[themaclad]

A vote to merge Bury FC and Bury AFC has passed, paving the way for football to return to Gigg Lane.

Members of both clubs failed to reach a two-thirds majority in the first merger vote in October.

This time 90.1% of the Bury FC Supporters' Society and 97% of Bury AFC members voted to form one club to play at Gigg Lane from next season.

Having a unified club in Bury means it also now qualifies for local council and government levelling up funding.

"What we are building today, is for those who will look back, [to] be proud of the work we as volunteers have put into establishing this club as a shining example of a sustainable fan-owned football club," said Bury Football Club Supporters' Society.

The Shakers were expelled from the English Football League in 2019, with some fans going on to form Bury AFC.

The club plays in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League, the ninth tier of the English football pyramid, staging their home games a few miles down the road from Gigg Lane at Stainton Park, Radcliffe.

Bury fans completed a deal to buy back their old Gigg Lane ground in February 2022 and currently trade as Bury FC.

A total of 2,700 votes were counted across the Shakers Community Society and Bury FC Supporters' Society, with 66% needing to vote in favour of a merger for it to pass.

The original vote, held in October 2022, failed to pass having fallen just short of the threshold on 63%.

Funding of £1.3m is available in total - £450,000 from Bury Council and the rest coming from the government's levelling up fund.

[themaclad]

Bury boss Andy Welsh says the club's competitive return to Gigg Lane is a chance to reunite the town.

The Shakers take on Glossop North End on Saturday in their first league game at their home ground since they were expelled by the English Football League in August 2019.

Phoenix club Bury AFC and Bury FC were reunited in May 2023.

"It's going to be an emotional day for everybody involved," Welsh told BBC Radio Manchester.

"My job is to make sure everyone's emotions on the pitch and in the stands come together to bring an energy that means we're fighting for every ball and running ourselves into the ground."

Since their expulsion, Bury FC did not play while Bury AFC entered the league pyramid at North West Counties Division One North level, eventually winning the division in their second season in existence.

Bury AFC finished fourth in the North West Counties Premier Division - the ninth tier of English football - last season.

Gigg Lane was brought back under the ownership of Bury fans in February 2022, 15 months after Bury FC entered administration, while a vote to merge the two clubs was eventually passed earlier this year.

Welsh added: "When anybody is feeling low about a result or performance or missed chance, the greater thought process for me as a manager, player and fan is that this club is back playing football.

"Everything needs to be put behind us and we need to look to the future, because this is going to be an immensely proud moment for everybody in the town that we've got the football club back."

[themaclad]

Played their first league game back at Gigg Lane won Gate figure 5500

[St Charles Owl]

Good for them, glad they finally saw sense and joined the two fan groups together.

[themaclad]

Think the fact they got the ground back was a major factor in that

[themaclad]

Bury lost in the play off final in the North West Counties Premier League to Wythenshawe Town on penalties after a 1 all draw this means both Wythenshawe teams are now in the lower reaches of the Northern Premier League