Indian football fans, unless avid followers of leagues below the Premier League, may not be too familiar with English lower division clubs. But when star Indian striker Bhaichung Bhutia signed with then League One side Bury FC in September 1999, it was headline-worthy news back home. The move marked a historic milestone — Bhutia became the first Indian footballer to sign a professional contract with an English club.
Of course Md. Salim had a short stint in Europe, but that was way back in 1936, also in Scotland for Celtic FC.
Though Bhutia’s time with the Lancashire-based side — affectionately known as The Shakers — wasn’t filled with glory, it was undoubtedly significant. Bhutia made three league appearances over his three-year stint and featured in several exhibition matches. While his impact on the pitch might have been limited, off it, the transfer was monumental — a giant leap forward for Indian football. It paved the way for future international moves by Indian players such as Sunil Chhetri (Sporting CP II), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Stabæk, Norway) and Sandesh Jhingan (trials in Croatia).
Fast forward to the present — pre-season is in the air across England. Clubs are regrouping, but most official outlets remain shut. On a Friday afternoon visit to Bury, the club shop and office at Gigg Lane, were closed. However, tucked away in a corner of the stadium grounds, members of the Bury Bike Club recognised Bhutia’s name when mentioned.
“Yeah, we do remember that chap,” said one gentleman with a smile. But soon, the conversation shifted to cricket: “Pretty unlucky of Siraj getting out like that at Lord’s,” he added, diving into a spirited discussion on the Lord’s game.
Later, a brief encounter with a club official shed light on how the resurrected club is currently functioning. “About 90 per cent of the officials who work at the club are on a voluntary basis,” he noted before hurrying off to a meeting. His name went unrecorded, but the sentiment reflected the passion and commitment of the local community.
Bury FC, one of the oldest football clubs in the world, was founded in 1885. With two FA Cup wins — in 1899-1900 and 1902-03 — they carved a niche in English football history. Most of their years were spent oscillating between the second and third divisions.
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However, beginning in 2010, financial mismanagement started to erode the club’s stability. In 2019, the crisis peaked — Bury FC were expelled from the English Football League and eventually dissolved. Gigg Lane was lost, and with it, the heart of the town’s footballing identity.
From the ashes rose Bury AFC, a phoenix club formed by the supporters in December 2019. Starting their journey in the ninth tier — the North West Counties Football League Division 1 — the club fought to keep Bury’s football heritage alive.
Meanwhile, a separate group of supporters worked tirelessly to revive the original Bury FC. Their efforts bore fruit in 2022 with the reacquisition of Gigg Lane. In 2023, a historic merger between Bury AFC and the legacy Bury FC was finalised. Since the 2023–24 season, football has once again returned to Gigg Lane, and so has the roar of the fans.
Reflecting on his time at the club, Bhutia shared a heartfelt message with RevSportz: “Had good experience when the club was at its best. But with so many big clubs around Bury, it has struggled financially and support-wise. I wish them luck and hope they bounce back.”
The story of Bury FC is one of passion, struggle and undying hope, and Bhutia’s brief but historic chapter in it remains a proud footnote in Indian football history. As football returns to Gigg Lane, it brings with it a sense of identity, resilience, and the promise of better days ahead. The journey has started, with the team winning the Division 1, and gaining promotion to the Northern League, the eighth tier. One day, hopefully sooner rather than later, they will find their way back to the Football League.
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