BURY’S players, management and directors have always known it, and now they have the stats to prove it.

The Shakers have one of the best away followings in the lower leagues, possibly the country, with the Gigg Lane outfit consistently taking more than 20 per cent of their home attendances with them on the road.

Their average home attendance over the season just ended was 3,313 and they regularly took more than 30 per cent of that figure away from home, including almost 60 per cent to Chesterfield on the day they sealed promotion to League One.

The incredible statistics show that only three clubs in the division – Accrington Stanley, Port Vale and Wycombe – brought more of their average attendance to Bury than vice-versa.

Only six teams were backed by more than 10 per cent of their seasonal average, yet the Shakers did that 15 times out of 23.

Goalkeeper Cameron Belford knows more than most how passionate his team’s support is from standing just in front of them in the goalmouth.

“We had 1,900 Bury fans at Chesterfield, 1,200 at Stevenage – the fans have been brilliant all season, especially so since Alan Knill left,” he said.

“The fans and the club have pulled together all season. It’s one big team. I don’t think we could have achieved promotion without the fans.

“They have been unbelievable and they always get behind the lads. There is no moaning, and it does help, they are our 12th man.

“If you have the fans behind you all through the game, it gives you that little bit extra incentive.”

Dave Gifford, chairman of the club’s fans trust, Forever Bury, is proud of the club’s loyal support and believes the reason for it lies with the location of many supporters.

“Our away support has always been brilliant because we do have fans spread right across the country,” he said. “The problem is that they cannot always make home games, particularly ones that are postponed and re-arranged for Tuesday evenings.

“I remember when we played Charlton about 10 years ago and one of their fans told me he was amazed about the 900 we took to The Valley. They were only expecting 100 and he was so impressed he now counts Bury as one of his second clubs and regularly comes up to see us at Gigg Lane three or four times a season.”