After four years apart, Bury FC and Bury AFC are finally set to be reunited after the vote to merge the two clubs officially passed on Friday 5, May.
Despite a merger vote failing to meet the requirements back in October, members of both Bury FC Supporters’ Society and phoenix club, Bury AFC, have finally agreed to bring the two organisations back together under the original club’s name and return to their historic Gigg Lane stadium from next season.
The vote passed with over 97% of participants voting to amalgamate; the same amount insisted that the club return to Gigg Lane for their home games and a further 92% agreed that they would once again be called Bury Football Club, pending full confirmation by the FA.
That’s right, The Shakers are coming home.
⚪🔵 Vote Result – We are delighted to announce that the vote to amalgamate The Shakers Community and Bury FC Supporters Society has passed by an overwhelmingly POSITIVE margin. 🗳
Bury FC were expelled from the English Football League (EFL) after 125 years back in 2019 following their inability to pay off significant debts and in the wake of a failed takeover bid — one of several clubs who faced the chop around that time in the North West, specifically.
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Although many passionate Shakers went on to form Bury AFC, the club still maintained its original name and trading rights, with supporters even managing to bring Gigg Lane under fan ownership back in February 2022.
Now, though, with the merger finally greenlit and the two clubs becoming one after what has been described as “four years of hell“, they will be able to receive levelling up funds from the local council and the government — an estimated total of £1.3 million, in fact.
Speaking after the successful merger, Bury FC issued a heartfelt statement to the fans, declaring that “it means so much” to see the vote pass “after all the hurt since 2019…”
“We are grateful for the way you, the footballing world supported us through the difficult years, and now equally thankful for your words of support and celebration on our comeback. We hope you will continue to follow our journey…
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“Thank you to all the #Shakers fans who have worked so hard and never given up. The comeback story of a lifetime starts NOW.
Happy to have you back, boys, and we look forward to seeing you back out on the pitch for the 2023/24 season!
"It's not just about this generation. It's about all the generations past and all the generations in the future"
Alistair Rowe from the Bury FC Supporters Society (@buryfcss) after their successful merger vote with Bury AFC.#BuryFC#BuryAFC#bbcfootball
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
7th May 2023 
