Shakers kids take title

A convincing 3-0 victory over a tenacious Chester City side on Wednesday morning gave the Shakers' Under-19 side the Umbro Isotonic League Merit Division Three title.

Two second half goals for Daniel Douglas-Pringle and one from Colin Kazim-Richards did the trick, crowning a terrific year for the club's youth set-up.

A huge pat on the back is deserved for everyone involved with the young Shakers, from the lads on the pitch to the coaching staff, led by the inspirational Chris Casper.

And credit too should go to the club's influential Director of Youth and Centres, Ross Johnson, who last summer fought to ensure the youth team lived on to see another day - and what a day!

Head of Youth, Neil Hanks, was understandably ecstatic after the game, which was switched from Lower Gigg to the more stimulating surroundings of Gigg Lane at the last minute.

Shortly after the final whistle, he said: "I'm absolutely delighted and thrilled to bits. It's been a roller-coaster ride this season but we've done it and I'm made up for everybody."

The final game of the season proved to be a real battle, but in the end class told through.

"It was really scrappy in the first half," he continued.

"The Chester lads were really fired up for the game after discovering it was to be played at Gigg Lane, and with our lads playing a little flat and looking a bit anxious I wondered if I'd made a mistake in asking for the game to be switched from Lower Gigg.

"But, I told them at half time to relax and go back out there and beat them, and they responded superbly.

"In the second half Chester tired and we found space in midfield, and our class told.

"Colin (Kazim-Richards) produced a little bit of magic with the first goal, and it relieved a bit of pressure, but it wasn't until the third goal finally went in that I really thought it was ours."

Before the mass scenes of joy however, Bury had to put in every ounce of effort to ensure their reward, and for Hanks, one man epitomised the spirit that was needed to win the fight.

"Steve Maden was the man of the match for me," he added.

"He admitted that his distribution wasn't at its best today, but he was really up for the scrap and would have tackled a brick wall if he'd had to.

"If there's one person in this team who'll roll up their sleeves and give you 100 per cent it's Steve, and he thoroughly deserves the accolades for his performance."

While the team celebrates, there always has to be a flip side to every coin.

Though the players will be enjoying every second at the moment, there are some tough decisions to be made in an emotional few weeks to come.

Hanks explained: "The lads finish for the season on May 14, and we're hoping to take them all out for a meal in the next week or so to celebrate their achievements.

"However, today may be the nice time, but the hard part comes when we have to release some of the lads at the end of their scholarship, but this job has to be done.

"It's down to Graham Barrow to decide who he wants to retain, and the deadline for informing the league looms in a couple of weeks."

The Head of Youth felt that there were many votes of gratitude that needed to be extended to those involved.

He felt Ross Johnson, who battled for the re-instatement of the youth team and Centre of Excellence last summer when it looked certain for closure, deserved special mention.

Neil was keen to ensure that the director of youth received the plaudits he has rightly earned.

"Everybody deserves a pat on the back but none more so than Ross," he added.

"Without him none of this would have been possible. People don't realise how much time and effort he's put in to bring in the likes of Chris Caspar and myself and make a success of the centre once again.

"We've got a great unit here and this piece of silverware is the icing on the cake, it's what football is all about."

"We're one big team, and I'd like to think that when we win things, such as when the under 15s lifted the Lancashire Rose Bowl on Monday, it's something for the whole club to enjoy."