End Of Bury’s Forrest Era

As Bury continue their battle against on-going financial problems, an era came to an end at Gigg Lane this week as John Forrest has left the club after serving the Shakers for a span of almost forty years.As Bury continue their battle against on-going financial problems, an era came to an end at Gigg Lane this week as John Forrest has left the club after serving the Shakers for a span of almost forty years.

Bury’s official web site reports that he was one of the four members of staff who were recently made redundant.

John - or Jungle, as he is popularly known - signed pro forms with them in March 1966. The Bury-born goalkeeper made his debut in a 4-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion in the old Third Division on 17 January 1968.

The last of his 497 appearances for the Lancashire club wasn’t a particularly auspicious occasion, if somewhat of a coincidence. It was a 0-7 defeat in the League Cup against Nottingham Forest on 23 September 1980. He was succeeded between the Shakers’ sticks by Neville Southall.

Only three players have made more than John’s 430 league appearances for Bury - Norman Bullock, Wally Amos and Brian Turner.

After going on to play for Macclesfield Town, he was soon back at Gigg Lane as the goalkeeping coach.

John went onto become chief scout and kitman while his son, Martyn, kept up the family tradition by playing for the Shakers before he was released in October 2003.

In paying tribute to John, manager Graham Barrow, whose son James was on the Bury bench for the first time this week, said: “I was hoping that something could be sorted out and John could stay, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. John desperately wants to stay.

“During my time here, John Forrest has been invaluable to me and the staff, with everyone here at the club. It’s sad that these things have to happen, but more than anything I’m sad about John leaving

“He’s Bury through and through and he is going to be badly missed.”