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Bury Football Club is proud to announce that its England Football Accredited Star Rating has officially been upgraded to 3-Star status – a major recognition of the club’s phenomenal growth and ongoing commitment to football development across Bury and the surrounding areas. The upgrade from England Football highlights the incredible progress being made throughout the club and reflects the growing number of football opportunities now available to players, families, volunteers and supporters within the local community. England Football confirmed the upgrade with the message: “Being an England Football Accredited Club demonstrates that Bury FC provides a SAFE, FUN and INCLUSIVE environment for players within your community. Your Accredited Star Rating reflects the breadth of football opportunities on offer at your club, with more stars recognising a wider and more inclusive offering. To recognise the range of football at Bury FC, we are upgrading your Star Rating to 3-Star.” The 3-Star accreditation reflects: Increased grassroots participation across boys’, girls’, and mixed football A wider range of football opportunities within the local community Continued investment in player development and coaching standards A strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and player welfare The growth of volunteer involvement and community engagement The creation of a safe, fun and welcoming football environment for all The move to 3-Star status demonstrates that the club is now recognised nationally for offering an increasingly broad and inclusive football programme that supports participation at every level. As the club continues to grow both on and off the pitch, the accreditation serves as another important milestone in Bury Football Club’s long-term journey of rebuilding football pathways within the community and creating opportunities for future generations to thrive. This is not only a reflection of where the club is today – it is a statement of where the club is heading. The club continues to grow, inspire and lead the way for football in Bury. “This achievement represents far more than just a badge of accreditation. It is recognition of the enormous amount of hard work taking place behind the scenes to build a thriving football structure that is accessible, welcoming, inclusive and sustainable for future generations. From junior development and youth football through to inclusive participation opportunities and community-based programmes, the club has worked tirelessly to create pathways for players of all abilities to enjoy football in a positive environment. I see first hand, every single day, how hard everyone works behind the scenes to provide opportunities for players across our community. The commitment, passion and dedication shown by our coaches, volunteers, parents and staff is truly incredible and is the driving force behind everything we are building at Bury FC. To achieve this recognition when we have only been on this journey for such a relatively short period of time is quite simply outstanding. It shows just how far the club has come and reflects the phenomenal growth of our football provision and community development programme. This is something everyone connected with Bury FC should be immensely proud of and we remain fully committed to continuing that growth and creating even more opportunities for future generations.” Casey Lynchey, Head of Operations and Community. View the full article

We are delighted to announce that Bury FC Women Reserves have been awarded promotion to the North West Regional Women’s Football League Division One Central for the 2026/27 season. The promotion has been confirmed following a successful application through The FA’s promotion pool process, marking another significant milestone in the continued development of the club’s women’s pathway. The move sees the Reserves step up to Tier 6 of the women’s football pyramid and is recognition of the progress made both on and off the pitch. The promotion provides an exciting new challenge for the squad while strengthening the pathway for players progressing through Bury FC’s women’s programme. The club would like to place on record its thanks to the Women’s Reserves coaching team of Craig, Mitch and Tommy for their dedication, commitment and hard work throughout the season, which has helped the squad reach this significant milestone. Casey Lynchey, Head of Women’s Football, said: Everyone at Bury FC would like to congratulate the players, coaching staff and volunteers on this achievement and looks forward to seeing the team compete in the North West Regional Women’s Football League Division One Central during the 2026/27 campaign. View the full article

The Curious Case of the Missing Trophies – and the Fans Who Still Hold Them for “Safety” For us as Bury FC supporters, 27 August 2019 is a date that will forever be etched into our memory. On that night, the English Football League (EFL) convened, voted, and expelled our club from its ranks, ending 134 years of continuous membership and stripping one of England’s oldest football institutions of its league status. It was early evening when representatives from our supporters’ group Forever Bury arrived at Gigg Lane. Some of us came to comfort devastated fans who had gathered at the stadium, others to liaise with the media and keep those at home updated on last‑ditch negotiations with prospective buyers. For many of us, the atmosphere was one of disbelief – supporters dazed and broken, struggling to comprehend what was happening to our beloved club. Amid the chaos, one Forever Bury representative recalls taking a call from colleagues working behind the scenes on a potential rescue deal when they were quietly approached by a supporter, away from the crowds. Their concern wasn’t about the takeover talks, but something more tangible: our club’s history. This fan admitted they had already worked with members of staff to remove some of our club’s most precious items – including the recently won League Two Runners‑Up trophy – and had hidden them “in their loft for safety.” Their fear was that, with the club in financial freefall, historic memorabilia might be sold off, lost, or even destroyed. This was not an isolated act. Weeks earlier, another supporter had driven his work van to the Carrington training ground and filled it with our club’s possessions – framed photographs, posters, training equipment and other artefacts. They later told Forever Bury that these items were being kept in a lockup at their business premises, again, in an effort to “protect” them from being sold off to pay debts. In the months and years that followed Bury’s expulsion, our fanbase itself fractured. Some of us walked away, unable to bear the pain. Others poured their energy into the phoenix club, Bury AFC. Many remained in limbo, still yearning for the identity, history, and pride tied up in Bury FC. For all of us, the sense of loss and betrayal will never fully heal. Meanwhile, the fate of much of our club’s memorabilia – trophies, shirts, photographs, and other artefacts collected since its formation in 1885 – remains uncertain. While some items have been recovered, others are still believed to be in the hands of individuals who insist they are safeguarding them. Our club’s Heritage Committee has made repeated attempts to catalogue and reclaim assets on behalf of the community. The aim is to preserve them collectively, not privately – to ensure Bury’s legacy belongs to all of us, not a few individuals who believe they alone can decide the future of our history. Why write this article?Because the time has come to return the missing history that binds our club together. These items – the cups, the medals, the photographs, the shirts – are not possessions to be hoarded in lofts or hidden away in businesses. They are community assets, symbols of a shared past that belong to every one of us who has ever stood on the terraces at Gigg Lane. It is not for one individual to decide what happens to our history. That responsibility belongs collectively to us, the fans, and to representatives such as the Heritage Committee, whose role is to safeguard, support, and preserve the legacy of Bury FC for future generations. So this is an appeal, not an accusation. We urge those who hold these priceless pieces of our story – particularly the 2019 League Two Runners‑Up trophy, the last piece of silverware lifted before expulsion – to return them to their rightful home: our club and our community. Until they are returned, the story of Bury FC remains incomplete. And just as the fight to restore our club has always been a collective one, so too must be the task of restoring our history. A Way ForwardWe want to make clear that this is not about blame, but about reconciliation. If you currently hold items of our club’s history, we are more than willing to act as mediators and help ensure they are safely returned to the club. You can remain anonymous – your identity will not be disclosed. All we ask is that you take the step to give these pieces of history back to where they belong. If you are willing to return items, please reach out to us using the clicking this link: Contact Us or emailing us via enquiries@uptheshakers.co.uk. Together, we can restore these symbols of our heritage to their rightful place – for our club, our fans, and our community.