The EFL published its list of fixtures today and Morecambe see themselves drawn at Grimsby on 5th September in the League Cup for the first game of the new campaign. They follow that – assuming that the government doesn’t intervene in the meantime with some regulations referring to a 4.00AM deadline or whatever – with a home tie against Rochdale in League Two at the newly-renamed Mazuma Stadium on Tuesday September 8th.
Despite the lack of activity on the field caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, Morecambe Football Club have been active off it. They have signed 26-year-old Irish striker Liam McAlinden who has been plying his trade in the National League since being released by Wolves four years ago. Whilst playing for Wanderers, McAlinden had loan spells at Shrimps’ rivals Cheltenham and Exeter City. Morecambe Manager Derek Adams said of the new signing:
“I’ve watched Liam’s progress since he was at Wolves. He has had some good spells. He is left-sided and can score goals from nothing and adds good competition for places up front.”
DA also signed his fellow Scot, 25-year-old Stephen Hendrie, as a full back with the ability to play in central defence. From a promising position at West Ham and appearances for the Scottish Under-21s six years ago, Hendrie’s career seems to have gone somewhat off-track, with him being released by a number of clubs such as Southend, Hamilton Academical and Kilmarnock in recent times. Let’s hope he takes this opportunity to get things back onto an even keel.
Morecambe also announced their first loan signing for the new campaign during the opening week of August. He is 21-year old goalkeeper Jake Turner, who is currently on the books of Newcastle United, having previously played for Bolton Wanderers. He will be working closely with newly-retained coach and Shrimps’ legend Barry Roche. Jake has been capped by England at Under-18 and Under 19 levels and a lot is hoped from him during his season-long loan. Good luck to the lad.
The second, dual loan signings featured familiar faces. 22-year-old Adam Phillips played eleven games for the Shrimps last season and scored four goals during his loan spell from Burnley. Team-mate Ryan Cooney also played exceptionally well in the right full back berth for Morecambe last term once Derek Adams introduced both players to the team in January before COVID-19 put an end to proceedings.
29-year-old defender Kelvin Mellor has also been added to the Morecambe squad. He had six years at Crewe before stints with Blackpool and others and DA said of him:
“Kelvin comes in from Bradford with good experience, He was with me at Plymouth a number of seasons ago, can play at right-back or right centre half, he’s a very good football player and can get forward, create chances and score goals.”
Experienced midfielder Ben Pringle has also signed on the dotted line for the Shrimps. The 32-year-old was at Gillingham last season but he has played for Preston, Rotherham and Fulham among others in the past.
“It’s been uncertain times for everybody so to get it over the line is a good feeling and I’m pleased to be here” said Ben once the ink was dry on his new contract.
Nathaniel Knight-Percival is another defender who was offered a 12-month contract during August after having been released by Carlisle United. The 33-year-old has played for several EFL clubs in the past, including Shrewsbury, Bradford City and Peterborough United.
Nineteen-year-old Burnley-born central defender Harry Davis is another new signing by Derek Adams. His dad, Steve, was Manager at Crewe before Dave Artell took over there during 2017 and Harry left the club to play for St Mirren once his father was sacked. Homesick, he returned to play for Grimsby until he was released by them after the COVID-19 ruined campaign.
This is the shape of the Morecambe squad as at 18th August 2020:
1 Jake Turner
2 Kelvin Mellor
3 Stephen Hendrie
4 Nathaniel Knight-Percival
5 Sam Lavelle
6 Harry Davis
7 Jordan Slew
8 Toumani Diagouraga
9 Cole Stockton
10 Aaron Wildig
11 Carlos Mendes-Gomes
12 Mark Halstead
13 Andre da Silva Mendes
14 Alex Kenyon
15 Luke Conlan
16 John O’Sullivan
17 A-Jay Leitch-Smith
18 Ben Pringle
19 Liam McAlinden
20 Adam Phillips
21 Ryan Cooney
22 Ibrahim Bakare
23 Freddie Price
Freddie Price has been offered his first professional contract after impressing the management in the Academy side. Morecambe’s Kiwi central defender, Steven Old, declined a new contract to be nearer his family and has subsequently signed for a non-league Scottish team in the shape of East Kilbride. Good luck to him. Another player who has probably found his true level is Jordan Cranston, who has been transferred to Solihull Moors, for whom he can no doubt continue to constantly give the ball away, take long-range shots which invariably miss the target – and get sent off. On the field at least, he will not be missed.
