List_of_Bury_F.C._seasons

List of Bury F.C. seasons

List of Bury F.C. seasons

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Bury Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Bury, which was in Lancashire until 1974 when it was absorbed into Greater Manchester. Founded in 1885,[1] Bury first entered the FA Cup in 1887–88. Drawn to play Blackburn Rovers away from home, they travelled to Ewood Park but scratched before the game; the two teams played a friendly match instead, which Bury lost heavily.[lower-alpha 1] The team first contested an FA Cup match in 1891–92: they beat Witton and Heywood Central before losing to Blackpool after a replay in the third qualifying round.[3][5]

Bury performances from 1894 until 2019

Bury were founder members of and runners-up in the Lancashire League in 1889–90, and won the title in their second and third seasons.[6] They were elected to the Football League ahead of the 1893–94 season,[7] won the Second Division title that same season by a nine-point margin, and beat Liverpool, the First Division's bottom club, in the test match to gain promotion.[8] They retained their top-flight status for 17 seasons. During that period Bury twice won the FA Cup. In the 1900 final, they beat Southern League team Southampton by four goals to nil. Three years later, they did not concede a goal in any round as they went on to beat Derby County 6–0, which remains the widest winning margin in an FA Cup final; the ball used in that match is on display at the National Football Museum.[6][9]

They returned to the First Division for a five-season spell in the mid-1920s, and achieved their highest ever finish, of fourth place, in 1925–26. Relegated back to the Second in 1929, Bury did not play in the top flight again; the closest they came was a third place in 1936–37. They flirted with relegation all through the 1950s, finally dropping into the Third Division North for the first time in the club's history in that league's last season before the regional sections were amalgamated into national Third and Fourth Divisions in 1958. Returning to the Second Division as Third Division champions in 1961, Bury spent seven of the next eight seasons at that level. In 1962–63, they reached the semi-final of the Football League Cup, losing 4–3 on aggregate to eventual winners Birmingham City. By 1971 Bury were in the Fourth Division, only for a three-season spell, but they were to spend the first half of the 1980s at that level.[6]

Further spells in the third and fourth tiers preceded two successive promotions in the mid-1990s: third place in Division Three – after the Premier League broke away from the Football League in 1992, the divisions were renumbered[10] – followed by the Division Two title in 1996–97 brought Bury to the second tier for the first time in forty years. After two seasons they were relegated, and by 2002, financial problems brought the club into administration and to the brink of folding.[11] A supporters' campaign raised enough money to keep the club afloat,[12] and in recognition of his role within that process, UEFA presented club press officer Gordon Sorfleet with their Best Supporter award for 2002.[13] Bury were relegated at the end of that season, and then yo-yoed between the third and fourth tiers.[6] Promoted to League One in 2019 against a background of increasingly damaging financial and ownership issues, Bury's early fixtures in the 2019–20 season were successively postponed until, on 27 August 2019, after 125 years continuous membership, the club was expelled from the Football League.[14] A phoenix club, Bury AFC, joined the North West Counties League First Division North for the 2021–22 season and won that division the following year.[15] Meanwhile, the entity that was Bury F.C. still existed, and the two merged in 2023, restoring the Bury F.C. playing name and combining the two teams' histories.[16]

Before the club's expulsion from the Football League, Bury spent 22 seasons in the top tier of the English football league system, 39 in the second, 29 in the third and 24 in the fourth. The table details the team's achievements in senior first-team competitions and records the top scorer in league matches for each season since they first entered the FA Cup in 1887–88.

Key

More information Symbol, Meaning ...

Details of the abandoned 1939–40 Football League and 2020–21 North West Counties League seasons are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.

Seasons

More information Season, League ...

Notes

  1. Some sources, e.g. the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF),[2] record this fixture as a first-round FA Cup tie. However, the Football Association lists the result as a walkover to Blackburn,[3] the Blackburn Standard reported that "as the [Bury] team was composed of more than one player who was ineligible they scratched previous to going on the field, and consequently an ordinary game was contested" which Rovers won 10–0,[4] and Bury F.C. do not include it in their complete FA Cup record.[5]
  2. Beginning with the 1925–26 season, the FA Cup was structured so that the third round proper contained 64 teams. Prior to that date, the structure had varied, so rounds are not directly comparable to the round of the same name after 1925. For example, in 1899–1900 and 1902–03, when Bury won the competition, there were only three rounds proper before the semifinal, as compared with the current six.[6][18]
  3. The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[10]
  4. Sourced to Soccerbase for 1996–97 to 2018–19.[23]
  5. From the 1894–95 Football League season onwards, divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system, and separately from the pre-Football League division.
  6. At the end of the 1914–15 season, the Football League and FA Cup were suspended for the duration of the First World War.
  7. The 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with three matches played when the Second World War began, and the Football League and FA Cup remained suspended for the duration.[6]
  8. Four players, Reg Halton, Jack Kelly, John McNeill and Fred Roberts each scored once before the 1939–40 season was abandoned.[25]
  9. Although the Football League did not resume until the 1946–47 season, the FA Cup was contested in 1945–46. From the first round proper to the sixth round (quarter-final), results were determined on aggregate score over two legs.[6][3]
  10. The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[10]
  11. The Football League Group Cup succeeded the Anglo-Scottish Cup after the Scottish clubs decided to abandon the competition.[32]
  12. Bury lost 2–0 on aggregate to Tranmere Rovers in the play-off semi-final.[6]
  13. Bury lost 2–1 on aggregate to Bolton Wanderers in the play-off semi-final.[6]
  14. When the newly formed FA Premier League split from the Football League, the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered upwards.[10]
  15. Bury lost 1–0 on aggregate to York City in the play-off semi-final.[6]
  16. After beating Preston North End 2–0 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[6] Bury lost 2–0 to Chesterfield in the final.[36]
  17. Bury lost 3–1 on aggregate to AFC Bournemouth in the play-off semi-final.[38]
  18. From the 2004–05 season, the Football League divisions were rebranded: Division One was renamed the Football League Championship, and Divisions Two and Three became Football League One and Football League Two respectively.[39]
  19. One point deducted after the season ended for fielding an ineligible player; the deduction did not affect Bury's finishing position.[40]
  20. After beating Chester City in a second-round replay, Bury were disqualified from the 2006–07 FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player.[41]
  21. Bury lost to Shrewsbury Town on penalties in the play-off semi-final.[42]
  22. Three points deducted after the season ended for fielding an unregistered player; the deduction dropped Bury from 14th to 16th place.[43]
  23. With the club having faced winding-up petitions, up for sale, and due to begin the 2019–20 EFL League One season with a 12-point deduction, the EFL wanted evidence for Bury's viability. Matches were systematically postponed, and the team were thrown out of the EFL Cup, until failure to meet a deadline meant the club was expelled from the League. They were consequently removed from Northern Group C of the EFL Trophy, and from the draw for the first round of the FA Cup, which resulted in Chichester City, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition, receiving a bye to the second round.[14][44]
  24. Season played by Bury AFC. When that club merged with Bury F.C. in 2023, the teams' histories were combined.[16]
  25. Because of COVID-19 pandemic-related issues, the 2020–21 NWCFL season did not start until October 2020,[45] and disruption continued.[46] A few matches were played in December,[47] before all football below National League level was curtailed in February 2021.[48]

References

General

  • "Bury". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 14 August 2019.

Specific

  1. [1]
    "Bury Football Club – potted history". Bury F.C. 1 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012.
  2. [2]
    Reyes Padilla, Macario (5 July 2003). "England FA Challenge Cup 1887–88". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. [3]
    "The Emirates FA Cup: Past Results". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 November 2023. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  4. [4]
    "Sports and recreations. Football". The Blackburn Standard. 22 October 1887. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. [5]
    "Bury FC – FA Cup Playing Record – to end of the 2010/11 Season" (PDF). Bury F.C. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  6. [6]
    "Bury". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  7. [7]
    "Lancashire League 1893/94". FootballSite.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  8. [8]
    "Division 2 1894/95". FootballSite.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  9. [9]
    "FA Cup Final ball, Bury v Derby County, 1903". National Football Museum. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  10. [10]
    "History of the Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011.
  11. [11]
    Conn, David (22 February 2002). "Bury's begging bowl may not avert closure". The Independent. London. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
    "'Shakers' face court's final whistle". BBC News. 1 March 2002. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  12. [12]
    "Save Our Shakers". Bury F.C. Archived from the original on 3 April 2002.
    "Background". Forever Bury: The Bury FC Supporters Society. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  13. [13]
    "Zidane honoured at Gala night". UEFA. 12 August 2002. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
    Harris, Nick (2 September 2002). "Zidane, Totti and a star-struck Shaker". The Independent. London. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  14. [14]
    Freeman, Jay (27 August 2019). "Bury expelled: How Shakers went from promotion to league exit in four months". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
    Halliday, Josh (28 August 2019). "Bury FC: despair as club is expelled from Football League after 125 years". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  15. [15]
    "Bury A F C". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  16. [16]
    "Bury FC: Unified Shakers will return to Gigg Lane for the start of 2023-24 season". BBC Sport. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
    "Find out which clubs are involved in the Emirates FA Cup, Youth Cup, Trophy and Vase". The Football Association. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  17. [17]
    "League History for Bury AFC". North West Counties Football League. Retrieved 23 November 2023. For results and scorers, click on season.
  18. [18]
    "1925–26 FA Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  19. [19]
    "Bury football club complete match record". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  20. [20]
    For Football League Group Cup: "Football League Group Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  21. [21]
    For Anglo-Scottish Cup: "Anglo-Scottish Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  22. [22]
    "Fixtures & Results: Elite Men 2022-23". Bury AFC. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  23. [23]
    "Bury: Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2019. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  24. [24]
    "Clubs: Bury: Season players". English National Football Archive (ENFA). Retrieved 23 November 2023. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  25. [25]
    "Second League". The People. London. 27 August 1939. p. 20.
    "League results and tables". Birmingham Gazette. 31 August 1939. p. 9.
    "All the football results and league tables". Birmingham Gazette. 4 September 1939. p. 7.
  26. [26]
    Ross, James M. (25 June 2015). "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  27. [27]
    Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1976–77 (PDF). London: Queen Anne Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0362002591 – via Historical Lineups.
  28. [28]
    Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 (PDF). London: Queen Anne Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0354090186 – via Historical Lineups.
  29. [29]
    Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1978). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1978–79 (PDF). London: MacDonald & Jane's. p. 144. ISBN 978-0354090438 – via Historical Lineups.
  30. [30]
    Rollin, Jack, ed. (1979). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1979–80 (PDF). London: Queen Anne Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-0354090834 – via Historical Lineups.
  31. [31]
    Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 104. ISBN 0362 02017 5.
  32. [32]
    Ross, James M. (20 December 2007). "Texaco Cup & Anglo-Scottish Cup 1971–81: Football League Group Cup/Trophy 1982–83". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  33. [33]
    Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  34. [34]
    Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 148. ISBN 0-356-17911-7.
  35. [35]
    "League Two". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Select season via dropdown menu.
  36. [36]
    Haylett, Trevor (28 May 1995). "Stewart maintains a tradition". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  37. [37]
    Sewell, Albert, ed. (1996). News of the World Football Annual 1996–97. London: Invincible Press. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-00-218737-4.
  38. [38]
    "Cherries see off Bury". BBC Sport. 13 May 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  39. [39]
    "League gets revamp". BBC Sport. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  40. [40]
    "Bury handed one-point deduction". BBC Sport. 25 May 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  41. [41]
    Conn, David (10 January 2007). "Why the FA should have given brave Bury a break". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  42. [42]
    McIntyre, David (10 May 2009). "Bury 0–1 Shrewsbury (agg 1–1)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  43. [43]
    "Bury: League One side punished for Callum Styles registration error". BBC Sport. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  44. [44]
    "Emirates FA Cup first round draw: Chichester City receive bye". The Football Association. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  45. [45]
    Lawler, Paul (6 August 2020). "League Statement – re: Start of Season 2020/21". North West Counties Football League. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  46. [46]
    Fallon, Martin (3 November 2020). "FA Announcement on non-elite football". North West Counties Football League. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  47. [47]
    "All results: 2020/21 season". North West Counties Football League. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  48. [48]
    "FA provides update on NLS Steps 3–6". The Football Association. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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