Saturday 18th March 2023, 3 PM
THE BRIDGE v BURY TOWN
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE NORTH
LOWER ROAD, HULLBRIDGE

About Bury Town

Nickname The Blues
Founded 1872
Ground Ram Meadow, Bury St Edmunds
Capacity 3,500 (300 seated)
Chairman Russell Ward
Manager Alex Rossis (Assistant manager currently in charge of team)
League Isthmian League North Division
2021–22 Isthmian League North Division, 12th of 20

Early history
The club was established by William Lake at a meeting in the Suffolk Hotel in 1872. Initially named Bury St Edmunds Football Club, the first committee of the club elected to choose royal blue as the club's colours. In 1885 they were one of eleven founder members of the Suffolk FA and voted to change their name to Bury Town. In 1895 the club's name reverted to Bury St Edmunds, then to Bury United in 1908, and back to Bury Town in 1923.

The club joined the Norfolk & Suffolk League in 1899 but left midway through the 1901–02 season. They subsequently became members of the South East Anglian League in 1904 and finished bottom of the league in 1905–06. They re-joined the Norfolk & Suffolk League in 1920, leaving again in 1929 and re-joining again in 1932. During this time they also played in the Essex & Suffolk Border League. In 1935 the club moved into senior football by becoming founder members of the Eastern Counties League. They gained their first honour when they won the Suffolk Senior Cup in 1936–37, a trophy they retained for the next two seasons. 1937–38 saw the club achieve its best pre-war league position of runners-up before the competition was suspended due to the outbreak of World War II. Bury Town won the Suffolk Senior Cup for the fourth time in 1945 before resuming league action in 1946.

Post-war
In 1958–59 Bury Town became the first ever winners of the Suffolk Premier Cup and went on to retain the trophy for the next three seasons. In 1961–62 the Eastern Counties League Cup was won for the first time and then in 1963–64, the club won the Eastern Counties League Championship for the only time in its history, recording a "treble" by winning the League Cup and the Suffolk Premier Cup for the fifth time. This success prompted the club to join the Metropolitan League in 1964 when once again, they won the Suffolk Premier Cup. During the 1965–66 campaign, Bury Town recorded yet another "treble" winning the Metropolitan League Championship, the Metropolitan League Professional Cup and for the seventh time, the Suffolk Premier Cup. In 1967–68 the Blues won the Metropolitan League Cup for the only time and finished runners-up in the league.

The Metropolitan League title was won for the second and final time in 1968–69 when the club reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history; 3,000 spectators saw the Blues hold Third Division leaders AFC Bournemouth to a goalless home draw at Kings Road, in a match covered by Anglia Television, but the replay at Dean Court was lost 3–0. The 1970–71 season was the club's last in the Metropolitan League when they finished as runners-up and also lifted the Suffolk Premier Cup for the eighth occasion. In 1971 the club switched to the Southern League, but poor results prompted a return to the Eastern Counties League in 1976. A year later they won the Suffolk Premier Cup again.

1980’s to present
In 1986–87, which proved to be Bury Town's last season in the Eastern Counties League, the club enjoyed another good run in the FA Cup reaching the fourth qualifying round. The Blues were drawn away to Football Conference leaders Enfield and forced a 0–0 draw before 842 spectators. A record crowd of over 2,500 saw the visitors win the replay at Ram Meadow. In 1987 Bury re-joined the Southern League and experienced mixed fortunes in the Southern Division. The 1995–96 season saw the club accepting a transfer across to the Midland Division. After completion of only one season in the Midland Division, Bury Town were relegated back to the Eastern Counties League. Despite relegation Bury won the Suffolk Premier Cup, beating Woodbridge Town in the final.

Bury saw little success until the 2004–05 season with the club finishing second in the league and winning the Westwood Shield, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Vase for the second time. The following season saw the club finish second in the league again, allowing them promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League, as well as reaching the semi-final of the FA Vase. Two seasons later the club were transferred into Division One Midlands of the Southern League as part of a geographical reorganisation. In the same season, they reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in forty years, losing 4–2 away to Conference North club Alfreton Town. The 2009–10 season ended with the club winning 3–0 on the final day of the season to claim the title, earning promotion to the seventh level of English football, where they were placed in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The following season they won the Premier Cup for a tenth time, defeating Needham Market 2–0 in the final, and also finished third in the league, qualifying for the play-offs, where they lost 2–1 at home to Lowestoft Town. In 2011–12 the club won the Isthmian League Cup. After finishing bottom of the Premier Division in the 2014–15 season they were relegated to Division One North.

Ground
The club took up residence at Kings Road, also known as the Cemetery Road ground, in 1888. It became the first football ground in East Anglia to operate floodlights, when on 12 January 1953, Bury played their first ever floodlit game against Cambridge City in front of 2,105 spectators. A total of 14 bulbs of 1,500 watts were used, with the lights financed by the Bury Town Supporters Club. The club's last match at Kings Road was played on 30 April 1976, a 2–2 draw against a West Ham United team with 1,750 in attendance; the land on which the ground was located was required to build a new road. After a year at a temporary ground, the club moved to their current Ram Meadow ground in 1977. All four sides of the ground have covered areas for spectators, with 300 seats in two stands either side of the pitch and terracing behind both goals.

Recent results & form
Bury Town are currently 11th in the division with 42 points from 31 matches played and have won 11, drawn 9, and lost 11 of the 31 matches. They have scored 27 and conceded 26 for a goal difference of +1. Away from home they have won 4, drawn 4, and lost 7. The Bridge are currently 19th with 18 points (5 wins, 3 draws, and 23 defeats) and a goal difference of -38 (28 for and 66 against). In current form Bury are 18th and The Bridge are 20th. In their last six matches, Bury have won 1, drawn 1, and lost 4 while The Bridge have lost 6 in a row.

Recent Results are:
Tilbury (Home) Won 1-0
Basildon United (Away) Lost 1-3
Brentwood Town (Home) Lost 0-2
Gorleston (Home) Lost 0-1
East Thurrock United (Away) Lost 0-1
Coggeshall Town (Home) Drew 0-0
In addition, they beat Kirkley & Pakefield in the Suffolk Cup 2-0 away.

Last Season:
In January The Bridge held Bury to a 2-2 draw at Lower Road with goals from Luke Hornsley and Roland Oteniya giving the boys a 2-0 lead before Ollie Hughes and Jake Chambers-Shaw equalised. Prior to that, back at the start of the season in August Bury won 3-2, going 3-1 up after Brad Russell had opened the scoring for The Bridge. Bury goals came from Ollie Hughes, Cemal Ramadan with a penalty and Will Gardner before Brad Russell added his second in the 81st minute.

This Season:
Back in October at Ram Meadow an attendance of 506 saw a 2-2 draw with Darius Guinea opening the scoring on 15 minutes before Cemal Ramadan scored two in two minutes (44’ and 45’). Emmanuel Folarin equalised in the 88th minute as the two teams shared the points.

Watch out for:
Cemal Ramadan

Cemal has scored 21 goals for Bury Town so far this season. Amazingly the next-highest goal scorer has 2 goals, although there are four players with this tally.

CEMAL RAMADAN
STRIKER
PREVIOUS CLUBS
Ipswich Town Academy, Soham Town Rangers, Cambridge City, Leiston
BIOGRAPHY
Cemal re-joined the club in early November 2018 after a short spell with Leiston. He was our leading goalscorer last season with over 30 goals which caught the eyes of many clubs higher up the pyramid, however, he is now back at Ram Meadow and looking for goals again.

OK, we’re here again and you don’t need me to tell you how important the 3 points are here. Just by the law of averages alone, we must be due a win!
Although results don’t show it so far, the performances have been improved but it’s last chance saloon now for The Bridge so a win on Saturday is everything, just ask Lee...

…if it were a song it would be All Or Nothing – The Small Faces…

COYB

A TMT match preview for HSFC