The Bury Football Club Supporters Society board recognises what a difficult time the past few months have been for all our members and the wider fanbase. It has been a trying, testing time for all concerned and we would like to reassure you that your voices and concerns have been heard. The wellbeing and mental health of our entire fanbase have been pushed to the limits due to events over recent years. While individual differences occur, we respect each and every member has the right to their own personal view. They should therefore allow others the courtesy of having a differing perspective. We were all one family supporting Bury FC not too many years ago, we should be looking to rebuild our club again, it’s your personal choice.
The priority of the BFCSS board, benefactors and volunteers have always been to secure and protect the club under a fan owned model, both for the benefit of all Bury football fans, now and in the generations to come.
As we are all aware, this process has taken some time to complete. The entire set up of the club, the ownership, society structures, funding and league memberships have all had to be examined, restructured and scrutinised to provide the future fan owned model. These efforts enable the club to be compliant and sustainable both now and in years to come, which will protect Bury Football Club in perpetuity.
The legal processes and groups that have needed to be consulted have positively contributed to this involved and lengthy process. The BFCSS board understands your frustrations as we also share them with you, we can only apologise for this and any stress it may have caused you.
Anyone who looks impartially at our situation would be able to appreciate the difficulties involved in this unique situation.
Those directly involved have dedicated months of their time to enable this regeneration of the club to take place, they have also been vilified and have received abuse on social media for their efforts. We as a board do not condone this behaviour which is totally unacceptable and damaging to all concerned. It serves no practical purpose and is to the detriment of the whole process, whatever your perspective.
This is your Bury FC, each member only has one vote to decide the future. To enable the success of Bury FC both now and in the future we have to set aside any differences and actively support your club. It will be a case of not what people say, but what they do, their involvement and time they dedicate to the club.
This means, coming down to Gigg Lane, supporting Bury FC Foundation Women, Legends games, mens elite football or any other event. This directly supports your club by financing the upkeep of the infrastructure of the community facility and ultimately the success of the club. Essential services have been freely donated or paid for through funds raised by these events, by supporting them you are directly helping your club to survive and flourish.
During these financially challenging times you can also support your club in another way, by donating your time and volunteering at the club. This is a fantastic ongoing way to support the club and socialise once again, engaging with fans, old and new.
It has not been an easy period for us all, many have said things they believe in, are proud of saying or regret saying, faceless people have hidden behind nameless accounts and worked to prevent our club from succeeding. Many have criticised those who have done all they can to save and protect the future of our club. As a board we consider this behaviour unacceptable and we would again ask that we put differences aside and come together for the sake of the future of your club, however you decide to vote.
The final stages of the voting procedure and timescales are currently being finalised and will be enacted as soon as we can enable it. The voting announcements and structure have a timescale which is pre defined, once enacted it will lead to the vote and the future direction of Bury FC. The renewal of BFCSS membership have been suspended in line with these guidelines up to the vote and we are awaiting final confirmation of the dates which are due imminently.
Regardless of how you may choose to show your support for the club, each eligible member only has one vote. That is how the future of the club will be decided, one member, one vote.
The BFCSS board will fully support the outcome of your vote and will take that mandate and enact upon it to the best of our ability.
As per our last update to members the BFCSS board are confident of the deadlines from the governing bodies within football to give us the best chance of once again securing Mens Football at Gigg Lane next season.
We have had requests from members to notify them where we are up to with applications for a FA affiliation number for the 2023/2024 season in the event of the amalgamation proposal not going ahead. Having an affiliation number is part of the formal process of the potential application for a league place. We can confirm that one has been obtained and is in place to be used if necessary. As we have previously stated, we cannot guarantee which league we would be accepted into if this scenario arises, but we would be very confident of being successful in that application. The Bury FC veterans team – who are playing at Gigg Lane this Sunday morning – are now using this FA number. We have positions in place for us to have all the documentation complete if necessary.
The success of YOUR Bury Football Club is in your hands, be positive and help us to make it happen.”
