ADAM’S TRAVEL PAIN IS BURIED
FOR Adam El-Abd, playing for Bury often meant backache, hefty train fares and tears before bedtime.
But after helping the Shakers clinch a dramatic promotion to League One, the 30year-old defender says the regular 270-mile slog from his home in Brighton was all worthwhile.
“Leaving the family was hard,” says ElAbd, who has a six-year-old daughter, Sofia, and a two-year-old son, Xavi, with wife Jade.
“I was seeing them for two days a week, then going up there for five. And every time I’ve had a day off, I’ve made the journey back.
Difficult
“It’s been a lot of travelling and it was difficult at times. But all those times I’ve had to trudge back up to Manchester, all those times seeing the kids upset because I was leaving and feeling guilty for not seeing them enough – when you see what promotion means to everyone in Bury, it all feels worth it.”
Outsiders for much of the season, Bury sneaked into third place on the final day, a 1-0 win at Tranmere enough to leapfrog Southend who suffered a shock 3-1 loss at Morecambe.
“It was the strangest game I’ve ever played in,” laughs El-Abd, who spent two decades at hometown club Brighton before joining Bristol City in January 2014.
“I’ve never spent a game with one ear on the crowd. They started cheering after four minutes and suddenly it like ‘God, it’s happening – we need to win’. It created that bit of anxiety because it was in our hands.
“When we scored, it was pure relief. Then with about ten minutes to go there was an injury and we all went over to the bench for a drink. That’s when they told us it was 3-1 and we needed to defend for our lives.
“It was incredibly nervy, especially when Jason Koumas put the ball down for a freekick with a minute to go. Going home, the bus was like a nightclub. If he’d stuck that in, it would have been like a morgue.
“Afterwards, we all went out together – players, coaches, the manager and the office staff.That’s what I love about Bury. At bigger clubs, you might only meet the office staff once or twice a season.
“Here, you chat to them in the corridor on a daily basis and see how what you do on the pitch affects them, their life and their family. It’s why winning promotion here feels so special.”
Credit
Given that he was on loan at Gigg Lane from League One champions Bristol City, this is technically El-Abd’s second promotion of the season.
“The boys have been giving me a little bit of banter about that,” added El-Abd, who has now returned to Ashton Gate. “Obviously ribbing me about the fact I only played six games for Bristol. I can’t take much credit but it’s still two promotions on the CV!
“What happens now I’m not sure. Bury has been brilliant and I’d love to go back. But I’m contracted to Bristol and as things stand I’ll be starting pre-season with them. I’ll fight for my place there until told otherwise.”