Football Ground Guide: Fans Ground Review, Gigg Lane, Bury FC

Gigg Lane - Bury FC
League Two v Chester City
Saturday September 15th 2007, 3pm
Robert Allen

Being Originally from Manchester I have always looked out for the results of all the local teams. I had heard plenty of positive comments about Bury so decided this was an ideal game to take my six year old son Connor to as his first ever away match. Pricing it up by train and Metrolink was going to cost just over Ł16 where as if we went on the official supporters bus it would be pretty much the same I opted for the bus. The coach picked us up from the city centre at 12:30 Chester to North Manchester is a fairly straight forward journey and is well sign posted within an hour we where turning into Gigg Lane.

As Connor was with me the pub was out of the question so we bought our programme Ł2.50 and over 70 pages good value, and waited for the turnstiles to open. A steward saw Connor and said "go to the ticket office as kids go free even for away fans" taking him on his word I did. Ł14 what a bargain for both of us! The gates opened and we made our round the side to the Cemetery End Stand. I was impressed it was a big stand lots of newish seats plenty of space. Looking across all 3 other stands looked quite smart if a little older. It was also obvious from the size of the place that Bury where playing perhaps a division or two lower than their facilities deserved. Gigg Lane has got to be unique in the sense that all four stands entrances are on Gigg Lane it's self I could see the home fans coming round the back of the stand behind the other goal to take their seats in the stand to my left.

Approaching kick off it was snack time I went to the refreshments bar and there was a good selection on offer I decided Burger for me and sausage roll for Connor. The burger was quite tasty and judging by the speed Connor demolished his sausage roll he thought the same.

Match time I couldn't believe how empty the ground seemed apart from our end all 3 home ends where less than a quarter full. City where dominating and we where able to make lots of noise to cheer them on the home crowd seemed to have "sing when we are winning syndrome " A condition a lot of teams suffer from these days in the all seater stadia. In the end Chester won 2-nil and probably should have been more. At full time all the fans channelled out Connor excitedly ran looking for the coach luckily I shouted him and a steward had seen him and asked him to wait with him.

We got onto Gigg Lane and couldn't see the coach a police officer informed us it was down near the Cemetery which was 5 Min's from the ground. Because of this it took us nearly 20 Min's to get out of Gigg Lane because we had to go past the ground to get to the main road. Once there it was pretty much an easy drive back to Chester

For me it Had been a really good day friendly stewards the admission prices a decent stadium a good performance from "Big Bobs barmy army" a dream first away match for my little man to go to. This is a ground I would visit again my only real complaint would be OK Chester City might not be the biggest draw but come on Bury fans your team needs bums on seats to make some noise for your team!

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