BURY owner Hugh Eaves hailed Stan Ternent “the greatest manager in the club’s history”, this week in 1998.

As the Shakers began the task of trying to keep Ternent’s services, Gigg Lane’s major shareholder paid a glowing tribute to the man who gave them wall-to-wall success in three incredible seasons.

“This manager has performed a miracle once again in keeping us in the First Division,” he declared. “When you think we won promotion in two successive seasons and now we have managed to stay up in the First Division it goes without saying what a magnificent job he has done. This is a better achievement than winning the Second Division last season. When you look at some of the teams who have gone down it shows how well we have done with the resources we have.”

Ternent recognised that without the millions Eaves had pumped into the club, Bury would be lucky to be where they were.

But the London-based stockbroker added: “My contribution is a drop in the ocean compared with the resources of others in our division. I want this management team of Stan and Sam Ellis to continue because there is still work to do.”

Flashback photo

The Bolton News:

Not strictly Shakers – but we thought the picture of these Bury brothers was worth a reprint. The caption reads: “Manchester United’s Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, sink their teeth into a giant Jaffa Cake just in time as the Orangey Tang monster sneaks up to steal the orange centre.”

Well done to Bury Times reader Craig Belston who guessed the men in our photo from last week with Stan Ternent flanked from left to right by Walter Joyce, Cliff Roberts, Mike Walsh and Alan Raw.

This week in Shakers history

1967 A 3-3 draw at Bristol City wasn’t enough to prevent the Shakers from slipping into Division Three.

Greg Farrell scored twice and Alex Dawson also got on the scoresheet but Les Shannon’s side could not escape the drop – which cost the former Arsenal coach his job after just one season.

1974 Peter Swan missed the final game of the season through suspension as the Shakers consolidated fourth spot and promotion with a 2-1 win at Scunthorpe. The defender had seen sent off 10 days prior at Swansea City – an incident which would land him in hot water with the authorities after he dropped his shorts in front of the referee!

1983 Craig Madden scored the only goal as Bury beat promotion rivals Scunthorpe 1-0 at Gigg Lane to put themselves within touching distance of fourth spot. Sadly, a 3-1 defeat on the last weekend against Wimbledon would open a gap for the Irons to pip Bury to the post.