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Incoming: Harry Brazel

Bury FC are delighted to confirm the addition of midfielder Harry Brazel to the squad for the 2023/24 season. 

The 31-year-old made 91 appearances and scored 18 goals across the last two seasons for Bury AFC.

Last season also saw him pick up four trophies at the end of season awards, including Goal of the Season and Fans Player of the Season.

 



Brazel has also previously played for Stockport County, Glossop North End & Cefn Druids. 

He told buryfc.co.uk: “I’m really excited to be representing Bury. It was an easy decision to make knowing the club’s ambition and the direction it wants to go in.

“Hopefully, I can continue where I left off last year and make the first season back at Gigg Lane both a memorable and successful one.”

Harry is also a qualified barber, so no doubt he’ll be getting some of the lads with his clippers ahead of the upcoming squad photos.
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Incoming: Andy Kellett

Bury FC are excited to announce former Wigan Athletic player Andy Kellett will join the club for the upcoming campaign.

The 29-year-old has a wealth of experience to bring to Andy Welsh’s squad and can play in an array of positions including central-midfield as well as left-back/left-midfield. 

Kellett will join the Shakers following three years playing for Guiseley. He struggled with injury in the previous two seasons, but scored twice in 14 appearances last term.

Born in Bolton, he was playing grassroots football when his team got to a final which was played at the stadium of his hometown team. After an impressive performance in front of the Wanderers scouts, he signed for the club.

He progressed through the ranks at Bolton, playing in the U23s and the B team, whilst also going out on loan to Manchester United & Plymouth Argyle. 

In 2015, Andy made the move from Bolton to Wigan, where he played for three years before joining Notts County, which is where he made his one appearance against Bury FC in December 2018 during a 0-0 at Meadow Lane. 

After leaving County he went onto play for AFC Fylde & Alfreton Town before his time at Guiseley. 

Upon joining the club Kellett said:

You can watch his first club interview right now on YouTube:
 
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Incoming: Sean Higgins

Bury FC are delighted to announce that former Wigan & Oldham youngster Sean Higgins has joined the club. 

The 20-year-old can play in a number of positions including full-back and central midfield. 

Sean started out at Wigan Athletic before moving to Oldham in July 2019. Following two years at Boundary Park, he joined Altrincham before moving to Matlock last summer and then onto Bury AFC in December 2022. 

Higgins made 36 appearances under Andy Welsh last season scoring four goals. He’s also had loan spells at Stalybridge Celtic & Trafford in the last few seasons. 

Speaking to buryfc.co.uk Sean said:
 


You can watch his first club interview right now on YouTube:
 
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AC Ventilation becomes Bury FC sponsor

Rochdale-based AC Ventilation sign on to sponsor the back of The Shakers’ training wear for the coming season.
 
Established in 1995 AC Ventilation Limited has become a thriving and well respected business, specialising in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of all types of air conditioning, ventilation and fresh air heat recovery systems.
 
The company operates throughout the UK and across all sectors. This includes commercial, industrial, healthcare, leisure, hotels, retail, education, restaurants, and specialist residential projects.
 
Managing Director Steve Valentine was down at Gigg Lane to meet boss Andy Welsh, and had a few words for buryfc.co.uk: “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to sponsor Bury FC especially after being a Jnr Shaker during the 80’s. There is a real buzz around Gigg lane and the future plans for the club are looking bright.”
  (pictured) Director Steve Valentine meets manager, Andy Welsh down at Gigg Lane   Steve recalled being a mascot for the Bury vs Swindon Town game on 16th October 1982 (pictured left) and following the Shakers into the 90’s with friends & family.
We would like to extend our thanks to AC Ventilation for their generosity and their commitment to Bury FC. We look forward to working with them in the years to come.
 
Click here to visit their website.
 
If you are interested in any future sponsorship opportunities please contact commercial@buryfc.co.uk
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Incoming: Danny Lafferty

Bury FC are delighted to welcome Dan Lafferty to the club ahead of the 2023/24 season.

The commanding centre-back joins Andy Welsh’s side after leaving Atherton Collieries at the end of the previous campaign, where he’s played for the last six seasons. He also had an initial spell at Colls in 2009.

Lafferty signed for Radcliffe under Kevin Glendon in 2013, he went on to make 116 appearances and scoring 8 goals before leaving in 2016 and joining Colls.

Speaking after his move, he said:
 

You can watch his first club interview right now on YouTube:
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Incoming: Andy Briggs

Bury FC are delighted to confirm Andy Briggs will join the club ahead of the 2023/24 season.

The 25-year-old striker will join the club from NWCFL Division One North side Steeton where he scored 35 goals last season.

Briggs has played in his home West Yorkshire town since the age of 16 and has spent the last nine seasons playing in Steeton green, he’s played through their journey from amateur football to them joining the National League System.

When asked about joining the club, he said:

You can watch his first club interview right now on YouTube:
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News From The NWCFL AGM

The League's Annual General Meeting took place today at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool.  Representatives of 56 of the 60 member clubs were in attendance as well as the eight new member clubs that have been allocated to the league for the new season.

To open the meeting, League Chairman Paul Lawler welcomed all delegates at 11.00am prompt. After apologies were given, the minutes from the previous AGM were raised and adopted prior to moving on to the Chairman's Report. 
The report from the Chairman said it was another great season for football. He said that average gates were well up on previous years, with clubs giving value for money with quality to match. We should be well placed to attract football fans from higher up the pyramid.
He then ran through successes of clubs. Vauxhall Motors won the Premier, with Avro also achieving promotion through the Step 4/5 Play-Off. He mentioned though how glad he was that the format has been scrapped with traditional play off's coming in. In the First Division North, Pilkington took the crown with Chadderton promoted in the Play Offs. In the First Division South it was Wythenshawe Amateurs who won it, with Cheadle Town promoted in the Play Offs.
Our last remaining side in tie FA Cup was Bury AFC, and Paul was very proud that we had three Quarter Finalists in the FA Vase. Well done to Bury AFC, Congleton Town and West Didsbury & Chorlton for their success in the competition this season.
Congratulations to Congleton Town and Bacup Borough on winning the respective league cups. Northwich Victoria won the Mid Cheshire Senior Cup, with Winsford Unitedas runners up. Credit to Congleton Town who became the first NWCFL side to win the Cheshire Senior Cup, and to Kendal Town who won the Westmorland Senior Cup. Also well done to Wythenshawe Town who were runners up in the Manchester Premier Cup. 
Sadly we do lose clubs. As well as Vauxhall and Avro, we say goodbye to Cleator Moor Celtic, Foley Meir and Rocester who were relegated from the First Division. It is with much sadness that we say goodbye to both and hopefully they can return to us for 2023/24. To replace these we have eight new clubs, four from the Northern Premier League, three from the County Feeder League and one from hiatus. He then wished the new clubs all the best on their new journey,.
Then he came onto lateral movements. These come at a considerable cost, potentially putting their future in doubt. Winsford had to take voluntary relegation to secure the clubs future. With Uttoxeter getting a reprieve. This issue is one we have constantly raised with the FA. The lateral movement problem will not go away. Almost certainly, lateral movement end of 2023/24 from South Manchester sides or eastern sides. Current rules aren't fit for purpose and need changing.
Paul said behaviour on the field continues to be a problem, verbal abuse and incidents . Also record number of dismissals from the technical area. He asked clubs to read and digest the Respect and Fair Play reports produced by Stewart Taylor. The standard of administration from some clubs is poor and creates significant work. Our league is about respect and friendship which some clubs seem to have forgotten.
Administrative procedures were carried out which included adopting of standing orders, adopt the accounts for the financial year as well as reviewing the auditors report produced by Steve Conway. This technically concluded the league business for the 2022-23 season.
Next was the exclusion of clubs, which in a long-standing tradition at the NWCFL, was a chance to say goodbye. Avro thanked people for advice that they have been given, its been a great journey and that he hoped not to see us in 12 months time. Cleator Moor Celtic said that they had made good friends over the last four years, they are now dropping to the West Lancs and that he hoped to see us soon. Congleton Town said that they had had the best season for quite a number of years, that they looked forward to making friends in the Midland League and that they would miss us all.
Northwich Victoria echoed Congleton's thoughts, and said that it had been a tough few weeks. Its now a rebuild job and moving to the Midland League has put 149 years of football at stake. Finally Vauxhall Motors, who thanked the officers of the league for their help and to fellow member clubs for their hospitality and friendship. They then wished everyone all the best for the future, before all clubs left the room.
The constitution of the league was then agreed, with 24 clubs in the Premier Division, 19 in the First Division North and 18 in the First Division South. This is subject to any FA appeals. As Paul pointed out, we have no choice these days but to accept it as it is decided nationally by the FA! The eight new clubs were then accepted into the league with representatives from Colne, Droylsden, Glossop North End, Market Drayton Town, Route One Rovers, Ramsbottom United, Shelley Community, Skelmersdale United. All took to the stage to say hello and to give a bit of information about their clubs to the room.

The full make up of all three of our divisions at this present time is as follows:
PREMIER DIVISION
AFC Liverpool, Barnoldswick Town, Burscough, Bury (formerly Bury AFC), Chadderton, Charnock Richard, Cheadle Town, Colne, FC Isle of Man, Glossop North End, Irlam, Kendal Town, Longridge Town, Litherland Remyca, Lower Breck, Padiham, Pilkington, Prestwich Heys, Ramsbottom United, Skelmersdale United, Squires Gate, West Didsbury & Chorlton, Wythenshawe (formerly Wythenshawe Amateurs), Wythenshawe Town
DIVISION ONE NORTH
AFC Blackpool, Ashton Athletic, Ashton Town, Atherton LR, Bacup Borough, Daisy Hill, Darwen, Droylsden, Euxton Villa, FC St Helens, Garstang, Holker Old Boys, Ilkley Town, Nelson, Route One Rovers, Runcorn Town, South Liverpool, Shelley Community, Steeton 
DIVISON ONE SOUTH
Abbey Hey, Abbey Hulton United, Alsager Town, Ashville, Barnton, Brocton, Cammell Laird 1907, Cheadle Heath Nomads, Eccleshall, Ellesmere Rangers, Maine Road, Market Drayton Town, New Mills, Sandbach United, Stafford Town, Stockport Georgians, Stockport Town, Winsford United
The next item was the Life Members and the Election of Management Committee members. With the passing of Bob Eccles, the President position is vacant and we have had no nominations thus far. Four committee members were up for re-election who were Mick Ainsworth, Martin Fallon, Rob Goodwin-Davey and Chris Stirrup. All offered themselves for re-election to serve for a 3 year term will commence another period of office which will see them on the Management Committee until 2026. With no other nominations, all were duly elected.
We did have a vacancy during the season. With Sue Hyde's departure the committee co-opted Charlie O'Brien. With no other nominations, a show of hands in the room formally elected Charlie to the League Management Committee. 
Administration for the new season was addressed with the FA Standardised rules reviewed and agreed. John Deal explained that we don't really have a lot of choice these days.One change for 2023/24 will be the introduction of a Match Arrangement Form similar to FA Competitions due to some disagreements in the past between clubs regarding admission prices. 
The fees tariffs was agreed. The one change from last season being a small increase in assistant referee's fees. The fines tariff was agreed, with no changes made.
Next was confirmation of the League Insurance Scheme, and there have been no proposals for change there. This was followed by the re-appointment of auditors which was agreed.
The Chairman then closed the Official Meeting at 11.45am.
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Matchday Programme of the year, Again!

A big congratulations to the guys who have created and developed the matchday programme, as they've only gone & done it again! 2022/23 NWCFL Premier Division Programme of the Year, two on the bounce! 🏆🏆
Led by editor-in-chief, Chris Saville 👏

Pictured last night (l-r) Andy Andrew Corns, Marcel De Matas & Mike Howarth who picked up the award at the AGM on behalf of the club.
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Be #PartOfIt: Women’s First Team Manager

We are looking for a hard-working, ambitious, natural leader to take on the exciting role of manager of our women’s elite team.

This incredible squad have won back-to-back promotions and had a successful FA Cup run too. This season we are now in Tier 5, playing as the official Bury FC women’s team, at Gigg Lane.

Applicants must have experience of managing a women’s team or in men’s football at a high level.

Minimum of UEFA B qualification and a proven track record of developing players.


To apply please email women@buryfc.co.uk and attach a CV and a cover letter, explaining why this job is for you.

Applications close on Saturday 24th June.
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