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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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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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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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Saturday’s postponement of our game against Padiham, came less than 48 hours after the previous game had ended. This did see us victorious over neighbours Ramsbottom United under rainy Bury skies at Gigg Lane, but ultimately on top of a surface struggling to cope with the rigours it was being put through.
As manager Dave McNabb explained in his summary video, Thursday night’s game has left the pitch in an unplayable condition and we have a forecast of more wet weather to come.
With the season end rapidly approaching, the club agreed with the league on a venue switch late on Saturday evening. FC United’s Broadhurst Park coming to the rescue at the eleventh hour. We thank the ‘Red Rebels‘, who have returned the favour following their groundshare with the Shakers from 2005-2014.
Amazingly, FC United’s first league game at Gigg Lane in the summer of 2005 was against non-other than our opponents at Broadhurst Park this week, Padiham.
And what a crucial game to take to north-east Manchester. With both Wythenshawe sides ahead of the Shakers in the league going into the weekend, failing to win their respective games against Chadderton and Burscough, the door has cracked open for a late title charge. Two wins lands us top spot and the league title.
Where would you rather be on Tuesday night? Be #PartofIt with our match information below.
Match Highlights – Ramsbottom Utd
Post Match Interviews
In Opposition – Padiham FC
Founded in November 1878, Padiham Football Club, initially known as the ‘Caldersiders’, quickly became one of Lancashire’s soccer pioneers and a prominent team in England. The club was a founding member of the Lancashire Football Association’s Senior Cup in 1879 and achieved success in the F.A. Cup during the 1883-84 season. Their early encounters included significant victories over Burnley F.C. and matches drawing crowds exceeding 2,000 at their original ground near River Calder, leased from the Shuttleworth family.
However, the establishment of the Football League and the legalization of professionalism in football shifted the competitive landscape, leading to a decline in Padiham’s fortunes. The club struggled to attract skilled players and financial constraints forced them into lower leagues.
World War One halted their activities, and they remained inactive until their revival in 1949 at the Arbories Memorial Sports Ground. Over the years, Padiham saw various league changes and spent significant funds on ground upgrades. They rejoined the North West Counties Football League in 2000, won the Premier Division in 2013, and after a brief stint in the Northern Premier League, returned to the North West Counties League in 2015.
This season has seen the ‘Storks’ make a late charge at the play-offs, after only two losses in the last 10 they sit in 7th going into the game. Wins in all three final games would see them in with a very good shout of playing in the post-season, so all to play for.
Highlights of our game at Padiham in summery August conditions can be found below.
Tickets & Admission
Plan of Broadhurst Park All previously purchased tickets for our game with Padiham remain valid for this fixture. Please bring them to the gate as normal.
General sale tickets for our trip to Broadhurst Park are available online until 6pm on Tuesday HERE. A pay-on-the-gate turnstile will be provided on the night, however we recommend purchasing a ticket ahead of the game to allow us to plan appropriately in the ground.
Prices*: £10 adult, £5 16-18, £3 Under 16s & Free for Under 5s.
* plus booking fees
Full details on the venue switch can be found HERE. Please arrive early to secure a seat in the main stand, which holds 500 supporters and allocations made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please follow requests from volunteers and stewards for directions if unsure.
Buy Tickets HERE Pay on the Gate: Whilst encouraging supporters to buy online ahead of the game, turnstiles will be available to take cash & card payments.
Disabled Supporters: Disabled seating is available within the main stand only, purchase tickets (inc Carer ticket) under the ‘Home Supporters’ allocation and head to the main reception upon arrival at Broadhurst Park.
Away Supporters: Visiting supporters will be directed to the Lightbowne Road End on arrival. Tickets are available for this stand, with cash & card payments also taken.
FREE Supporter Coach: Recognising the impact this change of venue will have on some supporters who only travel locally, the club are putting on coach travel free of charge. This will be primarily for those supporters who would otherwise struggle to get to the game at Broadhurst Park.
These coaches will leave Gigg Lane at approx. 6pm on Tuesday evening, returning back to Gigg Lane after the game. Click here to secure your seat.
Click here to purchase online tickets. Read here on how to access your tickets digitally.
We look forward to welcoming you at Broadhurst Park.
On the Day & In the Ground
Travel: Broadhurst Park is accessible by car and is well served by public transport, please see the Broadhurst Park Travel Hub for more details HERE. Directions can be sourced via Google Maps below.
SatNav Postcode: M40 0FJ
WhatThreeWords: ///once.factor.feel
Parking: The car park at Broadhurst Park will be reserved and limited to the following:
Team Playing Staff and Management Match and Competition Officials Club Staff and volunteers transporting matchday equipment Blue Badge Holders If you have a blue badge or mobility issues please email the club secretary at secretary@buryfc.co.uk as soon as possible. Blue Badge holders shall be prioritised for a parking space.
There is on-street parking along Lightbowne Road, with supporters reminded to be respectful and considerate of the local residents at all times and refrain from parking along St.Mary’s Road.
Stadium Entry: Gates will open at 6:30pm.
Our matchday volunteers will be on hand, both outside the turnstiles and inside the ground, to guide supporters to where they need to be. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask those who are there to help the day.
Matchday Programme: You can purchase a programme online now, to collect at the merchandise stall ahead of the game or head to the sellers in and around the ground. Price of £3.
Pound for the Ground: Our ‘Pound for the Ground’ half-time raffle tickets will be on sale in and around the ground, £1 per entry. Sellers accept cash or card, with 40% of the total pot going to the winning ticket with results announced over the PA system and on the scoreboard.
Food / Drink: Our catering partner, Quirky Catering, operate the kiosks throughout the ground, and are accessible for supporters under the stands. A selection of hot and cold snacks will be available.
Keep #BroadhurstGleaming: In wanting to leave a good impression on our hosts, we kindly request supporters to leave all areas as clean as they find them.
With this in mind, we urge all supporters to make sure any rubbish is processed in the correct manner, using the available bins where necessary, or if possible please take any rubbish away with you.
Designated Smoking Areas: Supporters are not allowed to smoke / vape anywhere within the stands at Broadhurst Park. Designated areas are set aside to do this, follow guidance from stewards on this and only smoke / vape within these areas.
Match Coverage & Live Stream
If you are unable to make it to the action at Broadhurst Park, we’ll have all the live coverage across our media platforms.
Live Stream: Our pay-per-view Live Stream will be available to purchase HERE. Season ticket holders will receive free access to the stream as part of their purchase. Emails will be sent from 6pm to the email used to purchase tickets.
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. Join the team from 7.30pm. 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 score-line 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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