DON'T miss the boat - get down to Gigg Lane for the biggest pre-season friendly clash in Bury FC's history.

Carling Premiership champions Manchester United are due in town on Wednesday, August 8 and tickets go on sale today.

Your Bury Times - main sponsors of the Save Our Shakers Appeal - have moved quickly to also sponsor the prestigious fundraiser which looks like giving the club a massive financial fillip.

Sir Alex Ferguson has promised to send a full strength squad for the game and that could mean a first British appearance in the famous red shirt for United's £19 million Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

All proceeds from the game will go to the Save Our Shakers Appeal which currently stands at just over £60,000 and is soon to be boosted by a superb summer soccer coaching course to be run by United's Bury-born England star Gary Neville.

Tickets - for both Shakers fans and United supporters - can ONLY be obtained from Gigg Lane and are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for juniors (under-16) and OAPs.

They can be bought from the club's commercial office or from the main club reception from 9am to 4pm weekdays.

Credit card payments will be charged an extra £1 while for postal applications an extra 50p will be added.

For further details contact the club on 0161-764 4881 or 0161-705 2144.

The BT sponsored the huge Save Our Shakers fundraising dinner at Old Trafford in January that raised a massive £23,500 and currently have a glossy SOS magazine in the newsagents that's great value at £1.50.

But the visit of the Reds will be the biggest money raiser yet so don't miss out, get your tickets as soon as possible - it'd be Ruud not to!