FOOTBALL will be played at Gigg Lane tomorrow, Sunday, for the first time in three years since Bury FC were expelled from the Football League following its much-publicised financial problems.

Bury FC Women will play a historic match against Fleetwood Town Wrens, their first at Gigg Lane since the men's team's last game in May 2019.

Since buying the club from administrators in February Bury FC Supporters Society (FCSS) has organised a two-month clear up at the stadium where it plans to establish a community hub.

Today, Saturday, Bury FCSS has invited fans to attend two Q&A session with the benefactors who purchased Gigg Lane and Bury FC out of administration.

Harry Pickup, from Bury FCSS’s media team, thanked fans for their help in restoring the club.

He said: “We successfully acquired Gigg Lane, as well as the intellectual property, history and memorabilia of Bury Football Club out of administration just over two months ago.

"We did this because we not only love our local football, but because we are aware of what an enormous part of the town’s history and heritage the stadium and football club are.

“As well as restoring it, we have a vision of turning it into a community hub for the whole town to use seven days a week.

“We have been so overwhelmed by the support both locally and nationally. There is a great feeling in Bury and a real sense of positivity.

"This has been embodied by the club’s fans and local community who have all come together to help the volunteer effort in getting the stadium back to how it was.

"It has been emotional and a reminder of what this project means to so many.

“The efforts our fans have applied over these last two months mean that the stadium can now be opened up to competitive football for the first time in three years this Sunday when the Bury FC Foundation Women’s team welcome Fleetwood Town Wrens Ladies to play a crucial promotion contender in front of fans.

"Sunday also happens to be the 137th birthday of Bury Football Club so there is an enormous sense of pride and joy coming together."

Harry added: “However, because we want to redevelop the stadium further for community use, we can’t rely on the work of volunteers alone.

"We are always on the lookout for any financial donations that people can offer and have set up a page on our website where people can give whatever they feel appropriate.

"We want to do this for the town and we want to do it well.”