Last season
Bury ensured the Northern Premier League Division One West title on the final day of the season, beating Atherton Collieries 3-0.

The Shakers pipped Avro to top spot, finishing two points ahead, though the latter would go up through the play-offs.

The win ensured back-to-back promotions for The Shakers, after winning the North West Counties Football League in 2024/25 with a mammoth 109 points.

In the dugout
Local lad and Bury fan Anthony Johnson is manager at Bury - splitting up his long-standing managerial partnership with Bernard Morley at Radcliffe to take the hotseat in February.

Where do they play?
Bury play at 12,500-capacity Gigg Lane, having done so for the majority of their existence since their formation in 1885.

Have we met before?
While the Seasiders have played at Gigg Lane on numerous occasions in the past, when FC United played at the stadium, they have never faced Bury in a competitive fixture.