After 22 years and more than 600 professional games, Nicky Adams has announced this season will be his last as a player - signing off at he club where it all started.
The former Oldham Athletic winger, and current Under 18s coach at Boundary Park, will play his last game for Bury on Saturday, when the Shakers end the North West Counties League Premier League season at home to Burscough.
The occasion could be even more memorable with Bury still in touching distance of promotion and the title.
And the chance to end on a high is one of the reasons why Adams feels now is the right time - and the right place - to call it a day, after coming through the youth ranks at Gigg Lane in the early 2000s.
He scored on first team debut in October 2005 to secure a 1-0 win over Darlington, which also got Chris Casper's managerial career off to a winning start.
His second spell lasted only one season, but resulted in his first promotion with Bury as they earned a top-three spot in a dramatic final day.
Adams joined Northampton that summer, moving back north 12 months later to join Carlisle United.
A third spell with Bury began in the summer of 2018 when he joined a newly-relegated League Two side under the stewardship of club legend Ryan Lowe, and captained the team to promotion back to League One.
He returned to Northampton that summer, before ending his professional career with Latics following relegation from League Two in 2022, having arrived at Boundary Park in January 2021.
He took up a coaching role in Latics' youth department and played part-time for Radcliffe, before returning for a fourth and final spell with Bury in December last year.
And focusing on his coaching career was an influential factor in the 38-year-old's decision to retire this year.
“I think it’s perfect timing for me, I’m learning the coaching side of it. I’ve been doing that for the last few years, and I’ve got a big opportunity to go and do that full-time now," said Oldham's Under 18s head coach, speaking to buryfc.co.uk.
“I came here at 16 years old; I’ve come back a few times now, I’ve played over 200 games for the football club, I don’t need to tell anyone what it means to me.
Since joining the Shakers for a fourth time, Adams made 17 appearances, taking his total to over 200 for the club.
Manager, Dave McNabb added: “I’m not really sure how to put into words the impact that Nicky has had on me and this group since he walked back through the door in December.
“His legendary status at this football club is well-known and documented. I had heard a lot about good things about his character and his personality through mutual friends and people within the game so I knew he was going to be a good lad and have a positive impact in the dressing room. Even with this knowledge, never did an expect to meet such an honest and caring man with enormous levels of integrity and with such high standard and principles.
“He’s a leader amongst men. When he talks, people listen. He gets the best out of others. He is trusted and respected by everyone. He drives positive relationships within the group. He is the glue that holds things together.
“I’m proud to have brought him back to HIS football club, I’m proud to have played a very small part in his illustrious career but most of all, I’m proud to be able to call him a friend."
