Gigg Lane - Bury FC Ground Guide

Pliny Harris

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Gigg Lane - Bury FC Ground Guide

How Easy Was The Ground to Get To (from the station, by car, etc)

Get on the M66 and take the exit at Junction 3, going west. Follow that road all the way, including straight on at the roundabouts. Eventually the road ends with some traffic lights, and turn right onto Manchester Road/Bury New Road due north. Keep going for a mile and Gigg Lane's on your right, just before a big sign advertising the games.
Avoid Junction 2 of the M66 as the A58 is a nightmare in and out of town.
Alternatively, just take Bury New Road due north from Junction 17 of the M60/M62 through Whitefield. This route may be more straightforward but it's on the slow side.
Bury town centre is accessed by tram from Manchester. It's about a mile's walk down Manchester Road/Bury New Road to the ground.

If Applicable, How is Parking Near The Ground?
There's a decent sized car park at Gigg Lane and busy terraced streets all around it. I recommend going down the residential roads on the west side of Manchester Road and simply following everyone else up.

Based on Where You Were Sat, How Was the View?
Admittedly not the best. The Gigg Lane roof is held up by stanchions on all sides bar the Cemetery End on the east, which alternates between being a home or away end. The Manchester Road End on the other side bottoms out slightly below the pitch, goes further back and the stanchions aren't too prohibitive to see most of the game. The Les Hart Stand on the south also has 'em, but is a little steeper and gets the sun, and opens up for exceptionally large away followings. The main stand is dark and the stanchions are restrictive, but due to its elevation and getting the most use you usually feel closest to the action there.

If You Ate at The Ground, How Would You Rate the Food?
Admission at Bury has been decently priced recently, but don't think that leaves you spare change to eat there. I inevitably end up going with someone who visits the food stand at half time, and comes out with a 100g bag of Munchies, £3 less to their name and a sunken brow.

How Was The Atmosphere At The Ground, From Both Sets of Supporters? Does the Stadium Hold the Noise?
Ever good potential, as the roofs are flattish. The home side mostly breaks out with "Come on Bury!" from stand to stand when we start attacking. There's also a small band in the Les Hart Stand with a drum and all the popular cut'n'paste chants of our day, although they're quick to quieten down when the action does and are even quicker to leave before injury time. One or two of them were embarrassingly subject to a certain BBC3 documentary not too long ago... Usually we're shown up by the away fans, and the spectators in the home end are usually quietest.

How Are the Pubs and Local Attractions in The Local Area?
Confession time! I've watched Bury since I was a baby, but 99% of the time I've been to Bury, it's been solely to watch Bury. My father grew up in the wider area but I haven't even slept a night in any part of the borough north of the M60. My pub recommendation is also hopelessly nepotistic: The Swan & Cemetery on Bury New Road, just south of the ground, having gone there and only there all my life. It's a Thwaites pub that's been done up all gastro recently, but still attracts many home fans and away fans, who are always friendly.

Overall Score Out of 10?

It's my team, so you can make your mind up below.
 
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rudebwoyben

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Fair enough, although usually when people support two clubs they're usually of very different sizes. When was the last time these two played each other?
 

Pliny Harris

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Bury were my father's local team, and the one I'd watch as a nipper in Maidenhead and coming back north. It didn't take long to also czech out what was going on on our doorstep. Going from an at the time very successful Bury team to rudimentary non-league wasn't disappointing when we were marching towards the title in '97/98, and it was also easy to periodically transfer from "Shakers" to "Shaymen" although once a season I always end up screaming "COME ON TOWN" at Gigg Lane by accident. It's strange that despite coming so naturally, it gets more surprised looks than all these Haligonians who appear to have migrated from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. But it doesn't help when locals have a pretty 15th century approach to the county divide.

Last time we played was in a friendly at FCHT's genesis where Town lost 1–0, and before that it was an LDV Vans Trophy (I think) game where Bury lost 6–1 at the Shay. My uncle, Bury all his life, joined us in the home end all excited about the current team, and was both embarrassed and livid when we found ourselves celebrating the other goals.

 

rudebwoyben

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I think Haligonians has supplanted Cestrians and Grimbarians as my favourite collective nouns for a particular town's inhabitants!
 

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How Easy Was The Ground to Get To (from the station, by car, etc)
As above, straightforward road off the M66

If Applicable, How is Parking Near The Ground?
Ive parked in the side streets near the pub every time Ive been.

Based on Where You Were Sat, How Was the View?
Sat in the Manchester Road End and the South Stand. Boh have a couple of pillars, but arent that bad.

How Were The Stewards on The Day?
Never noticed them.

If You Ate at The Ground, How Would You Rate the Food?
Never ate

How Was The Atmosphere At The Ground, From Both Sets of Supporters? Does the Stadium Hold the Noise?
Shame the atmosphere is generally poor, because acoustically its a brilliant ground.

How Are the Pubs and Local Attractions in The Local Area?
The Swan and Cemetery on the main road near the ground is fine for away fans.

Overall Score Out of 10?
Alright ground disappointing atmosphere and not so much near the ground let it down a bit really.
7/10
 

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