Sport

Bury FC and Bury AFC vote to merge with football set to return to Gigg Lane

It's a decision that feels like the right move for everyone involved and a brilliant step forward for the town.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 7th May 2023

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.

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.

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The club, once again set to compete as Bury FC, will take AFC’s existing spot in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division (the ninth-tier in the English football pyramid) and are looking to rebuild their club from scratch, with some of the levelling up money even allocated to renovate their home ground.

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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!

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

Featured Image — Bury FC (via Twitter)/David Dixon (via Geograph)

Sport

Luxury Manchester gym and pilates studio mysteriously closes

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Luxury Manchester gym and pilates studio Blok mysteriously closes

One of Manchester’s most premium fitness facilities appears to have closed down, leaving members and instructors in the dark.

A forfeiture notice has appeared at the entrance of Blok, a boutique gym and pilates studio in the city centre.

Members have been arriving for classes this week to find the luxury facility at Ducie Street Warehouse closed up.

Native Places, which owns the beautifully restored mill building near Manchester Piccadilly and operates the upper floors as an aparthotel, has confirmed that it’s taken ‘formal possession of the ground floor gym’.

Blok has said they believe that the forfeiture of their lease by landlords is ‘illegal’ and that the team are ‘working to get this resolved as a matter of urgency’.

The gym also stressed the Manchester is a ‘profitable site, which we have collectively worked hard to grow into a thriving, healthy business’.

With three different studios, Blok opened in Manchester in 2019 offering classes ranging from dumbbell-based weight training to barre and pilates, as well as boxing, calisthenics and HIIT workouts.

Last year, the gym introduced reformer pilates to its premium offering.

And just last week, Blok had been running a Crowdcube campaign selling shares in the business in exchange for exclusive investor rewards.

Blok Manchester is inside Ducie Street Warehouse, owned by Native Places
Blok Manchester is inside Ducie Street Warehouse, owned by Native Places

Their investment campaign cited 175% growth in membership over the last 12 months, and promised four new flagship sites forecast to generate £1.5m in profit annually.

Alas, it appears Blok Manchester is now closed. Members have been leaving comments on their Instagram posts asking for updates, and several people are posting TikToks saying they were unable to attend their class.

One person wrote: “Hello I’ve lost my personality as Blok is closed *cry*.”

She added: “You can still book but it’s all locked up, no one can enter the premises … I got one email that they’re having ‘trouble accessing the building’, confused why they’re still allowing people to book??”

@lulaadamz

Hello I’ve lost my personality as Blok is closed *cry* Good Pilates/Mat/Barre/ reformer studios in Manchester. Also please no say a place that costs the same as my kidney, because that’s not cool 🙂 #BLOK #manchesterpilates #MCR #FYP

♬ original sound – luizaadamz

A statement from Native Places said: “Native Places has taken formal possession of the ground floor gym following the sustained non-payment of rent by the tenant.

“This action marks the end of a six-year relationship during which Native has consistently supported the tenant in their occupation of the space.

“Unfortunately, due to continued non-payment, we have had no option but to follow the appropriate legal process. The premises have now been secured, and access is restricted.”

In a statement provided to The Manc, Ed Stanbury, CEO and Founder of Blok, said: “The closure of BLOK Manchester is due to the forfeiture of our lease by our landlords, an action that we believe to be illegal. We are working with our lawyers to get this resolved as a matter of urgency. 

“Whilst there has been speculation around financial pressures that may have led to this situation, we want to be clear: BLOK Manchester is a profitable site, which we have collectively worked hard to grow into a thriving, healthy business.

“We’re incredibly proud of the team and community we’ve created in Manchester, and our focus right now is on supporting them as we navigate this.”

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Featured image: Blok

Sport

Patrice Evra issues passionate plea to Manchester United as he must miss the Europa League final

Danny Jones Danny Jones Patrice Evra video message to Man United ahead of Europa League final

Ex-Manchester United star Patrice Evra has issued a passionate appeal to his old club ahead of the Europa League final, as he reluctantly prepares to miss the game.

Evra, 44, has remained an avid Man United fan even since he left the club back in 2014 and doesn’t miss a game if he can, often lending his punditry services to the likes of Sky Sports of TNT Sports.

However, despite the biggest game of their season coming up this Wednesday, 20 May, the Frenchman has been forced to skip the match due to a recent bereavement.

Nevertheless, Evra has taken time to issue a rallying cry to Ruben Amorim and his Red Devils, urging them to “be United” and “fight” just like his loved one.

As explained in the short video, the retired left-back’s sister recently passed away at just 56 after a long battle with cancer.

Visibly emotional but determined in the clip, Evra starts by sharing his “positive energy” before trying to inject some defiance.

Noting that his sibling fought for her life for more than two decades, he goes on to add, “That’s what I want from you [United players and fans] tomorrow: just fight — bleed for this shirt, for the fans, the staff, for the people of Manchester.”

Stating that there is “no excuse” for failure and that winning their first European trophy in seven years is their “duty”, he called on the team to channel the commitment and dedication of those travelling from all over the world to see them take on Spurs in Bilbao.

As for the former French international himself, he will be making his return to sport only in an entirely different arena, with a combat sports debut coming very soon.

Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra is set to make his MMA debut very soon
Wait until you see who he called out… To be fair, I think we’d prefer to watch the Evra fight even more than the Europa League final.

While the comments underneath the post are obviously filled with lots of condolences for his loss, lots of supporters are also taking further faith and motivation from his competitive spirit.

Match day isn’t even here yet, but we’ve already seen some incredible examples of the frankly ridiculous lengths fans are going to in order to travel to the final, and Amorim himself has been applauded for a very classy and generous gesture.

It’s a big game for the club and so many across Greater Manchester; you only have to glance at social media to sense the palpable tension. For instance, if you’re a Red, you don’t want to scroll past the video down below.

Go on then – do you think United are going to do it?

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Featured Images — Gordon Flood/Diego Sideburns (via Flickr) Patrice Evra (screenshot via IG)

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