Bury Relics Over 60 Whites went into their third set of fixtures of their 2026 Greater Manchester Division 2 Walking Football league campaign with a squad of 8 available; Eddy (GK), Ian McCann, Kev A, Danny, Kev B, Tony, Ian McKinnon and Mike. Keiran was Manager.
Game 1 v North Manchester, won 1 – 0.
The fledgling Mancs are still getting to grips with league football and their keeper now knows what it must have felt like at the Alamo. Every Relics outfield player had at least 2 shots whereas Eddy in goal did not touch the ball. Mike was brilliantly pulling the strings up front continually setting up shooting chances with defenders Danny and Kev A being the main beneficiaries but the keeper kept doing just enough to keep them out. The pressure was immense but we just couldn’t score until midfield powerhouse Ian McCann took matters into his own hands; he picked the ball up in his own half, strode forward and hit a great swerving shot which the diving keeper got a hand to but could not keep it out.
Game 2 v Bury Relics Stripes, won 1 – 0.
The adrenaline was flowing for the start of the ‘derby’ round 2. Most of the play was dominated by the Whites from the two Ian’s in midfield, however chances were kept to a minimum due to some staunch Stripes defending. The only goal of the game came from a well-placed Ian McCann shot following a free kick lay off. The Whites were more up for it and deserved their narrow win.
Game 3 v Preston, drew 0 – 0.
Relics dominated this match much like the two previous matches in this session. Preston didn’t trouble Bury’s goal at all, Ed was tempted to work on his crochet skills but found it too awkward with his gloves on. Meanwhile at the other end all kinds of shenanigans were happening but nothing leading to a clear opportunity on goal but then from nowhere up steps Tony G high on the right wing ignoring his nose bleed from being so far up the pitch he passes one player (with the ball I should point out) passes another and another his hips swaying like a flamenco dancer (the lessons are paying off) the spirit of Georgie Best pushing him right to the edge of the area when… Georgie decided to nip off for a dram.. leaving Tony alone teetering on the edge of the area his feet that were dancing with delight just moments previously just…. stopped …his left foot seemed to have a little argument with his right foot and the ball just dribbled into the area …. I so wanted him to put his laces through it but alas Georgie let him down at the crucial point.
Mike also had a couple of good opportunities but the spirits of football were playing around causing him to stumble in a similar way to Tony and later to launch probably one of the highest shots of the day (usually my speciality) …I found it entertaining… the birds in the nearby trees .. less so.
Then at the other end of the pitch Tony was yet again possessed by the spirit of George Best but this time George had definitely had a few and caused Tony to start dribbling the ball under pressure right on the edge of his own goal area. Now… from a spectator point of view… this was highly entertaining… from a teammate point of view… probably less so… but with neat footwork he nevertheless managed to clear the ball and Pat was able to reopen his eyes and watch the game… which fizzled out into a nil nil.
Game 4 v Wakefield , drew 0 – 0.
Perhaps the most difficult match of the day but even so Relics were pretty much in charge. Wakefield did have a lot of the ball in Bury’s half but time and again Relics were able to steal it from them and surge forward.
Ian McKinnon stole the ball in midfield and pushed forward with just a defender to beat with Mike and Ian McCann to his left, to me it felt like he wanted to set himself up for a shot but with supporting players so close by he chose to pass and unfortunately Mike couldn’t quite take it in his stride so he then passed to Ian McCann but the momentum was lost, defenders got back and nothing came of it.
In a similar move Mike found himself through on goal but he took a nudge off the chasing defender just before his shot and it caused him to shoot wide… possibly a dogso?
Meanwhile at the other end Wakefield got their one and only decent shot on goal and it was a doozy fired right at the top right hand corner but Ed made a magnificent full stretch save to thwart them.
It wasn’t all over yet though, Relics pushed yet again, Ian McKinnon found himself right on the edge of the box but had to adjust to put the ball on his left foot and a moment is all a defender needs to spoil the party…another attack thwarted.
Not to be outdone by Tony G’s impressive surge forward in the previous game Ian McKinnon decided to nonchalantly dribble past two players high on the right wing leaving them for dead… I should have mentioned earlier that despite the weather being unusually kind to us on the day there were nevertheless dark storm clouds gathering and this is perhaps why everyone stopped and checked for lightning because they mistook the sound of Ian’s shot on goal for a thunderbolt… Ian’s left foot or Thor’s Hammer as I like to call it ( Mjolnir for the studious) absolutely unleashed …beating the keeper but rattling agonisingly against the underside of the crossbar then catapulting quite some distance back into play. This would turn out to be the highlight of an entertaining match that frustratingly ended nil nil also.
A very successful session for the Whites with, for once, no injuries picked up. They played good football throughout and defended well. The 8 points gained lifted them one spot to 4th only out the promotion places on goal difference.
Bury Relics 