In a year of renaissance at Gigg Lane it was the perfect end to the season. Three years after Bury FC were kicked out of the Football League, a trophy was lifted on the turf.
Bury FC Foundation Women's team clinched the Lancashire County Championship on the final day of the season. It was the first tangible proof of a comeback after the demise of the men's senior side amid financial turmoil in 2019.
The women had continued to play despite the chaos, and suffering their own turmoil. In 2019 the club's ladies won promotion to the Premier of the North West Area League, gracing the famous Gigg Lane pitch with several games on their way to becoming champions of Division 1 - losing just once in 20 games.
But the ensuing trouble at the club saw an exodus of nine of the women's side and they were unable to take their place in the Premier. A painful slide in their fortunes, and down the leagues, followed.
As the club plunged into crisis, the women's team switched back from being financed by Bury FC to charitable funding - and did not stop playing.
Now they are on their way back after their season finished in style on Sunday. They and rivals, Clitheroe Wolves, had broken away from the rest of the pack in the race for the top spot.
Clitheroe were the only team have beaten Bury all season - 3-2 at the Lancashire Club's ground. But on Sunday in the return game at Gigg Lane, Bury only needed a point to lift the title, while the Wolves needed to win.
Two early first half goals by Kimberley Tyson saw the Shakers win 2-0. It took Tyson's tally for the season to 41 goals. Sophie Coates scored 30. The statistics for the team were impressive: Played 18, won 16; drawn one, lost one; goals for 121, against 23. Bury will play in the Premiership next season.
A crowd of 655 watched the team's return to Gigg Lane end in a third consecutive win. They had beaten Fleetwood Wren's 3-0 in a league match on April 24th; and then Accrington Stanley, 3-2, in a friendly on May 4th.
Diana Golding, Chair of the Bury FC Foundation, said: "My reaction, wow, hard to put into words how I feel right now. We knew we had the talent to win the league this year even though it's a young squad, but to win it and be at Gigg Lane in front of a record crowd is just beyond belief.
"I am absolutely delighted for the team, the club and Bury that we ended the season in such a fantastic way"
Coach Luke Haughey, a teacher at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale, said: "It's a relief to get this over the line. This has been more than just winning the league. It's about the girls finally getting the recognition they deserve.
"Not only that, but being given the opportunity, thanks to everyone involved at Bury FC, to showcase themselves in front of 450-700 spectators the past few weeks."
Manager, Colin Platt, said: "What an end to the season, title decider, winner takes all and at Gigg Lane in front of nearly 700 Bury FC fans. Back in September when the season started we knew it was going to be a tough season but we had our sights set on promotion.
"Luke and myself have worked hard to get the ladies where they are now. Full credit goes to all the players.
"They have had some tough games and shown great passion and commitment when times have been hard, playing matches with just 11 players at times, even finishing games with nine. The desire to succeed has been enormous. The statistics are proof of the hard work put in.
"To play our final three home games at Gigg Lane and to lift the trophy at Gigg has been fantastic, not just for us, but for Bury FC and the community. Having fans back at Gigg Lane watching football has been brilliant. A lot of hard work by many people to make this happen is a credit to the Bury community."
The success comes after confirmation this month that a deal for Shakers fans to buy the club was finalised. Using a German model of 51/49 ownership, Bury FC Supporters Society will make up the 51 per majority and the fans the rest.
The deal means they have bought Gigg Lane, the intellectual property, history, and memorabilia of Bury Football Club out of administration. For several months an army of volunteers have worked to restore the stadium.
