Bury AFC has dismissed claims it wants to kick a women's football team out of Gigg Lane as part of a merger that could bring about the return of Bury FC. Supporters have been asked to back a merger between two fan groups to bring men's football back to the historic ground after a three year absence.
Should the move go ahead, it is hoped that Bury AFC and its women's team will start playing matches at Gigg Lane from the beginning of the 2023/24 season. As the original Bury FC remains in administration, the merger is likely to mean renaming Bury AFC to Bury FC.
But Bury FC Foundation Women, which currently plays its home games at Gigg Lane, have said they believe they will be kicked out under the plans - a claim Bury AFC has described as 'misleading and inaccurate'. A statement posted on the fan-owned club's website on Friday read: "There are no plans to remove the team from Gigg Lane.
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"With a 3G pitch planned, if a merger goes ahead, there is plenty of opportunity to play multiple teams at the ground over a weekend. It does, however, need some thorough planning to ensure that it is workable. The Foundation Women already have a commitment to play at Gigg Lane for the whole of next season.
"We do wish to offer the same opportunities to the Foundation Women as are currently enjoyed by Bury AFC Women, however it is their decision as to which they want to take advantage of, and there are reasons why they may wish to remain separate.
"Bury AFC Women operate under the same playing licence as our men’s team. They are part of the same limited company – Bury Football Club (2019) Ltd – use the same bank account, and are paid expenses through the same payroll system as the men.
"They are provided with playing kit free of charge and we pay for training facilities. Equally, any revenue received from sponsorship or funding goes back to into the one club. There is also considerable overlap amongst volunteers.
"There is a different model for the recreational teams where they pay a subscription to cover costs. This model may not appeal to the Foundation Women who may value an independent operating model more than the support we can offer at this level. They already have their own playing licence under a different county FA and are self-sufficient.
"We do not have a preference to the solution used, but clearly there are decisions to be made which will influence what approach we take to a working relationship and what that looks like in future. This will involve consultation with the FA, but these are ultimately their decisions to make."
Bury AFC added that it was 'surprised and disappointed' to hear of opposing claims which it said 'appeared to achieve nothing more than generate ill-will and encourage supporters to vote against a merger'.
However, Diana Golding, chairman of Bury FC Women's Foundation, said the club had no intention of trying to influence the outcome of any such vote. "It doesn't matter to us either way," she explained.
"Ours is a moral stance. We have used the stadium for many years in partnership with Bury FC.
"There are no inaccuracies about our statement. They [Bury AFC] have quite clearly said that in the event of a merger, AFC women would become the official Bury FC women's team.
"In the event of a merger, everything should really come together. One should not be more important than the other."
Bury AFC was set up by a group of Bury FC supporters in the wake of the Shakers' demise. The men's senior side of the fan-owned club, who play at Radcliffe FC's ground, Stainton Park, won promotion from the North West Counties League First Division North - English football's tenth tier - last season. The club's women's team have also been promoted to the North West Women's League.
On occasions, hostile words have been exchanged as a divide emerged between two factions - supporters of the more recently created Bury AFC and those unwilling to give up on the original club. It is hoped the tension between the camps can be diffused with a merger of fan groups, Bury Football Club Supporters Society - which helped buy Gigg Lane and Bury FC's assets including its name - and the Shakers Community Society - founders of Bury AFC.
Bury FC Foundation Team is part of a huge network of teams of all age groups for both boys and girls. It was set up in 1996 and when the men's senior side was kicked out of the Football League in 2019 the Foundation Team carried on playing. The club is self-financing and not dependent on funding from Bury FC.
Bury FC Women's Foundation Team lit the flame for football coming back to Gigg Lane in April whey they were the first to play in the stadium in three years. They went on to clinch the Lancashire County Championship on the final day of the season.
After being promoted to the Premier Division, the club is due to play all its home games at Gigg Lane in the coming season.
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