Internet Football Ground Guide - Gigg Lane, Bury FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? The South Stand & Cemetery End (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Drink? Manchester Road End (photo) How To Get There BY Car & Where To Park By Train/Metro Main Stand (photo) Admission Prices Programme Price Ground Layout Local Rivals Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2008-2009 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu
What's The Ground Like?
The ground was completely re-built in the 1990's with the last 'new' stand, the Cemetery End, completed in 1999. The new stands have vastly improved the overall look of the ground, whilst at the same time making it an all seated one. The Manchester Road End is a fair sized stand that is covered and has an electric scoreboard; however it does not run the full width of the pitch, one side ending with the edge of the penalty box. Apparently the scoreboard was bought from Leicester's old Filbert Street ground. The other end, the Cemetery End, is a former terrace that has been demolished and replaced with a relatively new all seater stand. This stand extends around one corner to the South Stand and looks quite smart. There is a small police control box suspended beneath the roof in this corner of it. On one side is the Main Stand, with raised seating meaning that supporters have to climb a small set of steps to enter it. Part of the front has a small box like structure, with a number of windows running along the front. It particularly caught my eye, as with the windows being almost at pitch level, I wondered just how many broken windows they get each season. Opposite is the South Stand, similar in design to the ends with a TV gantry suspended below its roof. The one open corner of the ground has a small block of flats situated behind it, but the rest of the ground has a number of trees visible behind and above the stands, making the ground more attractive. Jeff Johnson informs me; 'Le Stade de Gigg’ as the locals call it, is now shared with FC United of Manchester'. Top Of Page
The South Stand & Cemetery End
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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
After taking account of an online poll amongst home fans, the Club have decided to relocate away supporters from the Manchester Road End to the opposite end, the Cemetery End. This area holds 2,500 fans and it could be argued that this is the best area within Gigg Lane to watch a game as there are no supporting pillars to hinder your view. The end is covered and has good acoustics, meaning that even a small amount of fans can really generate some noise. The catering is quite good, with a range of burgers, hot dogs (Ł2.20) and Shire Foods Pies including the Chicken Balti Pie (Ł2.20). On the whole Bury is normally a relaxed and enjoyable day out. Top Of Page
Where To Drink?
There are plenty of pubs around the ground and along Manchester Road in particular. There is also a supporters club at the ground, which sometimes allows in small numbers of away fans, for a small fee (Ł1). My pick of the pubs on Manchester Road, is the Swan & Cemetery, around a ten minute walk from the ground. This Thwaites pub, is quite comfortable, serves good hand pulled beer and has a separate restaurant area. Nearer to the ground are the Pack Horse & the Staff Of Life. The Pack Horse on my last visit seemed to be the main pub for away fans and has a conveniently situated chippy around the corner from it. The Staff Of Life is a stone's throw from the Park and is a basic pub serving hand pulled Lee's. Also recommended on Manchester Road, is the Waterloo, nearer the town centre. Top Of Page
Manchester Road End (West Stand)
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How To Get There And Where To Park
Leave the M66 at Junction 3. Take the left hand exit at the junction and follow this road until you come to the junction with the A56 Manchester Road. At this T-junction which has traffic lights, turn right towards Bury. You will pass the Swan & Cemetery pub on your left and then some playing fields. At the end of the playing fields just before the traffic lights and a couple of pubs, turn right into Gigg Lane for the ground. However please note that Gigg Lane is normally closed on match days and the ground itself is not easily seen from the A56. Street parking. Adam Hodson provides some alternative directions from Junction 2 of the M66, from where the ground is signposted; 'Take the A58 towards Bury and at the second set of traffic Lights, turn left onto Heywood Street (B6219). Go Straight over a mini roundabout and at the next roundabout, turn right onto Wellington Road (still the B6219). Follow this road to the end, where you will come to a T-junction. Turn left onto the A56 (sign posted Manchester). After passing through a set of traffic lights, turn Left into Gigg Lane for the ground'. For a map showing the location of the ground click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
By Train/Metro
Bury Metrolink is served by trams from Manchester Victoria & Piccadilly mainline railway stations. Bury Metrolink Station is about a 15 minute walk from the ground. Turn left out of station along a pedestrian walkway going underneath the dual carriageway. On the other side of the dual carriageway turn right towards the Town Hall. Just before the Town Hall. Then left into Knowsley Street and at the bottom of Knowsley Street turn left onto the main A56 Manchester Road. It is then a case of going straight along Manchester Road for about half a mile and you will reach Gigg Lane on your left. Thanks to Andy Grainger for supplying the directions. Jon Hall adds; 'Alternatively bus numbers; 90, 92, 135 and 137 run every ten minutes down Manchester Road past the end of Gigg Lane'. Top Of Page
Main Stand
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Admission Prices
Home Fans: Bridge Group (Main) & South Stands - Adults Ł17, Under 21's Ł12, Concessions Ł10 Manchester Road Stand - Adults Ł15, Under 21's Ł12, Concessions Ł10 Away Fans: Surridge Sports Stand (Cemetery End) - Adults Ł15, Under 21's Ł12, Concessions Ł10 Concessions apply to juniors, senior citizens, disabled and the unemployed. Top Of Page
Programme Price
Official Programme: Ł2.50 Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Local Rivals
Bolton Wanderers & Rochdale. Top Of Page
Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2008-2009
For the Bury fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
35,000 v Bolton Wanderers, FA Cup 3rd Round, January 9th, 1960. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 9,115 v Burnley, December 26th 1999 Average Attendance: 2007-2008: 2,601 (League Two) 2006-2007: 2,588 (League Two) 2005-2006: 2,594 (League Two) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of Gigg Lane
Dane Yates (Manchester United) 22/1/08 Robert Allen (Chester City) 15/9/07 Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Bury page click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.


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