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    3G Pitch Build and Funding

    We are well progressed with our strategy to bring a 3G pitch to Gigg Lane this summer. In addition to more revenue, and avoiding pitch postponements due to the weather, it will give us a sporting facility which benefits the wider community, and promote active health throughout the borough.
    This update covers two issues, firstly the technical specifications and requirements for the installation and secondly how we propose to fund it.
    Technical Requirements
    We are grateful to Dave McNabb and his team for input into the type of surface we wanted the first teams to play on, and examples of good and bad artificial pitches they have experienced.
    3G, 4G, 5G?...
    We will be installing a 3G pitch, as those are the only ones which are currently permitted. We've been asked about 4G pitches but they don't really exist.
    The FA’s Third Generation Football Turf Guidance state: “At the moment there is no such thing as 4G or 5G. These are marketing terms used by companies. Some manufacturers may promote non-infilled products, but these have not received acceptance as a suitable football surface and often struggle to satisfy FIFA requirements.”
    You can read more below.
    https://mcardlesport.co.uk/blog/3g-4g-or-5g-2/
    3G, 4G Pitch Blog League Requirements
    We have chosen a FIFA Quality Pro pitch, which is the highest quality available. This is necessary as it is a requirement to have a Quality Pro pitch to play in the National League.
    You can read more about the relevant standards below.
    https://www.fifa.com/technical/football-technology/standards
    https://www.fifa.com/technical/football-technology/standards/footballs/fifa-quality-marks-explained?tch Technology StandardsFIFA Quality Marks Explained
    Reducing Rubber Crumb
    One issue which came across loud and clear from players was the need to reduce the amount of rubber crumb required on the pitch. Rubber crumb costs money, as it has to be topped up annually, and is subject to a lot of negative press.
    Historically 3G pitches were designed and built using 60mm pile height systems without a shock pad, this combination required 17 kilograms of rubber infill per square meter. Current industry best practice is to reduce the amount of rubber installed within the system. This is achieved with the inclusion of a shockpad and modern 3G turf technology. The proposed system has over 40% less rubber crumb in-fill at 10 kilograms per square meter.
    Our solution will achieve this significant reduction in rubber crumb. The pitch already has perimeter boarding which prevents the escape of the rubber crumb. You can read more on the best practice for this here.
    The Supplier
    We have chosen McArdle Sport Tec to install the pitch. They provided the most competitive price on a like for like basis and have a strong reputation and track record of delivery of similar projects. We obtained references from other clubs and the Football Foundation.
    McArdle-Brochure-5mb.pdf
    Cost
    The headline cost quoted is £652, 456.38 plus VAT.
    This includes all elements of the pitch build, plus the equipment required to use and maintain the pitch such as socketed goals and corner flags, a ride on tractor with brushes for maintaining the surface, specialist maintenance service visits to undertake deep decompaction works, and clearance of the site. It also includes the soil sampling which has already been paid for by the football club.
    This does not include any contingency for unforseen costs, but we have already paid for detailed soil sampling for depth, quality, and CBR values, which has informed the quote to ensure it is as accurate as possible at this stage.
    Income and Expenditure
    3G pitches all perform differently over time. The standard guideline is that 50 hours use per week for a 48 week year is appropriate, and we are working to that. The warranty is for 8 years and 20, 000 hours which also fits in with this usage limit.
    We are proposing a £45, 000 per annum contribution from pitch rental profits into a sinking fund which will fund the replacement of the pitch when required.
    Revenues of £130, 000 per annum (net of VAT) from pitch hire are achievable, based on charging a blend of rates and restricting usage to 50 hours per week over a 30 week period with a full maintenance programme in place. This is a relatively conservative estimate, using the Football Foundation's modelling tools. It leaves an additional 18 weeks where we could run community events throughout the summer, or we could blend these into peak times and extend the 30 weeks to 48. We are in discussions with Bury Council to understand their requirement for community use and best way to accommodate this.
    Maintenance costs are estimated at around £60, 000 per annum which includes the £45, 000 contribution to the sinking fund.
    Community Officer
    Core to the success of the new pitch is the provision of benefit to the wider community of Bury. This is key to both the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities requirements and also to Bury Council's funding. We know that the pitch will be successfully rented due to the huge demand for 3G pitch rental in the borough, but to ensure that the pitch is used to promote active health and lifestyle services to those who need it most, we propose to employ a Community Officer, and develop an outreach programme to ensure that these services reach people who would not typically come to the stadium. This is an additional cost which will be funded from profits but will also provide us with a resource to apply for additional funding for the delivery of these services. It should become cost neutral, or close to cost neutral, over time.
    Funding
    The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have approved our business plan and stated that they will transfer the remaining funds of £300, 000 allocated to us on completion of a long term lease which ensures that the club plays at Gigg Lane and the signing of the contract with the supplier.
    Bury Council have indicated they are comfortable with the allocation of their £450, 000 commitment to the pitch subject to the signing of the long term lease and meeting their own governance requirements. This includes the successful approval of an application which demonstrates community use, and agreeing how their investment will be governed ongoing. We are actively involved working this through with them. There is still a formal process to complete and we will respect that process.
    We have our own cash reserves which will be used to top up any funding gap, and provide a contingency in the event that costs increase due to unforseen events.
    We have received no further capital from the benefactors, who have objected to the use of a lease, which they believe devalues their own investment, but we have no alternative sources of capital so believe it is right to proceed to access the DLUHC and Bury Council funds. The lease does not require the football club to pay any rent, it simply imposes the obligation to pay bills and fund repairs and will collect stadium revenue. If we proceeded with Football Foundation funding for the pitch we would also have to put a long term lease in place. The lease will also fulfill our obligation to provide 'security of tenure' to the FA and league.
    We have opted not to apply to the Football Foundation at this point as their lead in time of 15 months means that we could not install the pitch this summer. Both financially and in terms of community benefit, the benefits of installing the pitch this summer outweigh the costs. We anticipate applying to the Football Foundation later in the year as we are able to apply for a higher amount of funding for stadium improvements if we are promoted.
    With the exception of the benefactors, all parties are comfortable with this direction of travel, although we acknowledge there is still a formal process to follow. We are grateful to all the organisations and individuals who have assisted in the project so far.
    Your Views
    We have been clear about the need for a 3G pitch for a long time, and it has been a major part of our planning and the grant funding received to acquire Gigg Lane. We are not required to run a member vote on this but want to seek approval and will issue an advisory vote to all members on this to assess that.
    • Dean
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    Admission for Glossop

    Our fixture with Glossop North End this Saturday is a replay of the opening game of the season, following the fielding of an ineligible player.

    As communicated at the time and now confirmed, all season ticket holders will not to be charged again to attend this re-arranged fixture. Please bring your season ticket as normal and it will be scanned at the gate.

    General admission tickets are now also available for supporters, as a usual match day in the Main and South Stands. Prices will be as below, with under-16s going free with a paying adult.
      £10 – Adults £5 – 16-18 year olds £3 – Under 16s (without paying adult) FREE – Under 5s £40 – 1885 Suite   Get tickets HERE   Away Supporters: There is no requirement for visiting supporters to purchase tickets in advance. Visiting supporters will be directed to the Cemetery End entrance, with cash & card turnstiles in operation.
      Pay on the Gate: Whilst encouraging supporters to buy online ahead of the game, turnstiles will be available in each stand to take cash & card payments.
      View the full article
    • Bury News Feed
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    Update: FC Isle of Man v Bury

    Unfortunately the players have been unable to get to the Isle of Man today. We are now trying to get them onto a 7am flight tomorrow morning.
      The players were told definitively at 3.30pm today at Manchester Airport that there was no way they would be able to board the last flight to the Isle of Man at 6.10pm tonight. If there was the slightest chance of flying they would have stayed. 
      FC Isle of Man issued a statement suggesting there was room on the flight and the players refused to return and board it. This is misleading as there was no realistic chance of the players returning to the airport and onto the plane in time to fly when requested. 
      We are disappointed with the approach they have taken, given it serves only to further frustrate the supporters who have travelled in their numbers to the island. The players care deeply about playing, and having spent many hours waiting at the airport would not have left if they thought there was any opportunity to get on a flight. Many live a good distance away from Manchester Airport and travelled by public transport to get there.
      We are acutely aware of how frustrated our supporters will be having spent time and money travelling to the Isle of Man. We want to reassure them that the players and management team did and are doing everything possible to play this fixture.
    View the full article
    • Bury News Feed
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    Update: FC Isle Of Man

    We are aware of the travel disruption which has blighted all traveling to the Isle of Man for tonight’s fixture.
      We are in dialogue with all stakeholders & currently considering the impacts on all aspects of getting games played, be that player welfare, ground availability and that of the relevant authorities.
      While this is reviewed, supporters are advised to refrain from re-scheduling their own arrangements while this is considered fully.
      Further communication will be provided as soon as possible.
      View the full article
    • Bury News Feed
    282 views
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