Boxing Day 1999 marked my first ever
visit to Gigg Lane. The occasion was less than auspicious. Burnley collapsed to a 4-2
defeat, and we were extremely lucky to get the two. Not only that, but we were drenched.
The skies opened as we moved from one pub to another, handing out an efficient soaking.
But worst of all, I had to stay to the end. As it was Boxing Day, there was of course no
public transport. I had to rely on a lift to get me to Bury from Burnley, where I was
spending the festive season. And, even when the Three Goals Rule should have come into
play, my driver resolutely insisted on staying until the end. Now, I knew how to get back
from the away end to the pub we'd so foolishly left, but the pub to the car was a mystery
to me. So there I had to remain.
Having visited Bury just the once, and then by car, I still feel I
haven’t particularly been there. I know nothing of the town, my previous experience
being limited to having passed through on the interminable number 743 Sunday bus from
Manchester. Clearly, a Saturday game is called for to enable a fuller programme of
research. I won’t hold my breath, though. Not only do we seem to be fighting battles
at opposite ends of the table, but we haven’t played here on a weekend for literally
decades. Until a few years back, when we took on Stan Ternent’s side, this was the
side we had gone longest without playing in our odyssey around the four divisions. Since
that run was ended, we have met a few times, but always midweek, always evenings, apart
from of course Boxing Day.
A mere two pubs were given the once-over on our 1999 visit. The Blue
Bell on Manchester Road is some way south of the ground. Manchester Road is the
main road that goes down from the centre. Pass the floodlights of Gigg Lane, a few minutes
off the road on your left. Keep going. Keep going. Just a bit further. Out where Bury
gives way to Whitfield, you’ll find the pub. This is not a trivial distance from the
ground. Of course, we were in cars, but even then it seemed a long way. This is a
cavernous, old style and standard pub, reasonably friendly, and most importantly, a Holt's
house. This means that the beer is both excellent and dirt cheap, as this fine Manchester
brewery seems to be able to sell good beer at a much lower price than anyone else. In a
short visit I managed to pour a few pints of dark mild down my throat, and can confirm it
was as good as ever. Mild and bitter are always available in Holt’s pubs. I prefer
the mild, but it’s a matter of personal taste.
As I say, this is some distance from the ground, although a large Burnley
following for a local game may mean many closer places are shut. One point to note is that
there is at least one other Blue Bell in town, so there is some potential for hilarious
misunderstanding.
A closer pub to the ground is the Rose and Crown on
Manchester Old Road. This is off the main road, north of the ground, perhaps ten minutes
from the away end. It’s hard to be more accurate because we drove up and parked near
the ground and then got soaked on the way. Having got there someway beyond 2.30, only the
briefest of stops was possible. It was clear we weren’t the first to explore this
particular option. The bar had obviously been besieged by thirsty Clarets, and handpump
after handpump was turned away from us. They’d almost drunk the place dry.
Fortunately, we did still manage to get one pint from the last remaining cask, and pretty
decent it was too. This is apparently a former Tap and Spile pub, and it promises a range
of beers, usually.
The outside of the ground itself is
easily mistaken for a non-league pitch or a minor rugby ground. We almost drove past it
first time. Once inside, it’s not as bad as you might expect. Over the last few years
it’s been rebuilt as a compact all-seater, and although a bit drab, there’s lots
of grounds that are worse in our division. Am I alone in finding it amusing that Bury has
a Cemetery End? They’re one of those North West clubs without any real rivals, all
the bigger sides having named their enemies first, although in common with seemingly every
club we play, they like getting one over on Burnley. Stan Ternent and the number of
players we’ve taken provide some focus for their dislike, although I suspect their
natural rivals are Oldham and Rochdale, and it’s hard to get excited about that,
isn’t it?
Nearby drinking options naturally point to Manchester, and any of the fine
pubs mentioned in the Oldham guide which you didn’t get round to when we played
there. Of course, if you’re North West based, Bury is no distance from Burnley. Even
with some slow traffic, we were snugly ensconced in the Sparrowhawk at 6pm on Boxing Day,
drinking to drown our sorrows.
