With promotions and relegations aplenty over the last 10 years, Bury fans had been through the mill even before recent events. Here we look at Gigg Lane's best with a team of the 2010s picked with a little help from supporters...

Nick Pope

If this team of the decade was judged on ‘where are they now?’ then Nick Pope would be top of the list. The England goalkeeper had quite an impact in just a few short months at Gigg Lane, playing 22 times as the Shakers finished third in League Two in May 2015 to seal a memorable promotion. On loan from Charlton he returned to the Valley and impressed enough the following campaign to secure a move to Burnley, growing year-on-year at Turf Moor to become the undisputed No.1 this season. Made his first Three Lions start, a second cap, in the win in Kosovo last month.

Efe Sodje

Almost as famous in some quarters for his head gear as he was for his football, the defender was already at Gigg Lane at the start of the decade. Signing permanently after a loan spell in 2008, Sodje made 212 appearances in total and scored 18 goals, leaving in 2013 to return to Macclesfield.  Has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years, being jailed for 18 months in September 2017 along with brothers Stephen and Bright after a fraud case relating to the Sodje Sports Foundation.

Tom Lees

A single season on loan at the start of the decade proved that the defender was destined for bigger things. Then with Leeds, Lees appeared in all but one league game as the Shakers were promoted from League Two at the end of the 2010-11 campaign with a second-placed finish behind Chesterfield. Also chipped in with five goals, three of which came in the last six games of the season. Won the Players’ Player of the Year award and would go on to win six caps for England’s Under-21s. Moved on to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2014 and the 29-year-old centre half has played more than 200 times for the Owls.

Nathan Cameron

With the club from 2013 to 2018, the defender won the Bury Times player of the year gong as captain of the 2014-15 promotion-winning side. The campaign began with him considering his options due to limited opportunities in the months prior only for his performances to see him attract interest from Championship clubs and ultimately sign a new three-year contract at Gigg Lane as he appeared in every one of the club’s 52 matches. In total he made just shy of 150 appearances for the club. Joined Macclesfield after being released and the 28-year-old is in his second season with the Silkmen in League Two.

Chris Hussey

Another member of the 2014-15 promotion-winning side, the left back signing permanently at Gigg Lane the summer before the campaign after a successful loan spell. Chipped in with 10 assists on the way to third spot in League Two, making 42 appearances. Also a key figure the following season, playing 50 more times for the Shakers before Sheffield United came calling in the summer of 2016. Move to Bramall Lane didn’t work out though and the 30-year-old is now into his second campaign with Cheltenham. 

Danny Mayor

Undoubtedly one of the club’s players of the decade, if not the top man. Mayor initially arrived on loan from Sheffield Wednesday for the 2013-14 campaign before signing a three-year deal with the Shakers, such was the impression he made. Became a key figure in the years that followed being part of two promotions. Was the League Two player of the year when Bury went up in 2015 and then scored 12 goals last season as the Shakers defied all the off-field problems to be promoted again. One of a number of players to follow Ryan Lowe to Plymouth, Mayor’s six years as a Shaker saw him make 235 appearances, score 36 goals and assist a further 42.

Steven Schumacher

A promotion winner as a player and coach, Schumacher has been a key figure at Gigg Lane over the last few years. A midfielder, he joined the club right at the start of the decade ­- in July 2010 - being installed as captain and helping lead the Shakers to promotion from League Two the following May. Left in 2013 for Fleetwood following the club’s relegation having scored 25 goals in 124 appearances in all. Returned to the club in January 2018 to support then caretaker boss Ryan Lowe. The pair couldn’t stop the club being relegated but did mastermind an immediate return to League One, only to depart for Plymouth as the crisis at Gigg Lane deepened.

Jay O’Shea

The Irishman turned down Sheffield United, where he had been on loan, to join Bury in the summer of 2017 and would enjoy a successful two years at the club. After relegation in his first season the Dubliner was a key figure last season as Bury finished runners-up to Lincoln. Won the League Two player of the month prize in both November and January, ending the season with 16 goals in 50 appearances and being named in the League Two team of the year. Widely expected to be one of the players to join Ryan Lowe at Plymouth, O’Shea instead opted for a new challenge in Australia and is currently with Robbie Fowler’s Brisbane Roar.

Nicky Adams

An academy graduate at Gigg Lane, the larger-than-life midfielder has had three spells with the club, two of which have come in this decade. Both were for single seasons - 2014-15 and 2018-19 - and both ended in promotion from League Two. Claimed 16 assists last season under the management of former team mate Ryan Lowe, before joining Northampton for a second spell, the second time he has made the move from Gigg Lane to Sixfields. A passionately outspoken critic of the Bury ownership during the problems that led to expulsion from the Football League in August, Adams gave his all for the club both on and off the pitch.

Ryan Lowe

What more can be said about Lowe? The Gigg favourite enjoyed three promotions with the club, two as a player and one as a manager. May have left the crisis club for Plymouth following a remarkable League Two campaign but appearances in recent weeks at events supporting a new phoenix club show just how close the club is to his heart. Had three spells at the club as a player, making 180 appearances and scoring 71 goals. Managerial spell not only saw him commended for results but also a style of play that was easy on the eye. Has a strong claim to be player-manager of this side.

James Vaughan

Had just the one season with the club, 2016-17, but what a campaign it was in front of goal. The former Everton man, now with Bradford after a nomadic few years, hit 24 goals in 40 appearances in a season where the Shakers only avoided relegation from League One by a single point. Highlights included scoring four goals in a 5-1 win over Peterborough, Vaughan also scoring twice in five different games. That kind of form saw him snapped up by Sunderland for £500,000.