Monday, 30 November 1998
Warnock shares the plaudits - Bolton Evening News:
NEIL Warnock today told everyone at Gigg Lane to stand up and take a bow. The Bury manager has continued the brilliant job done by previous boss Stan Ternent in guiding Bury to a better start in the First Division than last season. But he believes the credit for the achievements of the last few seasons should be shared by everyone at the club, right down to the supporters. An indication of the gulf that exists between the Shakers and their more wealthy rivals in the division came when neighbours Bolton Wanderers found themselves in need of an extra body in the squad and they went for ex-Blackburn star Paul Warhurst, a man who has commanded £4m in two transfer moves. When Warnock was in need of new blood he went to Hyde United for Lutel James! "That sums it up in a nutshell," said Warnock. "it shows what a magnificent job everyone at Bury has done to get the club to where it is. "I think everyone deserves a massive pat on the back, including the fans." The one black cloud so far this season has been the continuing difficulty in attracting the fans. Fewer than 4,000 home supporters cheered Bury to victory against Grimsby last week, a typical figure but a demoralising one when the team is producing better results than at the same stage last season. And skipper Chris Lucketti says he cannot put his finger on the reason for it. "Compared to last season we are doing a lot better," he points out. "But the crowds, if anything, are down this time round. "The lads were disappointed because after the success of last season when we did well to stay in the division we were hoping to build on it. "It has baffled a lot of people that the crowd figures are down, I can't understand it." Despite the dwindling crowd base, the ambition to continue the progress on the pitch remains as burning as ever. "Last season was a new experience for everybody at the club but this season we know what to expect," added Lucketti. "The main thing is to build on last season by finishing higher in the league this time." And on a personal note Lucketti will be looking to emulate last week's goalscoring achievement when he scored the matchwinning goal for the first time in his career. "I have scored in 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0 wins but never before the winning goal in a game. I must say it feels good and I hope I can repeat the experience."

Saturday, 28 November 1998
Rampant Bolton Shatter Bury's Hopes - Nationwide Web Site:
 Bolton boss Colin Todd tonight hailed a fine team display as Wanderers hammered Bury 4-0 in a Lancashire derby at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton achieved the win thanks to doubles by Michael Johansen and Arnar Gunnlaugsson. Todd said: "I am as delighted by the fact that we kept a clean sheet as I am by the four goals. "I felt it was an excellent team performance and much of our movement was truly first class. "Jon Newsome has done ever so well for us and we haven't conceded a goal in the three games he's played. "Not many teams get four against Bury and we could have had more. "Even when we weren't playing too well or getting good results a few weeks ago I always had confidence. We have some very good players here." Bury boss Neil Warnock said: "I couldn't fault the players in terms of effort but in everything else we were second best. We were beaten by a better team with better players on better wages. "The second goal killed us for up until then I had us in with a chance. "I thought we were very bright at times especially early in the second half when there was only one goal in it. "After their second though it was very much a damage limitation exercise."

Warnock: Simply not the Best - Sporting Life:
 Bury boss Neil Warnock conceded that they were simply beaten by a better team after a 4-0 defeat by Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. He said: "I couldn't fault the players in terms of effort but in everything else we were second best. We were beaten by a better team with better players on better wages. "The second goal killed us for up until then I had us in with a chance. "I thought we were very bright at times especially early in the second half when there was only one goal in it. "After their second though it was very much a damage limitation exercise." Meanwhile Bolton boss Colin Todd hailed a fine team display. Bolton achieved the win thanks to doubles by Michael Johansen and Arnar Gunnlaugsson. Todd said: "I am as delighted by the fact that we kept a clean sheet as I am by the four goals. "I felt it was an excellent team performance and much of our movement was truly first class. "Jon Newsome has done ever so well for us and we haven't conceded a goal in the three games he's played. "Not many teams get four against Bury and we could have had more. "Even when we weren't playing too well or getting good results a few weeks ago I always had confidence. We have some very good players here."

Todd takes all round satisfaction - Sporting Life:
Bolton boss Colin Todd hailed a fine team display as Wanderers hammered Bury 4-0 in a Lancashire derby at the Reebok. Bolton achieved the win thanks to doubles by Michael Johansen and Arnar Gunnlaugsson. Todd said: "I am as delighted by the fact that we kept a clean sheet as I am by the four goals. "I felt it was an excellent team performance and much of our movement was truly first class. "Jon Newsome has done ever so well for us and we haven't conceded a goal in the three games he's played. "Not many teams get four against Bury and we could have had more. "Even when we weren't playing too well or getting good results a few weeks ago I always had confidence. We have some very good players here." Bury boss Neil Warnock said: "I couldn't fault the players in terms of effort but in everything else we were second best. We were beaten by a better team with better players on better wages. "The second goal killed us for up until then I had us in with a chance. "I thought we were very bright at times especially early in the second half when there was only one goal in it. "After their second though it was very much a damage limitation exercise." 

Friday, 27 November 1998
Bury eye perfection - Nationwide Web Site:
 Bury skipper Chris Lucketti believes his side can time it to perfection by recording their first away win of the season on Saturday.The Shakers travel only a short distance to make their first appearance at Bolton's Reebok Stadium and backed by their biggest away following of the campaign they could spring a surprise. "Derby games always fill up a special atmosphere and it gets to the players as well as the fans," said defensive lynchpin Lucketti. "There is no reason why we can't go there and get a result and we'll all be doing our best to bring home the points," he said. For Bury manager Neil Warnock it will be his first experience of Lancashire's 'old firm' derby and he is delighted to have players pushing hard for selection with Lutel James recovered from flu and Swedish national Kemajl Avdiu - originally from Yugoslavia - scoring twice in a midweek reserve team victory. In the early hours of Sunday morning Bury will then fly out to St Lucia for five days during which time they will take on the national team before resuming Division One action against West Bromwich Albion on December 5.

Combat Ready - Bolton Evening News:
WANDERERS will refuse to get drawn into a war with battle-hungry Bury in tomorrow's Reebok derby. The Shakers are setting out their stall to knock Wanderers' great entertainers out of their stride in the First Division showdown. But Reebok boss Colin Todd today stressed the importance of making class count as his side bid to continue their resurgence with a third successive victory. "This game is the biggest local derby we have," he said. "It's a cup final. "There will be two contrasting sides out there in that we like to play football and Neil (Warnock, the Bury manager) likes to play a different way, which he is entitled to do. "Bury will get at us, get the ball forward quickly and try to pick up the pieces. "We know what their strengths are but we have to play to our strengths which are to keep playing and moving the ball. "We must be aware of the way they play and stop them doing what they want to do but at the same time make sure we do the things that we do best and try to get a goal early on." New signing Paul Warhurst goes straight into the action alongside fellow loan star Jon Newsome in defence and the 29-year-old knows exactly what to expect after his Crystal Palace side faced Bury three times in as many weeks earlier in the season. He believes Wanderers can dominate the game with their extra quality if they can first match the scrapping Shakers for fight. "They are a very physical, battling side and it's also a local derby so it's going to be tough," he predicted. "I believe if we can win the battle then we can go on and win the game. "But it won't be easy. They play with three up front and try to bomb everything forward and pick up the pieces." Warhurst for the suspended Mark Fish is the only enforced change while Per Frandsen will also return after serving a one-match ban, probably at the expense of Ricardo Gardner with Scott Sellars moving out of the centre of midfield to the left. Bury hope to have Lutel James back up front after missing last Saturday's victory over Grimsby with flu. If he returns Chris Billy will move back to right back. Shakers boss Neil Warnock said: "This is the big local derby for us and the one game our supporters looked for when the fixtures came out. "But it's Bolton who are under all the pressure, they are expected to beat us and we owe it to our own fans to go and give them a game. "I went to see them recently against Wimbledon and the fans were chanting for Colin Todd's head. Now after two consecutive wins they are talking about automatic promotion, that's football!"

Shakers showdown - Bury Times:
INFLUENTIAL skipper Chris Lucketti believes the time is right for the Shakers to pick up their first away win of the campaign tomorrow and where better to do it! It's Bury's first visit to Bolton Wanderers' magnificent Reebok Stadium and the match Shakers fans everywhere have been waiting for all season, but according to the skipper no-one in the Gigg Lane camp should be going to Horwich with an inferiority complex. "It would be the perfect setting to get our first away win," he said. "Derby games always throw up a special atmosphere and it gets to the players as well as the fans, especially when the clubs are so close. "But there's no reason why we can't go there and get a result, if we could combine our first half performance at Sheffield with the second half at Barnsley we'd definitely do it!" "It's the biggest game of the year for our fans and they can rest assured we'll all be doing our best to bring home the points." And the big game build-up hasn't been lost on manager Neil Warnock in the run-up to his first derby match. "I realise that it's a really crucial match for our fans, it's THE local derby for us, and the one game our supporters looked for as soon as the fixtures came out," he said. "But it's Bolton who are under all the pressure, they are expected to beat us and we owe it to our own fans to go and give them a game. "It's funny, I went to see them recently against Wimbledon and the fans were chanting for Colin Todd's head now after two consecutive wins they are talking about automatic promotion, that's football!" Despite one or two knocks the Bury boss hopes to have a full squad to choose from for tomorrow's game. Striker Lutel James is back in full training after his illness last week though Paul Williams could be playing his final match for the club following his loan spell from Gillingham. "We'd ideally like to keep him on," said Warnock. "But one or two other clubs are interested in him including Port Vale." Also pushing for a place in the squad is Swedish Yugoslav Kemajl Avdiu who hit two goals in the reserves 3-1 away victory over a good Oldham Athletic reserve side on Tuesday. The other goal was an Andy Preece penalty and there was good news in that Tony Rigby got his first ninety minutes action under his belt. Wanderers boss Colin Todd looks like fielding two loan signings at the centre of defence. He moved quickly this week to bring Crystal Palace's much-travelled Paul Warhurst on loan and he looks like joining Sheffield Wednesday's Jon Newsome who will be making his home debut as South African international Mark Fish is suspended and groin injury victim Gudni Bergsson is unlikely to recover in time. Danish World Cup midfielder Per Frandsen is back following suspension. Bolton picked up two useful away victories this week with veteran striker Bob Taylor grabbing both the goals in 1-0 wins at Ipswich Town on Saturday and Stockport County on Tuesday. The Shakers fly out to the West Indies in the early hours of Sunday for a five-day mid-winter break. They will take on the St Lucia national team on Monday before returning home in good time for next Saturday's visit of West Bromwich Albion.

Bolton Wanderers Official Web Site
 A striker is always pleased when he is scoring goals, but it doesn't matter really who scores them as long as we can keep winning." That is 7 goal hot shot Bob Taylor's attitude as he prepares for his first derby against Bury in a Wanderers shirt. And the man who's two goals in successive away matches have helped to lift the team knows what to expect. "I am looking forward to my first derby against Bury. I have played against them many times, they are a strait up and down side and they are going to battle hard for each other and we will have to do the same as we have done in the last two games." "It is always nice to go into the Christmas period winning games. We have had a bit of a lean spell and even though people might say we only won 1-0 it's still three points. A run would set us up and help us keep up with the chasing pack. The couple of wins have done us good and the confidence is up now." Bob's recent performances have taken the spotlight from multi million pound striker Dean Holdsworth. But Bob believes it could only be a matter of time before the former Don hits the top of his form. "We know if we keep working hard we will get the goals, that's what we have to keep doing. Deano is coming on, he is working hard at the moment but is not getting his rewards. Hopefully they will come his way if he keeps working hard." "If we keep winning that will breed confidence. We just have to show the same commitment that we have in the last two games."

Monday, 23 November 1998
From The Sun's Super Goals.
Bury boss Neil Warnock was shocked after skipper Chris Lucketti proved to be his side's matchwinner. Defender Lucketti rose above the Grimsby defence and headed home Adrian Littlejohn's corner in the 47th minute - his first of the season. Warnock joked: "I never thought he'd score in a brothel. He's had a number of chances this season and he should have six goals already. We just shaded the battle. It was a real scrap but it was a great time to score. It gives us a lift and knocked them back". While the Shakers manager was smiling, Grimsby boss Alan Buckley was blasting his players for their sixth away defeat of the season. He said: "I was not pleased with the response after the goal so I changed it and then changed it again. I only had three subs on a day when I needed nine or ten."

Lucketti shines for the Shakers - Nationwide Site
 Bury defender Chris Lucketti scored the only goal of the game against Grimsby - a free header from home debutant Adrian Littlejohn's corner. Bury boss Neil Warnock was surprised it was his highly rated defender Lucketti who got on the score sheet. He continued: "I thought we just shaded the battle. It was a real scrap and we were a bit apprehensive in the first half." "But we were more positive in the second half and it helps when you score a goal just after the break. It gave us a lift and knocked them back."

From the Grimsby Evening Telegraph
 FOOTBALL is littered with superstitions and bogies and ever since Jack Lester rattled in the quickest hat-trick in 25 years against Oldham last season, Neil Warnock has made the Mariners pay heavily. For he must surely be the biggest thorn in Alan Buckley's side when he looks back over 15 glorious months since Lester led that Coca-Cola Cup rout at Blundell Park. Three encounters against Warnock sides and three defeats, the latest surely the most lamentable as inconsistency begins to creep into the most satisfying of starts to a first division campaign, is threatening to take the fizz out of another chapter of great achievement. Town's is a squad which is teasing its supporters. The first win at Birmingham City since 1936 and likewise the first triumph at Loftus Road since 1949 could have been the harbinger of great things to come. But now the cynics will simply say the banana skin was carefully laid out at Gigg Lane for that massive anti-climax. For all the good work at St Andrew's and Loftus Road has been systematically undone by the level of performance against very ordinary first division rivals like Bury, Crewe and Port Vale. Town boss Alan Buckley is a firm believer in the adage that league tables don't lie and closer analysis of the current listings provide the brutal facts behind the club's current ranking. Just four games off the halfway stage in the programme, the Mariners are the sixth most frugal side in the division. Only Ipswich, Sunderland, Birmingham, Wolves and coincidentally Bury have better defensive records. But it is at the other end of the field that the shortcomings are all too obvious. In this department the Mariners have just five clubs below them out of 24 first division rivals. With up to eight first choice players missing from some of his team selections Buckley's return from those opening 19 games has been highly respectable. But what was saddening on Saturday was the level of motivation shown by his squad when faced with arguably an easier task than those at Birmingham and QPR. Apart from two or three key players, the remainder of the team was heavily affected by the dour surroundings of the Lancashire mill town. There was simply no bite to their play as they allowed a club, which can only muster 3,500 home fans, to muscle them out of the game as they searched for an equaliser. For the opening 20 minutes it had been a different story with Town knocking the ball about brightly and getting behind the Bury back four. Danny Butterfield, standing in again for John McDermott, who couldn't shake off a groin strain, saw a lot of the ball and got in some good early challenges on Adrian Littlejohn, who went on to turn in a man-of-the-match performance on his home debut following a move from Oldham. But as the half wore on Town lost their grip and Bury, looking for only their second win in 13 games, grew in confidence. Had it not been for the outstanding form of the returning Aidan Davison the Mariners would have gone in trailing at half time? Ten minutes before the interval Chris Billy picked out winger John Foster with a superb curling ball through the Town area and the Northern Ireland goalkeeper blocked brilliantly once and then twice as defender Nick Daws followed up with a volley. Then came the killer blow and the supreme irony that Davison remonstrated with referee Wiley that the ball that he adjudged to have gone out for the telling corner had come off a Bury player's leg. With Davison's case dismissed Littlejohn fired in the corner and Bury skipper Chris Lucketti rose above the Town defence for a free header which ricocheted off the bar and across the line with Billy following up to make sure. It was a sickening blow and one which, despite three substitutions, in search of more drive, the Mariners could not recover from as Bury fought off the token response from their opponents. Town's task should have been numerically easier when French striker Laurent D'Jaffo hacked down Peter Handyside and then launched a second assault on him with a punch followed by a hand around his windpipe just yards from the referee, who demonstrated consistently throughout the afternoon that he was operating at a higher level than he should have been. With the rules stating categorically that even the gesture of a raised hand is an automatic sending off offence, it is impossible, when studying the Evening Telegraph's match report pictures, how a yellow card for both players could have been the result. A tame header from Lester into goalkeeper Kiely's arms and a fierce drive from Widdrington late in the game summed up the Mariners' best chances. But all the best chances fell to Bury and Town had Davison to thank again when the lively Littlejohn burst through on the right and fired in a brilliant shot on the run.

Sunday, 22 November 1998
Warnock pleased with battling win - Sporting Life:
Bury boss Neil Warnock was surprised it was Chris Lucketti who scored the winner against Grimsby. The defender scored the goal for the Shakers - a free header from home debutant Adrian Littlejohn's corner. He continued: "I thought we just shaded the battle. It was a real scrap and we were a bit apprehensive in the first half." "But we were more positive in the second half and it helps when you score a goal just after the break. It gave us a lift and knocked them back." Grimsby manager Alan Buckley led an angry private inquest after his side's 1-0 defeat at Gigg Lane. Grimsby hardly threatened and Buckley said: "Anything I have to say will remain private between me and my players. "We competed okay in the first period without threatening a goal. I told them at half-time about what to expect but we kicked off, never got involved, and conceded a corner and gave them a free header." "I didn't get the response I wanted after that so I changed it and changed it again but I still could not get the response."

Saturday, 21 November 1998
Let the good times roll - Warnock - Bury Times
BURY manager Neil Warnock believes the good times are just around the corner at Gigg Lane. Despite his side picking up just five points from their last 10 league outings, the Shakers boss insists there is no reason for panic. And he sees no reason why tomorrow's clash with Grimsby - Bury's only home game this month - should not signal the start of a good run. "We all took a lot of heart from the first half at Sheffield last week and the second half at Barnsley the week before - if we can combine the two then we are in business," he said. "We have to put everything into the Grimsby game. We are treating it as a cup final and it is our only home game of the month. Having said that, we now have three home games coming up in our next four and every one has to approached like that. They are all vital and I believe we can get points from each of them." Warnock knows all about Grimsby after locking horns with them three times at Oldham Athletic last season, with Latics coming out 2-1 winners. "Grimsby are a very hard-working, good football side. I have had some good battles with them over the last few years," he smiled. "They knocked me out of the Coca-Cola Cup last season, scoring five against us. But we were the only team to do the double over them in the league, so I hope we can repeat it here at Bury." He said: "All our meetings this week have been very positive. The lads know I am still looking to increase the squad with new players so there is some competition for places - and that augurs well for the future. "It says a lot for the belief in the team and the high expectations we have of eachother when we can go to somewhere like Sheffield United and be really disappointed when we don't win. "We have looked at the video of that game and the players know why we gave them too much momentum in the second half. Sheffield's comeback was more down to us than what they did and the players agree." Warnock believes the recent introduction of new blood, although still not fully match fit, has boosted morale at Gigg Lane and that will soon be taken out on to the pitch. "The arrival of Adrian Littlejohn, Lutel James and Paul Williams has given us a real lift in the dressing room and everyone is particularly positive," he said. "Littlejohn and James are two of four or five lads who are not match fit because they weren't with us for pre-season. "When they are firing on all cylinders, things should start to happen. With them in the team we know we can create chances, both home and away. "Once we can channel that into the way we are thinking, I believe we will surprise a few people between now and the end of the season." Warnock looks set to stick with the side, which lost 3-1 at Bramall Lane last weekend. Dean Kiely did not play in the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2000 game in Yugoslavia on Wednesday and is fit to play. New signing Littlejohn, who played for 60 minutes against the Blades, is likely to feature in a three-man attack with Lutel James and Laurent D'Jaffo. The newly promoted Mariners, who recently went seven games unbeaten, drew 1-1 with Portsmouth last weekend. They have won two games away from home this season - at QPR and Birmingham. They are sitting 12th in the table, five points and five places above the Shakers. Manager Alan Buckley looks set to bring £500,000 summer signing from Preston, Lee Ashcroft, into his side after injury, although he is likely to start on the bench. He said: "It is time for Lee to come back and prove his worth. He can be a major threat for us if we can get him eight - but he is still not as fit as he could be." Bury have obtained another 1,000 tickets for the Bolton Wanderers game at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday, November 28 after selling their original allocation of 1800. These can be bought at the club shop, Gigg Lane, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday or from the ticket office before and after tomorrow's Grimsby Town match.

Dean is man for Reds - Warnock - Bolton Evening News
NEIL Warnock has thrown Dean Kiely's cap into the ring as a possible replacement for Peter Schmeichel at Manchester United. The Bury No 1 has returned from international duty with the Republic of Ireland, for whom he was on the subs bench for Wednesday's Euro qualifier in Yugoslavia, and walked into flurry of speculation suggesting he will be an Old Trafford target. Alex Ferguson has launched a worldwide search for a replacement for the Great Dane, who has announced he will be retiring at the end of the season. But he has the 28-year-old Shakers star on his doorstep and Warnock believes his man is the best around. "He's a vital part of my side but we wouldn't stand in his way if a big club like United came in," he is reported as saying. "People keep talking about Richard Wright at Ipswich and linking him as the person to replace Schmeichel but I would say that Dean is better." Adrian Littlejohn, who made his Bury debut in the 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United after completing his £60,000 move from Oldham, is expected to make his Gigg Lane bow at home to Grimsby tomorrow. He is likely to figure in a three-man attack alongside Lutel James and Laurent D'Jaffo. Despite seeing his side pick up just five points from their last 10 league outings, the Shakers boss insists there is no reason for panic. And he sees no reason why tomorrow's clash with Bury's only home game this month should not signal the start of a good run. "We all took a lot of heart from the first half at Sheffield last week and the second half at Barnsley the week before. If we can combine the two then we are in business," he said. Bury have received an extra 1,000 tickets for the derby clash with Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium next Saturday after selling their original allocation of 1800.

Tuesday, November 17, 1998
Shakers head for the sun - Bolton Evening News
BURY'S bad travellers are heading for the Caribbean in the hope of warming up for the rigours of mid-winter. The Shakers, who haven't won away from home in the First Division this season, have accepted an invitation to play the national team of St Lucia on November 30. "We'll be treating it as a training break," chairman Terry Robinson explained.

Sunday, November 15, 1998
There's not a lot about today so I am going to give you an article from the Manchester United v Bury programme. Its titled "The David Meek Interview with Gary and Phil Neville".
 Bury Football Club have their own private Father Christmas....and he's called Manchester United! Every time they build a new stand at Gigg Lane and are wondering where on earth they are going to get the money from to pay fort it, they come up trumps with a Cup draw. For the second time in five years Bury are going to enjoy a bumper pay day to solve their financial crisis with a plum draw which will pay for their next generation ground development. "It's twice now United have come to the rescue," says Gary Neville, the United and England defender who knows all about Bury, not only as a fan but as a member of a family bound up in the fortunes of the first division club. His father, Neville Neville, is the commercial manager at Gigg Lane and his mother is the club secretary, so the Neville's were jumping with joy when the draw for the third round of the Worthington Cup paired them against United for this evening's game at Old Trafford. "My dad was ecstatic," says Gary, "because he knows just how much it means to Bury. The last time Bury were stuck for cash to pay for a stand they drew Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup and though they lost 2-0 they picked up enough money to pay for it. It's the same thing this time and my Dad tells me it was marvellous to see the worry about paying for their new project lift from the face of the Bury Chairman. "Terry Robinson is one of the dying breed of chairman who are fanatically devoted to a club and keep it going through thick and thin. He lives and breathes Bury and is always popping in and out of our house because he lives next door and loves to talk about football. He asks me about players I might have seen and how I rate them. What's nice for them is that they won't be forced to sell players to pay for the stand, and it would be such a shame if they if they had to because they have a really good team now in the first division." "In my view they don't get the credit they deserve. A lot of people think they are simply strong defensively and have little else but they are in fact very creative and their work rate is out of this world. They are as hard a working team as you could wish to see, and that's not patrionising, the team just mirrors all the effort of the rest of the club from the chairman through to the people who look after the kit." "I had been watching Ben Thornley play for Huddersfield at Bolton when I came out and heard the draw. It was the one not just the chairman but every Bury fan has been hoping for and I certainly count myself as a supporter. They are my home town team and my Dad used to take me to their matches from about the age of four. We used to travel away too, and when I was a bit older I used to go with friends to stand behind the goal." "I think the best team I watched was when Sam Ellis had players like John McGinlay (WANKER), David Lee, Mark Patterson, Jamie Hoyland and Andy Hill. They were in the old Third Division. They lost a couple of play off semi finals and the crowds stopped coming. The finance ran out and they had to sell players. They still need money but they will be a lot more comfortable after the game at Old Trafford. Although I count myself as a Bury fan, if this evening I am playing against them it won't be a problem because the fact that I am a Manchester United player will kick in." "After all, I have been with United since I was ten years old so there is no doubt about my professional allegiance, and in any case, whether Bury Win or lose the match will be the winners from the money point of view and that means an awful lot to a club like Bury Football Club, a chairman like Terry Robinson and of course to my Mum and Dad."

Saturday, November 14, 1998
Warnock praises Katchouro - Sporting Life Web Site:
Bury boss Neil Warnock is envious of Sheffield United's spending power and their hat-trick hero Petr Katchouro. The Belarus international netted all three of the Blades' goals in the second half to grab the spoils for Steve Bruce's side in a 3-1 victory. Lutel James had opened the scoring for the Shakers in the first half, but the well was dry the rest of the way for Warnock and company. "We were playing a team with bags of quality and the best team won," Warnock said. "But I can't ask any more from my players, we gave them a good run for their money. "We needed to score a second goal and we couldn't find it. "The difference is players like Katchouro, I think if he had had our chances he would have taken them. "But I think Sheffield have 10 times our wage bill and that is the difference, but we have a good squad and I am looking to improve it." Warnock was not pleased with the way his opponents played much of the game. "I think we were a little bit naive," he said. "I've never seen so many shirts pulled." Bruce felt his club could have piled on the agony for Warnock but was content with the victory. "We should have scored 10 but I am happy with three," he said. "I thought our second half performance was the best we have played all season." The Blades boss reserved special praise for defender Shaun Derry and Katchouro. "I was really pleased with the find within the club of Katchouro and Derry. I didn't realise how good they were," he admitted. Bruce played down a touchline tussle he had had with the visiting Warnock. "It was handbags at 10 paces," the Blades boss said.

Hulme banned after 20 man brawl - The Telegraph:
Halifax have slapped captain Kevin Hulme with a two-week ban for his part in a 20-player brawl during the clash against Chester on Tuesday night. The midfielder - also fined a fortnight's wages - will miss their FA Cup first round clash at Manchester City on Friday night. Halifax chairman Jim Brown said: "The match video makes horrific viewing. "The things happening on the field were disgraceful and Halifax Town football club cannot and will not tolerate scenes like that. "We have taken strong action against Kevin Hulme because we believe it is absolutely necessary on this occasion." Hulme, shown a red card along with Chester's Chris Priest for violent conduct, attempted to chase after his opposite number as Priest made his way down the tunnel but was restrained by his player/manager Kieran O'Regan and stewards. Both clubs face an anxious wait to see what action the FA will take over the incident.

Littlejohn joins Shakers ! - Oldham Web SIte:
Striker Adrian Littlejohn has finally completed his move to near neighbours Bury, on Friday morning. Littlejohn has finally ended speculation over his future, after four days of talks he has signed a three year contract at Gigg Lane. The Latics picked up £75,000 for the 28 year old, who arrived at Boundary Park in March last year in a player-swap deal.  It is the third time he has been signed by the former Latics boss Neil Warnock, and he will go up a division to try and help Bury fight off relegation. Now Andy Ritchie is to have talks with his Chairman over the weekend, to see if he will be handed any money to spend himself in the transfer market.

Friday, 13 November 1998
Littlejohn ready for Shakers switch - Bury Times:
ADRIAN Littlejohn's on-off move to Bury was back on again last night after a breakthrough in marathon talks at Gigg Lane. The 28-year-old was due to sign for the Shakers this morning and will go straight into the starting line-up against one of his former clubs, Sheffield United, tomorrow.  The Oldham Athletic marksman will cost Bury around £75,000 - but Neil Warnock believes he is worth every penny.  "It was a long day of talks, but we have finally got our man," said the Shakers boss, who will sign Littlejohn for the third time.  "Adrian is a top striker and we hope he will be a real asset to the club."  As Littlejohn arrives, fellow forward Rob Matthews is heading out of Gigg Lane to join Stockport County in a £120,000 deal.  "I think it was a good bit of business. Rob wanted a move and I was happy with the offer. Adrian will be the perfect replacement because he has a similar style to Rob - he likes to run at people," he added.  "Adrian is also very quick and gives us another outlet. I want to play another forward away from home sometimes and attack teams a bit more. We can do that now."  Littlejohn scored 12 goals in 71 league outings during his time with the Blades, before Warnock took him to Plymouth Argyle for a fee of £200,000 in 1995 and then on to Boundary Park. "Being a former Sheffield player, he really wants to do well against his old side and I will put him straight into the starting line-up," revealed Warnock.  "What a fairytale it would be if he opened his account for Bury at Bramall Lane. Anything is possible."  And there were words of thanks for Matthews, whose services have not gone unnoticed.  "I would like to thank Rob for all he has done for the club. He has scored some very important goals for us. I wanted to keep him and it was a difficult decision to let him go."   Travel-sick Bury head for Sheffield tomorrow looking for their first league victory on away soil since the final game of last season.  The 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road that secured the Shakers' First Division status was a manager, nine matches and six long months ago.  And for Warnock there could be no better place than Bramall Lane to break the away hoodoo that has seen his side take only four points from a possible 27.  The Shakers chief, a self-confessed Blades fan, was high on the shortlist for the United job before taking over the Gigg Lane helm in June. But there will be no doubting where his allegiances lie once the whistle blows at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.  "Yes, Sheffield is my club," he said. "When I joined Bury it was the first fixture I looked for. But I would love it if we could come away with a win and I hope the players don't let me down."  Warnock has a full squad to pick from, with the exception of Dean Kiely, who is on international duty, and Andy Preece, who has ankle ligament damage. Veteran keeper Bruce Grobbelaar is set to take over in goal (see adjacent story) with Littlejohn in for Matthews in the only other change from the team which drew 1-1 at Barnsley last week.  There is still no place for Steve Redmond or Dean Barrick.  Nigel Jemson will keep his place on the bench, alongside Dean West. Both players impressed the Bury manager in the reserve team's Manchester Senior Cup defeat to Manchester City in midweek (after penalties).  "They were outstanding. Nigel looked really sharp and Dean is getting better with every game. Two trialists, Jimmy Kelly and Carl Souter, impressed me too," said Warnock.  Warnock has dismissed speculation linking him with a move to struggling Hull. "I know the chairman quite well and it is a big club, but you will not see me leaving Gigg Lane," he said.   "I do not want to give up taking on the likes of Sheffield, Sunderland and Bolton every week. I want to be in the First Division and, whilst it is hard work, I am enjoying every minute at Bury."

West back in action - Bury Times:
YOU couldn't have boiled an egg in the length of time Bury full-back Dean West was in the action at Barnsley last weekend but for the unluckiest man on the Shakers books that didn't matter a bit. His sixty or so seconds on the Oakwell turf, after coming on as a last minute substitute, marked the end of a nightmare 14 months in which a hernia problem sidelined him and raised doubts that his Shakers career was over.  It was at the end of the 1996-97 Second Division championship season that the popular Yorkshireman began to sense something wasn't right after feeling a few twinges during matches. "Although I was getting through games I felt I wasn't doing myself justice," said West, who in September 1995 became former boss Stan Ternent's first signing, arriving from Lincoln City in a straight swap deal with Kevin Hulme. "I had an injection during the summer and thought the problem had been cured but it became obvious in the first few games of last season that all was not well and I needed an operation."  West's final game last season was the 4-2 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers but the subsequent operation didn't prove to be the answer to his problems and he went on to miss the rest of the Shakers first season back in Division One. "It was a really frustrating time for me," said the 25-year-old. "And I'll admit in the dark days that I wondered if I'd ever get back, but as a professional footballer you have to be positive and keep going." After couple of pre-season games at the start of the current campaign he received another setback when a cartilage problem in his hip saw him on the operating table for the fourth time in a year.  "It seemed to be just one thing after another but after the twelve months I'd had it was nothing new and I was confident that this time my problems would be behind me."  However, West had the added worry of a new man taking over the Gigg Lane helm during the close season but he needn't have been concerned about Neil Warnock's arrival. "It's never the best time to have a long term injury when a new manager arrives at the club, especially if he hasn't seen you play, but fortunately the boss has heard some positive things about me and is keen to get me back in action"   That is something of an understatement as the return of West is the equivalent of a quality new signing for Warnock and gives him the option of utilising the versatile Andy Woodward in other areas.  The Shakers chief has been keen to give West some much-needed match practise culminating in his surprise appearance on the substitutes bench last Saturday.  "It was great to get back into first team action last weekend and the reception I got from our fans was superb, they obviously remembered me," he grinned.  "The manager spoke to me on the Friday and asked if I'd be okay for the bench and I said I would, I'd have been struggling if I'd have had to go on in the first ten minutes though!"

Brucie bonus for Shakers - Bury Times:
 VETERAN Zimbabwean goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar is set to come to Bury's rescue again.   Shakers boss Neil Warnock is jetting the charismatic former Liverpool star back from Tunisia for tomorrow's Sheffield United clash at Bramall Lane after Dean Kiely was selected for Eire's Euro 2000 qualifier against Yugoslavia on Wednesday at short notice. However, Warnock, and officials of other clubs involved, are fuming that they didn't receive fair warning of the call-ups arguing that the Football Association of Ireland and Yugoslav FA should have given them 14 days' notice, while the governing bodies insisted that only five days are required. As the game was postponed last month due to the civil unrest in Yugoslavia, and is to be played on a date not originally agreed, FIFA suggested to the two national associations that they allow players to turn out for their clubs. The suggestion was immediately rejected by the FAI and national boss Mick McCarthy will expect his players to meet in Dublin by tomorrow lunchtime. For Grobbelaar, who at 41 years and 39 days will extend his record of being the oldest player to feature in the Bury first team, it will be his second Shakers appearance after making his debut in September's 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City. The former Anfield legend played a blinder that day and Warnock has no qualms about calling on him to fill the breach once again. 

Kiely boost for Shakers - Horwich Evening News:
BURY'S revival hopes were boosted today when FIFA controversially relaxed the traditional 'five-day' rule and left Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy fuming. Shakers keeper Dean Kiely was expected to miss tomorrow's game at Sheffield United after being called up by the Irish for their re-arranged European Cup qualifier in Yugoslavia next Wednesday. Former Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar was on standby.  But FIFA last night took what they described as "a pragmatic solution" and released all the Irish players for this weekend's Premier League and First Division fixtures.  Shakers boss Neil Warnock, who is reported to have rejected an approach to join managerless Hull City, hopes to complete the signing of Adrian Littlejohn from Oldham today in time for the Bramall Lane fixture.  Warnock, who has sold top scorer Rob Matthews to Stockport County for £120,000, has agreed a £60,000 fee for Littlejohn, a player he has signed twice before in his management spells at Plymouth and Oldham.  If Littlejohn completes the formalities in time he will make his debut against another of his former clubs.  Bury go to Sheffield United having taken just five points from their last nine games and with the unenviable record of being the lowest scorers in the Football League.

Thursday, 12 November 1998
Bruce wings in - Bolton Evening News:
BRUCE Grobbelaar will be back in goal for Bury at Sheffield United on Saturday.  The Shakers are resigned to being without Dean Kiely who is on international duty with the Republic of Ireland and are flying 40-year-old former Liverpool legend Grobbelaar in from Tunisia especially for the match. Bury could have another new face on show at Bramall Lane with Oldham Athletic striker Adrian Littlejohn having further talks with Gigg Lane boss Neil Warnock today in a bid to compromise on personal terms. Initial discussions ended with the two sides miles apart but Littlejohn is keen to team up with his old boss for a third time and Warnock is hopeful they can come to an agreement in time for the electric-heeled 28-year-old to make his debut in 48 hours time. Rob Matthews, meanwhile, is expected to complete his £120,000 transfer to First Division rivals Stockport County today after a fee and personal terms were all agreed.

Matthews makes Stockport switch - Nationwide Web Site:
Stockport have signed 28-year-old Rob Matthews from Bury for £120,000. The Edgeley Park side have recruited the midfielder on a two-and-a-half year deal. Matthews scored Bury's equaliser against County during their first division clash last month.

Matthews makes Stockport Switch - Sporting Life Web Site:
 Stockport have signed 28-year-old midfielder Rob Matthews from Bury for £120,000. Matthews, who scored Bury's equaliser against County last month, has signed a two-and-a-half year deal.