ONE of the most important supporters meetings in the history of Bury Football Club will be held tonight at Bury Town Hall's Elizabethan Suite.

That's where Bury FC Supporters Trust will be officially launched and a packed house is assured.

The Trust aims to give supporters who wish to play a responsible part in their life of the football club they support the opportunity to make an crucial difference to Bury FC.

Chairing the meeting will be Bury North MP David Chaytor and also in attendance will be Bury FC joint chairmen John Smith and Fred Mason, Shakers commercial manager Peter Young, Neville Neville; Brian Lomax, chief executive of Supporters Direct and Dave Boyle, caseworker for Supporters Direct.

Representatives from Chesterfield and York City's fans trusts will also be on hand to explain how they got their organisations off the ground as will members of the Bury FC Supporters Trust and Fundraising organising committees.

The agenda for the night is:

The situation at Bury FC: Outline of the current situation at the club as it is understood at the time.

What the official Bury FC Supporters Trust can do: Explanation that every member has a vote no matter how much their contribution and that every member can stand for election onto the Trust's board. Securing both the short and long term future of the club will be the main aim of the Trust.

Supporters Direct: Quick run down of what Supporters Direct is and how it came about. What has been achieved elsewhere - Chesterfield, Lincoln etc.

Supporters Trusts at York City and Chesterfield: What the Save York campaign has achieved thus far. How the Supporters Trust has taken over the club at Chesterfield and what they hope to achieve and how they hope to achieve it.

Questions and Answers.

Vote to proceed.

Volunteer and join!

The Shakers Supporters Trust is backed and supported by Supporters Direct, a government initiative, funded by public money, and based at Birkbeck, University of London.

Supporters Direct have helped 46 Supporters Trusts to be set up, including the ongoing ones at Chesterfield, Lincoln City and York City.

Furthermore they have been in contact with more than148 football clubs giving them a massive wealth of experience.

Supporters Trusts' objectives are to decided using open and democratic means but it is clear that the first consideration will be given to the immediate survival of Bury Football Club and the retention of Gigg Lane as the home of the Shakers.

The Trust will endeavour to work with anybody interested in the success of Bury FC including potential new owners, the council and businesses in the town.

It aims to give a focus for fans in the dealings with these interested parties.

People with certain skills will be vital to the organisation and particularly welcome will be supporters who can offer the time and expertise in areas such as business, PR, marketing, law and financial services.

Any supporters who feel they have something to offer in the formation of the Trust will be asked to fill in a simple form details their skills and contact details.

The meeting commences at 7.30pm and anyone attending is asked to arrive in good time as a safety limit of 400 has been agreed.

But if you can't make the meeting tonight don't worry, you can contact the Supporters Trust for further details about its aims via: Supporters-Trust@buryfc.co.uk or The Bury FC Supporters Trust c/o Bury Football Club, Gigg Lane, Bury, BL9 9HR.