FORMER Manchester United great Eric Cantona loves his football and his films.

But now it seems he adores his music, too -- with Bury band Alive! being one of his firm favourites.

According to sources close to the temperamental Frenchman, the ex-player has said just how much he enjoyed their debut album, All Frequencies Covered. Cantona heard the CD when his film company expressed an interest in producing a video to accompany a forthcoming single -- and the news stunned the band.

Lead guitarist and singer Andy Ross said: "We couldn't believe it when one of Cantona's representatives told us he loved the album."

Alive include Ross, Craig Stelnicki, Daz Kane, and Martin Whyment. They played at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles' 50th Birthday Reception where they met the Queen. Since then the band has played nearly 300 gigs including live performances on BBC One's Live and Kicking and Granada's This Morning.

They have been together for seven years. And for those statisticians with a tendency to look too deep into these things, they have achieved "Album of the Week" status on seven UK rock shows. And of course, Cantona was number seven on the pitch.

Lucky stuff indeed. Ross said: "Seven years sounds a long time, but you need time to develop and grow organically as a band, particularly when you start out in your early teens as we did.

"We think 2003 is going to be a busy year for us and with our album section on the shelves of HMV positioned behind Christina Aguilera, it doesn't get much better."

Indeed. He added: "Our music is no nonsense rock and roll and anyone who sees us understands what we're about, where we've come from and where we're going."