NORTHERN Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy will be donning Accrington Stanley's colours in their fund-raising game for Bury FC at the Crown Ground tonight.

The former Manchester United star -- the last Busby Babe -- played for the Shakers at the end of his career and will have a run out against his former club as Stanley bid to help the cash-strapped Second Division side.

Stanley are hoping to raise thousands of pounds which will help stave off the threat of Bury going the same way as they did -- when finances forced the Reds to drop out of the Football League 38 years ago.

"I was only too grateful to help," said McIlroy. "The Accrington secretary Eric Whalley got in touch with me and asked me if I would play and of course I said 'yes'.

"Bury was one of my clubs and I had a great time there with the likes of Wilf McGuiness, Martin Dobson, Terry Pashley and the late Noel Brotherston.

"I really enjoyed it especially towards the end of my career. It was a great club to go to."

McIlroy, who was boss of Macclesfield in their charge from non league status into the Second Division, is disappointed by the Gigg Lane club's recent fortunes.

"It is a shame especially for the Bury fans who were marvellous for me. If they can get a crowd at Accrington it will be fantastic and I will do what I can to help."

Stanley boss John Coleman is looking forward to lining up with McIlroy: "I won't be giving Sammy my number nine shirt though but it's good that he will play.

"He used to manage my assistant Jimmy Bell at Ashton United so Jimmy knows him well.

"I remember Sammy from his Manchester United days -- scoring against Manchester City -- and I wanted to be him for a few days! He was a great player.

"It's nice to come to Bury's assistance and having Sammy here will be a boost to those coming to watch."

While McIlroy is a definite starter for Stanley against Bury's first team, a half-time penalty shoot-out will also see a number of other names at the Crown Ground.

Lining up for the Reds for the spot-kicks will be goalkeeper Rob Mulloy, Steve Lampkin, who made 100 appearances in three seasons for Stanley and Chris Grimshaw, who holds the record number of appearances for Accrington.

There will also be Dave Hargreaves -- Stanley's record goalscorer with 321 goals and the player from whom they got their first transfer fee when he signed for Blackburn Rovers in December 1977 -- former Burnley and Stanley player Ashley Hoskins and Blackpool striker Brett Ormerod, who left the Crown Ground in a £50,000 move to join the Seasiders.

The Bury penalty takers will be, in goal, John Forrest, who's son Martyn now plays at Gigg Lane, Mark "Spike" Carter -- Bury's £6,000 bargain buy when they snapped him up from Barnet under Mike Walsh -- one time Shakers skipper David Pugh, Keith Kennedy, Andy Hill and Andy Feeley, Bury's Youth Development Officer.

Bury chairman Terry Robinson said: "Accrington have been absolutely brilliant and we very much appreciate it.

"Although we have got some money from the Ipswich's £3.5m sale of David Johnson to Nottingham Forest (becasue of a sell-on clause of £380,000) we still need a substantial amount to keep the club afloat. We still have problems until the club is sold."

Accrington will also be selling raffle tickets where the prizes are a host of past and present football memorabilia. They contacted every club in the league, told them what they were doing and asked them to send something for a raffle.

Arsenal have provided a signed penant, Middlesbrough a signed shirt, Burnley a signed football and there are plenty of other prizes up for grabs.