Dear Members,
We have been asked to issue this statement on behalf of Bury Football Club Women.
This statement represents their view and is not indicative of the views of the society. We await the mandate of our members and remain impartial.
Bury FC Foundation statement
The Bury FC Foundation committee would like to make the following statement with regards to the merger discussions in relation to Bury FC and Bury AFC:
It has been confirmed via a FAQ document and confirmation from the board of Bury Football Club Supporters Society (BFCSS) that Bury AFC have taken the stance that Bury AFC Women must be included in any merger in full and take the place of Bury FC Women as the Women’s team at Gigg Lane.
Whilst we appreciate, they are affiliated to Bury AFC we would point out that originally, they were affiliated to Bury FC Foundation as the Women’s Veterans. In 2020 we were invited to meet with AFC to discuss the potential of transferring our Women’s team, Women’s Vets, Walking team and Disability teams across under the AFC banner. An offer that was declined due to the fact these teams already existed and had done so sustainably since 1996. The Women’s Veterans team decided to go alone and move to AFC, subsequently creating a new Women’s team for AFC.
As a committee we have no issue with the creation of Bury AFC, a great achievement by fans to replace a Men’s team that was taken away at the time from the town. However, this did not stop Bury FC Women continuing to exist and therefore did not need ‘creating’. Furthermore, Bury AFC currently finance their new Women’s team. Bury FC do not need to do this and have not done this in the past. Bury FC Women are self-financing.
We always believed Bury Football Club would return and whilst waiting we continued to grow our club and to represent the community of Bury. We provide opportunities to play football for all in the community, incorporating boys, girls, women, men, vets, disability and walking football. We are not just one group of players, we are a community of players, parents, relatives, volunteers, sponsors and supporters.
Originally formed in 1996 with one female team, named Bury Ladies FC. The club quickly grew and has continued to grow over the years to where we are now, with over 300 players providing football for all. During that period, a couple of name changes took place to accommodate the mix of football we were providing, Bury Girls & Ladies FC, Bury FC Boys & Girls and latterly Bury FC Foundation (Bury FC Women are one team of many teams within Bury FC Foundation). What hasn’t changed is our association and partnership with Bury Football Club.
Yes, we operate under a separate affiliation number than the original Bury Football Club and there are many reasons for that. Being a non-profit making, FA accredited, community football club in our own right allows us to access grants and other initiatives through the FA. Which being under a professional or semi-professional football club’s affiliation would not allow us to do. It allows us to be self-financing and therefore are not dependant on funding from Bury FC. Likewise, when Bury FC collapsed, we were able to continue as our finances weren’t affected.
There has been a lot of talk about us not having the same affiliation number as Bury FC. We do not need to have the same affiliation number to be associated with Bury FC. Our loyalty and commitment to the Bury community and Bury FC has never wavered regardless of a formal affiliation since 1996. Nor do we depend on financial help from Bury FC. Our partnership is that of mutual benefit and for the good of the community.
The Women’s team has played at Gigg Lane many times, and in 2018 a formal agreement was made for them to play there and represent Bury FC as we have always done as a club, prior to this they played at Lower Gigg. Unfortunately, the folding of Bury FC in 2019 ended this agreement. The team was damaged by the closure of Bury FC, but because we function as a stand-alone club, we were able to bring the women back to the facilities the grassroots teams use and rebuild the team.
When our women’s team were able to get back on to Gigg Lane at the end of the 21/22 season we were overjoyed. This is what we had been waiting for, Bury FC Women back where they belong. It was worth all our hard work as a community club, and many of our members where there for the big Gigg clean up. This time it was also made even more special with the backing of over 600 Bury fans cheering us on. Our younger club members were included too with the opportunity to lead the team out. We were further delighted with the agreement to allow the Women’s Team to continue for the 22/23 season.
Since the re-opening of Gigg Lane we have been able to use the community facilities even further, by holding our Annual Presentation Event and our Club AGM there. This summer will see us use Gigg Lane as we hold our HAF Summer Football Camp in conjunction with Bury Council, part of the Covid recovery scheme servicing over 130 children each day. This has brought us closer to the Bury FC community, with many of them having increased knowledge of who we are and the value we bring to Bury FC and its community.
To remove a football community of over 300 members and their families to appease a new team is not what a community stadium is about and would destroy a partnership that has been in place for many years.
There is a Women’s team already at Gigg representing Bury FC. They do not need replacing and any action to so does not represent the values that should be at the very heart of what is now a community facility.
