Morecambe F.C.
Full name | Morecambe Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Shrimps | ||
Founded | 7 May 1920 | ||
Ground | Mazuma Mobile Stadium | ||
Capacity | 6,476 (2,247 seated) | ||
Coordinates | 54°03′41″N 2°52′02″W / 54.0615°N 2.8672°W | ||
Owner | Bond Group Investments Limited (80% maj. shareholder) | ||
Co-chairmen | Graham Howse and Rod Taylor[1] | ||
Manager | Ged Brannan | ||
League | EFL League Two | ||
2022–23 | EFL League One, 22nd of 24 (relegated) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
| |||
Morecambe Football Club is a professional association football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system.
The club was founded in 1920 and entered into the
Nicknamed "The Shrimps" due to the coastal town's local speciality food, the club have played home games at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium since moving from their original home at Christie Park in 2010. The club contests rivalries with nearby Accrington Stanley and formerly with non-League neighbours Lancaster City, along with other Lancashire clubs.
History
This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2016) |
1920–2007: Non-League
Football in the town dates back to the turn of the 20th century; however, it was not until 7 May 1920 that Morecambe FC was formed after a meeting at the local West View Hotel. The club then took its place in the Lancashire Combination League for the
Sharing grounds with Morecambe Cricket Club at Woodhill Lane during the first season, football proved popular, with crowds in excess of 3,000 for derby fixtures with Lancaster City and Fleetwood Town. Although success on the field was hard to come by, with the club languishing near the bottom of the table, at the end of the first season the club moved grounds to Roseberry Park. A few years later after the purchase of the ground by the then-President, J.B. Christie, the ground's name was changed to Christie Park in his honour. Those early seasons proved difficult, and it was not until 1924–25 that the club began to enjoy some success, claiming the league title for the first time; this was later followed by success in the Lancashire Junior Cup, beating old rivals Chorley after two replays, and in front of over 30,000 spectators.
Christie bequeathed the ground to the club in 1927 and also helped incorporate the club into a Limited Company with a then share capital of £1,000. The rest of the 1920s and the whole of the 1930s saw a constant struggle to keep football alive on the North West coast, with poor results on the field and little or no revenue off the field.
The post-war era saw an upturn in the Shrimps' fortunes with steady progress throughout the late 1940s and nearly all the 1950s, with a visible marked improvement when in 1956 Ken Horton was appointed
The next 12 years were as barren as any previous period in the club's history. Attendances fell from a creditable 2,000 plus to a miserable 200 minus, with a visible decline in the club fortunes during that period. However, in 1985–86, signs of improvement appeared; the club's league position improved, and success in cups came as well over the next few years. It took ten years for the club to reach its ambition of promotion to the
Since elevation to the Conference in season 1995–96, the Shrimps achieved status as one of the leading teams in the league. In fact, only Woking had a longer unbroken membership of the league at this time. Runners-up spot was claimed on one occasion and the play-offs places were narrowly missed twice. Also during this time, the club also equalled its best appearance in the FA Cup in both 2000–01 and 2002–03. On both occasions the club faced Ipswich Town, losing 3–0 and 4–0 respectively. Morecambe also defeated a few league clubs in the FA Cup, including Cambridge United in 2000–01 and Chesterfield in 2002–03.
In November 2005, Jim Harvey suffered a heart attack during a league game at Christie Park against Cambridge United. The club quickly declared the appointment of a caretaker manager, Sammy McIlroy, a long-time friend of Harvey. After McIlroy's initial three-month stint as caretaker expired, he was given the job for the remainder of the season with Harvey expected to return on its closure. However, on his first day back as manager of Morecambe, Harvey was sacked by the club and McIlroy was appointed as permanent manager with Mark Lillis as his assistant. This caused a feud between long-time friends Harvey and McIlroy which has not been reconciled to this day.[citation needed]
In the absence of Harvey, Morecambe reached the Conference play-offs. They lost to
Football League (2007–present)
On 17 July 2007, Morecambe announced plans to move to a new stadium in time for the start of the 2009–10 season. Work did not commence on the proposed site until spring 2009, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2010.[4]
Morecambe played their first game in the Football League against
2009–10 was Morecambe's last season at
2011–19: the Jim Bentley era
On 13 May 2011, Jim Bentley was appointed, signing a two-year deal as player-manager.
2019–present: Bond Group uncertainties
Bentley left the club in October 2019 to take the manager's role at AFC Fylde, having spent 16 months as the longest serving manager in the top four tiers of English football.[10] In November 2019, Morecambe appointed Derek Adams as manager, signing him to a two-and-a-half year contract.[11] The remainder of the season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, saw the Shrimps finish 22nd after 37 games played, still enough to avoid relegation.
The
Adams resigned three days later, with the club stating that he had left "to pursue an opportunity elsewhere,"[16] which proved to be the managerial job at Bradford City.[17]
In June 2021, the club announced that former Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson would take over as manager for the club's first season in League One.[18] Their first game in League One was a 2–2 draw at Ipswich Town.[19] Among the season's highlights, the club once again reached the third round of the FA Cup, and again faced a London-based Premier League side, this time Tottenham Hotspur; after scoring the first goal, Morecambe were ultimately undone in the last 15 minutes by goals from Harry Kane, Lucas Moura, and Harry Winks and fell 3–1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.[20]
However, with 32 games played in the season, Robinson left to take over at Scottish club St Mirren.[21] Goalkeeping coach Barry Roche served a game as caretaker manager before Adams returned as manager on a deal lasting until June 2023.[22] Despite the club flirting with relegation, Adams once again managed to lead them out of the drop zone, with the Shrimps finishing 19th and securing League One status for a second consecutive season.[23]
In October 2022, Adams voiced worries about the future of the club; its owners, Bond Group Investments, had put the club up for sale in September 2022, with directors Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring (both associated with the collapse of
On 7 May 2023, Morecambe were relegated after being defeated by Exeter City,[27] and will play in League Two in 2023–24. Following relegation, the Shrimps confirmed 14 players were leaving upon the expiry of their contracts, with no players offered new deals.[28] In August 2023, Morecambe received a suspended three-point deduction for paying its players late in March.[29] In December 2023, Morecambe and owner Jason Whittingham were charged by the EFL for failing to adhere to an agreed process regarding deposits of players' wages.[30]
Kit and main sponsors
Table of kit suppliers and shirt sponsors appear below:[31]
Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor |
---|---|---|
1920–74 | ||
1974–78 | Umbro | |
1978–79 | Litesome | |
1979–80 | Holmark | |
1981–82 | Adidas | Mitchells |
1983–84 | Umbro | John Wilding |
1984–85 | MG Markets | |
1985–86 | Carlton Caterers | |
1986–87 | Umbro | |
1987–88 | ||
1988–91 | Umbro | Cvg |
1992–93 | Mitchells | |
1993–94 | Asics | Carleton Inn |
1994–95 | Printing Machinery | |
1995–96 | Pony International
|
Ais Products |
1996–97 | Lakesway | |
1997–98 | Oasis | |
1998–99 | Ambulink UK | |
1999–2000 | Umbro | Redman & Jones |
2000–02 | Business Serve PLC | |
2002–04 | Thurnham Leisure Group | |
2004–07 | Wright & Lord Solicitors | |
2007–08 | Jiang Print | |
2008–09 | Puma SE
|
Mopay.co.uk |
2009–12 | Bench.
| |
2012–13 | Fila
|
Carbrini
|
2013–14 | Blacks Leisure Group
| |
2014–15 | Carbrini
| |
2015–16 | Carbrini
|
JD Sports |
2016–17 | Omega Holidays | |
2017–18 | Macron | Purple Property Group |
2018–19 | Bizloans4u | |
2019–21 | Annapurna Recruitment[32][33] | |
2021–23 | Joma[34] | Mazuma[35] |
2023–24 | Omnia[36] |
Mascot
The Shrimps mascot is Christie the cat.[37] The cat was named after Morecambe's old Stadium, Christie Park.
Rivalries
Starting in the early 1990s, Morecambe have been engaged in a bitter rivalry with Lancashire neighbours
Players
Current squad
- As of 1 February 2024[38]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Club officials
- As of 8 January 2024[39]
Board
- Co-chairmen: Graham Howse and Rod Taylor
- Directors: Mick Horton, Charlie Appleyard, James Wakefield
- CEO: Ben Sadler
Coaching staff
- Manager: Ged Brannan
- First Team and Senior Professional Development Coach: David Fitzgerald
- Goalkeeper coach: Barry Roche
- First team analyst: Charlie Ennis
- Head of Medical and Performance: Oliver Howse
- Kit man: Les Dewhirst
- Academy manager: Stewart Drummond
- Head of academy coaching: Neil Wainwright
- Under 18s manager: Ollie Ras
Managerial history
Since 1947 to present
Dates | Name | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
1947–48 | Jimmy Milne | ||
1955–56 | Albert Dainty | ||
1956–61 | Ken Horton | ||
1961–64 | Joe Dunn | ||
1964–65 | Geoff Twentyman | ||
1965–69 | Ken Waterhouse | ||
1969–70 | Ronnie Clayton | ||
1970 | Gerry Irving and Ronnie Mitchell | ||
1970–72 | Ken Waterhouse | ||
1972–75 | Dave Roberts | Player manager. Won FA Trophy at Wembley in 1974 | |
1976–77 | Johnny Johnson | ||
1977–78 | Tommy Ferber | ||
1978–79 | Mick Hogarth | ||
1979–81 | Don Cubbage | ||
1981 | Jim Thomson | ||
1981–84 | Les Rigby | ||
1984–85 | Sean Gallagher | ||
1985–88 | Joe Wojciechowicz | ||
1988–89 | Billy Wright
|
||
1989–93 | Bryan Griffiths | ||
1994 | Leighton James | ||
1994–2005 | Jim Harvey | Won promotion to the Conference from the Northern Premier League in 1995 | |
2005–11[n 1] | Sammy McIlroy | Won promotion to the Football League from the Conference in 2007 | [41] |
2011–19 | Jim Bentley | [41] | |
2019 | Kevin Ellison & Barry Roche | Joint caretaker player managers (two matches) | [41] |
2019–21 | Derek Adams | Won promotion to League One from League Two in 2021 | [41] |
2021–22 | Stephen Robinson | [41] | |
2022 | Barry Roche | Caretaker player manager (one match) | [41] |
2022–23 | Derek Adams | Relegated from League One to League Two in 2023 | [41] |
2023– | Ged Brannan | [41] |
Honours
Source:[42][additional citation(s) needed]
League
- League Two (level 4)
- Play-off winners: 2021
- Conference National (level 5)
- Northern Premier League (level 6)
- Runners-up and promoted: 1994–95
- Lancashire Combination
- Champions: 1924–25, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1966–67, 1967–68
- Runners-up: 1925–26
Cup
- FA Trophy
- Winners: 1973–74
- Conference League Cup
- Winners: 1997–98
- Northern Premier League President's Cup
- Winners: 1991–92
- Lancashire Senior Cup
- Winners: 1967–68
- Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy
- Winners (11): 1925–26, 1926–27, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1985–86, 1986–7, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
- Lancashire Combination Cup
- Winners: 1926–27, 1945–46, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68
Footnotes
- ^ Caretaker manager for his first six months.
References
- ^ "Who's Who - Morecambe". www.morecambefc.com. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^
The Lancashire Cup – A Complete Record 1879–80 to 2006–07, by Gordon Small. A SoccerData Publication on behalf of the Lancashire Football Association. 2007. ISBN 978-1-905891-04-7.
- ^ "Exeter 1–2 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ "New Stadium Planned". Morecambe FC. 17 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
- ^ "Morecambe 0–0 Barnet". BBC Sport. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
- ^ "Preston 1–2 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
- ^ "Manager Sammy McIlroy leaves Morecambe". BBC Sport. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "Morecambe appoint Jim Bentley as boss". BBC Sport. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "Paul Tisdale leaves Exeter City after 12 years in charge of Devon club". 1 June 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ "Derk Adams named as new manager". www.morecambefc.com. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "Morecambe 0–7 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Chelsea 4–0 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Morecambe 1–1 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Michael Pearlman (31 May 2021). "Morecambe 1–0 Newport County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Club Statement". 3 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Adams unveiled as new Bantams boss". Bradford City AFC. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Stephen Robinson Announced as New Shrimps Boss". 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Report: Ipswich Town 2–2 Shrimps". 7 August 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Stephen Robinson leaves for St. Mirren". 22 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "Derek Adams returns". 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "Report: Shrimps 0–1 Sunderland AFC". 30 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "Morecambe boss Derek Adams 'worried' about the future of the club amid possible sale". BBC Sport. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "Morecambe confirm March wages have been paid after delay". BBC Sport. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Sarbjot Johal: Wigan Athletic bid is from prospective Morecambe buyer". BBC Sport. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Exeter City 3–2 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Morecambe: Cole Stockton among 14 departures from relegated Shrimps". BBC Sport. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Morecambe get suspended three-point deduction for paying players late". BBC Sport. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Morecambe and owner Jason Whittingham charged by EFL over deposit failure". BBC Sport. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Morecambe". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Record kit deal announced". Morecambe F.C. 21 May 2019.
- ^ "Centenary Kit & Crest Revealed".
- ^ "Record kit deal announced". Morecambe F.C. 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Mazuma announced as front of shirt sponsor". Morecambe F.C. 18 June 2021.
- ^ "Omnia become new front of shirt sponsor". Morecambe F.C. 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Morecambe | You can now follow Christie the Cat on Facebook". Morecambefc.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ "First Team – Morecambe". morecambefc.com. Morecambe F.C. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Who's Who". Morecambe FC. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Backroom staff". Morecambe FC. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Morecambe Manager History". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Morecambe". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
External links
- Morecambe at the Football Club History Database