Bury FC finally went into administration this week. 

Most people probably don’t even know that The Shakers still exist after they were tossed unceremoniously out of the Football League to wither away and die in the football wilderness.  A lot has been written about the calamitous owner that lead us to the brink of oblivion, and the cold-hearted asset stripper who saw an opportunity to make a few quid out of something that was special and much beloved.  One thing for sure is that the way the pair of them have conducted themselves is scandalous, and the deceit and lies that have surrounded the club since that fateful day is both annoying and saddening in equal measure.

From my excited first visit to Gigg Lane in 1966 through to the joyous, tinged with impending doom, promotion party in May 2019, Bury FC have been a part of my identity.  They still are, although now the narrative has changed from ‘who are we playing?’ to ‘will we ever play again?’’ 

The soap opera rumbles on as Forever Bury seem to have a plan that no-one has bought into yet and Bury AFC continue to be the focus of antagonism and derision.  For such a small fan base we seem to be incredibly skilled at driving wedges between factions.  Once upon a time it was about Warnock, Knill and Barry-Murphy, but now it’s about the future of the town’s football team.

Bury AFC will never be a replacement for me.  It lacks the memories, history and passion that I spent a lifetime fostering with The Shakers.  Did they reduce the chance of Bury FC surviving?  Who knows?  One thing for sure is that I wouldn’t trust anything that Bury FC’s present owner has to say.  He has shown us exactly who he is already, and I don’t need any more evidence to confirm what my thoughts about him are.  The fans at AFC just want football to watch and they have created and successfully launched their team and I applaud them for that.  Radcliffe Borough has no Boy’s Stand, or dodgy tannoy system but it is the starting point of a journey for them.  I would love to think that somehow the differences could be resolved and that Bury FC could once again stride out at Gigg Lane in front of a unified fan base.

As it is, at the moment, when people say to me ‘who are you going to support now’, I smile sadly and realise that they have no way of knowing that my football heart still beats for Bury FC and will forever belong to The Mighty Shakers.