In the 1996–97 season, it was the one to remember for Bury supporters as they won the Second Division title and as a result were promoted to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1969.
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion or relegation
1
Bury
46
24
12
10
62
38
+24
84
Division Champions, promoted
2
Stockport County
46
23
13
10
59
41
+18
82
Promoted
3
Luton Town
46
21
15
10
71
45
+26
78
Participated in play-offs
4
Brentford
46
20
14
12
56
43
+13
74
5
Bristol City
46
21
10
15
69
51
+18
73
Source:
[1] Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Bury's score comes first [2]
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorers
17 August 1996
Brentford
H
1–1
3,373
Jepson
24 August 1996
Chesterfield
A
2–1
3,763
West , Carter
27 August 1996
Wycombe Wanderers
A
1–0
3,563
Jepson
31 August 1996
Bristol City
H
4–0
4,160
Johnson , Carter , Jackson , Johnrose
7 September 1996
Rotherham United
H
3–1
3,523
Carter (2, 1 pen), Jackson
10 September 1996
Crewe Alexandra
A
0–2
3,627
14 September 1996
Shrewsbury Town
A
1–1
3,238
Armstrong
21 September 1996
Luton Town
H
0–0
3,588
28 September 1996
Walsall
A
1–3
3,254
Carter (pen)
1 October 1996
Burnley
H
1–0
7,557
Jepson
5 October 1996
Blackpool
H
1–0
5,317
Armstrong
12 October 1996
Peterborough United
A
2–1
6,003
Matthews , Johnson
16 October 1996
Millwall
A
0–1
6,447
19 October 1996
Watford
H
1–1
4,092
Carter
26 October 1996
Bristol Rovers
H
2–1
4,082
Stant , O'Kane
29 October 1996
Wrexham
A
1–1
3,895
West
2 November 1996
Bournemouth
A
1–1
3,946
Carter
9 November 1996
York City
H
4–1
4,021
West (2), Pugh , O'Kane
23 November 1996
Plymouth Argyle
H
1–0
3,582
Carter
30 November 1996
Bristol Rovers
A
3–4
4,496
Pugh , Johnson , Carter (pen)
3 December 1996
Preston North End
H
3–0
5,447
Johnrose , Johnson , Carter
14 December 1996
Gillingham
A
2–2
5,542
Matthews , Randall
21 December 1996
Stockport County
H
0–0
5,069
28 December 1996
Rotherham United
A
1–1
3,263
Matthews
17 January 1997
Burnley
A
1–3
10,526
Matthews
1 February 1997
York City
A
2–0
3,423
Jackson , Jepson
8 February 1997
Bournemouth
H
2–1
3,559
Carter (pen), Matthews
15 February 1997
Plymouth Argyle
A
0–2
5,486
22 February 1997
Notts County
H
2–0
3,430
Randall , Jepson
25 February 1997
Wrexham
H
0–0
3,419
1 March 1997
Preston North End
A
1–3
8,749
O'Kane
4 March 1997
Shrewsbury Town
H
2–0
2,690
Randall , Johnson
8 March 1997
Stockport County
A
1–2
8,170
Butler
15 March 1997
Gillingham
H
3–0
3,492
Johnrose , Battersby , Johnson
22 March 1997
Chesterfield
H
1–0
4,162
Johnson
25 March 1997
Notts County
A
1–0
3,306
Jepson
29 March 1997
Brentford
A
2–0
7,823
Daws , Carter (pen)
31 March 1997
Wycombe Wanderers
H
2–0
5,714
Daws , Butler
5 April 1997
Bristol City
A
0–1
10,274
8 April 1997
Walsall
H
2–1
4,082
Jepson , Battersby
12 April 1997
Blackpool
A
0–2
6,812
15 April 1997
Crewe Alexandra
H
1–0
4,725
Jepson
19 April 1997
Peterborough United
H
1–0
4,631
Johnson
22 April 1997
Luton Town
A
0–0
7,769
26 April 1997
Watford
A
0–0
9,017
3 May 1997
Millwall
H
2–0
9,785
Jepson , Johnrose
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
R1
16 November 1996
Chesterfield
A
0–1
5,104
[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.