Council and Bury FC to end sponsorship deal

Five years of teamwork has finally come to an end for Bury Council and Bury FC.

The council’s current sponsorship deal with the Shakers runs out at the end of the current football season, and the parties have amicably decided to go their separate ways.

The council has been club’s main sponsor since it signed an original three-year deal in 2009. In return for financial support of around £50,000 a year, the club supported the council’s aims of taking sport into the community and promoting healthier lifestyles. This included training and coaching for local clubs, free tickets to home matches for youngsters, and encouraging locals to take up sport, particularly girls, ethnic minorities and disabled people.

The deal was then effectively extended in 2012, with a two-year funding package to improve the health of the borough’s residents. Newprojects were developed to benefit many more sections of society, encouraging socially excluded groups, minority groups, the disadvantaged, and those with poor health and physical conditions to engage in sporting activities via Bury FC.

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council, said: “It’s been an honour to work with Bury FC, who have a tremendous record of working in the community to encourage people into sport and to take up healthier lifestyles. Many tens of thousands of local people have benefitted from this partnership agreement, and it’s been a good deal for both sides.

“We’ve been delighted to sponsor the Shakers over the years, going back to that dreadful period in 2001 when the council stepped in to save the club from going into administration, but it’s no secret that the council is having to make huge budget savings, right across the board. The club has also signed the biggest commercial deal in its history with JD Sports and, along with other sponsorship deals, is looking forward to a new future. We join all Shakers fans in wishing them the very best.”

Glenn Thomas, chief executive officer of Bury Football Club, said: “As a club, we do not see this as the end of a book, but the start of a new chapter.

“The council stepped in during a horrific financial period for the club and helped keep the community together over a significant period of its history. For that, the club will always be grateful.

“Unfortunately, due to financial cutbacks, the council made it clear that they could no longer support the club financially, but made it clear that it would support the club in as many other ways as they could as we continue to rebuild the club both on and off the pitch.

“The club wants to thank the council for the past five years and would like to thank them in advance for their continued support.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 3 April 2014.