Since our last Newsletter, we’ve held last year Presentations, started a new season and have some exciting club developments, all of which I wanted to share with you to show you how the club continues to grow. 

First and foremost I’d like to welcome the following onto the Bury Committee: Dean Phipps (Vice Chairman) / Sarah Pohlinger(Treasurer) / Dawn Button (FA Secretary) / Sandra Abdelhamid(Registrations)

Whilst every volunteer that gives up their time for the club IS greatly appreciated, it is these people along with the other committee representative that help to oversee the clubs organisation and future vision.

The next piece of news, would if we had sound, be accompanied to a fanfare of trumpets:

After only FOUR years of literally blood, sweat and tears, the Presdales Project has officially started.

The old changing rooms have been demolished and groundworks are underway for the following:

Phase 1
Replace the existing Changing Rooms & Showers - Oct ’10 - Jan ’11

Phase 2
Build Bury Rangers / Ware Cricket Club clubhouse - Jan ’11 – Mar ‘11

The clubhouse Grand Opening is scheduled for 1st April 2011….yes I know April Fools Day!!!

You will notice that it is a combined Bury Rangers / Ware Cricket club venture, however this was the only way the project could proceed with EHDC backing, as a joint clubhouse will ensure the Presdales site is utilised all year round with Football being played from Sept- Apr and Cricket to be played from May-Aug.

The clubhouse will have a large function area, seating, toilets and a kitchen / bar area, and it is hoped that it will become the focal point for both clubs well into the next 25 years.  

In order to accommodate cricket, three squares will be created in between the existing football pitches, with the latter forming the cricket outfield. A cricket outfield is required to be of a higher standard than football pitches, which will result in us playing football on better quality pitches.

This has manifested it self to the level, that at a meeting with EHDC, where Jonathan Little (WCC Chairman) and myself were discussing Terms & Conditions of cricket square and clubhouse maintenance, we both put forward a proposal to jointly take over the running of the entire Presdales site rather than the odd task. Our reasoning being that as end users of the site, we’d a vested interest in creating top quality facilities and pitches for our members rather a third party company fulfilling a council contract. Both club are to form the Presdales Sports Community Trust (PSCT) which and will take over the EHDC contracts for:

    Pavilion & Clubhouse maintenance / Site & Pitch maintenance (both Football & Cricket) / Pitch Bookings

With WCC groundworks machinery and a combination of paid and voluntary workforce, we intend to provide provide a better service for lower than the current cost. We’d also be looking to generate additional income by hiring out the Clubhouse to other local clubs, who have shown a great deal of interest (Pilates, Karate, Creche)

Both clubs also have direct access to additional funds from the Football Foundation or from English Cricket. Any funding obtained, additional income generated or contract savings made be re-invested back into the site.

Official PCST handover to occur at the Grand Opening, which is why the clubhouse MUST be finished by then.

Having mentioned the Committee, it would be unfair not to mention the representatives from each club Section who also attend Committee meetings. Each of them has provided a quick update on their respective area:

Minis (U6-U10’s) – Matt Goodchild

All mini ages are going great with the following highlights:

U6/7 – Pierre Bleriot arranged a training session with ex-Spurs midfielder David Howells. Over 100 kids were present at Hartham, which was covered in the Mercury and was a great advert for the club.

U8 – have two newly qualified Level 1 coaches – Congratulations go to Dicky Welch & Lee Button.

U10 -  recently beat Stevenage in the County Cup and will co-ordinate the 2011 Bury Main tour (see overleaf).

Youths (U11-U15’s) – Ged Murphy

This month another shipment of Bury Kit was gladly received in Africa. Old Bury kit is recycled and given to people who really appreciate it. I’d like to thank Kevin Albone, who son plays for our U11’s, for coming up with the idea (more pics to be added to Bury website). So if you have any old kit please hand it in to your team manager!! The Youth teams have had mixed fortunes so far, with the U11’s being very strong and running with 3x11-a-side teams, whereas our U14’s & U15’s have lost players restricting them to just one team each. Let’s hope with a new clubhouse, improved facilities, a progression path and long service awards, we can maintain high levels of club loyalty.

Seniors (U18 & above) – Ben James

Ben wanted to focus on the new Saturday Senior team. Just formed in August, the team was thrown in the deep end and entered into Div 1, instead of the planned Div 2 entry in the Hertford & District League. The good news is this puts us a year ahead of the 5yr plan to get Bury playing County / Ryman League football by 2015. The team comprises players from Bury U17/U18’s, Bury Sunday team and some older “experienced” players. A good spirit is already evident, with the team winning games whilst playing good football. Promotion is a real target this year and if achieved we will backfill with a reserve team next year. Thanks to Ben & Phil Hill for creating and coaching the team. Team results are found on www.had.leaguemanager.biz. C’mon you Burgers!!

Girls – Grant Palmer

Bury Rangers Girls continue to grow into a powerful force with success being reported almost weekly in the Mercury. This season they have started with 5 teams. Both the U13’s & U11’s squads, have academy and development teams, with the U8/9’s combining to create a development team. The Girls coaching outfit was also boosted by three new managers: Danny Davis (U8/9's) / Holly Miles (U11 Dev and current Watford ladies player) and Alan Moore (U13's Dev) who stepped up from coach last season. The Girls entered the County cup at Under 10/12/13's with the U8/9’s playing as U10’s played there first Cup fixture last weekend against Berkhamstead. The U11’s playing as U12’s met a very strong Watford Ladies side in the 1st round and unfortunately lost 6 – 2. The U13’s won their opening game 11 – 0 and meet Garston Ladies in the Qtr finals this weekend. Additionally the Girls have already held a range of social activities across all Ages and are currently planning their Christmas party on 12th Dec at Roller City.

Updated Bury Rangers Website:

Some of you may have noticed the updated Bury Rangers website. It is still the same website address, and still has some areas under construction. The intention is that with the website and the notice board at the soon to be built clubhouse, everyone should be able to find out about any club comms.

Plans for the site include ability to add match reports, a members forum, there are external links to other useful sites (including team sponsors), as well as being a site for any Bury social events.

So whilst these are being built I would as that you bear with it.

If you have any suggestions you would like to see on the site, please e-mail them to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and if we agree we will instruct Sean Richards (website developer) to add them to the site.