Post by harmerhillshrew on Dec 25, 2004 20:29:13 GMT 1
It seems as though Ant has internet problems and is unable to put the Match Preview up on the Rivals site.
For those of you interested or just bored with Christmas
here it is.
BURY v SHREWSBURY TOWN Match Preview.
After a truly woeful display against Mansfield at the Meadow last Saturday, Town travel to Gigg Lane for the first reverse league fixture of the season on Boxing Day to face mid-table Bury.
This fixture marks the start of the hectic Christmas/New Year period with Salop having four matches in eight days.
BURY, Club History.
Bury FC was formed in 1885. They played friendly matches for four years until in 1889 they became one of the founding members of the Lancashire League.
Five years later the Shakers joined the Football League and in their first season won the Division Two title. No automatic promotion in those days however, Bury had to beat Liverpool in a forerunner of the play-offs to earn entry into the top flight of the pyramid, where they stayed until eventual relegation in 1912.
Bury fans would not have known it at the time but the period from 1900 to 1903 would be the most successful the club would enjoy to date - achieving a 5th place finish in Div 1 in 1901, but also winning the FA Cup twice during that time, beating Southampton 4-0 in the final in 1900 and Derby 6-0 three years later.
The club yo-yoed between the top flight and Division 2 following their first relegation in 1912 and achieved their highest ever league position of 4th place in Division 1 at the end of the 1925/26 season, before being relegated from the highest league for the final time in 1929.
A long spell in the 2nd Division followed with the Shakers doing, well, nothing much really, until another relegation in 1957. The club found their way back into Division 2 by taking the Third Division title in 1960-61, but by 1971 Bury were down in the basement of Division 4 and in a taste of things to come, deep in financial trouble.
More yo-yoing between the lower divisions followed, one step forward inevitably being followed by one step back as the sale of the club's better players to balance the books became a regular feature of life at Gigg Lane. And talking of Gigg Lane, the club's original home was rebuilt in the early 90's, the old wooden stands being replaced by the modern all-seated stadium seen today. The Shakers went to Wembley for the first time in 1995 but lost the 3rd Division play-off final 2-0 to Chesterfield. As usual this friendly and resilient little club bounced back the next season, being promoted on the final day of the season.
The Shakers went one better in the 1996/97 season, winning the 2nd Division championship title under the leadership of Stan Ternant, but yet again financial worries led to the sale of the club's best players, including striker David Johnson for over £1 million.
Ternant left for Burnley and Neil Warnock took over but again Bury was doomed and relegation from Division One followed once more. A bad start to the 1999-2000 season and yet more cash flow problems saw Warnock depart to be replaced by player-boss Andy Preece.
By all accounts Preece performed a minor miracle in keeping the Shakers relatively solvent and in Division Two for the next couple of seasons, but the inevitable eventually happened and Bury were relegated back down to Division Three at the end of the 2001-02 season. Preece's sacking last season was something of a surprise, as was the appointment of Graham Barrow.
The Gaffer
Graham Barrow was appointed to take charge at Bury after player-manager Andy Preece was sacked in December 2003.
Graham, who has previously managed Chester, Rochdale and Wigan, was initially given a caretaker role but after a unanimous vote from Bury's board of directors, he was installed until the end of the current campaign with a view to an extended deal.
The new boss celebrated his first game in full charge of The Shakers by ending a run of eight successive defeats, claiming a 2-0 home win over Swansea.
One of his first decisions was to release coach Andy Morrison and bring in former Preston assistant Kelham O'Hanlon as his number two at Gigg Lane, and Barrow was full of praise for his new acquisition.
Graham stated that he would be looking to strengthen the squad with some physical presence, and swooped immediately for Stockport's long-throw specialist Dave Challinor.
As a player, Chorley-born Barrow enjoyed four years in Wigan's midfield in the early 1980s after signing from non-league Altrincham, before moving to Chester in 1986, where he played out his career, taking up the reins as player-manager at the Deva Stadium in 1992 and hanging up his boots two years later.
Graham left Chester after they were relegated back to Division Three in 1994 and was quickly back in management with former club Wigan, where he stayed for just over a year.
In 1996 he was appointed as Rochdale manager, and managed to keep The Dale in Division Three during his three seasons at the helm before leaving Spotland in May 1999.
Graham returned to Chester for another 12 months in June 2000, after the club's relegation from the Football League. He could not lead them straight back up from the Conference - a feat that very few teams ever manage - and he left at the end of the 2000/01 season.
Having joined the coaching staff at Bury to work under Andy Preece, Graham has now taken over from the former player-manager and he is hoping to lead The Shakers onwards and upwards after their recent difficulties on and off the field.
One to watch.
Dave Nugent.
The 19 year old Liverpool born striker is one of the hottest properties in League Two. With 62 appearances for the Shakers since signing as a trainee in March 2002 Nugent has already scored on 20 occasions.
Bury are discussing a new contract with Nugent in a bid to keep him at Gigg Lane with interest from Sheffield United and Chester City.
Nugent scored his twelfth goal of the season last Saturday and the Shakers are keen to extend his current deal, which expires in the summer.
Town Talk.
Dave Walton is back from suspension and with Liam Burns been released this week the big Geordie will slot back into the centre of defence along side skipper Darren Tinson. Stuart Whitehead will continue at right back as Darren Moss as well as Martin O’Conner is still both suspended.
It’s upfront where the Town are struggling with the fitness of strikers Luke Rodgers (thigh), Ryan Lowe (shoulder) and Duane Darby (Achilles) all doubtful and needing late fitness tests.
Winger Sam Aiston and new signing Ciaran Lyng were both due to play in a midweek reserve game at Stockport but the fixture fell foul to a frozen pitch so expected to see them on the bench on Monday.
Prediction Time.
Bury looked a well organised side when visiting the Meadow at the beginning of September and I fear for another frustrating afternoon watching the Town.
BURY 2 SHREWSBURY TOWN 1
COME ON YOU BLUES.
For those of you interested or just bored with Christmas
here it is.BURY v SHREWSBURY TOWN Match Preview.
After a truly woeful display against Mansfield at the Meadow last Saturday, Town travel to Gigg Lane for the first reverse league fixture of the season on Boxing Day to face mid-table Bury.
This fixture marks the start of the hectic Christmas/New Year period with Salop having four matches in eight days.
BURY, Club History.
Bury FC was formed in 1885. They played friendly matches for four years until in 1889 they became one of the founding members of the Lancashire League.
Five years later the Shakers joined the Football League and in their first season won the Division Two title. No automatic promotion in those days however, Bury had to beat Liverpool in a forerunner of the play-offs to earn entry into the top flight of the pyramid, where they stayed until eventual relegation in 1912.
Bury fans would not have known it at the time but the period from 1900 to 1903 would be the most successful the club would enjoy to date - achieving a 5th place finish in Div 1 in 1901, but also winning the FA Cup twice during that time, beating Southampton 4-0 in the final in 1900 and Derby 6-0 three years later.
The club yo-yoed between the top flight and Division 2 following their first relegation in 1912 and achieved their highest ever league position of 4th place in Division 1 at the end of the 1925/26 season, before being relegated from the highest league for the final time in 1929.
A long spell in the 2nd Division followed with the Shakers doing, well, nothing much really, until another relegation in 1957. The club found their way back into Division 2 by taking the Third Division title in 1960-61, but by 1971 Bury were down in the basement of Division 4 and in a taste of things to come, deep in financial trouble.
More yo-yoing between the lower divisions followed, one step forward inevitably being followed by one step back as the sale of the club's better players to balance the books became a regular feature of life at Gigg Lane. And talking of Gigg Lane, the club's original home was rebuilt in the early 90's, the old wooden stands being replaced by the modern all-seated stadium seen today. The Shakers went to Wembley for the first time in 1995 but lost the 3rd Division play-off final 2-0 to Chesterfield. As usual this friendly and resilient little club bounced back the next season, being promoted on the final day of the season.
The Shakers went one better in the 1996/97 season, winning the 2nd Division championship title under the leadership of Stan Ternant, but yet again financial worries led to the sale of the club's best players, including striker David Johnson for over £1 million.
Ternant left for Burnley and Neil Warnock took over but again Bury was doomed and relegation from Division One followed once more. A bad start to the 1999-2000 season and yet more cash flow problems saw Warnock depart to be replaced by player-boss Andy Preece.
By all accounts Preece performed a minor miracle in keeping the Shakers relatively solvent and in Division Two for the next couple of seasons, but the inevitable eventually happened and Bury were relegated back down to Division Three at the end of the 2001-02 season. Preece's sacking last season was something of a surprise, as was the appointment of Graham Barrow.
The Gaffer
Graham Barrow was appointed to take charge at Bury after player-manager Andy Preece was sacked in December 2003.
Graham, who has previously managed Chester, Rochdale and Wigan, was initially given a caretaker role but after a unanimous vote from Bury's board of directors, he was installed until the end of the current campaign with a view to an extended deal.
The new boss celebrated his first game in full charge of The Shakers by ending a run of eight successive defeats, claiming a 2-0 home win over Swansea.
One of his first decisions was to release coach Andy Morrison and bring in former Preston assistant Kelham O'Hanlon as his number two at Gigg Lane, and Barrow was full of praise for his new acquisition.
Graham stated that he would be looking to strengthen the squad with some physical presence, and swooped immediately for Stockport's long-throw specialist Dave Challinor.
As a player, Chorley-born Barrow enjoyed four years in Wigan's midfield in the early 1980s after signing from non-league Altrincham, before moving to Chester in 1986, where he played out his career, taking up the reins as player-manager at the Deva Stadium in 1992 and hanging up his boots two years later.
Graham left Chester after they were relegated back to Division Three in 1994 and was quickly back in management with former club Wigan, where he stayed for just over a year.
In 1996 he was appointed as Rochdale manager, and managed to keep The Dale in Division Three during his three seasons at the helm before leaving Spotland in May 1999.
Graham returned to Chester for another 12 months in June 2000, after the club's relegation from the Football League. He could not lead them straight back up from the Conference - a feat that very few teams ever manage - and he left at the end of the 2000/01 season.
Having joined the coaching staff at Bury to work under Andy Preece, Graham has now taken over from the former player-manager and he is hoping to lead The Shakers onwards and upwards after their recent difficulties on and off the field.
One to watch.
Dave Nugent.
The 19 year old Liverpool born striker is one of the hottest properties in League Two. With 62 appearances for the Shakers since signing as a trainee in March 2002 Nugent has already scored on 20 occasions.
Bury are discussing a new contract with Nugent in a bid to keep him at Gigg Lane with interest from Sheffield United and Chester City.
Nugent scored his twelfth goal of the season last Saturday and the Shakers are keen to extend his current deal, which expires in the summer.
Town Talk.
Dave Walton is back from suspension and with Liam Burns been released this week the big Geordie will slot back into the centre of defence along side skipper Darren Tinson. Stuart Whitehead will continue at right back as Darren Moss as well as Martin O’Conner is still both suspended.
It’s upfront where the Town are struggling with the fitness of strikers Luke Rodgers (thigh), Ryan Lowe (shoulder) and Duane Darby (Achilles) all doubtful and needing late fitness tests.
Winger Sam Aiston and new signing Ciaran Lyng were both due to play in a midweek reserve game at Stockport but the fixture fell foul to a frozen pitch so expected to see them on the bench on Monday.
Prediction Time.
Bury looked a well organised side when visiting the Meadow at the beginning of September and I fear for another frustrating afternoon watching the Town.
BURY 2 SHREWSBURY TOWN 1
COME ON YOU BLUES.