THE Bury Times sponsored "Save Our Shakers" appeal grand total is hovering just below the £50,000 mark this week.

After the £23,587 accumulated at the big fundraising dinner at Old Trafford last week is added to the total the fund stands at a terrific £47,445!

Dinner organiser and Bury FC director Neville Neville was delighted with the response from everyone who contributed and has big ideas for more massive moneymakers in the future.

"The event went fantastically and it's a superb amount of money to make on one night," said Neville.

"Hopefully we'd like to arrange one at Manchester United again next year but we have plenty of other functions coming up too.

"In May we have a Shakers Golf Day at Walmersley, which is always a big success and in August we hope to have a fundraising dinner at the new Village Hotel complex at Heap Bridge that is due to open in the summer.

"Add to that the Grand Gala Dinner at the Piccadilly Hotel in December and we should expect to raise around £75,000 a year from the functions."

Last week's event was guested by Scotland manager Craig Brown and raised £14,000 on the raffles and auctions alone.

A pair of David Beckham's football boots went for £1,500 while Phil Neville's England shirt worn in Sven Goran Eriksson's first match and signed by the new national boss brought in £1,300.