AFTER seeing the reports of the tragedy unfolding in South East Asia on Boxing Day, to describe events at Gigg Lane on the same day as "a disaster" seems very inappropriate.

Nevertheless, the way in which things went wrong on that day could have serious repercussions for our club.

Club officials were expecting the Shrewsbury match to produce what is, for us, a bumper attendance, possibly more than 5,000.

Volunteers had turned up at the ground in the morning to help club staff clear the pitch of snow, and the referee had declared the surface fit for play.

Then the opposition team failed to turn up.

It beggars belief that in this day and age, with electronic gadgetry and sophisticated traffic communications that the Shrewsbury team coach should get stuck in traffic, while supporters' coaches from Shrewsbury should arrive in good time.

Checkers, attendants, safety stewards and police will all need to be paid. It is unlikely that any re-arranged fixture will attract anything like the same numbers.

The net result will be another financial loss for a club already struggling with crippling debt.

One team from Shrewsbury did manage to make it to Bury on time. This was the Shrewsbury Town fans' football team, who had arranged a morning fixture with the Forever Bury fans' team.

As usual, the Forever bury team won, this time by a score of 5-1. The Bury scorers were listed as Paul Ramsbottom, Tom Zabel, "Young" Alan, "Wills" and Chris Murra.

A home match for the Forever Bury team against Oxford United is classed as "possible" at this stage, and the team will play Scunthorpe away early in the New Year.

Apart from the fans team, there has not been a lot to cheer us up in 2004.

Here is hoping that 2005 brings a turn round in financial fortunes for our historic old football club.

A happy and successful New Year to all its members, and supporters.