The 2016-17 campaign was a turbulent, nerve-wracking season for Bury as The Shakers battled against the drop in League One, ultimately securing their safety with a 19th-place finish. Amidst a campaign that saw three different managers at the helm, the team was anchored by the stunning, prolific form of centre-forward James Vaughan, whose 24 crucial league goals topped the division's scoring charts and proved absolutely decisive in steering the club clear of the relegation zone. It was a season of on-field tension and managerial change that was only salvaged by the individual brilliance of their talisman, marking a defining chapter of fight and survival at Gigg Lane.