Bury fans secure £1m from govt for Gigg Lane

Bury Football Club Supporters Society will use the money from the Community Ownership Fund to buy back the historic stadium, three years after The Shakers were expelled from the English Football League.

Gigg Lane is one of the oldest professional football stadiums. The 12,500 seater ground had been the home of Bury FC since 1885. Bury FC went into administration in November 2020, after chairman Steve Dale was unable to provide the club enough money to compete in the 2019/2020 season.

The £1m will help the fan group complete its purchase of the stadium from administrator Inquesta Corporate Recovery & Insolvency.

The money will also help turn Gigg Lane into an all-weather pitch and gymnasium for the community to use. The site will also offer an indoor facility for adult education, public meetings, events and rehabilitation services. The money will also go towards redeveloping the Manchester Road Stand to hold a NHS diagnostic and physiotherapy provision.

“This funding will allow us the opportunity to complete the purchase of Gigg Lane in order to bring football back to its historic home after a nearly 3 year hiatus,” said Math Pickup, a representative from Bury Football Club Supporters Society, Forever Bury and Est 1885.

“There are still a few steps left in the process and we hope to provide a further update in the coming days when the legalities have been completed but we thank all the fans for their continued support,” he continued.

“We would also like to thank James Daly MP, Bury Council, Bury College and the football foundation for their support with our application.”

The Community Ownership Fund comes from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

“The collapse of Bury FC is a stain on English football and the result of the game being ripped out of the hands of the supporters and communities who made it what it is by big business and corporate interest,” said secretary of state for levelling up Michael Gove.

“I pay enormous tribute to Bury’s supporters, who have shown incredible resolve in their fight to bring their beloved club back to life,” he continued.

“By helping rescue the historic Gigg Lane stadium, we are helping to put power back into their hands and securing a cherished asset for the wider community.”

Fans of Portsmouth FC Women and Moneyfields FC also received money from the Community Ownership Fund to purchase a new football ground – the John Jenkins Stadium.