Bury FC’s Gigg Lane put up for sale by administrators
The 12,500 capacity venue - which is one of the oldest professional football stadiums in the world - has been put on the market six months after the club entered administration.
Bury FC’s 136-year-old stadium Gigg Lane is officially up for sale.
The 12,500 capacity venue – which is one of the oldest professional football stadiums in the world – has been put on the market six months after the club entered administration.
No competitive Bury FC fixtures have been played at the ground for two years – with the club being expelled from the football league in 2019 after falling into financial ruin.
Owner Steve Dale remained in possession of the club and Gigg Lane itself following the club’s ejection from the pyramid, whilst a group of supporters splintered off to form a new side: Bury AFC.
Pressure is now being placed on Bury Council to purchase the stadium for themselves.
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Not surprised the Administrator has put Gigg Lane up for sale. Council can have a big part to play now either in buying it themselves or making it as difficult as possible for anyone else to do something other than football with it.
Administrator Steven Wiseglass, of Inquesta Corporate Recovery and Insolvency, has appointed agent Fleurets to make the sale.
The 6.4 acre site includes the stadium itself along with the ticket office and club shop.
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Mr Wiseglass said: “As part of the administration process, I have been liaising with the secured charge-holder over the stadium and have now appointed Fleurets to actively market the stadium for sale.
“My role is to secure the best possible outcome for all stakeholders of The Bury Football Club Company Ltd.
“Bury FC is a club with a rich history and a loyal and enthusiastic fan base, and I do hope that a suitable buyer will be forthcoming to secure the future of football at Gigg Lane.
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“All expressions of interest should be submitted directly to Fleurets.”
Graeme Bunn, managing director of Fleurets, said: ““Fleurets is delighted to have been appointed by Inquesta to bring to the market the stadium at Gigg Lane.
“This is a unique opportunity to purchase a freehold stadium, with an all-seating capacity of over 12,000.
“The marketing of the stadium presents a variety of buyers and occupiers with the prospect of securing the landmark property.
“Offers will be invited on an unconditional basis. We encourage all interested parties to contact Fleurets as soon as possible, as we anticipate significant local and national interest.”
Bury
The family-run farm in Bury where you can walk adorable alpacas in the countryside
Emily Sergeant
Tucked away in the Greater Manchester countryside, less than 10 minutes from Bury town centre, you’ll find a herd of loveable alpacas.
Based in the Walshaw area of Bury, just a nine-minute drive from the town’s centre, the family-owned Meadowcroft Farm is run by couple Deb and Deano, who have turned their land into a home dedicated to letting alpacas live their best life – and this includes regular visits from the Greater Manchester public keen to learn all about them.
If you’re looking to swap the hustle and bustle of city life for rolling hills and views as far as the eye can see, then Meadowcroft Farm’s already-popular alpaca walking experience offers just the reset you need.
Oh, and you can make friends with alpacas and other adorable animals too, while you’re at it.
This is Meadowcroft Farm Alpacas / Credit: The Manc Group
The interactive experience starts off with a talk from Deb about everything they do at Meadowcroft Farm, and then you’ll get introduced to each of their 12 fluffy alpacas.
As alpacas are pack animals, this means you need to have at least three living together at one time by law in the UK.
Then each person gets paired up with an alpaca for the walk – with The Manc Group team members, Aimee and Emily, getting to look after the farm’s two new babies, Woody and Buzz.
Once everyone is paired with their alpaca, it’s then time to go for a short walk around the landscape of the farm, with some really gorgeous views to take in along the way.
At this family-run farm in Bury, you can walk a herd of adorable alpacas in the countryside / Credit: The Manc Group
While you’re walking around the flat, grassy route (the walk is suitable for most people, but it’s advised that you dress in correct clothing for the weather and surroundings), Deb takes the time to check in with all the walkers, even stopping to take pictures of everyone with their alpacas before heading back to the farm to feed them.
After working up an appetite, you’ll then get to feed the alpacas, alongside the other animals Meadowcroft takes care of – including baby goats, polish chickens, and rabbits.
Bury primary school teaching assistant jailed after pleading guilty to child sex offences
Emily Sergeant
A teaching assistant from Bury has been sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple sex offences against a ‘vulnerable’ young boy.
Terri Cook, of Masefield Avenue in Radcliffe, appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court last week, where she was sentenced after pleading guilty to eight charges of sexual offences.
The sentencing came after officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) began in ‘intense’ investigation into Cook back in September of last year after a member of the public reported seeing her out with a young boy.
The subsequent investigation showed that she had been grooming and manipulating the young boy into engaging in a sexual relationship with her.
Police found numerous messages on Cook’s phone where she had been inciting sexual communications with the boy and holding indecent images of him, and she was also found to have been buying him expensive items, like jewellery and clothing, for a period of more than nine months.
During a powerful statement read out in court, the young boy was described as being ‘extremely kind and caring’, with his mum adding: “Despite experiencing traumatic events earlier in his life, he continued to be positive and compassionate. He smiled every day and made us all laugh.”
Cook was sentenced four-and-a-half years in prison for eight charges of sexual offences.
Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Adam Stanfield, from GMP’s Bury CPIU, said: “This case was a horrific example of calculated abuse of power, and Cook targeted a vulnerable child who put his trust in her.
“Grooming is a form of manipulation that can leave lasting emotional and psychological damage, and our priority remains protecting young people and supporting victims as they recover.
“This sentencing also emphasises our unwavering commitment to protecting male victims. They can be victims too and I urge anyone who believes they may have been through anything similar to please report to us.”
The Manc -
11th May 2021 
