Bury FC complete one of football’s greatest comebacks with Gigg Lane glory

From the rubble of despair, Bury FC have risen.

Almost six years since their darkest day, expelled from the English Football League after 125 years, The Shakers are champions once more.

On a sunlit Saturday at Gigg Lane, in front of 8,719 roaring supporters, they secured promotion to step four of the English non-league pyramid. A 4-0 demolition of Burscough was a huge win and resurrection befitting of the Easter Weekend.

For the loyal fanbase who never gave up, the moment was electric.

There were flares and flags, chants and cheers, but also tears, of joy, of vindication, of relief.

But how did they get here? Here’s the full story of the fall and rise of Bury FC.

Bury FC’s league expulsion

In August 2019, Bury were expelled from the EFL after a failed takeover bid from C&N Sporting Risk collapsed at the eleventh hour.

For a club that had existed since 1885, and spent 125 years in the League, it was a gut-wrenching, almost unthinkable blow.

Players were left jobless, fans were heartbroken, and Gigg Lane, one of the oldest football grounds in the world, fell silent.

Bury’s removal marked the first time a club had been expelled from the League since Maidstone United in 1992. EFL Chair Debbie Jevans called it “one of the darkest days in the league’s history.”

For Bury supporters, it felt like a death in the family.

The club that had lifted the FA Cup not once, but twice, famously in 1903 without conceding a single goal, had been wiped off the professional map.

The streets of Bury, the pubs, the chip shops, and the local businesses that thrived on matchdays were all left with a hole that couldn’t be filled by another team or pastime.

The fightback begins

But this is a story of fight, not failure.

It took two years of unrelenting effort by passionate, determined fans to get the wheels of recovery turning. Supporter-led groups rallied, held meetings, raised funds, and, most importantly, refused to let Bury FC become a footnote in football history. Their motto was simple: bring football back to Gigg Lane.

And in 2023, after years of turmoil, they succeeded in merging the breakaway Phoenix Club Bury AFC with the original Bury FC. Gigg Lane was restored, the club was reformed, and the dream was reignited.

The rebirth of Bury FC

This season, under manager Dave McNabb, Bury FC have been nothing short of extraordinary. They lost just three matches all year and remained unbeaten at home. They amassed a jaw-dropping 109 points and found the net 131 times.

Saturday’s game against Burscough was meant to be a test. It became a party. After just 19 minutes, Aiden Walker’s opener sent the crowd into early rapture. Tyler James scored four minutes later. Then he scored again. And again.

As the goals rained in, the decades of hurt melted away. The chants of ‘Allez, allez, allez’ rang out.

Flares lit up Gigg Lane like beacons of triumph. After the final whistle, the pitch was stormed by a tidal wave of joyous fans—some with shirts older than the players they supported.

There were tributes, too. In the 36th minute, the crowd paused to remember former Bury player Joe Thompson, who recently passed away aged 36 after a battle with cancer. It was a poignant reminder of football’s ability to bring people together in joy and in sorrow.

Speaking after the game, boss Manager Dave McNabb said: “I’m absolutely delighted to pick up the three points that have seen us get over the line and be confirmed as league champions.

“It’s been such a tough season this year, with the standards being absolutely through the roof. To have to amassed 109 points and to win the league on the last day is incredible.

“A Massive well done must also go to Lower Breck, who pushed us all the way. With 106 points, they absolutely deserve promotion.”

Assistant Manager Tim Lees, speaking on Buryfc.co.uk was ecstatic with his team’s performance this year.

Assistant Manager Tim Lees struggled to find the words to describe the emotion of Bury’s title-winning day at Gigg Lane, calling it “a very, very long journey” and reflecting on the challenges the club had faced since its collapse in 2019.

He praised the fans, saying they “deserve it more than anyone” after losing their club overnight and then showing unwavering support.

Lees also highlighted the incredible commitment and bravery shown by the players from the first training session of pre-season through to the final whistle, describing them as “incredible characters” playing under “immense pressure.”

He credited his long-time colleague and manager Dave McNabb for building a team and style that excited fans and delivered results, including nine consecutive clean sheets and record-breaking goal tallies.

With nearly 9,000 supporters in the stands, he said the memories created will last forever.

Looking ahead, Lees said the team would finally take time to enjoy their success, noting the sleepless nights and relentless schedule that had made it hard to pause and celebrate until now.

The history of Bury FC

Bury’s history reads like a love letter to the beautiful game. FA Cup winners in 1900 and 1903.

Founding members of the Football League Second Division. The only club to have scored 1,000 goals in all four divisions of the Football League. Their highest ever finish was fourth in the top flight, back in 1925.

They’ve had highs, lows, and everything in between.

At a time when community football is constantly threatened by financial instability, Bury FC’s rebirth just goes to show power of people. The fans didn’t just save their club—they rebuilt it from the ashes.

And judging by Saturday’s turnout, the future is already in safe hands.

The road back to the English Football League

With promotion to step four of the non-league secured, Bury are still five tiers below where they were in 2019. But no one in BL9 is thinking about that at the moment.

The road back to the EFL is long, but now it’s visible.

The foundations are in place. The heart is beating again. And most importantly, the supporters, who have travelled from the Isle of Man to Irlam, are united.

What happens next? Nobody can say for sure. But if the last six years have proven anything, it’s that Bury FC are a thriving community of passionate fans. A badge that binds thousands together.

So here’s to the next chapter. Here’s to Gigg Lane rocking once more. And here’s to the club that wouldn’t quit.

The Shakers are back!

Bury FC X Manchester Remembers

This year, Gigg Lane will be hosting a very special footballing event, Manchester Remembers, for the very first time.

Established by Aaron Lee & Paul Corrigan, in 2020, the successful event has raised over £100,000 for a number of charities linked to the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.

Previously hosted by Manchester City FC and Oldham Athletic, Manchester Remembers will be held on June 14th 2025, with Sam Allardyce and Peter Reid will again be managing this years ‘Legends’ and ‘Celebrity’ teams respectively and already they have some big names who will be in attendance on the day, with more details and ticketing information coming very soon.

You can find out more on their facebook page by clicking here

Photoheader image credit: @official_buryfc instagram