FOLLOWING last week's news that Bury AFC will play in the North West Counties League next season, the club has unveiled its new crest.

The Shakers phoenix club, who will line up in NWCL Division One North from September, turned to supporters to select the badge that best represented the town of Bury.

Designed by Bury fan, Nick Hunsley, the crest has been modernised to reflect the club as it heads into the new era.

The coat of arms retains references to the metalwork, textile and paper industries synonymous with the town in the form of the anvil, flying shuttle and papyrus plant.

The top-right quarter now includes geographical reference to Peel Tower, adorned with two stars. The tower is a prominent monument which looks down on the town from the top of Holcombe Hill and was built as a memorial to Sir Robert Peel – creator of the modern police force and twice Prime Minister – who was born in the Bury in 1788.

The crest retains the industrious bee between two branches of the cotton plant as well as referencing ‘2020’ as our inaugural entry into the league pyramid.

A statement from the club said: "Bury AFC is ‘By the Fans, For the Fans’. With respect to the level of dedicated effort from our supporters, volunteers and members in getting Bury AFC to where it is today, we will retain the town motto of ‘Hard Work Conquers All’.

"We hope you will feel the sense of pride in wearing the crest and representing our town."

Meanwhile, the club has announced that Hope & Glory will be the official kit and training wear suppliers for its inaugural season.

After reviewing an extensive selection of manufacturers, H & G were selected because of their quality and reputation in addition to their ability to produce truly bespoke designs.

The club wanted its first kits to be something special which rewarded the fans with a high quality shirt they would be proud to wear - not simply the kit which offered the biggest margin for the club.

Bury AFC also wanted to make it easy for fans to acquire replica kits, while minimising the impact on the club’s finances by having to pre-pay for a large number of kits up front. So fans will be able to purchase individual shirts made to order through the soon to be launched online shop.

Having selected H & G, the commercial team have decided, in line with the club’s community ethos, to use their environmentally friendly EcoKits made from approximately 16 single use plastic bottles.

To reward rather than exploit fan loyalty, Bury AFC kits will normally be changed every two seasons, not every season as has become the norm at many clubs. Home and away kits will be changed in alternating seasons. The new home kit will be used for two seasons and, as a one-off, the away kit will become our third kit in the second season to allow the normal away kit change cycle to begin.

Chris Murray, Bury AFC Chair, said: “Our commercial team have worked extremely hard to make sure we found a supplier who fitted in well with what we want the players, staff, volunteers and fans to look like as we start out on an exciting journey. H&G have been phenomenal so far with our requirements and helping us create a kit that represents Bury AFC.”

Ric Dennis, owner of Hope & Glory Sportswear, added: “We are delighted to have been selected as the official kit partner at Bury AFC and we are looking forward to joining them on what I am sure will be an exciting journey.

“As well as a new bespoke home and away kit we will be working alongside the club to develop a wider and more diverse merchandise range.”

Further details about the 2020/21 kits and how to order will be released in the coming days.