Bury Relics Over 65’s went into their fourth set of fixtures (final session before summer break of the Greater Manchester Division 1 Walking Football 2026 league campaign with a squad of 8: Keith G (GK), Kev Amos, Keith Swain, Alan, Graham, Tony G, Kev Bates and Ian McCann. Ken Bug was Manager.
This report was written by Kev Bates in the first person.
The Micro- Climate of Heywood chose to use heat… lots of heat … humid heat… held in place by a thick blanket of clouds… just to make sure.
I must admit I almost got a sweat on at one point.
First game up against Bolton
Substitutes Kev B and Keith S
Bury started well and despite a little bit of wayward passing managed to put a lot of pressure on Bolton.
Graham had a good shot on target saved and Alan and Ian both had good shots that went wide, Tony was stalwart in defence with Kev Amos and only allowed two shots from Bolton in the entire game which meant Keith G had little to do , however, in the latter stages Bury’s off the ball movement became poor and this helped Bolton to forge their best opportunity with a pass to ( you guessed it) the back post… a well driven shot was smothered by Keith G in goal who closed the space down quickly and made himself large . Could have been costly but shortly after at the other end in the dying seconds Kev Amos powers round the area and shoots only for it to go wide … just.
Bury edged this game and deserved more than a point… well played.
Bury 0 Bolton 0
——————————————————
Second game up against Ribble Valley
Rule one … never underestimate your opponent.
Substitutes Kev A and Alan
I have no idea what was going on in this game from Bury’s perspective, personally it was a relatively quiet game for myself as my opposite number didn’t move up much so I was mainly static marking… everyone, including myself seemed to lose the ability to pass or control the ball and as a result Ribble peppered the Bury goal… Keith G was virtually playing on his own it seemed at one point with at least six magnificent saves… in fact at one point he passed it out to their striker as if to say “ go on have another go “ which he did… fortunately Keith was able to back up his bravado with another wonderful save.
It wasn’t all one way and Kev A ( who came on for Tony who went off injured) had a good strike as did Ian McCann but the best strike came from Keith Swain who was set up by Kev B who then got out of the way as quickly as possible as Keith unleashed a blistering low shot that I was convinced was going through the keeper’s legs but the keeper just managed to drop at the last moment and stop it. That was the highlight of the game at that end of the pitch but man of the match to Keith Gillespie for the heroics at the other end of the pitch.
Final score
Bury 0 Ribble Valley 0
………..phew
—————————————————-
Third game against Curzon Ashton
Substitute Keith Swain, Tony unable to continue due to injury.
So… not very convincing up till this point but then….
As if by Magic …
The Shopkeeper appeared ..and proceeded to supply the Bury team with magical boots… Keith G already had some magical gloves 🧤 and managed three great saves from Curzon’s strikers but the fun part was at the other end and midfield where Bury managed some lovely flowing football switching from side to side great control and good passing.
Kev B managed to slide the ball just in front ( to avoid the defender) of Ian McCann on the left hand side of the goal who hammered it in with his left foot…. Goal…… disallowed by VAR (very attentive referee) for running by Ian…. Dammit… it was a beauty too.
However it wasn’t long before Kev B found himself in a similar situation but this time with an option to shoot but seeing Ian ( walking ) into almost exactly the same position as last time with a defender in hot pursuit Kev B managed to again slide the ball just past the defender and onto the left boot of Ian McCann who unleashed an almost identical shot… Goal… and this time it was…. Great goal. ( henceforth to be known as Deja Voodoo goal)
Now, holding onto a lead is always a bit nervy and talking of nerve .. a Curzon player (Sainty, I believe) decided to just casually waltz past two or three defenders like they weren’t there exhibiting ball control normally associated with elite Futsal players but he ran into a wall of desperate Bury players and couldn’t get through on goal despite mesmerising them for a moment.
And…. that was that
Final score
Bury 1 Curzon Ashton 0
———————————————-
Final game up against Preston
Substitute Kev Amos
Bury were putting pressure on Preston right from the off in this game pushing them deep into their own half and thereby taking their quite dangerous striker out of the game effectively at least for the most part.
As a player and match reporter it is sometimes difficult to remember all the details of a match and sometimes beautiful moves don’t get the attention they deserve as I’m concentrating on playing… so it’s especially useful nay essential when fellow players tell you to make sure you write that in your report… so … having been thus instructed by Keith Swain it shall be recorded for posterity that he Keith Swain made the beautiful pass to Alan who was situated to the right of the opponents goalmouth , Alan then subsequently and without hesitation made an equally beautiful pass to Ian McCann who was situated most conveniently on the edge of the area, Ian McCann did then forthwith and duly deliver a most glorious strike of the ball which hurtled without impedance into the roof of the far corner of the net and angelic voices could be heard singing in celebration far and wide.
Preston then decided to have a go and put Bury under pressure but in their enthusiasm for revenge they made too many errors leading to a penalty for Bury, Ian McCann stepped up to thunder home a goal but it was all in his mind (as we found out at the end of the match*) because the keeper saved it.
Kev Amos replaced Kev B and had an immediate impact nearly stealing a goal with a great lunging toe-poke but again the keeper saved it.
Preston didn’t really trouble Keith in goal but they pressed forward so much that they clean forgot about defence and when Ian McCann intercepted the ball on the half way line he was able to just stroll up the pitch unchallenged and score a magnificent mis -kick that flummoxed the keeper.
And that boys and girls was that.
*(for clarity on my earlier comments, Ian was absolutely convinced he’d scored three in this game)
Final score
Bury 2 Preston 0
Best goal to Ian McCann
Best assist to Alan Blackley
Best assist assist to Keith Swain
Best looking shin-pads to yours truly KevB
A great team effort and well earned 8 points which lift them out of the relegation places for the first time this season and up to 6th place.
Bury Relics 