Bury FC Achieves She Belongs Standard 

Bury Football Club is proud to announce that it has achieved the She Belongs Standard from Manchester FA, recognising the club’s commitment to creating female-friendly facilities and an environment that provides equal opportunities for women and girls.

The achievement was celebrated at the club last week with the presentation of a She Belongs Standard plaque, with a number of women and girls from across Bury FC’s football community joining the celebration, presented by Georgie Oliver, Facilities & Investment Manager and Leigh Gell, Football Development Officer (Women & Girls) from Manchester FA.

The She Belongs Standard focuses on ensuring that women and girls feel welcome, comfortable and able to access football facilities. As part of the standard, facilities are assessed against areas including clean and well-stocked toilets, accessible sanitary products, equal access for women and girls, clear signage and well-lit facilities, reflective imagery and a sense of belonging. For Bury FC, achieving the standard represents an important step in ensuring that women and girls feel that they have a place within the club and its facilities and follows on from the long-standing work the club has done with HerGameToo. 

The achievement also provides an opportunity to celebrate the wider work taking place across Bury FC to develop women’s and girls’ football. The club is committed to creating opportunities for women and girls to participate in football and to support the development of the game across the club. This includes providing opportunities across different age groups, developing coaches and volunteers, engaging with the local community and continuing to build a positive environment for players and their families.

Bury FC also recognises the importance of making football accessible and welcoming beyond the pitch, with facilities, communication and the overall matchday and football experience playing an important role in helping women and girls feel that they belong.

Casey Lynchey, Head of Operations at Bury FC, said:

“Achieving the She Belongs Standard is another fantastic milestone for everyone involved in women’s and girls’ football at Bury FC. It’s important that women and girls feel welcome, comfortable and that they belong when they come to our club.

We’re proud of the work that has gone into achieving the standard, but we’re also proud of the wider work taking place across the club to grow women’s and girls’ football. From our players and coaches to volunteers, families and supporters, there are so many people helping us create more opportunities for women and girls to be involved in the game.

This is an important step, but it’s certainly not the finish line. We want to continue developing what we offer and make Bury FC a place where women and girls can continue to enjoy football, participate in the game and feel that they truly belong.”