Morecambe Football Club Preview 2022-23.
The Manager.
Morecambe boss Derek Adams made it clear as long ago as 24th May 2022 that he expects this season’s campaign for the Shrimps in League One to be extremely challenging. He told local paper the Lancaster Guardian:
“I don’t think it’s going to get any easier next season. You only have to look at Bristol Rovers coming up, Exeter City coming up and Forest Green: they are all clubs that have greater financial reserves than ourselves. Then you’ve got the likes of Derby County, Barnsley and Peterborough coming down, so I think it will be an even tougher division than it was this season. I’m looking to take a squad of roughly 23 players for the new season but the (transfer) market will be difficult.”
Later, he explained to the same source both why so many of the players bequeathed to him by Stephen Robinson had been put on the transfer list and why at least one other fringe player had been released. He said:
“The problem we have got is 75 per cent of the budget has been taken up because of players in contract or renegotiating with players out of contract. We are in a difficult position at this moment in time because 75 per cent is a huge amount gone on players who haven’t been playing. Ryan Cooney, who we have made available for transfer, was the only player out of the 10 in the starting 11 for the last game against Sunderland. The difficulty for Connor Pye is he’s not going to find himself in my first-team squad. He’s got two years to run on a contract but, budget-wise, the circumstances are difficult. Freddie Price was a budgetary decision as well. He had an option on his contract and the option was high value in terms of wages. I just couldn’t take that on. We have to free up some cash and I can’t do that unless I do what I do at this moment in time.”
In order to make the task of recruiting new players at least theoretically easier, the Club’s website announced in May:
“Morecambe Football Club is delighted to announce that Greg Strong has joined the Shrimps as the new Head of Recruitment. Strong links up with manager Derek Adams once again, having played together as teammates during their time in Scotland at Motherwell. The former defender was appointed as Chief Scout during Adams’ time at Plymouth Argyle, which saw them promoted to Sky Bet League One during Strong’s first season at the Pilgrims. The 46-year-old has recently spent three-and-a-half years at League Two side Salford City as their Head of Recruitment. He starts with the Shrimps on Wednesday 1 June 2022. Manager Derek Adams said: “Greg has agreed to join the football department here at Morecambe Football Club as Head of Recruitment. He has a strong track record of identifying players in the EFL and has terrific contacts within the game. I previously employed Greg as Chief Scout while I was the manager at Plymouth Argyle FC and I am delighted he has re-joined me at the Shrimps. We have important summer and winter transfers windows coming up.”“
So how has this worked in reality?
Signings and transfers:
Gone But Not Forgotten…
Kyle Letheren left the club last season under something of a cloud. This is a shame, given his key contribution to the Shrimps’ progression towards promotion to League One in the previous campaign. He has joined League Two Hartlepool United as player and goalkeeping coach under the new regime of a former playing colleague at Dundee, Pools’ recently-appointed manager Paul Hartley. Let’s hope the Welshman’s career picks-up in the north-east as spectacularly as it finally failed back in north Lancashire.
I’m sure that most Morecambe fans will also be delighted to hear that Toumani Diagouraga has also found himself a new club in the shape of the one that finished League Two last season one place lower (eighteenth) than Hartlepool: Rochdale FC. He was one of the key reasons that the Shrimps both stayed in League Two a couple of years ago and went on to gain promotion during Derek Adams’ first spell at the club. In my opinion, his was the most significant signature Derek persuaded anyone to add to a Morecambe FC contract. So the question must be asked: has the Manager outdone his previous efforts when the Shrimps were merely a League Two club?
The Old Breed.
The first player from the Stephen Robinson era to leave the club was Jonah Ayunga. He left almost as soon as the season ended to meet-up again with his former mentor Robbo at St Mirren. This was little surprise: Derek Adams didn’t seem to rate him and his form was poor once he picked-up a bad injury after exhibiting tremendous skill early in the season. He came across as a thoroughly decent lad though and I wish him well for what it’s worth.
Really bad news from Paisley, however, was the fact that Robbo has also persuaded fellow-Ulsterman and Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Trevor Carson to sign for St Mirren from Dundee United. Trevor was probably the main reason – on the field at least – that Morecambe actually managed to stay in League One last season. He lives in Barnard Castle and hopes were high that he might prefer the hour journey southwards to play for Derek Adams rather than take The High Road to Bonnie Scotland on a regular basis. But I suspect that St Mirren offered him better money than the Shrimps could – and like Jonah; Trev has signed a two-year deal. What a shame: with all due deference to Barry Roche, he’s the best goalkeeper I have ever seen play for the club. Furthermore, the save he pulled-off right at the death against Oxford on April 6th last is the best I have ever seen in real life. His superhuman reaction then to what seemed to be a certain goal saved the Shrimps two very precious points into the bargain…
Good news for all who saw him play in the bad-tempered home game against serial cheats Bolton Wanderers last season is that Adam Smith has been offered a new twelve month contract to take over from Trevor Carson in goal.
Far worse news, however, is the fact that Aaron Wildig refused a new contract when it was offered to him. He explained:
“I am gutted to announce that I’ll be leaving the Club this summer. It has been a tough few weeks deciding if I can make it work but having lived in Lancaster for seven years, the time is right to put my girlfriend and little lad first and move closer to my family. I have loved every minute at the Club, from the Chairmen, football staff, academy staff and people working behind the scenes, you won’t meet a better bunch of people. I have loads of great memories: Wembley; Coventry; scoring the Play-Off goal with the fans back in for the first time. I am grateful for the Club and managers I’ve worked with, giving me the opportunity to do it. Thank you for the support over the years, through the good and the bad times. On the pitch you’ve always been so loyal, and that is what makes the Club so special. Having spent seven years at the Club and going through the highs and lows, you don’t just end up a player, you become a supporter and that will continue. I wish the Club every success in the future.”
The club’s website added:
“He made his final appearance for the Shrimps in the last fixture of the 21/22 League One campaign, at home to Sunderland AFC on 30 April. During his time with the Club, Wildig made 248 appearance in all competitions, scoring 25 goals.
The midfield maestro made his debut for the Shrimps in a 1-1 draw with Carlisle United on 21 March 2015, and scored his first goal for the Club on the final day of that season, in a 3-1 win over Southend United.
He scored the only goal as the Shrimps recorded their first-ever Football League win against Lancashire rivals Accrington Stanley, in the opening month of the 2015/16 League Two campaign.
Wildig played a big part in helping the Club steer clear of relegation in that game, at the Ricoh Arena, on the final day of the 2017/18 season. He scored 10 goals in the Shrimps’ promotion winning season, which included the first goal back in front of fans at the Mazuma Stadium after the Coronavirus pandemic.
Towards the end of the Club’s first-ever season in Sky Bet League One, Wildig captained the side and, under the stewardship of Derek Adams, played a huge part in keeping the Shrimps in League One for another season.”
Within a few days, Newport County had signed him up, I don’t know for how long. So the Welsh club’s gain is definitely Morecambe’s loss. For what it’s worth, I think he has been consistently the best player Morecambe have fielded season after season from the moment he signed for the club. Good luck to him though: this is a guy with a tremendous brain in his head as well as fantastic skill with his feet.
Social Media reports in late June told us all that Morecambe had also lost the services of Arthur Gnahoua. He had allegedly followed Aaron’s example and refused a new contract to stay with the Shrimps. He was reported to be another player to be heading North of the Border, in this case to join Motherwell. All this stuff thankfully turned out to be genuinely false news. Under Robbo’s tutelage, Arthur rarely had a good game in my opinion. But as soon as Derek Adams returned to the club, he looked like a different player altogether. For that fact alone it is really good news that he has decided to stay on a twelve month contract – let’s all hope his tremendous late season form continues next term.
The New Breed…
The first player to sign on the dotted line for Derek Adams’ inaugural full season at the helm of the League One version of the Shrimps was 27-year old Donald Alistair Love. The former Manchester United defender was signed on a two-year-deal once his contract with League Two Salford City ran out. Although he was born in Rochdale, Donald was a Scotland Under-17; 19 and 21 international earlier in his career. He spent a stint on-loan with Wigan Athletic before signing for Sunderland in 2016 after failing to establish a regular place in the Man U first team. Following a serious ankle injury, he then signed for Shrewsbury Town in time for the start of the 2019-20 League One campaign. He was transferred permanently to Salford during 2021 and turned-down a new contract with City during the closed season to move back up a division to join the Shrimps. He says his own preferred position is Right Full-Back but has experience of playing in various defensive positions in the past.
The second player to be offered a two-year-deal by Morecambe was another defender; 23-year-old Left Back Max Melbourne. He started his career as a Junior at West Bromwich Albion. Then he spent time on-loan with Derek Adams’ old club Ross County. This was at a time when Derek was long gone but it is reasonable to assume that the feedback our Manager has received from his former club about this new signing has been extremely favourable. Max then played briefly (just five games in a deal which was ended early when WBA called him home) for Partick Thistle on-loan before signing for the Lincoln City in January 2020, having spent some time as a loan player there previously too. He was soon out on loan again, firstly at Walsall and later at Stevenage. So for a twenty-three year old, Max has already had a lot of experience. The fact that – unlike Don Love – Max was not offered a new contract by his previous employers – at a fellow League One club as well – must be a slight concern. But hopefully, Max will go on to show that any doubts anybody might have about him are totally unfounded. In contrast to predecessor Stephen Robinson, Derek Adams has yet to sign any sort of duffer to play for the Shrimps. Both his own and Greg Strong’s judgement in these matters leaves no reason other than to expect Max Melbourne to prove to be a tremendous signing for the Shrimps.
Let’s hope they have got it right as far as the Shrimps’ third signing of the Closed Season is concerned as well. Whereas Max Melbourne has joined us from a club in the same Division,
25-year-old Farrend Rawson was offered another two year contract at Morecambe having been released by a club a Division lower: Mansfield Town. Farrend started his career with Derby County, from where he was loaned to Rotherham United, Coventry City and then Accrington Stanley. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame so far is that at Rotherham, he played in their first team against Brighton & Hove Albion in 2015 when he was no longer registered as one of their players. The Millers were subsequently fined three points and £30,000 for this considerable oversight. Farrend dropped right through the EFL pyramid three years after this incident and signed for then League Two Forest Green Rovers in 2018. Two years later, he moved to Mansfield Town only to be released by them this summer. The central defender is thus another player with quite a lot to prove. Let’s all hope that he is able to do so: 24 months is a very generous contract for a player who has just been judged not to be worthy of even a short one at League Two level.
The fourth signing for the new season is a loan deal. Twenty year-old Australian Caleb Watts – who has represented his country at U-17s and U-23s level – has been lent to the club for a full season by Premier League side Southampton. Despite his age, Caleb had been deemed good enough to play in midfield in the Premiership for his parent club against Arsenal. He also represented his country at the Tokyo Summer Olympics during 2020. Caleb was loaned-out to League Two side Crawley Town last season – an arrangement which lasted precisely 20 minutes when he broke-down with a hamstring injury. The step-up that the Shrimps have offered him brings with it the many challenges which a higher division will inevitably pose for the young man. All the signs so far, however, indicate that both he and the club should benefit considerably from his obvious tremendous talent.
The fifth signing of the summer meant that a twelve-month contract was taken-up by 29-year-old former PNE goalkeeper Connor Ripley. He only played in the first team at Deepdale ten times altogether and was released after being at the club for three years. He previously played for his home town team, Middlesbrough (for whom his father, Stuart Ripley, remains an icon. When Ripley Senior moved to Blackburn Rovers, Connor found himself growing-up in Clitheroe rather than the North East.) He was loaned-out to several other clubs including Motherwell north of the border and overseas at Östersund in Sweden. In England, Connor has featured briefly for both Bradford City (prior to the Adams Era); Burton Albion and Oxford United. Most recently, he was on emergency loan at Salford City last season and played nine games for them, keeping four clean sheets. He had longer spells with Accrington Stanley (21 appearances) and poor old Oldham Athletic (46 games) and their even sadder neighbours Bury, for whom he appeared fifteen times. He has also played for England at both Under-19 and Under-20 levels. If he’s even half as smart a cookie as his dad (First Class degree in Law and French which has earned him a place on the FA’s Judicial Panel), Connor should be a very effective addition to the squad – both on and off the field.
There had been persistent rumours for ages before 23 year old midfielder Jake Taylor finally signed on the dotted line for the Shrimps in July. Derek Adams has unsuccessfully tried to sign him previously but made it clear he was still in his sights some time ago. Unusually, Morecambe have paid a fee to acquire the Mancunian’s services – how big a fee has not been disclosed. Jake started his career at Manchester United but moved to Nottingham Forest’s Academy during 2015. Unable to break into the Forest First Team, he then moved on-loan and then permanently to Port Vale two years ago. His time there was interrupted by injury but he was part of the Vale squad who beat Mansfield at Wembley a couple of months ago to secure the Valiants promotion to League One. He had two years still to run on his contract with the Potteries’ club but – with the departure of Aaron Wildig and Toumani Diagouraga from last season’s squad – Jake could prove to be the key midfield signing of the closed season.
The next acquisition came completely out of the blue. Twenty-six year old former Fleetwood and Salford City striker Ashley Taylor has also joined the club. Ash said he was rung by Greg Strong on the Thursday of one week; came in for training immediately; continued on Friday and played on Saturday at Macclesfield. He said of his experience: “I really enjoyed myself, so I am buzzing to finally get the deal done.” He consequently signed on the dotted line the following Tuesday. Although he was released by League Two Salford at the end of last season, anybody who has seen this man play knows that here we have a potential gem who has proved himself at both League One and League Two level. If he plays even half as well for us as he has done against us in the past, Ash Taylor will prove to be a truly inspired signing.
False News, Folks:
On 11th July 2022, Football League Wold told the world at large:
“Stockport County could be about to lose Scott Quigley this summer, with Morecambe set to seal a deal to bring him to the club… Scott Quigley getting a chance in League One is somewhat of a surprise considering his relative inexperience at that level and also his recent gametime for Stockport. Granted, Stockport have been able to throw money at other players and that has led to the player slipping down the pecking order, but he was barely used in the National League and when he was, he only produced six goals. Perhaps then, the Shrimps are hoping that more gametime could lead to more goals as it did with Barrow back when he played for the side. He might not be a regular first-team option for Morecambe but he could also be good in rotation if needed too and could prove to be a handy option considering his experience of EFL football.”
It didn’t happen. No smoke without fire? Time will tell if there was any genuine basis for this rumour – or whether some lazy journalist simply invented it.
Friendlies.
Friendly matches don’t really give any real indication of what the real challenge once League One actually starts could mean. Players – for understandable reasons – are more mindful of avoiding injury than they are in putting in a full-blooded display. In reality, these matches are probably most helpful for the Manager, who can experiment with formations and check on the form of individual players without any jeopardy to either himself or the squad as a whole.
The first game Morecambe played was against Stalybridge Celtic away from home on Tuesday, July 5th. The Northern Premier League Premier Division club took the lead at Bower Fold and actually led by the only goal so far at half time. Dylan Connolly was fouled by one of the home team’s trialists and then scored from the penalty spot to equalise with only seven minutes left to play. Then Arthur Gnahoua walloped a fierce shot past another trialist – this time the goalkeeper for Celtic – four minutes later to both score against a former team and turn the match on its head by delivering a 1-2 victory to the Shrimps. This was the Morecambe line-up on the night:
Connor Ripley (Adam Smith, 57’), Donald Love (Liam Gibson, 57’), Max Melbourne (Ryan Cooney, 57’), Ousmane Fané, Farrend Rawson, Ryan Delaney, Wes McDonald (Cole Stockton, 46’), Shane McLoughlin (Ryan McLaughlin, 57’) Jon Obika (Arthur Gnahoua, 57’), Caleb Watts and Dylan Connolly. The only player in the named squad not to get a game was third choice goalkeeper André Da Silva Mendes.
The second friendly Morecambe played was in Cheshire at Macclesfield FC on Saturday, July 9th. Our old pals from Northern Premier League days are now starting life all over again following appalling ownership issues which saw what was then an EFL club go bust almost two years ago. They are currently plying their trade in the lowly North West Counties League – two steps down the football pyramid even from Stalybridge Celtic.
Former tormentor of the North Lancashire side – Ashley Hunter – was included in the away team today after his release from Salford City in May. He had been training with the Morecambe squad and had also been offered a contract by Derek Adams – who unsuccessfully tried to sign him both when he was the Plymouth Manager and again when he was at Bradford last season.
The Shrimps started badly against a team which included former favourite Mark Duffy in their line-up. The visitors conceded a goal after only four minutes. Just six minutes later, things got even worse as Morecambe shipped a second one. They could have gone even further behind but for an excellent one-on-one stop by Adam Smith with five minutes to the break. Derek Adams shook things up for the second half and Cole the Goal Stockton reduced the arrears with a header after just two minutes. Cole was instrumental in Morecambe’s equaliser in the seventieth minute as well. His powerful run into the penalty area on the Shrimps’ right ended with a pass to Ash Hunter, who tapped in at the far post. That was the end of the scoring but the visitors ended the game strongly. The line-up on the day was:
Adam Smith (C) (Connor Ripley 46’), Ryan McLaughlin (Donald Love 46’), Max Melbourne, Ryan Cooney (Caleb Watts 46’, Jon Obika 71’), Farrend Rawson (Anthony O’Connor 86’), Liam Gibson, Dylan Connolly (Ryan Delaney 36’), Shane McLoughlin (Jake Taylor 46’), Cole Stockton (Ousmane Fané 80’), Arthur Gnahoua, Wes McDonald (Ash Hunter 46’).
Sub not used: André De Silva Mendes.
Morecambe lost their next friendly, which was played behind closed doors at Huddersfield’s Canalside Academy ground on Tuesday afternoon July 12th. Championship opposition Manager Danny Schofield chose two totally different line-ups for each half. The first incarnation led 2-0 at half time. The second one scored another goal eventually but only after Jon Obika had pulled one back for the Shrimps with a smart finish after he had dispossessed a Terriers’ defender. Derek Adams found the positives in his team’s 3-1 loss, commenting: “I was delighted with the performance; I thought the structure of the team was excellent and you can see that they have a good understanding of each other.” The players he chose on this occasion were:
Connor Ripley; Donald Love; Max Melbourne; Liam Gibson (Ryan Cooney 82’); Farrend Rawson (Anthony O’Connor 82’); Ryan Delaney; Arthur Gnahoua (Wes McDonald 70’) Ousmane Fané (Ryan McLaughlin 82’); Cole Stockton (Jon Obika 58’); Jake Taylor (Shane McLoughlin 58’); Dylan Connolly (Ash Hunter 58’)
Sub not used: Adam Smith.
Morecambe travelled to Chester FC on a swelteringly hot Saturday, 16th July for their fourth friendly of pre-season. They faced a squad which included former favourite Alex Kenyon, who had signed for the National League North club earlier in the week. Ash Hunter scored his second goal in two games after 12 minutes, having hit the post with a free kick a couple of minutes earlier. Chester equalised in the fifty-sixth minute and the final score was 1-1.
Morecambe: Adam Smith (C); Ryan Cooney; Liam Gibson (Max Melbourne 45’); Ousmane Fané (Farrend Rawson 61’); Anthony O’Connor (Ryan Delaney 61’); Ryan McLoughlin (Arthur Gnahoua 61’); Dylan Connolly (Donald Love 61’); Jon Obika (Cole Stockton 61’); Ash Hunter (Caleb Watts 45’); Shane McLoughlin (Jake Taylor 45’); Wes McDonald..
Sub not used: Connor Ripley.
The Shrimps were well beaten in their next foray into pre-season match practice. Championship Middlesbrough visited the Maz on Tuesday 19th July and departed with a three-nil win. It could have been more – the visitors stuck the woodwork twice before taking the lead after just fourteen minutes of a match which they led 0-3 by the end of the first half. Derek Adams conceded that Boro were the better team in the first half but added:
“In the second-half we were much better, we continued to show good shape at times and we threatened a number of times. I am really happy with the way some of our players have played. This team hasn’t played together many times We have a new squad. It is important that they understand each other. This is the first time we have played at home, so it has been a good work out for us. We are going to play another Championship side here in Stoke in the League Cup, so this has been a good test for that game.”
The team he had chosen to face Chris Wilder’s men was:
Connor Ripley; Donald Love (Ryan Cooney 86’); Max Melbourne; Liam Gibson (Shane McLoughlin 46’); Farrend Rawson; Ryan Delaney; Jake Taylor (Wes McDonald 86’); Ousmane Fané; Cole Stockton (Jon Obika 62’); Ash Hunter (Arthur Gnahoua 62’); Dylan Connolly (Caleb Watts 46’).
Subs not used: Adam Smith; Anthony O’Connor; Ryan McLaughlin.
The final warm-up match featured a visit to the Maz by northern neighbours, League Two Carlisle United, on Saturday, 23rd July 2022. There was no score after 45 minutes but the Cumbrians probably shaded things with the home defence at sixes and sevens at times. Having said that, the hosts came nearest to taking the lead when Ash Taylor rounded visiting goalkeeper Tomas Holy but failed to find a man in a red shirt with his subsequent pass. With ex-Shrimp Jamie Devitt featuring for the visitors later on, the League Two side continued to dominate the play and forced a number of good saves from Connor Ripley.
Up front, Morecambe offered little today and the only obvious plus from this finally goal-less game was the obvious talent of Ashley Hunter, who was outstanding. For what it’s worth, however, Carlisle boss Paul Simpson will probably be more pleased with the performance of his side this afternoon than Derek Adams would be with his. The Morecambe team was:
Connor Ripley (C); Donald Love; Max Melbourne (Dylan Connolly 71’); Liam Gibson; Farrend Rawson; Ryan Delaney; Jake Taylor; Ousmane Fané; Ash Hunter; Arthur Gnahoua (Shane McLoughlin 66’); Caleb Watts (Cole Stockton 45’).
Subs not used: Adam Smith; Ryan McLaughlin; Ryan Cooney; Anthony O’Connor; Wes McDonald; Jon Obika.
The Fixtures
League One. This year, Morecambe will face a number of formerly famous clubs for the very first time. For example, Derby County – league champions under the iconic Brain Clough back in the day – have now slipped even further away from their glory years. So Wayne Rooney’s replacement as Manager, Liam Rosenior, will be facing Derek Adams on equal terms at the Maz and Pride Park for not only the first time as members of the same division but also for the first time ever. Barnsley is the other club relegated from the Championship which the Shrimps have never met before in a league fixture. The full list is (Saturday K.O. 1500hrs; Tuesdays 1945hrs):
July 2022
Sat 30 – Shrewsbury Town (H)
August 2022
Sat 6 – Peterborough United (A)
Tuesday 9th August League Cup First Round. Stoke City (H).
Sat 13 – Fleetwood Town (H)
Tue 16 – Bolton Wanderers (A)
Sat 20 – Oxford United (A)
Sat 27 – Milton Keynes Dons’ Impersonators (H)
September 2022
Sat 3 – Bristol Rovers (A)
Sat 10 – Derby County (H)
Tue 13 – Sheffield Wednesday (H)
Sat 17 – Forest Green Rovers (A)
Sat 24 – Cambridge United (H)
October 2022
Sat 1 – Accrington Stanley (A)
Sat 8 – Ipswich Town (H)
Sat 15 – Burton Albion (A)
Sat 22 – Barnsley (H)
Tue 25 – Cheltenham Town (A)
Sat 29 – Wycombe Wanderers (A)
November 2022
Sat 5 – Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper
Sat 12 – Portsmouth (H)
Sat 19 – Lincoln City (A)
Sat 26 – Emirates FA Cup Second Round Proper
December 2022
Sat 3 – Exeter City (H) rearranged for Friday 2nd December; 19.45 hrs to avoid a clash with a live England match. Zzzzzzzz…
Sat 10 – Charlton Athletic (H)
Sat 17 – Plymouth Argyle (A)
Mon 26 – Port Vale (A)
Thurs 29 – Accrington Stanley (H)
January 2023
Sun 1 – Burton Albion (H)
Sat 7 – Ipswich Town (A) or Emirates FA Cup Third Round proper
Sat 14 – Cambridge United (A)
Sat 21 – Port Vale (H)
Sat 28 – Bristol Rovers (H)
February 2023
Sat 4 – Derby County (A)
Sat 11 – Forest Green Rovers (H)
Tue 14 – Sheffield Wednesday (A)
Sat 18 – Peterborough United (H)
Sat 25 – Fleetwood Town (A)
March 2023
Sat 4 – Bolton Wanderers (H) Rearranged to kick-off at 12.30pm. (Less drinking time for our delightful visitors’ `fans’ who might invade the pitch and get the game stopped otherwise. What am I saying? – no such thing could ever happen and the Trotters not be called to account for it, could it?…)
Sat 11 – Shrewsbury Town (A)
Sat 18 – Oxford United (H)
Sat 25 – Milton Keynes Plastic Dons (A)
April 2023
Sat 1 – Barnsley (A)
Fri 7 – Plymouth Argyle (H)
Mon 10 – Portsmouth (A)
Sat 15 – Wycombe Wanderers (H)
Tue 18 – Cheltenham Town (H)
Sat 22 – Charlton Athletic (A)
Sat 29 – Lincoln City (H)
May 2023
Sat 6 – Exeter City (A)
Papa John’s. In the much-maligned Papa John’s Trophy, the Shrimps have been drawn against League Two Harrogate Town and Kyle Letheren’s Hartlepool United along with Everton’s Under 21 team in Northern Group A. On paper, Morecambe should win against clubs in a lower division. If they do, they could potentially win £100,000 by reaching the final: and presumably as many pizzas as they could possibly eat as well…
The Bookies.
I note that the club’s official preview of the season is subtitled “League One Low Down.” I hope that’s not a prediction. Morecambe have been the bookmakers’ favourites to be relegated ever since they were promoted to the Football League sixteen long years ago. This season is no different. In June 2022, Sky Bet made them 100/1 against being Champions of League One next year (which was equal with Cambridge. Cheltenham at 66/1 and then Fleetwood at 50/1 were next). You can get 28/1 with Cambridge (Cheltenham at 16/1 and Fleetwood at 14/1) on Morecambe to be promoted. What are the chances of a top six finish? They are: 10/1 with Cambridge followed by newly-promoted Port Vale at 6/1 and then Cheltenham at 11/2 and Fleetwood at 5/1.
The only Betting Table that Morecambe head is favourites for relegation: 17-20 followed by promoted Exeter and Forest Green Rovers (both Evens); Bristol Rovers and Port Vale both 5/4 followed by Cheltenham and Fleetwood at 2/1.
Morecambe have confounded the bookies’ predictions for the last sixteen years. Let’s all hope that they manage to do it for a seventeenth and end up not `low down’ but `high up’…
Travel.
One thing Morecambe already have in the bag before the season even starts is a place in the Play-Off positions in at least one element of the forthcoming trial of strength. This concerns how many miles fans will have to travel to support their team away from home next term. They will be fourth in the table behind Plymouth at the top; Exeter and then Ipswich. With Sunderland promoted to the Championship, Morecambe is now geographically the most northerly club in League One. Consequently, supporters who want to see them play all their away games will have to travel a total of 4077 miles next season. The longest journey is 331 miles (one way) to Plymouth; the shortest is Fleetwood at a tenth of this distance. Compare this to newly-promoted Port Vale. Placed handily in the English Midlands, their away travel will amount to a relatively trifling – in comparison to Shrimps’ supporters – 2657 miles. Burton Albion will travel the smallest distance (2512 miles) whereas Plymouth fans will face a total mileage of 5572 if they follow their team to every nook and cranny of the League One landscape.
Finally – Sponsorship.
Most of us know that local heavyweight boxing legend Tyson Fury owns part of the Mazuma Stadium: the block between the Berlin Wall and the away end is now his gym. (The logo on the door – “Gypsy King” – is a bit of a giveaway.) I personally think we should drag him out of there (any volunteers?) and shove him into our side as Centre Forward – and see what happens.
Whatever, the club’s website announced in late July:
“Tyson is a fantastic ambassador for the Morecambe area and it’s fantastic to have him onboard. Tyson is one of the most recognisable names in the world of sport, and will bring worldwide recognition (to the) Club. He will join a(n) ever-growing list of commercial partners, alongside both local and national brands as well as local businesses the Club have signed in recent seasons. We now have a huge reach across the globe, with further presence on a worldwide stage due to this partnership. Tyson Fury added: “I love the Morecambe area and it is a pleasure to be able to support my local club.”
Amen to that…
So that’s it. The warm-up and sparring matches have finally come to an end. Another season of potentially knock-out drama starts all over again next Saturday. Seconds (and Minutes) will truly be out at 1500 hours. The Referee will call time and the pugilism will well and truly start. It will be tough. It will be frenetic. And – at the end of the day – there will really only be one winner.
Will we throw in the towel for the first time ever at the end of the struggle with relegation next May? Or will we punch above our weight yet again and…
Sorry – I have almost run out of (albeit pretty naff) boxing analogies.
Apart from one: don’t forget to get your ring-side seat for the forthcoming heavyweight scraps. There are still some bargain price Season Tickets available at the time of writing.
See you all there.
