Bury FC

On this day on 17th September...

Of the 32 games played on 17th September over the club's long history, the following games stand out for varying reasons...

The first recorded game took place on 17th September 1887 and a friendly affair here at Gigg Lane with Accrington based Bells Temperence. Bury won the game 1-0 with the goal coming from what has been recorded as a 'Scrimmage'.

Five years later and Higher Walton visited Bury for a Lancashire League clash, with 2,339 supporters watching goals from Spence 2, George Ross, Bourne, Jack Plant and a 'Scrimmage' saw the Shakers record a 6-0 victory.

A 1927 First Division game with Sheffield United at Gigg Lane brought success for the Shakers with a 1-0 win. 15,015 supporters watched as Tom Bradshaw scored the only goal of the game.

Tottenham Hotspur visited Bury in 1932 and left empty-handed following a Bury 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Dave Robbie. 11,891 supporters were present to see the Shakers in this Second Division clash.

During his first season with the Shakers, David Robbie's outstanding displays on the wing brought the scouts flocking to Gigg Lane and within months, a £2,000 transfer fee to Sunderland was negotiated but fell through, and before the end of the season a £2,500 offer from Manchester United was turned down.

In view of the fact that Robbie was to spend fourteen highly successful seasons in Bury's colours – five in the First Division – credit must be given to the club's cash-strapped directors for hanging onto their prize asset until the summer of 1935.

At the start of the club's jubilee season, 1935/36, Bury lost three stalwarts in Wally Amos (482 league and cup matches) transferred to Accrington Stanley and Dave Robbie (443 matches) transferred to Plymouth Argyle. A further body-blow came when Norman Bullock (537 appearances), announced his retirement as a player due to injury problems.

Robbie returned to Gigg Lane as trainer/coach in July 1938. In the 1940/41 season, he was pressed into action on the right wing at Leeds United in a 2-2 draw on 14th April 1941, thus becoming the oldest player ever to turn out for the club at the age of 41 years, 6 months and 8 days.

In 1998, Bruce Grobbelaar played one game for Bury aged 40 years, 10 months and 30 days – therefore Dave Robbie's record of being the oldest player ever still stands to this day; although Grobbelaar's record was in a League game, whilst Robbie played in the North West War League.

Ironically, both David Robbie & Bruce Grobbelaar were born on 6th October. David Robbie died on 4th December 1978, in Bury, aged 79.

A tense affair took place at Gigg Lane in 1956, with Leicester City visiting for a Second Division clash. 11,306 supporters watched as goals from Stan Pearson (2) and Peter Tiley (2) were not enough in a 4-5 defeat.

1960 saw the Shakers in London, Brentford's Griffin Park to be more precise. A brace from Gordon Atherton plus strikes from Allan Jackson, Bill Holden and Don Watson brought home both points in a 5-1 victory.

The Bury side that day was: -

Frank Adams (pictured), Eddie Robertson, Bobby Conroy, Brian Turner, John McGrath, Bill Calder, Gordon Atherton, Bill Holden, Don Watson, Allan Jackson and Johnny Hubbard

The last recorded game on 17th September took place in 2016, when a large slice of déjà vu hit, with Bury making the long trip south to Swindon Town. Two goals from Hallam Hope were enough to record a 2-1 victory for the Shakers.

The full record for 17th September is: -