FORMER players, TV celebrities and fans from across Europe helped make Fill The Ground Day a huge success for Bury FC on Good Friday.
They may have failed to fill all 12,000 seats in the Gigg Lane stadium but the 5,671 attendance made for a superb atmosphere and is expected to be a big moneyraiser for the club, celebrating 120 years at their famous ground.
Among the high-profile visitors were former Shakers' aces Dean Kiely and Mark Patterson, celebrity Bury fan broadcaster Mike Read, former Liverpool and England star Alan Kennedy, watching his nephew Tom, and supporters from clubs from as far afield as Germany and Northern Ireland.
And they were treated to a convincing 3-1 victory that will surely have laid to rest the spectre of relegation from the Football League.
"Everyone at the club, directors, management and players, would like to thank everyone for attending," said club media man Gordon Sorfleet.
"The atmosphere in and around the ground was electric and we hope some of the visitors will be persuaded to come back on Saturday for the visit of Rochdale in our local derby."
Fans from Sunderland, Preston North End, Wrexham, Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Stoke City, Ipswich Town, West Ham United, Burnley, Wigan Athletic, Oldham Athletic, Reading, Brentford, Coventry City, Stockport County, Bolton, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Glentoran and even Bayern Munich were in evidence judging, by the replica shirts on view, with no doubt even more represented.
Sky TV made regular reports from the ground in an 'Access All Areas' broadcast that took in the Forever Bury supporters' trust match at Goshen in the morning, commercial boss Peter Young in Starkies pitchside restaurant, a live link with manager Graham Barrow and, at the end of the day, fans in the Gigg Lane social club.
"We have thanked Sky for their superb coverage on the day," added Gordon.
"And we've given them a reminder that they'd be welcome to come down and cover a match down here,
"They'd be assured of some entertainment."
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