Players urge togetherness - Bury Times - Friday, 17 November 1995:
BURY'S beleaguered players have issued a rallying call to their own supporters. The plea for patience and extra backing comes in the wake of three cup exits in eight days and after four successive home games without a goal. "We understand the spectators' frustration, we are just as frustrated ourselves but we need them to get behind us," declared skipper David Pugh. "Some players, especially the younger lads, lose confidence when they are criticised.
"We are very aware that our home form isn't good enough and we need the crowd to help us improve it. The away support we get is unbelievably positive and that's what we are looking for at home." The theme was taken up by Bury born lan Hughes who is in a unique position to understand the fears and anger in the stands. "I know what it is like to be a fan, I was a season ticket holder here before I became a player," he said. "We are desperately sorry to have let our fans down at home like we have recently but we will get it right and just need their full support. "The playing system has changed under the new manager and it has taken a few games for everyone to settle in to the pattern and get to know their own jobs. It takes time for the movement off the ball to gel and sometimes that leads to bad looking mistakes but we are trying hard to get it right and just need a few breaks in games at Gigg Lane."
The work ethic point was taken up by terrace favourite Tony Rigby. "All the lads and all the coaching staff are working their socks off to effect change and get us up the league and it won't do us any harm to have the fans behind us while things are changing." declared the gifted midfielder. "It is not the quantity of fans that matters but the quality. Away from home our supporters are among the best there are. "The fans have always been good to me and I appreciate their input but some of the younger lads seem to lose confidence when their mistakes are picked on." Striker Phil Stant, another firm favourite with the crowd, reckons the fans will have something to shout about by the end of the season. "It is still very early days in the context of the league campaign and we are not that badly placed," he said. "Two or three wins will take us into the top four or five and with the talent we have here there is no reason why we cannot go up. "Of course we understand the crowd's anger especially against Blyth. They know we are capable of better and so do we. We don't fear playing at home but it is not always easy when teams come here because they see us as a bit of a scalp. "Anyone who pays his money is entitled to voice an opinion and in the end it is up to us to give them something to shout about. It only becomes a problem when players are scared to receive the ball for fear of being criticised if they make a mistake." The Shakers are next at home to Exeter a week tomorrow by which time Mark Carter is expected to have shaken off the hamstring problem that will probably rule him out of tomorrow's trip to Cardiff City. Shaun Reid has recovered from a leg knock to take his place in what could be an unchanged side from the one that performed so well against Wigan in midweek (see page 80). Skipper David Pugh has a flu bug but should be fit. Meanwhile, boss Stan Tement is stepping up his search for a replacement specialist left back to cover for the injured Stuart Bimson (broken arm).