AFTER more than 20 years at the heart of Bury FC, Ian Fitzsimmons has blown the whistle on his time at its social club.

But he will not be abandoning the beer taps completely for he has taken up residence with wife Barbara behind the bar of the Waggonmakers pub in Tottington Road, Bury.

Ian (58) and Barbara (55) left the social club on February 6 after being the stewards for 21 years.

Ian said: " I gave in my notice last year and was persuaded to stay on, but we feel the time is right and both wanted to do it."

Ian began working at the social club in November, 1983, after working at the nearby Swan and Cemetery in Manchester Road for eight years. For the first 15 years, he worked part-time, dividing his hours between the club and working for paper bag manufacturers Bibby and Baron in Dumers Lane, Bury.

In 1998 he left Bibby and Baron after 37 years and began working full-time at the Gigg Lane club for the next six years.

He said: "I loved the people who visited the club and loved being involved with the football, getting on with the players and managers. I got to meet so many different people.'

He added: "With the football club struggling financially and not knowing what will happen this summer, I need my own security so I decided the time was right and the challenge was there.'

Ian's three sons, Christoper (32), Mark (29) and Andrew (23), will be lending a helping hand with the running of the pub and Ian has no plans to cut his ties with the Shakers entirely.

He said: "We'll hold some fundraisers for Bury FC and invite the players up to raise some money."