gigg we know and love. I got to thinking about how supporters of other teams view Gigg? Would they mourn it's passing if the club upped sticks to a new fancy purpose built multi use community stadium?

I suppose the away games and grounds I remember are the ones where the best things happened for the Shakers, so by the same thinking the games I most want to forget at Gigg are where similar things happened for the opposition. I can think of (memorably) Swansea and Sunderland getting promoted at Gigg, also Walsall and their celebrating fans on the social club roof. Plymouth fans who were there probably recall fondly the 5-0 victory that cost Mike Walsh his job in September 1995 (I recall it as WWYATS? sponsored the game) but would they feel sad at the passing of our ground? I somehow doubt it.

The thing that struck me most during my nostalgic skim through Inglis's book was the ariel shots. Grounds are moving away from their communities, and heartlands. Those shots provide evidence of the evolution of the stadia and how their localities fit in around them (look at a picture of Goodison park if you don't believe me). Granted the new grounds are better appointed, more comfortable and fitted with all the fancy kit required to cover the game in the 21st century.

But are they an improvement? Not always in my book.

Do you ever have one of those days?

If you are amongst the 95 souls who follow me on twitter you'll be aware I'm not in good form.

I'm at a fairly low ebb with football, like many Shakers you could say I'm reeling from a combination of blows that would make, if not Sugar Ray Leonard but maybe Darren Bullock, very proud indeed.

It all started on Saturday, which was grim. Attendance wise it was grim, performance wise it was grim, Mum was bleating about her favourite wind up Andy Bishop, which darkened my mood and by the end of the game it was freezing and raining which meant it was a grim ride back over the pennines.
I sulked and planned a blog post which I quickly abandoned as too miserable and unnecessarily negative. I put it down to one of those days.

Sunday by mid afternoon was suddenly another one of those days. I felt like I'd stepped back in time 10 years. Transfer embargoes, financial peril, bucket collections and clamour for information screamed from the places where virtual shakers hang out. Had the curse of Brian Fenton's holidays had struck again (surely the answer is to confiscate the man's passport?) It's easy to say 'let the board deal with these situations' but when news is leaked out by the local paper, and fans have been so instrumental in the efforts to keep the club going not so long ago it's not surprising there is a panicked reaction. Particularly when it coincides with the quickest turn around in players I can remember.
Martin Dobson's promotion team used just 15 players (thanks James Bentley) yet I reckon KB has already signed more than that in his brief tenure at the top, I had already mused to myself it must be impacting on finances somewhere.
So I shared the information I had with the people who asked it, and went to bed with a heavy heart fearing the worst but hoping for the best from the official announcement as to what exactly was going on.

Monday's announcement allayed the fears somewhat, a quick PFA loan, being paid back in a month to ease the pain caused by called off games was the diagnosis of the embargo. The team set off to Southend mid morning with it's full complement of loanees still intact, and proceeded to get stuck in a huge accident on the M6. Having had 2 days from hell the club must've felt like someone was sticking pins into them.

Tuesday's cup tie and subsequent penalty shoot out loss was horribly depressing listening. The importance of the revenue from the cup overtook everyone, and the pressure was too severe. What made it worse was the juxtaposition of the Bradford v Arsenal shoot out happening virtually simultaneously, with the miraculous giant killing and £1 million pay out. For a brief moment it seemed like the Shakers had got it under control but the lead lasted a subliminal advertisers target time and the prize pot disappeared.

Surely Wednesday would be better?
Being awoken by my radio alarm singing the praise of Bradford's miracle by a lady DJ who doesn't quite have the terminology at her finger tips set me off in a bad mood. From twitter I gauged that several Shakers were having equally poor starts to their days. It wasn't until the FA's announcement of Bradford's reinstatement into the FA Cup that my blood began to boil again, the exact same circumstances had resulted in our explusion from the cup in 2006 yet City were off with a fine. The cynic in me can see that City were feeding at the FA's top table as recently as 1999, and as such still be part of that club. Only yesterday they got everyone talking about football in a positive way causing a huge cup upset. It wouldn't do to spoil the feel good by kicking them out would it?
Local radio tried to make a difference where there wasn't one - Bradford had spotted the problem and alerted the FA, other clubs had waited to be found out. Not true of course, Bury had flagged it up in 2006 as soon as the oversight was discovered but why let the truth hide a story. I hope Bury take legal advice based on what happened with this case, as there is now clear difference in treatment of the same case. It may solve the short term financial issues if the 2006 prize money for reaching round 3 is correctly reallocated (minus the fine of course).

So I remained cross, having had 5 days in a row. Let down by the governing body who had failed to keep to their own precedent, unsure about the financial stability of my beloved club, amazed at the never ceasing bad luck that seems to have enveloped the club like a blanket again and desperate for those players pulling on the shirt to feel it like we do. Maybe just once?

There was I at the Shay.

With the Shakers far, far away in deepest Essex or somewhere similar I took the chance to accept an invitation to take a nostalgic visit to the Shay, home of FC Halifax Town and the source of the name of this esteemed blog and it's paper based predecessor.

I wasn't there at the Shay on the Friday evening that named a Fanzine in May 1985, I was camping with my mates in the 10th Radcliffe Scouts at Giants Seat.I was aware of the importance of the game of course and had smuggled my trusty transistor radio to ensure I knew exactly what was going to be needed when my Dad picked me up to go to Gigg the following day. Frustratingly neither Radio Manchester or Piccadilly Radio told me anything other than 'Bury could gain promotion tomorrow...' and it wasn't until the following morning that I found out that Dobson's boys had been promoted without kicking a ball.

Many things had changed since my last visit to Halifax, the club had gone belly up, and been revived by swapping the FC to the front of the name (a useful trick, worth remembering), the old clubhouse had been wiped out and a fancy stand finally completed. The ground itself has been subtly renamed Shay Stadium, maybe since the New York Mets didn’t need the name anymore Calderdale council put in a cheeky bid and acquired the rights? The Shay hotel has been erased from the local pub scene but the art deco charm of the three pigeons and it’s excellent beers from the Ossett brewery remain firmly in place.

I didn’t visit the Shay until 1989, as a Yorkshire based student in my first year I got all the local grounds in that season. One of my firmest memories is the train backing out of Bradford station, an unexpected sensation. I stood in the chicken shed facing the main stand and took it all in, a familiar yet unfamiliar mix of souls whose lives, like mine were destined to follow their team in a roller coaster life sentence.

On the field at Shay stadium it was a bit scrappy, despite Droylsden’s relatively low position defences were on top. Ex Shakers Gaz Seddon and Jason Jarrett weren’t getting much of a look in, and when Seds finally tucked one in at the far stick he was flagged offside for the umpteenth time in the game. Seeing Seddon again sent me all nostalgic for a time when it wasn’t much fun being a Shaker, similarly Jarrett huffed and puffed and when he was eventually subbed off mid 2^nd half he threw a lovely diva strop and launched his jacket just wide of the dugout and just into the stand.

I didn’t visit the Shay as a Shakers fan until 92/3 season. It was the coldest I have ever been on a football ground. Colder than Ice Station Boundary Park, colder than Carlisle, colder than Boxing day when we cleared the pitch of snow for a game that never happened. Someone had daubed BFC on the tarmac mound that housed the away fans, and similarly painted our initials onto the pitch too. Danny Sonner scored to send the freezing hoards home happy but Halifax struggled all season and fell out of the league on the last day, watched by a huge crowd of ghoulish day trippers and programme collectors (all buying in multiple!!) A few days later, while selling the WWYATS? play off issue prior to the York game, one away fan told me ‘have some respect, the team from the Shay just went down.’ He mustn’t have got a programme.

Suddenly I was raised from my nostalgia, I’d been only 44 people off in the guess the crowd sweepstake amongst my friend’s regulars in the stand. Much tutting was going on and accusing glances came my way, fortunately someone a couple of rows in front was 22 closer. It wouldn’t do to win on your first attempt. Thankfully the game was looking up too. Seddon had been involved in a sublime move for the first goal, and a well taken 2^nd had given Town a cushion when Droylsden were woken from their slumbers with a training ground free kick. With 15 mins to go I was enjoying the game.

Non league football doesn’t suit the Shay, it’s a far better ground than that. The chicken shed stand was closed, but the now seated enclosure was ready and waiting for better times. This couldn’t be said for the away end where I’d last visited for a disastrous JPT game in the mid 2000’s when we had our keeper sent off and conceded a pan full. I was amazed to discover that the end had been condemned, the builders had used cheap materials that had rendered it unsafe, so there it stood with adverts hanging from it’s crush barriers, like a grumpy teacher reminding the class, ’if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly’.

A 3^rd Halifax goal prompted Droylsden to bring on a 3^rd ex Shaker. Joe O’Neill didn’t set any pulses racing during a loan spell at Gigg and he didn’t really on Saturday either. My mate was amazed at the amount of Shakers references I’d been able to get into one game, I was a bit concerned he’d laid it all on for me. The 4^th made it a bit one sided in the end but by that stage I was reminiscing again about visits past. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we can all ask where were you at the Shay again.

A welcome return in our eco system

Well it finally happened, season 2012/13 is up and running.

Just 3 days after the draw for the 1st round of the Cup and 3 managers on from the start of pre season, Bury have broken the seemingly never ending winless run that formed the worst start in living memory and has cut the Gigg Lane core support back to pre-Dobson era levels.
Having said all that the Blackwell era so far has been nicely positive, lots of enthusiasm and a return to siege mentality that the club thrives on in times of (so called) crisis. The influx of loanees has been a mostly improving feature yet on Tuesday it was the returning faces that cheered my evening.

Arriving into the ground at 7.30ish it was clear to see it was going to be a lonely old evening, Brian on the Mic was treating us to his early 90's playlist and it seemed slightly surreal to be singing 'Tony, Tony Tony, Tony Tony Rigby' along to Too Unlimited's original at a relegation 6 pointer in October. However as kick off approached there were some welcome returns. Efe Sodje was back in the team, complete with bandana, tights and gloves and (some of) the boys behnd me were back too.

When we chose our seats in the South Stand in 1997 we had no idea who we would sit near, but faces have become friends, some have come and gone, others now cheer on the lads from the grandstand in the sky sending celestial positive vibes. Others have joined our little posse of H Block protesters and the return of these guys cheered my evening on Tuesday. Always entertaining, these guy's views of the game are well worth a listen and the banter that accompanies it has educated my Mum over the last couple of years immensely, I'll leave it there. I heard Nick Hornby discussing his move from Highbury to the Emirates a few days ago, he said they had carefully moved their 'eco system' of matchday friends lock stock an barrell when they transplanted thier club, I would hope our similar network may stay together should we ever be uprooted.

Anyway, Tuesday evening was a lovely return to normal service. The boys behind discussed the chicken balti pie with an enthusiasm usually reserved for Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry dissecting the results of the technical challenge on GBBO. I had to agree that the morsel under discussion had a great flake, but the filling seemed stingy and it certainly had a soggy bottom. We moved onto our opponents, who would be in the 'your boys took a hell of a beating' rant should the first win happen tonight against Hartlepool? Jeff Stelling (obviously) topped the list, Captain Cook was suggested, H'Angus the monkey came the offer from the Bramhall Whites section of our area but beyond that we were stumped.

Of course there was a game going on but I was enjoying the evening too. The Shakers taking the lead raised spirits, and also started the checking of watches towards half, then full time. Worrall's glorious second was eclipsed by a wonder goal only seconds later leaving the slenderest of leads again. Efe was performing heroics, I asked the boys behind if removing his bandana would be a bookable offence? In a style that Kendo Nagasaki had to wear his mask, would Sodje be able to function if a Mick McManusesque opponent tried to remove his talisman? Suggestions came that the bandana covers the wires and robotics of a terminator style cyborg who would keep going even as his functions expired one by one, then the penalty came.

The law of Sod says that if it can happen, it'll happen to Bury (especially this season). However for once the stonewall pen was blasted against the bar, Efe resisted again in the dying seconds (as did the woodwork for a 2nd time) and even 5 minutes of injury time couldn't spoil the evening.

I set off home happy, equilibrium starting to return to the matchday experience.

In an SOS sandwich on the M62

Halfway home after yesterday's dismal defeat to Preston I could bear it no more. I rang radio manchester. I'd been listening to Jimmy Wagg and Steve Eyre talking about the game and wanted to have my say.

Not many did, from Gigg to pulling over at Saddleworth (despite a bit of a queue to get away from the ground) no one had wanted to moan, vent, criticise or (improbable as it would be yesterday) praise. Radio Sheffield's original phone in - Praise or Grumble - would have been white hot after a derby capitulation during, what feels like, a prolonged dither over the replacement manager. But no I was the only caller during my ride through reception distance.

I'd wanted to ask how we had the least potent strike force in living memory, I'd wanted to politely suggest that Peter Shirtliff return to his assistant job, let Futch return to playing at Halifax and talk about the ongoing issue of the day with why lower league football fans are feeling marginalised and out priced. I think I got about 50% of my aims in with Jimmy trying to steer me to who I wanted to be the next manager and getting Steve Eyre to put himself up for the Shakers job.

Such was the Shakers heavy presentation I found myself neatly segued between a resigned sounding manager, and a frustrated sounding Skarz, the O (for other) in an Shirtliff Other Skarz sequence. No one offered any way out, we all bemoaned our lack of firepower and Shirtliff acknowledged that surely now a recruitment process would begin - with the transfer kitty spent and the team next to bottom.

I returned home mostly vented of my frustration, only to then read the various twitter comments later in the evening which filled my frustrat-ometer back to over brimming. Captain Schumi blamed everyone but himself (and he's been dismal since Barker's departure) and Marcus Marshall happily retweeted every comment supporting his inclusion and denouncing the current management set up. I read with amazement that the club believe LJL and Cullen will get goals and replied to the clubline tweet saying I believe in Santa and the Tooth fairy and that strike combination has more goals in it than our current selection.

Much has happened since I last posted to this blog, but the events of yesterday have raised me from my commenting slumbers. Hopefully the start of the process towards a new manager will set the Shakers back on a positive course, otherwise it could be a long winter on the M62 talking to Jimmy.

Bradley Hardacre's Letter From Hungary

As some of you must be aware I've recently become the Blades' pioneer in Magyar land.

Just thought I'd drop you a line to let you know how our Empire is progressing out here.It's certainly an honour to be given the chance to help a people still emerging from decades under the Stalinist yoke.

And it was a blessed relief to be sent here and not Chendzu, with surveillance under the bog seat, pollution blocking out the sun and everyone spitting in the streets.And all those bloody bikes.I was a bit let down to see that the Danube isn't really blue at all, more a sort of grey colour, like the water in the bottom of the wife's mop bucket. Still, its a more graceful stretch of water than the Sheaf or the Wicker.

"Watch out for those Magyar mammaries" said McCabe as he waved me off at Doncaster Robin Hood airport. By 'eck, he wasn't joking. Brings back memories of Matron Braithwaite ..perhaps the only saving grace of those grim days at school. Bobby Davison's eyes have been on stalks ever since he arrived. Lets just say he hasn't lost his scoring knack yet...

Curative therapies are cetainly a bit of a Budapest speciality, as I found out on my first visit to the Gellert Turkish baths last week. Had my legs wrapped back over my shoulders and came out feeling as supple as Olga Corbutt. Takes a while to get used to being man-handled by a great moustachioed hairy Hungarian,but in a way it's not dissimilar to a visit to Caesar's Emporium back in Sheffield !

Thats all for now. Keep a look out for the Green Eagles!

WWYATS? Gold

The cartoons of WWYATS? were almost always of a very high standard. There was the unknown cartoonist (and then son of the unknown), and also Erik the Unwashed who is also known as DJAsh of message board fame.

This offering fom the great away days series recalls the trip to Brentford in 1997 when the championship was brought a step nearer with a 2-0 win.

Warren Flood

Warren Flood was one of the WWYATS? originals, there from issue 1 and his death last week has shocked everyone who knew him.

The tribute in yesterday's match programme on the FB page was written by Chris Bainbridge (formally the mad Hatchet man) and I and I hope he won't mind my reposting it here. I've also included Ivan Lewis's touching poem that was read at Warren's funeral.

Warren was such a lovely fellow. A true Bury supporter through and through, I often saw him at both home and away matches. Warren served on Bury Council with dedication and distinction for many years, he was always willing to give time and thought to the cause of helping others as a councillor and as a caseworker for Ivan Lewis MP for Bury South. He was passionate about so many things, from football and politics to real ale and prog rock, I'm sure he'd been to more Hawkwind gigs than most members of Hawkwind!He was one of the original WWYATS? Fanzine team, contributing regularly and selling it out in all weathers. His contributions reflected his local outlook, including pieces about Prestwich Heys and other Non League football, not every piece made it into an issue but he never complained and contributed regularly throughout the life of the fanzine.He was a character you could rely on to be there, in the pub, at an away game and always have a sensible conversation in that quiet but intellegent manner he had.> Yet despite the strength of his beliefs, Warren was infinitely patient and tolerant of other people's opinions. He was always ready to look at things from the point of view of others, and could converse and debate without ever losing his patience. In all the time I knew him I don't believe I ever heard him even raise his voice, with the notable exception of when he was urging on his beloved Shakers of course and when riled by the activities of the other lot who moved to Horwich!!!DJAsh tells a great story on the tribute thread to Warren on the message board, of Warren disinfecting the soles of his shoes after visits to Burnden Park or the Breezeblock, I don't know if they're true or a legend that has built up over time but that sums up Warrens passion and commitment to the cause.When he had a little more time in recent years Warren became a board member of Forever Bury, as with everything he did wanting to go the extra mile to support the causes he believed in, and his imput was always worthwhile and considered.Warren was knowledgable about so many subjects and his warmth and good humour shone through in everything he did and said. Everyone who knew him liked, admired and respected him, and we are all still shocked that he has been taken at such a young age. Farewell Warren - a real gentleman in every sense of the word, and a lovely man. He will be remembered fondly by all who were lucky enough to have known him.

More than a Nice Man

It is not the title that you held But the difference you made

Not the speeches you made But the lives that you changed

Not the sound of your voice But the fabric of your soul

Not the wealth that you chased But the justice you craved

Not the bad words we all attract But only good words we all really seek

Not the demands that you made But the love that you gave

Not the Armani suit But the great crested newt

Not new Labour or old But real Labour like your ale

Not City or United But Forever Bury of course

Not Blair or Clinton But Castro the great

Not Mirror or Guardian But Star, that’s Morning not Daily At least that’s what you told Cath! Today we shed a thousand tears One for every life that you touched

We will go on fighting for noble causes Be there for those you loved

And we will try to be kinder, gentler, more compassionate Less judgemental

You see you taught us more than we ever realised.

Be in peace Warren

A little taste of chocolate?

If all the signs are correct then BFC will be sporting different kits next season, the annual firesale is on in the clubshop and kits that were retailing around the forty pound mark are suddenly far cheaper.

This year this point of the season causes a little more of a pang of disappointment than most, as I feel that this year?s offerings from Surridge have been far superior to anything that the lads have worn for many a season, simple and brilliantly inderstated, and I fear that it will herald the end of the historic Chocolate and Sky Blue kit that has been so successful and, despite some contributions to the official moan board, hugely well received by the faithful.

Ever since ?Bury?s own? Gemma Atkinson appeared, wedged into a medium childs prototype on Soccer AM last summer, we couldn?t get enough of the kit, it was one of the fastest ever sellers of a new shirt and for much of the season was far more successful on the pitch too.

If this is the case that it?s days are numbered, I fear Surridge will be missing a trick to show they are aware of the club?s historical colours, appease the traditionalists and maybe even cash in on the impending 125th anniversary which will happen in the 2009-10 season. Evidence shows that the first two kits were the halves kit (marketed for many seasons by TOFFS), followed by a striped version. Both of these could keep the chocolate & blue theme running in the change kit, keeping us nicely historic up to the big anniversary.

The cynic in me wonders if they are slightly grumpy at having finished second in the scarf stakes with the success of Forever Bury?s simple choccy and blue bar scarf and that a potential change of colours would make these items obsolete. Hopefully that is just me being a cynic as I have been impressed with the efforts made by Surridge this season to provide an excellent service to the Shakers fans, of course not every item in the shop appeals to everybody, but the range and prices have been a very acceptable return to common sense.

Recent history suggests that Surridge are a firm that listens to opinion and takes on board suggestions, hopefully the success of the Brown and Sky kit will not be a one season wonder but a step in the right direction for years to come.

WWYATS? Gold.

In issue 13 the Gigg Lane Rock Lyrics section featured this brilliant parody of 'A Town called Malice'.

With the unmentionables from Horwich heading downwards again at last, it's a good time to give it another airing.

A Town Called Bolton

Better stop dreaming of the premier league
Cos its the one you'll never know
The only way you'll leave division one
is to drop back down below.
Stop fantasizing about things you'll never do,
its a better that 12 months from now
we'll see you in division 2
In a town called Bolton.

Rows and rows of disused seats
in your old graet lever stand.
And you talk of ground improvements
Is another supermarket planned?
So you got promotion
did a bus tour round the town,
but your time in division one is short
'cos this year you're going down.
In a town called Bolton.

Struggle after struggle
Year after Year.
Then you bought half of Bury's team
and they moved you up a gear.
In a town called Bolton.

In the embankment rain,
our view of the game
gets dashed against the Co Op.
But we're tanked on beer and we always cheer
'Cos we've stuffed the buggers again.
In a town called Bolton.

The ghost of Wanderers victory
Lost in your great grandfathers brain,
It's over 70 years ago
since their league win at Gigg lane.
But our annual Burnden victory
Well we all remember this,
I could go on for hours and probably will
'Cos I love to take the piss
Out of a town called Bolton.

Another Funny Old Season

It feels very odd to be able to sit back at the end of March and review matters unfolding above and below without too much fear of becoming involved in the action. The last few weeks since the appointment of Alan Knill have thankfully been a revelation with players playing in their best positions, useful loan signings coming in and, best of all, a straight talking boss who doesn't use 'gaffer speak' but says it as he finds it.

The final few weeks of the Casper reign were a complete misery, awful to watch and depressing to discuss because we knew that we were drifting ever downwards into the end of season lottery that is the relegation scrap, suddenly with AK in charge there's a skip in the step of Shakers people again and positive noises coming from everywhere.

The fact that Knilly still lived in Bury and likes being in the town maybe sets him apart from other bosses that there's a little bit of the fan in him too. He quickly knew he didn't like what he saw in the five at the back defence, and the strange tactics and made our football simple to watch, play and understand.
He has a good idea for who needs a kick, and who needs a gentle arm around them and has got the lads playing in a way I feared was impossible. It goes to show that the cynics who say "there's no money, you have to make do with what you can get" are wrong. The same players are suddenly looking quicker, stronger and happier and consequently playing better football.

Hopefully we can look forward to next season with confidence that the Casper pattern of awful start, october recovery, christmas blues, spring panic which had become too regular will be banished to the memory, and a bit of Knilly normality return to life at Gigg.