The 2012-13 campaign was a season of heartbreak and struggle for Bury as The Shakers finished a devastating 22nd in League One, which resulted in relegation to the fourth tier. The year was marked by managerial turmoil, but on the pitch, captain Steven Schumacher's 8 crucial goals anchored the side's attack. The team showed fighting spirit, reaching the Northern Quarter-Finals of the Football League Trophy. This difficult campaign remains a defining, painful chapter in the club's history, a stark warning of the deep-seated financial issues that would ultimately lead to the club's later expulsion.