WHEN the cut and thrust of good-humoured terrace banter turns into the kind of sickening poison that has no place in civilised society, urgent action is needed.

Andy Preece and Bury Football Club have this week shown they mean to do something about it.

For months now the talk among the club's away fans has been about a small minority of so called 'supporters' whose conduct is continually deplorable.

Racist abuse directed at opposition players, acts of vandalism and a generally unacceptable level of behaviour have been alleged on a regular basis.

The situation came to a head during last Saturday's match at Torquay when manager Andy Preece and Chris Billy were subjected to vile abuse from this tiny section of the Shakers' travelling contingent.

Unbelievably, the vitriol continued with club leading goalscorer Jon Newby and goalkeeper Glynn Garner coming in for shocking treatment.

With friends like these who needs enemies?

No-one is trying to stifle a supporter's right to let off steam by making a noise from the stands, far from it. There's no better way of getting behind your team than by creating a red-hot atmosphere.

Shouting and chanting have always been part and parcel of soccer in this country and long may it continue.

But these idiots who masquerade as Bury fans are clearly overstepping the mark with their odious, racist bile and personal abuse.

When players' relatives are choosing to stay away from games because of the problem, something is radically wrong.

All right-thinking people should stand 100 per cent behind any action to eradicate this kind of behaviour and stop these people besmirching the good name of Bury Football Club.

And the club does have a good name in terms of race relations - make no mistake about it.

The Football In the Community Scheme has done great work off the field with ethnic minorities in the town, while on it, black players have served the club with great distinction over the years.

You only had to witness the fans reaction to the return of Lenny Johnrose at Rochdale a few months ago to realise that the Neanderthals currently dragging the name of the club through the dirt are thankfully a small minority.

Add to that the fact that Bury were the first club to sign a player from Asia in Bhaichung Bhutia and were the first to take on the Pakistan national team when they toured a couple of years ago and the club's record stands comparison with any other team in the British game.

When the Shakers ought to be making national headlines with their successes on the field, it's a tragedy that the only ones they've made this week are the kind they can well do without.

Let's hope the problem can be sorted out -- and quickly!

PHIL THORP

Sports Editor