Match Preview

The festive fun continues for Grays Athletic with another visit into deepest Suffolk, with a trip to Bury Town.

Bury are one of the oldest clubs in our region, founded in 1872 and becoming founder members of the Suffolk FA a few years later. Their early decades were spent in local leagues, becoming a senior club in 1935, joining the Eastern Senior League and winning the county cup several times before the war. In 1953, the club became the first in East Anglia to install floodlights, financed by the Supporters Club. A move to the Metropolitan League in the mid-60s was combined with further cup successes and in 1968, a first ever appearance in the FA Cup proper, when AFC Bournemouth were held to a draw.

Short spells in the Southern League were brief highlights over a period until the mid-2000s, when a great run in the FA Vase was followed by promotion to the Isthmian League for the first time in 2005-06. Bury then got caught up in several end-of-season re-organisations between the Southern and Isthmian League but still secured promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division and a win in the League Cup. Since 2015-16, the club has been back in Isthmian 1 North, where our two clubs have been regular adversaries.

We first met competitively in 2010, when Bury were the victors in an FA Cup 2nd qualifying round tie, after a replay. Since 2013, we have met regularly in the league, in fixtures where there is usually plenty of action (an average of almost four goals a game). Blues have had much the better of their home fixtures over the years, with the games at Bury being shared around. We have already met this season at Chadfields, with Charlie Stimson grabbing both goals for Grays in a 2-2 draw, after Ryan Horne and key marksman, Cemal Ramadan had given Bury a two goal lead.

This season has been a roller-coaster for Bury, with the highlight being a great run to the first round proper of the FA Trophy was only ended by our local neighbours, Billericay Town. League results have though been a real mixed bag, with the side sitting comfortably mid-table. Scorelines have swung wildly though, recently shipping six to Basildon but then a fortnight later putting four past Walthamstow and seven past Enfield.

A fascinating encounter looks likely.

Come on you Blues !