Blackburn Rovers have made a generous move to offer Bury football fans tickets to a match over the festive period.

The Shakers won’t be in action after dropping out of the Football League at the start of this season, meaning that supporters won’t get the opportunity to watch any matches over the Christmas break.

But in a gesture of goodwill, the Championship side have offered an initial allocation of 350 tickets to the Bury supporters for their Boxing Day clash with Birmingham City at Ewood Park.

Explaining the gesture, Blackburn CEO, Steve Waggott told the club’s official website: “Christmas is a time for spreading goodwill and so we are only too happy, with everything that has gone on at Gigg Lanane this season, to make this gesture to the community of Bury, who are missing out on festive football for the first time in many, many years.

“So we have asked them if they would like to come along to Ewood, which is not too far away, on Boxing Day for our game against Birmingham City.

“We know that football fans don’t change their colours, so this is not an attempt to try and coax Bury fans to become Rovers fans. This is an opportunity for Bury fans to come and watch a game of football, complimentary on us, and we would be delighted if they do.

“The initial allocation is 350 tickets, but they can have more if the uptake is there.”

The verdict

It’s been a nightmare year for Bury as problems off the pitch had a devastating impact on the club and community as a whole.

Christmas is a time for coming together and this gesture from Blackburn Rovers is certainly a classy move to another member of the football family.