IT was a bright, but frosty Sunday morning in January this year, when a band of "Forever Bury" members turned out to keep faith with football supporters, literally all over the world, who had helped to save Bury FC from extinction.

These were the people and organisations who had contributed at least £10 each to the club's "Buy a Seat at Gigg Lane" appeal. Old rivalries were set aside as Bolton fans and Rochdale supporters joined Bury exiles in Canada, USA and the Far East in paying £10 to have their names attached to one of the seats in the ground.

Many contributions were from the families of former supporters who had passed away.

Names had been put on seats promptly, but no record had been made of which seat had which name.

Forever Bury thought it was important that a record should be made, so that people who had contributed could be directed to the seat bearing their name, or their dedication.

Accordingly, on Sunday, January 5, a band of volunteers arrived at the ground with clipboards, to compile a register which could be kept on computer to be referred to as required.

Like one or two other undertakings entered into by Forever Bury, it turned out to be more of a task than had been first envisaged, with a few unexpected hurdles on the way.

Nevertheless Forever Bury has pressed on with the task which, although not yet complete, has now passed an important milestone.

This week, it was announced the first part of the spreadsheet recording the names of contributors and the location of the seat allocated to them, is now available and can be consulted on the Forever Bury website.

Not all the names are on. Secretary Simon Egan reckons that the spreadsheet gives something over 60 per cent coverage so there is still some way to go.

Nevertheless, we are pressing on and will get there in the end, keeping faith with those who rallied round in the club's hour of greatest need.

This weekend is the last call for the Great Forever Bury Duck Race which will take place at Burrs Country Park, Bury at 3pm on Sunday, August 24.

It is a family fun day with a barbecue and lots of attractions in the Brown Cow beer gardens, starting at 12 noon.

There is a special form circulating for people to register their duck £2 per duck, three ducks for £5) and a first prize of £500 for the winning duck, with awards to runners up.

Closing date for entry is next Monday, August 18. The duck race entry form with cheques made payable to "Forever Bury", need to be sent to Duck Race, Forever Bury, PO Box 310, BL9 6WA or handed in at the Commercial Office at the club by Monday at the latest.