Bury

Bury-born athlete James Guy scoops Olympic gold medal in ‘stunning’ Team GB victory

The barnstorming performance saw Team GB bring home the nation's first 4x200 freestyle relay gold for over a century.

The Manc The Manc - 28th July 2021

A Bury-born swimmer has grabbed an Olympic gold medal as the GB men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team scored an emotional, record-breaking victory in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Guy – originally from north Greater Manchester but educated at Forest Preparatory School in Timperley – was shown collapsing in tears of joy at the result; having added gold to a personal trophy cabinet already containing two silvers from Rio 2016.

Team GB’s Tokyo freestyle relay team featured Tom Dean and Duncan Scott (who took gold and silver respectively in Tuesday’s 200m freestyle), Matthew Richards and Guy himself.

The barnstorming performance resulted in a third swimming gold for the nation whilst also setting a new European record of 6:58.58.

The result also proved to be just 0.03 seconds off the world’s fastest time.

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https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1420229581227843584?s=20

Speaking to the cameras after the victory, Guy told the BBC: “As a kid winning an Olympic gold medal was my absolute dream and to do it finally after 25 years is pretty emotional.

“With these four lads here we’ve got the best freestylers in the world.”

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He said that getting a gold was “a dream come true”.

Team GB’s official Twitter account called it a “stunning, stunning swim”.

The last time Great Britain won a gold in the 4×200 freestyle relay was in London in 1908 – over 113 years ago.

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Guy’s medal-winning performance marks another triumph for Greater Manchester-born athletes at the latest games – with Mancunian Georgia Taylor-Brown taking silver in the women’s triathlon earlier this week despite a flat tyre during the cycling section.

As of Wednesday morning (28 July), Team GB have 15 medals at Tokyo 2020 so far – including five gold, six silver, and four bronze.

Featured image: Olympics.com

Bury

The CEO of Bury FC has officially resigned after two key board members step down

Danny Jones Danny Jones

The CEO and Club Secretary of Bury Football Club, Niel Sears, has officially resigned just hours after two other key board members also stepped down.

Fan-owned Bury FC has weathered a difficult few years after slipping into administration back in 2020, splintering into two teams and eventually reforming with its phoenix club in July 2023.

A return to Gigg Lane, a significant investment in the women’s team and a new financial strategy looked to signal the start of a new chapter for the Greater Manchester side, but after a backlash in response to an impending ‘review’ of their volunteering practices, it looks like drama is returning.

Sharing merely two sentences on Friday evening, a statement on the Bury FC website simply read: “We can confirm the resignation of CEO & Club Secretary, Neil Sears. Further comment will be released in due course.

As alluded to in the update, there is little detail at this time and with the weekend’s football to tend with first, the club are unlikely to address the situation until sometime next week.

Having previously worked with Burnley FC and retrained to specialise in sports business and law, Sears was appointed CEO and club sec back in February after having been deemed to have successfully fulfilled the position on a part-time basis since October last year.

A seemingly popular appointment, the only issue of note between Sear and the club was an incident this past summer after he called out some “absolutely disgraceful behaviour from a certain fraction of Bury fans” during a visit to Blackpool this past summer.

However, with the Football Supporters’ Society of Bury (FSSB) chair Phil Young and the club’s football chair Marcel De Matas – both fellow board members and important figures around the club – having also stepped down earlier this week, there looks to have been a clear walkout among the higher-ups.

While there are almost certainly multiple vying factors, the recent review of the volunteer framework and, more specifically, the dismissal of loyal club servant John Rafferty has no doubt been influential.

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On Wednesday, 6 November, Rafferty was told his services were no longer required and despite assurance that he was welcome to come back to Gigg Lane once he has taken time to look over their latest offer, he has been relieved of his current duties after a number of years.

Contextualising the series of events, Bury explained in another lengthy statement this week: “We have been in regular contact with John since Wednesday, both offering apologies for the upset caused and working on the solution to move forward.

“A conversation was had between a member of the board and CEO Neil Sears regarding John’s role. This led to confusion, and miscommunication and caused unnecessary stress on a volunteer. We greatly regret this action.”

Unsurprisingly, there has been an outpouring of support for Rafferty and frustration towards the NWCL (North West Counties League) team online.

“John Rafferty, one of the nicest people you could wish to meet and one of the biggest Bury fans you can speak to removed with no justification as to why. What possible reason can be given?” one person wrote. Another person added: “Whoever is behind this decision should hold their heads in shame – I have never seen a man put so much effort into a [football] club. Absolutely shocking.”

Only time will tell as to why these numerous and clearly seismic decisions have been made and we won’t be surprised if more don’t join the exodus.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Mylo Kaye (via Pexels)/Bury FC (vis YouTube screenshot)

Bury

Last-minute tickets up for grabs for Greater Manchester’s spooky steam train rides this Halloween

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of Greater Manchester’s most-popular Halloween events returns this weekend, and there’s still tickets up for grabs.

East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) eerie ghost trains are a spooky season tradition at this point.

The heritage railway’s Halloween Ghost Trains always prove to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for “loads of spooktacular fun” once the scariest time of year rolls around, and 2024 is expected to be no different – especially as there’s set to be “fresh twists and new surprises” to celebrate ‘Year of the Pumpkin’.

While some little Mancs are already on October half term, and with the rest set to break up from school this Friday, the spooky steam train rides will be happening from 24-26 October this year, with special trains running on Halloween itself (31 October).

Spooky steam train rides through Greater Manchester are returning this Halloween / Credit: ELR

Got the guts for the ride of a lifetime?

In this year’s event, the railway will be transformed with elaborate decorations and eerie lighting, and visitors are encouraged to ensure that “no ghouls fly under the radar”.

Those brave enough at lending Zombie Bob and the ‘Monster Squad’ a helping hand at banishing ghosts and ghouls will be whisked away on a haunted steam engine through the atmospheric Greater Manchester countryside.

You’ll first start off the experience with a pumpkin-themed haunted house walkthrough over the ghoulishly-decorated footbridge at Bury Bolton Street Station, all before you hop on a 60-minute spooky steam train ride to the Irwell Vale and back.

As you take in the autumn sights and delights of the local countryside out the historic steam train’s windows, there’ll be lots of spooky entertainment and music along the way, and, as it always is each year, screaming and singalongs are to be expected too – and encouraged – as this is all part of the experience.

Families are also encouraged to “show off your spookiest fancy dress” on the day, and if you make it to the end, then a goody bag for every child “full of tricks and treats” awaits.

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The Halloween Ghost Trains return tomorrow (24 October), and with multiple journeys happening each day, there’s still a handful of tickets left to get your hands starting from just £14 per person, so you’ll want to snap them up quick.

Find out more and grab your tickets here.

Featured Image – ELR

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