THERE is very little time for reflection in football – for those in the thick of the action the next game is always the most important.

David Flitcroft gave that impression on the night of his biggest achievement as a manager to date.

There is no doubt that he revelled in the final-day drama at Prenton Park, jumping up and down in a huddle with his staff on the touchline after promotion to League One was assured with a 1-0 win at Tranmere.

And the pictures of a champagne-soaked boss singing in the dressing room with his players perfectly captured a joyous moment in time that no-one involved will ever forget.

Those private celebrations turned to a public love-in at Gigg Lane later that night as Flitcroft and his squad were presented to hundreds of deliriously happy supporters who had gathered on the pitch in wait for their heroes.

I was then lucky enough to share a few quiet moments with the manager and his players in the stadium bar before they jetted off to Spain for a two-day party.

Some of the veterans of the group, such as Ryan Lowe and Chris Sedgwick, were clearly drinking in the moment, grinning from ear to ear as they shared a pint with fans.

Flitcroft, however, had a more furrowed brow, not unhappy just locked in concentration.

He was no doubt left exhausted after the adrenalin rush finally passed, but in my mind he seemed to be assessing the room, already finalising plans for his assault on League One.

I doubt he would have shared those thoughts if I had offered a penny for them, but such is the lot of a successful manager that there is never a moment to stand still.

If you are not moving forwards then you are going backwards, I imagine he might say.

Later that month, Flitcroft showed his ruthless streak as he released experienced pros like Nicky Adams and Jim McNulty.

The Shakers boss has proved over the past few seasons he is prepared to stand and fall by his decisions, and the fact Bury have kicked on is testament to the work he and his staff continue to do.

The gravity of their achievement has possibly been lost in the maelstrom, but years from now I believe this era will go down as one of the most significant in the club's proud history.

If fans want to put the success they have witnessed in 2015 into perspective, the stats tell the story.

It may have felt like Bury achieved promotion the hard way, enduring a rollercoaster ride from January to May after a dip in form the previous November and December gave them a mountain to climb, but they ended up with a record tally of 85 points.

Put simply, no other Shakers side in history has enjoyed such a prodigious return.

How they amassed those points was all the more impressive, ending the season with a record-breaking eight-match winning run away from home.

They carried that iron will on the road into the next season, eventually going nine months and 17 games unbeaten on their travels, in between defeats at Burton on January 31 and Bradford on October 20.

Bury's success was no flash in the pan.

It was built on a rock-solid yet dynamic back four, which was improved further in the summer with the introduction of Peter Clarke, while the arrival of attacking talent, such as Clarke's namesake Leon, has added a potent goal threat.

In a matter of months, Flitcroft has moulded together a group capable of standing toe to toe with any side in the third tier.

Whether or not they kick on and claim back-to-back promotions, or go on a buccaneering FA Cup run, only time will tell.

But I think every Bury fan should pause for a moment when the clocks chime 12 tonight and raise a glass to what has been a very, very good year.

How Bury won promotion

IT was a record-breaking year for David Flitcroft’s Bury side, who clinched a dramatic final-day promotion from League Two on the back of an extraordinary run of results.

Here is how the drama unfolded from the turn of the year:

January P5 W2 D1 L2

The Shakers kick off 2015 with a dismal 1-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Flitcroft signs Everton striker Hallam Hope and full-back Joe Riley from Bolton, and ties up Charlton keeper Nick Pope and Bristol City centre-back Adam El-Abd on loan deals.

Pope helps Bury to a 1-1 draw at home to league leaders Wycombe on his debut. He would go on to keep 13 clean sheets in 22 appearances.

Victories against Carlisle and Accrington follow before the month ends with a landmark 1-0 defeat at eventual League Two champions Burton. Bury would not taste defeat away from home again until October.

February P 5 W3 D2 L0

Flitcroft’s side start the month in eighth place, 10 points behind Wycombe in third. Back-to-back draws against Exeter and Stevenage prove to be the last stalemates of the campaign as Bury go on to secure 13 victories and just three defeats in the run-in.

They end February with narrow victories against Cheltenham, Hartlepool and Plymouth.

Chairman Stewart Day secures a deal to move into Manchester City’s former training complex in Carrington, while midfielders Andrew Tutte and Tom Soares sign contract extensions.

March P5 W4 D0 L1

Soares scores the winner in a 1-0 victory at home to Luton as Bury move into fifth, just five points behind Wycombe.

Callum O’Dowda scores a cruel late winner for Oxford, after El-Abd was sent off and Pope saved a penalty.

Bolton striker Tom Eaves signs and Bury fight back with 1-0 wins at Mansfield and York and a momentous 2-1 victory at home to Northampton, secured for the 10-man Shakers by a stoppage-time winner from El-Abd.

Bury’s match at home to promotion rivals Southend is rained off after only seven minutes. The showdown is re-scheduled for the penultimate Tuesday of the season, and Day declares it will be free entry for all fans.

April and May P8 W6 L2

After winning 2-0 at Cambridge on Good Friday a late collapse to lose 2-1 at home to Morecambe on Easter Monday leaves Bury’s automatic promotion hopes hanging by a thread.

Ryan Lowe weighs in with two goals to help seal victories at Newport and Portsmouth, either side of a stunning winner from Riley against Shrewsbury.

The Shakers miss the chance to move into the top three as former fans favourite David Worrall scores in a 1-0 win for Southend at Gigg Lane watched by 8,400 fans.

A goal in each half from Soares and Lowe in a 2-0 win at home to Wimbledon set up a final-day decider.

Bury go to Tranmere two points behind Southend and level with Wycombe. Soares scores his eight goal of the season to help Bury claim a record eighth straight victory on the road as Jim Bentley’s Morecambe pull off a 3-1 win at home to Southend.

Shakers supporters flood on to the Tranmere pitch to celebrate as Bury secure automatic promotion with a club-record tally of 85 points.