We welcome Chester FC back to Gigg Lane after a gap of sixteen years for this afternoon’s friendly match.
The two clubs have met each other in various competitions on sixty-five occasions, so let’s take a look as some of those meetings.
FIRST EVER GAME between the two clubs came immediately after World War Two began. The 1939/40 Football League season had been abandoned after just three games were played and clubs were arranging friendly games in order to give the public some relief from the conflict. On December 16, 1939 the Shakers travelled to Sealand Road and won a goal-filled game 4-3.
THE FIRST FOOTBALL LEAGUE GAME came during the 1957/8 campaign, Bury’s solitary season in Division Three North, with the two clubs meeting on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. With ex-Shaker Stan Pearson in the Seals’ line-up, Chester (in 22nd place) beat Bury (in 2nd place) 2-1 at Gigg Lane and earned a 0-0 draw at Chester.
MOST GOALS IN A GAME was the 4-4 draw at Sealand Road in December 1987, when the Shakers scored twice in the closing three minutes through Peter Valentine and Liam Robinson to claim an unlikely point.
MOST GOALS BY ONE PLAYER stands at 4, with Andy Bishop scoring four for Bury in his 8 league and cup games against today’s visitors. For Chester, Gary Bennett and a certain Ryan Lowe also each scored 4 goals against Bury, with Ryan claiming a last gasp 90th minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Gigg Lane in March 2009 – the very last Football League game between the two clubs.
SENT OFF players versus Chester stand at four for Bury, Chris Lucketti, Colin Woodthorpe, Andy Bishop and Ryan Cresswell. Les Steele is the only Chester player to be dismissed – for celebrating his second goal in the FA Cup game in December 2006 at Gigg by jumping into the visiting fans and earning a second yellow card.
Our club record vs Chester can be seen below:
THE LAST TWO FRIENDLY MEETINGS
Saturday 21 July 2018 Chester 0 Bury 1 Attendance: 746.
Goal Scorer: Bury: Gold Omotayo 49’
Chester: Shenton, Moran, Pritchard, Burton (c) (Murray), Grand, Howson (Downes), Smalley (Thomson), Stopforth (Trialist C), Trialist A (Trialist B), Roberts (Hughes), Mooney (Brown).
Sub not used: Trialist (GK).
Bury: Murphy (Hudson), Stokes (McFadzean), Cooney (Dai), Thompson, O’Connell (Nyaupembe), Mayor (Omotayo), Dagnall (Sang), Aimson (Adams), Danns (Williams), Archer (Shotton), Styles (Dawson (Whelan)).
Sub not used: Miller.
Saturday 17 July 2021 Chester 4 Bury AFC 2 Attendance: 437.
Goal Scorers: Chester: George Glendon 48’, Matty Williams 63’ Harrison Burke 75’, James Hardy 89’ Bury: Jonno Hunt 51’, Scott Metcalfe 68’
Chester: Gray, Roberts, Cowan (Livesey 46’), Grand (Williams), Morgan (Trialist 52’), Johnston (Hardy 46’),Glendon, Weeks (Clark 52’), Oyibo (Burke 67’), Dudley (Marsh-Hughes 52’), Stephenson (Waring 52’)
Bury AFC: Atkinson (Wilczynski), Williams (Trialist 85’), Metcalfe, Brazel, Hunt (Trialist 85’), Ibrahim, Gilboy, Holt (Trialist 46’), Greaves (McWilliam 85’), Daniels (Downing 85’), Hughes.
Subs not used: Obasoto, Trialist, Lent, Trialist.