Experienced EFL player Gavin Massey explains the decision to drop down the leagues and sign for 8th tier club Bury FC.
The 32 year old joins a Shakers side have had a mixed start in their first season in the Northern Premier League – West Division, with 5 points from 4 games played. They have a game or two in hands over those around them, but have recently lacked when it comes to scoring goals.
Massey progressed through Watford’s Harefield Academy, debuting in 2010, and had loans at the likes of Wealdstone, Yeovil, and two spells at Colchester.
He then permanently signed for Colchester in 2012, making over 150 league appearances, then moved to Leyton Orient in 2016 and Wigan in 2017.
At the Latics, he spent five seasons, helping his side to League One titles in 2017–18 and 2021–22, and played over 50 Championship games.
Released in June 2022, he joined Port Vale for two seasons before a one-season stint at National League side AFC Fylde.
⚪🔵 New Signing: Gavin Massey
We are delighted to welcome the former Wigan & Colchester player to the club. The 32-year-old joins the Shakers after leaving AFC Fylde in the summer and brings over 400 EFL appearances to Gigg Lane.
Click below to read more. #BuryFC #bfc140
— Bury Football Club (@buryfcofficial) September 4, 2025
That touch…. That turn 😮💨#BuryFC #bfc140 pic.twitter.com/PjBXLeuCH5
— Bury Football Club (@buryfcofficial) September 4, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
We are delighted to announce the signing of attacker Gavin Massey.
The 32-year-old joins the Shakers after leaving AFC Fylde in the summer and brings over 400 EFL appearances to Gigg Lane.
He started out at Watford, making various loan moves until he left in 2012 to sign permanently for Colchester United, after a loan move in the previous season.
Massey then moved from Essex to London, where he spent a season at Leyton Orient before a move to Wigan in 2017, where he went on to make over 150 appearances in five seasons.
Port Vale were his last club in the EFL, where he played for two seasons, until he joined AFC Fylde last summer.
He’s made seven appearances against the Shakers to date, most recently off the bench for Wigan in the 2017/18 season. His last start at Gigg Lane brought him a goal and an assist for Colchester United in a 5-2 defeat in February 2016.
Manager, Dave McNabb said: “I’m really excited to get Gavin on board. Gavin is capable of playing anywhere across the top line. He’s direct, quick and has a real eye for goal. Gavin has a plethora of experience in the Football League and will bring brilliant leadership skills to the team. I’m sure Gavin will be a huge success this season and beyond.”
Massey said: “It [the move] came about in the last couple of weeks. I had a good couple of phone calls with the gaffer. I just feel like at this stage of my career, I was weighing up my options and I chose Bury because I just thought historic club, played here a good few years in my career and I just feel like to hopefully be a part of a journey. Obviously I know what happened a few years ago, but to be a part of a journey, something successful and be on that journey with and that ride, I just felt like that was really important.
On what he hopes to add to this squad: “Loads of experience. Obviously, yeah, I’d like to think that I started off really young in my career, making my debut. Good 15, 16 years throughout the EFL and everything. So to bring that experience to a group of players here, relatively young, and hopefully I can help galvanise the dressing room and, like I said, be a part of that journey.”
On it being a new level for you to play at: “Don’t expect it to be easy. It’s football at the end of the day. You can’t just think you’re going to go and roll over teams week in, week out. It doesn’t happen like that. It doesn’t matter with the level. You’ve still got to be professional and you’ve got to put in the work. And if you don’t put in the work, your results don’t come. So I’m well aware of that. Obviously stepping into this league and I’m looking to help out.”
On what he remembered of Gigg Lane when he played there: “Great, I loved it. Obviously when I moved up north, played for Wigan, so we had loads of local games and this was one of them. So I loved it here. Obviously I remember times um further back in my career at Colchester and Leipzig. Tough game, always been a tough game, tough atmosphere. And hopefully now I’m being a part of that. I’ve seen the backing with the fans and everything and hopefully we can take that, especially our home games, and we can use that as a real force. In terms of the fans, you’ll have heard a lot about them. The level, it’s quite extraordinary.”
His message to the fans: “Just stick with us and be a part of this journey, which I know they are going to be. It’s going to be a big season and hopefully we can get promoted.”
Massey will be available for selection for Saturday’s Isuzu FA Trophy tie against Wythenshawe Town.
PLAYING CAREER:
Youth career
2002–2010 – Watford
Senior
2010–2012 – Watford – 9 games (0 goals)
2011 → Wealdstone (loan) – 6 games (1 goal)
2011–2012 → Yeovil Town (loan) – 17 games (3 goals)
2012–2016 – Colchester United – 178 games (21 goals)
2016–2017 – Leyton Orient – 39 games (8 goals)
2017–2022 – Wigan Athletic – 166 games (13 goals)
2022–2024 – Port Vale – 98 games (4 goals)
2024–2025 – AFC Fylde – 40 games (6 goals)
2025– Bury
Here’s how fans reacted as the experienced EFL player explains the decision to drop down leagues and sign for 8th tier club Bury FC…
@soccerates: Loved him when he was with us at #wafc. Massey and Nathan Byrne were fantastic down our right side and that goal vs Leeds United was excellent. All the best to him and Bury 💙
@mikextics: Proper player. Best of luck Gav.
@BradleyS__: Big addition to the attack. Let’s go 🥳
@BenHall873466: What a player all the best Gav 💙🤍
@davygravy22: Good luck Gav and thanks for that great day at Leeds.
@Tic987: Massive signing at this level! Best of luck Gav
@upthemtics1932: Really good player until his last injury with us
@CentralWigan: All the best, Gav! 🔵⚪️
@Steph021191: Another impressive signing!! Welcome to Bury Gavin! Hop onboard the McNabb express! Full steam ahead! 👏🏻🤍💙
@Christo55596270: Great signing for your team. Was great at @LaticsOfficial
@RossendaleWhit1: In @davidmcnabb82 we trust. Now it’s time to roar, get right behind the lads & kickstart the season. UTFS!!!
@BowDog187: Welcome to Bury FC Gavin, all the best 🔵⚪️🔵
@SCbfc13: Leadership. Good signing
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