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    Play-off Information

    The North West Counties Football League released the dates for the playoffs ahead of the end of the season, taking place over the following two Saturdays as indicated below:

    Play-off Semi-Finals
    2nd v 5th and 3rd v 4th, Saturday 27th April

    Play-off Final
    Winners of each Semi-Final, Saturday 4th May

    Ties are to be played at the home venue of the higher ranking side.

    Following yesterday’s results, we are due to take on Padiham at Gigg Lane next Saturday in our play-off semi final.

    However, there remains the completion of fixture backlog for other sides going into next week. Charnock Richard still have four games to complete their season and their potential points haul could still see them grab 4th place, and a play-off spot.

    Should it be mathematically possible that Charnock could still affect the play-off picture, the Semi-Finals would be delayed to the following midweek to account for this.

    The league will review the situation on Wednesday this week, following the completion of the first two of Charnock Richard’s games – taking place on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd.

    More details on admission arrangements for the Semi-Final will be communicated after this point.
      #BuryFC | #PartOfIt
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    April FAQ’s with Neil Sears (part 1)

    CEO Neil Sears sits down to answer your questions as the season comes to a close. In Part One, Neil addresses the football operations queries that have come in to the club this month. Part Two to follow, will continue on some of the queries relating to the Community Benefit Society and the football club structures.
            If you have a question for Neil’s next update, please click here to email in:
     
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    Bury Football Club Saddened By The Passing Of Leighton James.

    Bury Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of Leighton James at the age of 71.
     
    The winger was part of Martin Dobson’s famous “Forgotten Fifteen” who won promotion in the 1984/85 season using only 15 players all season, Leighton made 46 appearances and scored five goals.

    James won 54 caps for Wales, scoring 10 goals including a famous penalty to secure victory over England at Wembley in 1977.

    In his long and storied career he made almost 650 club appearances, turning out for clubs such as Burnley, Swansea, Derby, QPR, Sunderland and Newport County.

    He later held various coaching positions at a number of clubs, including Llanelli, before moving into media work as a columnist and pundit, where the directness and honesty he showed as a player continued to be in evidence.

    The thoughts of everyone at Bury are with Leighton’s friends and family at this sad time.

    Once a Shaker. Always a Shaker.
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    Match Info: Ramsbottom United (A), Sat 20th Apr, 3pm KO

    The final league game of the season is upon us, and albeit possibly a slim chance, the league title is still up for grabs as we head the short distance north along the A56 to take on the Rams this Saturday.

    The Shakers faithful sucked up the available tickets in their numbers, with an anticipated crowd of 2,000 descending on the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, which is one of three locations that the league trophy could be arriving at as the league season comes to its conclusion.

    The side weren’t able to capitalise on both Wythenshawe and Wythenshawe Town not winning last weekend which opened up the title race, when we took on in-form Padiham in our hastily arranged fixture at Broadhurst Park on Tuesday.

    Goals in each half for the visitors put us on the back foot and chasing in a must-win game. Connor Comber’s excellent free-kick strike late in added time at the end of the game, was the only attempt that was able to breach the goal, despite numerous efforts going ever so close. The post (on two occasions), saves, blocks and shots flashing wide, as well as some loud penalty shouts from the majority 3,500 home crowd left all with a frustration of what might have been.

    Just one of these chances going in, would no doubt have changed the game. But they didn’t, and we now hope for another minor miracle. A win for the Shakers, and both Wythenshawe sides not winning again gives us the trophy. A win for either of those sides means we will head into the playoffs, whatever the result in Ramsbottom.

    A keen eye will be cast towards the other games, but the job needs doing first in our own game. Something Dave McNabb and his squad will be keen to put right following Tuesday.

    As ever we need you to be the 12th team member behind the group from the off. Wherever you are taking in the game, in the ground, via our audio coverage from Roch Valley Radio, or across our social media channels.

    If you are in the ground, we do ask for your patience as our hosts are expecting a larger than usual crowd. Please arrive early, and be respectful of the staff on hand to assist on the day.

    As ever, at all times the playing field needs to remain the domain of the players and officials ONLY. No matter the result, fans are requested to remain in the stand areas for the duration of the game. There have been incidents of Bury supporters on the pitch this season and we cannot have a repeat.

    Should there be a need for celebration, please remain where you are. The manager wants to assure all supporters, that they will remain on the ground for as long as is needed to see every single supporter. But this can only be done if the playing areas are clear.

    The match information for the trip, can be found below.
      Last time out – Padiham FC
        Playing Away Episode 10
      In Opposition – Ramsbottom

    Ramsbottom United, established in 1966 during England’s World Cup triumph, has been guided by its founding chairman, Harry Williams, for over five decades. From humble beginnings on a local park to its current home at the Riverside Stadium, the club has grown into a community pillar. Early success in regional leagues during the 1970s set the foundation for future achievements.

    By 1995, Ramsbottom United joined the football pyramid, ascending quickly through the North West Counties League with key infrastructure developments, including the installation of floodlights and ground improvements. The club’s participation in the FA Cup and consistent league performances marked a period of robust growth and fan engagement.

    The late 2000s brought managerial changes and the dynamic duo of Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson, propelling the club to new heights with record points and victories. Their departure in 2015, however, led to a challenging period, culminating in relegation. Despite setbacks, the club’s resilience shone through in the FA Trophy, where they made a commendable run until a dramatic tie with AFC Fylde.

    Recent years have seen fluctuations in fortune, with promising seasons disrupted by managerial changes and external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, facing another relegation, Ramsbottom appointed Steve Wilkes, aiming to reclaim their status in the Northern Premier League. Through all the ups and downs, Ramsbottom United has remained a cornerstone of the community, embodying the spirit of local football.
      Tickets – Pay On The Gate
    TICKETS FOR THIS GAME ARE SOLD OUT.

    The Harry Williams Riverside Stadium is a CASH ONLY stadium for food drink, programmes etc.
    Travel & Parking
    Address: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Bury. The club doesn’t have a postcode, nearest being BL0 0BS.
     
      Public Transport: Services 472, 474 and B1 depart from Bury Interchange and offer frequent reliable service. X41 express service runs from Manchester to Accrington, stopping in Ramsbottom.

    Nearest train: The East Lancs Railway station is adjacent to the ground, and steam and diesel trains run regularly on Saturdays from Rawtenstall in the north through to Heywood in the south. The main base is in Bury town centre at Bolton Street, where you can also board services. Timetables available HERE.

    Driving:
    From South: M66 (North) to J1. Take A56 towards Ramsbottom. After 1 mile, turn left at traffic lights down Bury New Road. Follow road into town centre, and turn left immediately before railway level crossing. Ground at end of road.

    From North: Leave the A56 (Edenfield by-pass) at start of M66. Follow signs for Ramsbottom into town centre. Turn left at traffic lights onto Bridge Street. Turn right immediately after railway level crossing. Ground at end of road.

    Parking: The car-park will be strictly limited to players, management, match officials & club officials. All spectators will need to park either in the town centre or on neighbouring streets.

    Ground Facilities:  For those arriving early, the town of Ramsbottom has been described as being one of the best places in the country to live. Within a couple of minutes walk, are numerous independent shops, bars and restaurants.

    The cricket club bar is open from 1.30pm on a Saturday, whilst the football club turnstiles open an hour before kick-off.

    Inside the stadium is a Tea Bar serving pie and peas, confectionery and hot and cold drinks, with proper mugs!

    Cans of Beer, Lager and Cider are also available inside the stadium from opening until the beginning of the second half.

    Freedom of movement around the stadium offers standing both open air and under cover, and covered seating, with no restrictions of movement.
      Match Coverage & Live Stream
    If you are unable to make the game, we’ll have all the live coverage across our media platforms.
     
    Live Stream: For this game, we will have no live stream. Keep up-to-date with all our video content via the club’s YouTube Channel. Click to subscribe and never miss highlights and match reaction across the season.
     
    Audio Commentary: Roch Valley Radio will be providing commentary for this game. Click here ahead of kick-off to listen live. Audio commentary will be provided for every game of the season, so you will never miss a piece of the action.
     
    Social Media: Our team will also bring you in-depth text commentary via the club ‘MatchDay Live‘ Twitter feed, with team news and half time and full time updates available also on Facebook and feel like you are there with our match galleries and imagery available over on Instagram.
     
    Whatever the weather, wherever you are across the globe, we have you covered.
     
    Up the Shakers!
      #ShakersTogether | #BuryFC | #PartofIt
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    Statement: FA Cup Replays

    Bury Football Club is in the highly unusual position of speaking from the lowly position of a club in the ninth tier of English football and as one who has actually twice won the FA Cup. These days our FA Cup campaign starts in August, before the Premier League has even started.

    Cup replays have long been a staple of the competition and have provided an opportunity for non-league clubs to generate much-needed revenue and increase their profile. More importantly, the history of the competition demonstrates that replays have played a significant role in creating so many memories, which span generations of football supporters.

    Last season our FA Cup run took us to within one game of the first round proper. We were eventually knocked out in October after nine FA Cup games. Three of them were replays. Manchester City won the Cup in six games, none of them replays.

    We knew, even if we didn’t admit it publicly, that these cup runs would hurt our league form. We saw performances dip a little after a big cup game. They also hurt us financially. The prize fund for winners in each round is usually enough to help clubs break even for the fixture given gate receipts are split. We don’t think the players or supporters regretted a single minute of it.

    We could have asked the manager to play a weakened team. He wouldn’t have accepted that and nor would our fans. The FA Cup is too important to all football supporters for us not to treat it with the respect it deserves.

    All clubs and all supporters have cherished memories of FA Cup replays under the floodlights. We loved ours.

    Players with full time jobs outside football will slog their way through the early rounds, making their own way to away fixtures, barely covering their own travel costs, to be watched by supporters who are genuinely excited to be travelling on a Saturday morning to places they had to Google the day before to find. The Premier League, we are told, is the ‘product’ the global market wishes to consume. The FA Cup is the beating heart of football that English fans savour. Accident, risk, failure, mud, pitches with slopes, and very occasionally last minute glory, are all part of its beauty.

    This should not be a debate about the financial implications of removing replays. This is about what football supporters really want, what we love and cherish and why that is worth protecting. It about “the magic of the cup”.

    Bury Football Club now stand shoulder to shoulder with other volunteer run clubs at the foot of the football pyramid, not with the modern day FA Cup winners. We would like their voice to be heard too.
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