Bury FC

On This Day...11th September

The eleventh day of the ninth month would, in time, be remembered for events off the field and away from the sport of association football with the destruction of the two World Trade centres in New York. However, history shows a total of 22 games for the Shakers since the club's formation in 1885.

The first recorded game took place in 1886; a friendly game with Accrington-based Bells Temperance. The game took place in Accrington, with the entire fixture list made up of friendly games. Bury won the game 3-1. Details of such games were recorded sporadically and to date, the goal scorers for both sides remain unknown, as does the attendance for the game.

A First Division game with The Wednesday, now known of course as 'Sheffield Wednesday' took place in 1897. With 9,000 supporters at Gigg Lane, goals from Harry Millar, Joe Henderson and James Settle brought both points in a 3-0 victory.

Harry Millar signed for Bury from Preston North End, having only made three rare appearances at Deepdale. His arrival at Gigg Lane brought an immediate impact by scoring the clubs first-ever Football League hat-trick. He actually scored four goals in a 5-1 win at Crewe in October 1894. His first season at the club, the championship season of 1894/95 and the clubs first season as a league club, Harry finished the season as top scorer with 18 goals and scored the only goal of the game in the end of season test match against Liverpool, which ensured promotion to the top flight at the first time of asking. Harry spent four years with Bury before moving to non-League Reading in the Southern Division.

In 1926, the Shakers had started the new season in fine form. A 2-2 draw at home to Huddersfield Town was followed up three days later with a resounding 5-2 victory over Everton. The first away game of the season saw Bury lose 3-0 at Sunderland before West Bromwich Albion came to Gigg Lane on 11th Sep 1926. Two goals from Wally Amos, two goals from John Ball, another two for Norman Bullock and a single goal from Billy Stage sent the 14,650 strong crowd home happy with a stunning 7-3 victory.

West Ham United were the visitors to Gigg Lane on 11th September 1948 for a Second Division game. 23,754 supporters watched as Eric Massey and Don Watson scored a goal each to record a 2-0 win for the Shakers.

1954 saw Bury play Nottingham Forest at the County Ground. 15,453 supporters watched as goals from Cyril Law, Doug Clarke (pictured above) and Stan Pearson saw the Shakers record a 3-2 victory.

1973 brought Hartlepool United to BL9 for a Division Four game. Just 4,436 supporters watched as Alan Tinsley scored the only goal of the game.

The Bury side that day was as follows:-

John Forrest, Steve Hoolickin, Keith Kennedy, Alan Tinsley, Peter Swan, David Holt, Iain Miller, David Hughes, Derek Spence, Billy Rudd and George Hamstead (pictured below)

On 11th Sept 2001, Bury signed Harpal Singh on loan from Leeds United. He would make his debut that night at Wrexham. Bury lost the game 1-0 after an 84th minute Lee Trundle goal, but it would be events over in New York that would grab the headlines and leave the game of football just a meaningless game.

The last recorded game on this day took place in 2010. A League Two clash with Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road, though the Shakers were to return to Gigg Lane empty-handed following a 3-0 defeat.

The full record for 11th September is:-