BOBBY Owen was getting in among the goals in 1967/68 as the Shakers started to flex their promotion muscles in Division Three.

The Bolton-born striker had been teetering on 19 goals for a couple of weeks and had hoped to reach a milestone as Bury were featured on Match of the Day in a trip to Torquay United. Sadly, it proved a long journey back from Plainmoor as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat.

Thankfully there was a quick return to form as Owen and Jimmy Kerr scored against Grimsby Town at Gigg Lane to put the team back into the top four.

A modicum of inconsistency had started to creep into Les Shannon’s side and after a 2-0 home defeat against Gillingham the Shakers boss turned to new arrival Brian Grundy to provide more ammunition for his in-form strikers, Owen and Bobby Collins.

Grundy had played against Bury earlier in the season for Wigan Athletic in the Lancashire Cup – and manager Shannon was so impressed that he forked out £2,000 to bring him to Gigg from Springfield Park. In the end, Owen finished with 23 goals, the last of which was scored on the final day of the season in a 2-0 victory against Watford that sealed a promotion.

Flashback photo 

The Bolton News:

There were some funky kits knocking around in the early 1990s and Preston’s kaleidoscope away shirt was one of them. Here, Mark Carter is denied his second goal of the game in January 1994 by a goalkeeper who would return a decade later in a coaching capacity at Gigg Lane. Can you name who it is? Email your answer to burysport@nqnw.co.uk

This week in Shakers history

1963: Alex Alston got his wish after spending two years on the transfer list at Preston as he sealed a £10,000 move to Bury. “I can honestly say I would rather be here at Gigg Lane than anywhere else in the First Division,” he said.

1991: Having already sold Tony Cunningham to Bolton, the Shakers were looking to cash in on another striker as John McGinlay was poised to join Millwall for £80,000.

1992: Bury eased their money troubles with the sale of defender Colin Greenall to Preston North End. A swap deal involving Adrian Hughes collapsed, which left the club with just one fit centre-back. Mike Pollitt was also loaned out to Lincoln City.

1996: Bury snapped up Gary Brabin for £120,000, making him the third most expensive signing in Shakers history. The deal with Doncaster Rovers was completed with just two minutes to spare.