Week Beginning Monday 27th November 2000

SMITH ENDS LONG SEARCH FOR A STRIKER

Thursday 30th November 2000
Former Shakers manager Neil Warnock has come to the rescue of his old club by allowing 20-year old Blades reserve Andy Smith to join the Shakers on loan. Smith arrives at Gigg Lane after a long search by manager Andy Preece for another forward option finally bore fruit. Warnock told the Manchester Evening News tonight, "Two or three clubs have been in for him. He is a real grafter, buzzing around all the time and he will most certainly make a good living from the game." Smith looks set to go straight into the starting eleven at Ashton Gate at the weekend when Bury play Bristol City.
Discuss this news story in the message board

MANSFIELD LDV TROPHY GAME PUT BACK

Thursday 30th November 2000
It has been announced by the club that the Gigg Lane fixture with Mansfield Town in the LDV Vans Trophy scheduled for Wednesday 6th December will now be played on Saturday 9th December. The switch follows Bury's exit from the F. A. Cup earlier this week as they were set to take on Leyton Orient on that date. It is hoped that the move will increase the attendance at Gigg Lane. The league game with Brentford, postponed last week, cannot take place on this date because of Brentford's unwillingness to travel North again so soon after their disappointment.
Discuss this news story in the message board

PREECE BLAMES MISSED CHANCES FOR EXIT

Thursday 30th November 2000
Bury boss Andy Preece again blamed missed chances after another defeat for his side saw them go out of the F. A. Cup to Northwich Victoria earlier this week. In a predictable evaluation of the game, Preece said, "The match should have been over by half time. They had their two chances when Gary Fletcher got free but apart from that they never had a sniff. We had some great chances and needed to score first." However Preece, speaking in the Bolton Evening News tonight, insisted that "It was a lot better performance than the home tie."
Discuss this news story in the message board

SHAMBOLIC SHAKERS ARE OUT OF THE CUP

Tuesday 28th November 2000
A gripping encounter at the Drill Field saw Northwich Victoria progress to the Second Round of the F. A. Cup at Bury's expense after Adie Mike scored the only goal of the game on 72 minutes. The Shakers were awful - Paul Barnes hit the crossbar and Adrian Littlejohn missed an absolute sitter, but otherwise they struggled to break down Northwich with some abysmal long passing. The result leaves the club in a perilous financial position as no more cup revenue is to be made, and fans were protesting at Chairman Terry Robinson during the defeat last night.
Discuss this news story in the message board