Cup matches carry their own kind of electricity, the anticipation, the noise, the sense that anything can happen. But long before the turnstiles click open and the floodlights hum into life, an enormous amount of work takes place across the club to make sure everything runs safely, smoothly and proudly in the Bury way.
The First Steps: Safety, Planning and Permissions
Once the draw is made, the countdown begins. With fewer than twelve days’ notice, the Club must estimate the likely crowd size, a number that dictates almost everything else. Larger crowds mean increased medical cover, more stewards, additional infrastructure and enhanced safety measures.
At the same time, we begin securing all the relevant permissions required for hosting a high-attendance fixture. This includes revisiting our safety certificate conditions, updating operational plans and ensuring compliance with regulations that change depending on the level of opposition, including the return of the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985, which restricts alcohol consumption within sight of the pitch.
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings:
Cup matches bring more stakeholders to the table. In the space of a few days, we organise meetings with:
- Greater Manchester Police
- Bury Council
- Stadium Safety Officer and Stewarding Contractors
- NWAS Matchday Commander & Medical Provisions
- Hospitality Suppliers’
- Media Team & Partners
- Volunteer Coordinators
- Ticketing and Press Officer
- BFC Leadership Team
These sessions ensure every organisation understands the plan, the risks, the timings and the contingencies. And just when we think we’ve got it all lined up, the BBC calls.
The BBC Arrives and the Plan Changes:
Ten days before kick-off, we receive a request from the BBC to attend and broadcast. Fantastic news for the Club, but it means revising the entire operational plan.
Kick-off times shift. Permissions must be re-applied for. Safety documents need updating. Stakeholders reconvene. Every department adjusts its workload to accommodate the change.
One of the first questions was where the cameras would be positioned. Following a site visit, risk assessments were completed and seating plans for the South Stand were reviewed to ensure supporter safety and that sightlines of the pitch were not adversely affected.
Cup matches don’t stand still. Neither do we.
Preparing the Stadium: A Herculean Effort
The stadium team and maintenance volunteers deserve enormous credit. Preparing Gigg Lane for a major cup tie is not simply about opening the gates and welcoming supporters through the turnstiles. Every area of the stadium must be reviewed, inspected and prepared to ensure it is safe, presentable and ready to host thousands of supporters, staff, media personnel and guests.
Across the stadium, work included repairs, deep cleaning, reinstating signage and safety equipment, checking facilities, preparing hospitality areas and ensuring every part of the ground was match-ready. It was a huge effort and one that reflects the pride our staff and volunteers take in presenting Gigg Lane at its very best.
As part of our contingency planning, the Manchester Road End (MRE) was also prepared in case attendances exceeded 5,000 spectators. Having not been used since last season, this involved additional repairs, cleaning and preparation work to ensure the area could be brought into operation if required.
Elsewhere in the ground, blinds were measured, ordered and fitted in Starkies and the hospitality suites, ensuring every space was ready for guests, sponsors and broadcasters.
Communication and Community:
Cup matches affect more than just the stadium. We write to all our neighbours to inform them of revised arrangements, including parking, timings, road use and expected footfall.
Our media team works flat out creating content to promote the game, while the programme team pulls together a souvenir edition and races it to the printers.
While planning remains fluid, we work hard to balance transparency with accuracy. Our supporters always want more information, and often believe they know better, but we must ensure what we share is correct, safe and approved. Planning can remain fluid depending on outstanding decisions and the implementation of necessary safety measures. As a result, the Club is not always able to confirm arrangements until they have been fully assessed and approved.
A special thank you to our supporters. Purchasing match tickets in advance helps us enormously, allowing us to plan more effectively and put the appropriate contingencies in place much earlier. For the Harrogate match, only around 4% of tickets were purchased at the turnstiles on the day, which made a significant difference operationally. We hope supporters will continue to buy in advance whenever possible, as it also helps create a smoother and quicker entry process on matchday.
Football Operations: The Work You Don’t See
Behind the scenes, the football staff adjust training plans, manage workloads and prepare for the opposition.
Club secretaries organise registrations, complete official paperwork, liaise with the opposition and governing bodies and rearrange fixtures affected by the cup tie. Every now and then, they even manage to sneak a new signing through in time to surprise our supporters.
Cup matches don’t just change one day, they change the whole week.
Volunteers: The Heart of Matchday
No matchday at Gigg Lane happens without our volunteers. Organising them is a major operation in itself, ensuring every role is covered, from turnstiles to hospitality, from ball retrieval to supporter assistance. Their commitment keeps our supporters safe, comfortable and welcome.
The End of the Journey:
While every supporter dreams of seeing a cup run continue a little longer, our FA Cup journey has now come to an end. Like everyone connected with the Club, we would have loved another draw, even an away day and another opportunity to showcase Bury FC on the national stage. The pride we all feel in this team was evident once again as 1,050 supporters travelled to Harrogate Town to back the Shakers in the replay.
What this run has shown, however, is the tremendous progress being made both on and off the pitch. From our talented – passionate players and coaching team, staff, to our volunteers, supporters, sponsors and partners, everyone has played their part in creating special memories along the way. The atmosphere at Gigg Lane, the backing from the stands and the pride shown in representing our town once again demonstrated exactly what this football club means to so many people.
Although the cup run is over, the momentum it has generated remains. Our attention now turns back to the League challenges ahead and the FA Trophy, carrying with us the belief, confidence and togetherness that these occasions help to create.
All This… On Top of the Day Job.
The Club runs seven days a week, from 9am until 10pm. A major cup tie does not replace the day job, it simply gets added on top. While supporters see ninety minutes on the pitch, our staff, volunteers and partners invest countless hours behind the scenes to make those ninety minutes possible.
Cup runs are magical, but they are also the result of hundreds of hours of work from people who care deeply about this football club. From those preparing the stadium and planning operations, to the volunteers supporting on matchday and the fans filling the stands, everyone plays their part in making Gigg Lane the beating heart of our town.
A Final Word..
This FA Cup campaign may have come to an end, but it has reminded us all of what can be achieved when a football club, a town and its supporters pull together. The memories created, the crowds attracted and the pride felt throughout the competition will stay with us long after the final whistle.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who played their part, whether that was preparing the stadium, planning operations, volunteering on matchday, supporting from the stands or following the journey from afar.
This is what it takes. This is what we do. This is Bury. Up the Shakers!