BURY were dealt a shock blow last week after discovering they had fielded an ineligible player in the FA Trophy – without being made aware of it before the match.
The Shakers cruised to a 3-1 win over Wythenshawe Town earlier this month as part of their FA Trophy campaign.
However, it emerged on Friday that an ineligible player was fielded in the match.
Club officials announced they had submitted the relevant evidence to the FA in a bid to provide mitigation.
But on Monday it was revealed that Bury will have to replay the game against Wythenshawe.
A statement from the club revealed the reason for the punishment, with players and even the coaching staff unaware that forward Gavin Massey was unable to feature.
Massey was unknowingly shown a red card at the end of AFC Fylde’s final game of the 2024-25 season.
He was therefore banned from the FA Trophy game without realising.
The statement from Bury read: “We would like to provide an update following news at the end of last week regarding the FA charges brought against the club for fielding an ineligible player.
“With the Shakers 3-1 up in the FA Trophy tie against Wythenshawe Town, Gavin Massey was introduced for his debut on 66 minutes. It was subsequently brought to the player’s, and the club’s, attention that Massey had been dismissed in AFC Fylde’s final game of last season against Barnet.
“Following the final whistle of that game, the referee brandished a red card in the direction of a group of players and staff of AFC Fylde in the changing room area.
“Massey left AFC Fylde in the summer and signed with the Shakers on 1st September.
“However, the FA Portal only allows clubs to see the player registration detail once a player has made their first appearance for the club, with the discipline records on the portal showing one suspension for the game, that of Aiden Walker’s following his dismissal against Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Cup replay in August.
“After being introduced against Wythenshawe Town, Massey’s record became visible to the club and showed that he should have been suspended for the FA Trophy tie.
“This evening, an FA hearing took place relating to the charges brought against both Bury Football Club, and Gavin Massey.
“Having provided the FA with all mitigating evidence, the panel decided that Gavin Massey will now serve a one match ban.
“A second hearing, in the case of the Football Club, has determined that the FA Trophy tie against Wythenshawe Town will be replayed.
“The replay will take place at Ericstan Park tomorrow evening, Tuesday 16th September 2025, 7:45pm kick off.
“Bury Football Club would like to put on record that no issues with player registrations occurred in this instance, and that usual processes were followed by our administration team in preparation for the FA Trophy tie.”
The FA Trophy replay will now take place on Tuesday.
Bury currently play in the Northern Premier League West.
They were expelled from the EFL in 2019 due to a financial crisis.
A group of supporters resolved to form a phoenix club later that year named Bury AFC before merging to reform the original club two years ago.
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