Bury AFC apply to join North West Counties Football League

Bury AFC apply to join North West Counties Football League from 2020/21 season

A reincarnation of Bury FC have applied to join the North West Counties Football League next season.

It comes months after the historic club were expelled from the EFL after failing to secure new ownership after a late bid collapsed.

Bury had been promoted to League One earlier this year but were not given permission to start the campaign after the club could not prove that they would be financially viable for the coming season.

EFL clubs voted to reject Bury a place in League Two for the 2020/21 season, which has resulted in the creation of a new club, named Bury AFC, and their application for the NWCFL.

The group Bury Phoenix are behind the application and have no links to previous owner Steve Dale.

The North West Counties League runs three divisions across the ninth and tenth tier of English football.

They have a Premier Division and then operate two Division Ones, split north and south.

Should their application be successful, Bury AFC would likely join the league in the Division One North.

It is the same route that FC United of Manchester took when they were formed in 2005 and were groundsharing with Bury at Gigg Lane.

Salford City and Fleetwood Town, as well as AFC Fylde who currently play in the National League, have also risen through the NWCFL to reach their current standings.

It is likely that Bury AFC would play away from Gigg Lane in a new ground share agreement, with Radcliffe Borough expected to be their home.

Bury AFC's application will be discussed by the NWCFL's board of directors when they meet in the new year, although their application is said to have come out of the blue.

I wish them all the best.