And so to the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Road and a tie between Uttoxeter Town FC against Bury FC. But not to the Oldfields Sports and Social Club in Uttoxeter - and its charming three dugouts with cushioned benches carrying the names of some family members of 'Deano'. Instead the FA have switched the match to Gigg Lane in Bury for 'safety reasons'.
Uttoxeter Town FC was formed in 1972 when they split from Uttoxeter Amateurs after a disagreement on the club's location. Town joined the North Premier Division of the Staffordshire County League, but in the late 1970s the club switched to Sunday league football.
About 30 years later the club reverted back to Saturday football and rejoined the Staffordshire County Senior League. The 2012–13 season saw Uttoxeter win Division One of the league. For the 2014–15 season Town became one of the founding members of the Midland Football League, but only for one term, dropping back to the Staffordshire League for financial reasons.
The club entered the FA Vase in 2015 for the first time, progressing to the third round before being eliminated by Coleshill Town - they were beaten by the same side in the second round the following year. The prize money they earned from their Vase exploits enabled them to overcome their financial issues and they rejoined Division One of the Midland League in 2016.
In 2021 Uttoxeter gained promotion to the Premier Division based on their results in the Covid abandoned 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. However last time finishing 19th of 20 seemed to prompt demotion and a lateral move to the North West Counties Division One South, but after a failed appeal the club was reprieved of relegation and a move to the NWCFL as Winsford United took voluntary relegation. Their Midland Football League Premier campaign commences next Saturday at home to Darlaston Town.
The 'away' side, Bury FC, was covered, comprehensively, in depth last week. Since the 5-1 walloping of Glossop North End on the opening day, the Shakers won 3-1 at Colne on Tuesday - Colne another club saved by their supporters after turbulent times and reckless previous ownership. Sound familiar ?
Amidst the remnants of Storm Antoni en route a Chapter 8 Traffic Managment van (yes really !!), another vehicle advertising 'For Dogs Sake', and numberplates R4CYS, ROM4N and JP11LOW. Then to Metrosh*t, crowded by fans going to the friendly between Manchester United and Lens (the Reds winning 3-1 but Onana chipped from the half way line) and two cricket Hundreds matches - both subsequently abandoned.
Past a barge titled 'It'll Do', Watch House Cruising Club and graffiti announcing 'No Problemo' brings me to the city centre. The Anthologist, The Alchemist, Nudo Sushi Box and then the Robert Owen statue - founder of the Co-operative movement.
An inquisitive fox at Abraham Moss, Mezzepotamia restaurant at Besses o' th' Barn, Cocklestorm and to Bury. Bury is the birthplace of Robert Peel, twice Prime Minister and founder of the Metropolitan Police Service - and commemorated by a statue and a freehouse.... Sadly the Shakers' mascot, Peeler, is off duty today....
The town centre provides Compendium Escape Rooms, Cup o' Rosie, The Big Fandango, Jacket Inn, Willy's Underwear and Bricks & Motor Insurance. I pay another visit to the East Lancs Railway - 2 steam engines in residence, one dressed up as Thomas the Tank Engine, and outside is the Bury Suicide Remembrance Stone.
Down past Bury Athletic Club to Gigg Lane; so not to Oldfields....
Instead to the Shakers......
£10 in again and this time I'm in the Les Hart (South) Stand, the Neville Neville (North) Stand is also partially open, but both The Len Johnrose (Manchester Road) and Arthur Ashworth (Cemetery End) stands are closed. Town are in yellow and blue, sponsored by Peter J Douglas, and Bury in all white with a crowd of 2,903 against a backdrop of grey sky and drizzle. There is a solitary Uttoxeter Town flag, proudly waved....
The much changed Shakers struggle to find their rhythm, and minnows Uttoxeter take the lead on 11 minutes with Mikey Conlon's deflected shot looping over Jack Atkinson. Ben Price has an opportunity to make it two but plants his header over the bar, whilst Bury's Connor Comber has a shot that rebounds off the chest of Town keeper Charlie Wood.
The 23rd minute changes the course of the game and is a tale of both number 9s. Uttoxeter's Paul Hughes has his effort saved and the counterattack sees a superb crossfield ball, expertly taken in his stride by Benito Lowe, and his first touch finish levels the match up.
Thereafter Abs Obasoto and Louis Gilboy, twice, go close and Comber shoots over the bar. But the Shakers lead 2-1 at the break, with right back Sean Higgins heading down a cross into the roof of the net.
The interval sees the heavens open and no change as Bury dominate. Wood makes a phenomenal save from Comber's header and Obasoto shoots wildly over the bar. At the other end Hughes has a header saved, before Wood comes up with another stunning stop from Comber's drive.
Eventually the pressure tells.... On 72 minutes Lowe outmuscles his marker on the by line and smashes the ball into opposite corner from an acute angle to make it 3-1. Uttoxeter then benefit from the openness of the tie - Eric Graves' shot sees a good block from Atkinson, and Conlon, from distance, fires narrowly over.
But the Shakers finish strongly with Gilboy's effort saved by Wood at the near post. Then in the 94th minute left back Gaz Peet is fouled in the box and Comber finally has his goal, scoring from the spot to finish matters at 4-1 to the 'away' side.
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