GONE are the days where supporting your team involved buying a match ticket, a pie at half-time and the odd club scarf.

The rise of the internet has spawned a new breed of supporter, those willing to travel around the country and live out their fantasy by representing their club on the field as well as in the terraces.

It is the complete matchday experience for the football-mad fan.

Play a match in the morning, followed by a quick pint and a sandwich in the pub, before making your way to the ground to watch the game at 3 o'clock.

For the folks at Forever Bury FC, the season truly never stops.

A delegation of over 40 Shakers representatives will go to Leeds this weekend to play in the Sports Interactive Cup, clocking yet more miles in a season which truly revolves around their club.

And what's more they're good too.

Before the tournament, they will face a Hibernian team in the internet equivalent of the FA Cup Final.

A day later, Forever Bury will start as one of the favourites for the 72-team tournament, despite coming up against such recognised names as Everton, Arsenal and Manchester United.

But at the risk of sliding into sporting cliche, it really is the taking part that counts, explained chairman John Raftery.

"Firstly and foremost we are Bury FC supporters, but what better way to improve the experience of watching your club, especially away from home, than to meet up with the opposition's fans, play a game, then watch our team?

"We take it seriously, and train hard, but the idea is really to get fans together doing something positive. Results aren't the most important thing - we play these games to make a day of it - for the love of football.

"We started small. But nowadays we have got a big squad with players of all ages. From old blokes like myself, to teenage lads.

"We all have one thing in common - the love of the club - and the popularity of this type of football nowadays is amazing, really."

Forever Bury were originally formed after a Kidderminster Harriers fan left an open challenge to Bury supporters on the club's official message board.

Four years later and the club have blossomed into two successful senior sides. They are an official member of the Internet Football Association and are considering a foray into Sunday League football.

Recently, they staged a prestigious friendly against the cast of Hollyoaks to raise money for local children's hospitals, bringing a sizeable support as well as a touch of showbiz glamour to Gigg Lane in the process.

Costs, though, mean that Forever Bury are constantly looking for sponsors. And Raftery hopes that success in competitions such as the one this weekend, will prompt people to get involved.

"We have about 50 people regularly involved from top to bottom, and we'd like to think that what we are doing helps the name of Bury FC.

"The club are great with us and help us to make visiting fans really welcome. They provide facilities wherever they can, and people like Jill Neville have done all they can for us.

"But training pitches cost money - like everything - so it would be great if someone out there could help us out financially in the future."

They might have started in cyberspace, but today Forever Bury FC are very much an integral part of the club's fanbase.

If only some of their success on the field could rub off on the senior side?

More information on the club can be found at www.foreverburyfc.co.uk.