We return to travelling on the M6 North, this Saturday is an extra special trip to an ex-football league ground at Gigg Lane, when Darlaston Bury.

The clubs met at The Paycare Stadium in mid November, Darlaston scored first through Jake Pearson, Bury equalising just as the Referee was to blow for half time. Bury took all three points with a second half goal from current top scorer Kai Evans.

Following Bury’s reformation in the 2021-22 season as subsequent amalgamation of AFC Bury and Bury FC who owned Gigg Lane and securing promotion into the North West Counties \Premier Division from the First Division which they won in their first full playing season in 2021-22, after two seasons in The North West Counties Premier Division they were crowned champions, last season earning promotion into The Northern Premier League West Division.

Currently they have found the transition from The North West Counties into the West Division quite successful as the club currently occupies third position in the league table, but prior to Christmas their long-term manager Dave McNab was moved upstairs and promoted to Head of Football Operations. The club advertised the managers role appointing Michael Jolley but two days into the job Jolley and the club parted ways. The club moved swiftly to appointed Tim Lees who had been assistant manager at the club since 2023 as interim manager for the remainder of the season.

During this difficult period, on the field the club have maintained spectacular results and go into tomorrow’s game on a six game unbeaten run, where they have won four games, two at home against Mossley (2-1) and Clithero (2-0) and away from Gigg Lane at Newcastle Town (1-0) and Stalybridge Celtic (6-2). The draws came both at home against Atherton Colliers in mid-November and last Saturday against Avro (1-1) who Darlaston beat at The Paycare Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Dangermen for the Shakers are Kai Evans who has called ten goals in twenty-five starts, Rustams Stepans with nine goals in twenty-five starts and Lewis Rawsthorn with eight goals in twenty-one starts.

Given the occasion at Gigg Lane and a history of a huge supporting fan base, Darlaston will face the unique opportunity of playing in front of several thousand people at an ex-football league ground, a wonderful opportunity to display their talents.

After starting the New Year in good form winning two home games, both against top five sides in the division at the time, bringing long unbeaten runs to an end, Darlaston have won three of their last four fixtures, but given an extremely hard game on Wednesday evening on a heavy pitch, the Citizens squad will have rested since that excellent performance against Avro and manager Dean Gill may well juggle his pack, making changes to the starting line-up after some players picked up knocks on Wednesday.

All seats on the coach to Bury have been sold and anyone considering going to the game will need to travel independently and the club will publish further details shortly.

Admission to tomorrow’s game is as follows:

All away fans should enter the ground through turnstile 7, sitting in Blocks H & I of the main stand. Advanced tickets should be purchased for the main stand from Bury Away Ticket Sales

Admission charges are

• Adults - £12
• Disabled (with carer) - £12 (£6 each)
• Military Veterans - £6 on production of HM Armed Forces Veteran Card
• 16 – 18-year-olds - £5
• Under 16’s - £3 we do expect children under 12 to be accompanied by an adult
• Under 5’s – Free

Programme £3 – Available online or paper programme.

Cash and Contactless payments will be taken on admission

Supporters may be asked to provide proof of age – Please do not be offended

For any Darlaston supporters travelling by public transport or car to the ground, we will publish a second article shortly with more information included.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Darlaston supporters to watch their team play in a historic ex-football league stadium and we would be grateful if as many Darlaston supporters as possible make the trip up the M6 to support the club in such an important game.