Excitement is building in the town as Bury Football Club get ready to play their first match for four years this weekend.

In May, members of the Bury FC Supporters Society (BFCSS) and Bury AFC’s Shaker’s Community Society voted overwhelmingly in favour to amalgamate the two groups as part of an ongoing effort to return elite men’s football to Gigg Lane.

The amalgamation saw a new club formed under the name of Bury FC

The referendum was the second attempt that the groups made to amalgamate as part of an ongoing effort to restore professional men’s football to Gigg Lane, the former home of Bury FC following the expulsion of the historic club from the English Football League (EFL) in 2019 after ongoing financial issues.

Bury's first game back will be a pre-season friendly away at Thackley AFC, near Bradford, on Saturday.

The club will then host two more friendlies at Gigg Lane the following weekend, on July 8 and 9, against Bradford City and Preston North End.

Bury will then be starting the 2023/24 season in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

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Bury North MP James Daly said: “When Bury FC were expelled from the EFL back in 2019 it was absolutely devastating for our town.

“That Bury FC will now be playing once again is a truly incredible thing which means so much to the brilliant fans, volunteers and the wider community.

“I think this first game and particularly the first game back at Gigg Lane on July 8, will be really special moments in the history of our town.”

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Bury South MP Christian Wakeford added: “This is a hugely important moment in the history of Bury FC and is of course welcome.

“Bury’s Labour council and the government have played their part, but this weekend is all about the fans.

“There isn’t enough praise that can be given to them, sticking with it through some of the darkest times for the football club.

“I’d like to place on record my thanks to them and all the volunteers who have worked tirelessly and I look forward to seeing football back at Gigg Lane after their trip to Yorkshire.”

On Saturday, a charity fundraiser match took place at Gigg Lane to mark 10 years after soldier Lee Rigby was murdered.

The "North West superstars" team went head-to-head with a Rangers Select side to raise money for the Lee Rigby Foundation.

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A clean-up mission of the club and ground was completed by volunteers for this game with many people offering the help out.

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