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The lure of first-team football and a chance to prove himself at a club vying for promotion convinced Joe Riley to cut his ties with Wanderers.
Leaving the Macron for League Two Bury was never going to be an easy decision for the 23-year-old defender to make after spending 16 years in the fold.
But with his first professional contract due to run out this summer and no prospect of a new one in the pipeline, the Boothstown-born right-back admitted it was time for a change.
“I was basically told by Bolton that I wasn’t going to play every week and at my age I need to have regular football in order to improve and hopefully get back to where I have been before,” said Riley, who made his Shakers debut in a 1-0 win at Accrington on Tuesday after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal at the club.
“First-team football was the main attraction to come here (to Bury).
“I spoke with the manager and was really taken in by his focus on what he wants to achieve and how the whole club wants to push forward. That is all I want to do as a player.”
Riley joined Wanderers as a seven-year-old and rose through the ranks to make his debut in the Premier League in a stunning 5-0 win at home to Stoke back in November 2011.
The part he played in the Whites’ road to redemption, gaining revenge for their 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Stoke in the previous season’s FA Cup semi-final, earned the then 20-year-old rookie a standing ovation as he was substituted late in the game.
But a string of serious injuries, including a torn cruciate ligament and broken foot, restricted Riley to just nine first-team appearances over four seasons.
It was hoped that, after proving his fitness with 28 appearances on loan at Oxford earlier this season and with specialist full-backs thin on the ground at Wanderers, he might be given another chance.
But there were no regrets or recriminations for Riley after kicking off his career at Bury this week with another winning start.
“I can’t look back at the past, I have got to look forward to the future,” he said
“I had a great time at Bolton, barring the injuries.
“It was a dream come true coming through there and being given my debut by Owen Coyle, but that is all in the past now and I am focused on the future and focused on Bury Football Club.”
Riley endured a frustrating wait for his Shakers debut after picking up a hamstring strain in training.
But David Flitcroft’s side have picked up seven points from nine since he signed and moved back into the play-off places this week with back-to-back wins.
“There is a special group of lads here – it’s definitely the best squad in the league, so I see no reason why we can’t get promoted,” he added.
“This club doesn’t want to be in League Two, I don’t want to be in League Two – we all want to push ourselves forward.
“If we show the same commitment and attitude that we did at Accrington then we won’t be far off.”
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Leaving the Macron for League Two Bury was never going to be an easy decision for the 23-year-old defender to make after spending 16 years in the fold.
But with his first professional contract due to run out this summer and no prospect of a new one in the pipeline, the Boothstown-born right-back admitted it was time for a change.
“I was basically told by Bolton that I wasn’t going to play every week and at my age I need to have regular football in order to improve and hopefully get back to where I have been before,” said Riley, who made his Shakers debut in a 1-0 win at Accrington on Tuesday after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal at the club.
“First-team football was the main attraction to come here (to Bury).
“I spoke with the manager and was really taken in by his focus on what he wants to achieve and how the whole club wants to push forward. That is all I want to do as a player.”
Riley joined Wanderers as a seven-year-old and rose through the ranks to make his debut in the Premier League in a stunning 5-0 win at home to Stoke back in November 2011.
The part he played in the Whites’ road to redemption, gaining revenge for their 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Stoke in the previous season’s FA Cup semi-final, earned the then 20-year-old rookie a standing ovation as he was substituted late in the game.
But a string of serious injuries, including a torn cruciate ligament and broken foot, restricted Riley to just nine first-team appearances over four seasons.
It was hoped that, after proving his fitness with 28 appearances on loan at Oxford earlier this season and with specialist full-backs thin on the ground at Wanderers, he might be given another chance.
But there were no regrets or recriminations for Riley after kicking off his career at Bury this week with another winning start.
“I can’t look back at the past, I have got to look forward to the future,” he said
“I had a great time at Bolton, barring the injuries.
“It was a dream come true coming through there and being given my debut by Owen Coyle, but that is all in the past now and I am focused on the future and focused on Bury Football Club.”
Riley endured a frustrating wait for his Shakers debut after picking up a hamstring strain in training.
But David Flitcroft’s side have picked up seven points from nine since he signed and moved back into the play-off places this week with back-to-back wins.
“There is a special group of lads here – it’s definitely the best squad in the league, so I see no reason why we can’t get promoted,” he added.
“This club doesn’t want to be in League Two, I don’t want to be in League Two – we all want to push ourselves forward.
“If we show the same commitment and attitude that we did at Accrington then we won’t be far off.”
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