Morecambe Football Club
Morecambe Football ClubIntroductionHistoryUpsDowns
Morecambe Football Club
Introduction
Morecambe have been riding high of late but they are a relatively new team in terms of their history. Since they were formed in 1920, they have been an ever present fixture in non-league football until 2007 when they won promotion to the Football League for the first time.
History
Morecambe Football Club first played in the Lancashire Combination League in the 1920-21 season, having formed that year after a meeting at the West View Hotel. The team has been able to draw large crowds since the early days when they would attract 3,000 fans to local derbies against Lancaster and Fleetwood.
At the start of their playing days, the club shared their ground with the local cricket club, eventually moving to Roseberry Park at the end of their debut season. Roseberry Park was bought by the club’s then President, Mr. J.B. Christie.
A name change swiftly followed with the ground re-christened Christie Park. The club clinched their first league title in the 1924/25 season and more success was to follow as they took the Lancashire Junior Cup with a win over local rivals, Chorley, after two replays, in front of over 30,000 spectators.
In 1927 the club became a limited company. The remainder of the 20’s and 30’s was spent trying to keep football in the North West going, with poor results on the field coupled with little revenue off the field.
Ups
The major high point of the club’s history has to be their promotion to the Football League in 2007. ‘The Shrimps’ as they are called, faced Exeter City in the Conference Play-Off Final having already seen off York City in the Semi-Final.
The game was held at Wembley Stadium in front of 40,000 fans. Morecambe came out winners 2-1 on the day. The majority of Morecambe’s high points have been seen in the last few years, although they have won several tournaments in their history including ten Lancashire Trophies and the F.A. Trophy in 1974.
Many fans would argue that the promotion to professional football eclipses all those great achievements. 2007 was not the first time the ‘Shrimpers’ have had promotion in their sights. In 2003 they found their way to the Play-Off finals, narrowly missing out to a late goal from Dagenham and Redbridge.
A further high point for the club is their announcement that they will be moving to a new stadium before the 2009/10 season. This will be seen by many fans to be a major high point as it signals the intention of the club to maintain their status as a Football League club.
During the 2007 season, Morecambe, under the leadership of Sammy McIllroy, have done well and look certain to keep their position as a professional club in the Football League. This season, the Shrimps also managed to progress through to the third round of the Carling Cup, beating teams of a high standard such as Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers along the way.
Unfortunately, they were defeated 5-0 by Sheffield United in the third round, ending their good cup run.
Downs
Morecambe have not suffered in the same ways as many clubs in terms of major disappointments. For many clubs, relegation from the Football League would rank as a major disappointment but for Morecambe this is slightly different as it was such a high getting into the Football League in the fist place.
Major down periods for the Shrimps would include their failure to achieve promotion to League Two in 2003 when they reached the Conference Play-Offs, narrowly losing out to Dagenham and Redbridge. There was a severe low point in the history of Morecambe F.C in the 2005-2006 season as long serving manager, Jim Harvey, suffered a sudden heart attack during a game against Cambridge United at Christie Park. He was later replaced by current manager, Sammy McIllroy.
During the eighties, the club seemed to be in trouble with a visible decline in attendances, from 2,000 to a dismal 200. Fortunately for the club, the bad times did not last too long and the club’s fortunes began to pick up in 1984-85 as performances on the pitch and structure within the club improved. This brought success on the field and an increased optimism among the club’s fans.
Club Records
Largest Victory
– 8-0 v Fleetwood Town at Christie Park, Northern Premier, 19/10/93
Largest Defeat
– 0-7 v Leek Town (away), Conference, 25/08/98
Largest Attendance
– 9,324 v Weymouth, F.A. Cup, 04/01/62
Club Honours
Nationwide Conference Play-Off Winners
(Bob Lord Trophy) Promoted To Football League:
2006/07
F.A. Trophy Winners:
1973/74
Nationwide Conference Runner-Up:
2002/03
Bob Lord Trophy (Spalding Cup) Winners:
1997/98
Lancashire Senior Cup Winners:
1967/68
Northern Premier League Runners-up:
1994/95
NPL Presidents Cup Winners:
1991/92
Lancashire Combination Champions:
1924/25 ‘ 1961/62 ‘ 1962/63 ‘ 1966/67 ‘ 1967/68
Lancashire Combination Runners-up:
1925/26
Lancashire Combination Cup Winners:
1926/27 ‘ 1945/46 ‘ 1964/65 ‘ 1966/67 ‘ 1967/68
Lancashire Combination Cup Runners-up:
1924/25 ‘ 1956/57 ‘ 1962/63
Lancashire Junior Cup (Marsden Trophy) Winners:
1925/26 ‘ 1926/27 ‘ 1961/62 ‘ 1962/63 ‘ 1968/69 1985/86 ‘1986/87 ‘ 1993/94 ‘ 1995/96 ‘ 1998/99 ‘ 2003/04
Lancashire Junior Cup Runners-up:
1950/51 ‘ 1987/88 ‘ 1989/90 ‘ 1994/95 ‘ 1997/98
Newlands Cup Winners:
1958/59 ‘ 1959/60 ‘ 1960/61 ‘ 1963/64 ‘ 1965/66
Lakeland Soft Drinks Cup Winners:
1991/92 ‘ 1992/93 ‘ 1993/94
Contact Information for Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe F.C
Christie Park
Lancaster Road
Morecambe
LA4 5TJ
Tel:
– 01524 411797
Fax:
– 01524 832230
Ticket Office:
– 01524 411797
E-mail:
Website:
Follow this link
Tickets
Seating:
Adults £13, Concessions £10, Under 16’s £5
Terrace:
Adults £12, Concessions £9, Under 16’s £4
Concessions apply to over 65’s, Students with NUS card and disabled.
Getting to Christie Park
By Car
Exit the M6 at junction 34, then take the A683 towards Lancaster and take the A589 towards Morecambe. Go over two roundabouts, passing a McDonalds on the left. At the third roundabout take the second exit into Lancaster Road where you will find the ground. The main car park at the ground is for pass holders only. However, there is another small car park behind the Umbro Stand which is free.
By Train
Morecambe railway station is a 20 minute walk away. As you come out of the station turn right to enter Central Drive and then Euston Road. This leads into Lancaster Road where you will find Christie Park. Morecambe is served by trains from Lancaster.