IT'S been the biggest week in the history of Morecambe FC. TV and radio reporters who could barely find Morecambe on the map have been arriving in droves.

Tickets have been selling like hot cakes and people who normally take a passing interest in the results every Saturday are already losing sleep over what promises to be a huge afternoon. But, come the big day, all that will be forgotten. From 3pm, it will be 11 men against 11, nothing more, nothing less.

Forget the fact that Ipswich have a team crammed with internationals. Forget the fact that their Premiership away record is better than Manchester United's. It isn't important.

It's a game of football. Even Premiership superstars can make mistakes. Even £2.5 million strikers see their shots saved. Even full internationals can put in reckless tackles that result in a red card and a sudden numerical advantage.

That's what has made football the world's most followed sport. It's why the result of Saturday's match will attract interest from all four corners of the world, why millions will crowd around TV sets on Saturday night to see the goals. A lot can happen in 90 minutes, let's just hope the 90 minutes on Saturday are worth the weeks of preparation. Come on Morecambe.

I did want to concentrate on the football this week, but I thought I'd better add my two-penn'orth worth to the debate over the price reduction for Ipswich fans.

You do wonder why, of all the opportunities to give something back to their fans, Ipswich chose the one that someone else would have to pay for.

If they were so concerned about the wealth of their supporters, could they not have knocked a fiver off the cost of coach travel to Christie Park on Saturday? (As Morecambe have done for some away trips).

Okay, it would cost them about £5,000 if every one of the fans who will travel took them up on the offer, but that would barely cover a Town player's wages for a week.

But, for Morecambe, a few grand is a hell of a lot of money. Normally, I would praise a club which did something to help its loyal fans, but this is just not on.

Incidentally, for those who haven't got a ticket for the Morecambe game, there is still a chance to see what promises to be an exciting game of football on Saturday.

Lancaster City host league leaders Emley at Giant Axe. Tony Hesketh's side have been playing some attractive football of late and seem to take particular pleasure in putting the best sides in the Unibond League to the sword.

If, for whatever reason, you won't be following the Shrimps, give the Dolly Blues a look-in.