Morecambe

Morecambe are a professional football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. The club currently competes in EFL League Two, which is the fourth tier of English football. The club are nicknamed the Shrimps, after the shellfish, as the area is known for its Morecambe Bay potted shrimps. Founded in 1920, the club plays its football at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, after leaving Christie Park in 2010. An interesting fact about the club is that their relegation from League One at the end of the 2022/23 season meant they became the final of the current 92 teams at the time to have been relegated.

Morecambe Updates

At the time of writing, Morecambe are currently struggling in League Two, after a difficult start to the campaign hindered by off-field issues. This season they are currently 23^rd in League Two, winning 3, drawing 4, and losing 10 of their 16 games. That point tally of 13 sees them only in the relegation zone on goal difference, following a recent upturn in form. Ownership issues have hindered their season, which fans protested about in their most recent game against Port Vale.

Owner Jason Whittingham put the club up for sale in September 2022, but progress has been hard to come by in the two years since, in regards to a sale. After failing to pay its players on time, Morecambe were deducted 3 points for not adhering to an agreed decision, imposed on the club in August 2023.

To keep up to date with news about Morecambe throughout the season, check out The Real Efl page.

Morecambe Transfers News and Rumours

Morecambe had an extremely busy transfer window in the 2024 summer transfer window. The Shrimps were under an embargo from March, after failing to pay a VAT bill, but settled it in July.

Immediately, the club announced 15 signings, the majority on 1-year deals. Included in that was a goalkeeper, seven defenders, four midfielders and three forwards. George Ray was one of the arrivals, following an impressive year with league rivals Barrow, while David Tutonda, Yann Songo’o and Jordan Slew rejoined the club after their previous contracts had expired.

On the departures side, Jacob Bedeau left for Notts County, while impressive midfielder JJ McKiernan was acquired by League One Lincoln City. Right-back Joel Senior also moved a division higher to Bristol Rovers, as one of 16 players to leave. For a detailed insight on these transfers, you can check the Morecambe Transfermarkt page.

Morecambe Signings

Below is a list of all the signings made by the club in the summer, the majority free transfers. Fifteen of these came on 12^th July, after an EFL registration embargo was lifted. This was a very unique way to announce their players, and the club spent the following days giving information on each of the new players.

Player	Age	Nationality	Left	Fee	Contract Duration
Ross Millen	29	Scottish	Raith Rovers Scottish Championship	Free	1 year
Adam Lewis	24	English	Liverpool U21 Premier League 2	Free	1 year
Tom White	27	English	Barrow EFL League Two	Free	1 year
George Ray	30	Welsh	Barrow EFL League Two	Free	1 year
Harry Burgoyne	27	English	Shrewsbury EFL League One	Free	1 year
Luke Hendrie	29	English	Bradford EFL League Two	Free	1 year
Lee Angol	29	English	Sutton United National League	Free	1 year
Paul Lewis	29	English	Tranmere Rovers EFL League Two	Free	1 year
Harvey Macadam	23	English	Fleetwood Town EFL League Two	Undisclosed	1 year
Hallam Hope	30	Barbadian	Oldham Athletic National League	Free	1 year
Ben Tollitt	29	English	Oldham Athletic National League	Free	1 year
Jamie Stott	26	English	FC Halifax Town National League	Free	1 year
Max Taylor	24	English	Rochdale National League	Free	1 year
Rhys Williams	23	English	Liverpool Premier League	Loan	1 year
Callum Jones	23	Welsh	Hull City EFL Championship	Loan	1 year
Marcus Dackers	21	Welsh	Salford City EFL League Two	Loan	1 year

Morecambe Key Matches of the Season

Morecambe are expected to have a difficult season at the wrong end of League Two, trying to stay in the division and avoid dropping out of the EFL for the first time since 2006/07.

There are many important matches for fans to look out for, including a couple of local games against Fleetwood Town, and near rivals Accrington Stanley. In this version of their Lancashire derby, the Shrimps won the most recent encounter in March 2-1.

As the team are expected to struggle this season, games against the likes of Carlisle United, Swindon Town and Bromley are expected to be very crucial in keeping the side in the fourth tier.

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Morecambe Key Achievements

The club spent all of its football in the 20^th century in Non-league, winning the Conference Play-Off Final in 2006/07 to win promotion to the Football League for the first time. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Morecambe again won at Wembley, reaching the third tier in 2020/21.

Below we will guide you through Morecambe’s major achievements.

• League Two Play-Off Winners 2020/21
• Promotion from the National League twice – 2003 & 2007
• FA Trophy Winners 1974
• Promoted from the Northern Premier League in 1995
• Conference League Cup Winners 1998
• Northern Premier League President’s Cup Winners 1992
• Lancashire Combination Champions five times – 1924/25, 1961/62, 1962/63, 1966/67 & 1967/78
• Lancashire Senior Cup Winners 1968
• Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy Winners eleven times – 1926, 1927, 1962, 1963, 1969, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1996, 1999 & 2004
• Lancashire Combination Cup Winners on five occasions – 1927, 1946, 1965, 1967 & 1968

Morecambe Current Squad

After the transfer embargo was limited in the summer, Morecambe had an incredibly high turnover of players. Below, we look at the different areas of the pitch, and see how they fare in each position.

Morecambe Attackers

The summer signing of Ben Tollitt is proving an astute piece of business, scoring four goals in League Two already this season. Marcus Dackers has been a key performer too, leading the line for the Shrimps.

Morecambe Midfielders

Re-signing Yann Songo’o in the summer was one of the most important pieces of business Morecambe did, along with signing Adam Lewis and Callum Jones. Tom White moved from Barrow in the summer, having racked up over 100 appearances, and is beginning to find his stride.

Morecambe Defenders

Jamie Stott has been a stalwart at the back despite defensive struggles, while Rhys Williams brings youth from Liverpool on loan. Congolese-born David Tutonda was a smart pick-up last season, and keeping him over the summer has proved to be as important as any new player.

Morecambe Goalkeepers

Harry Burgoyne was brought in from Shrewsbury to provide competition in the goalkeeping department, playing twice. Stuart Moore had played every league game in the first few months of the campaign, before picking up a knock against Harrogate in November.

Morecambe Managing and Coaching Staff

The current manager of Morecambe is Derek Adams.

Adams took the reins in the summer for the third time, having managed in Lancashire between 2019-2021, and 2022-23. In his first spell, he arrived late in the year, and his first season was cut short by the pandemic. But in lockdown, the Shrimps thrived, bouncing back from the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion to win the League Two Play-Offs. But in the days after promotion, he left for Bradford.

But his departure was brief, and Adams returned eight months later after being sacked by the Bantams. They were in and around the top seven when he again left, this time for a third return to Ross County.

Danny Grainger is Adams’ number two, arriving after a couple of years as manager of Workington. Former goalkeeper Barry Roche is among the staff, as goalkeeping coach.

Morecambe Former Managers & Key Coaches

There have been some great names who have managed the club over the years, including the four below who have had extended spells in charge. Many managers have left their mark over the years, but none more so that led the club to promotion, and experiencing some of the most memorable moments in their 104-year history.

For example, Sean McIlroy won promotion early this century. Jim Bentley led the club for eight years, while also playing for the club under McIlroy. Derek Adams has had three stints as manager of the Shrimps, and is the current man in the hot seat. Below, we got through some of these achievements that these great managers racked up during their time in charge.

Jim Harvey 1994 – 2005

• Became manager after retiring with a brief stint.
• Managed over 500 games, winning over 250 of those.
• Won promotion to the Conference, winning the Conference League Cup in 1998.

Sean McIlroy 2005 – 2011

• Led Morecambe out of the National League.
• Guided them into the Play-Offs in League Two.
• Became the first manager to manage Shrimps at that level.

Jim Bentley 2011 – 2019

• Managed 434 games, all as a League Two side.
• Has the third-highest win percentage as Morecambe manager.
• Spent almost two decades at the club, after playing for the Shrimps.

Derek Adams 2019 – 2021, 2022 – 2023 & 2024 – Present

• Won League Two Play-Off Final at Wembley in his first spell.
• Achieved a win percentage of 43% between 2019 and 2021.
• Has managed almost 200 games, having rejoined in the summer.

Morecambe Legends

Morecambe have had some excellent players to have represented the club over the year, earning a place in the hearts of their supporters. Below, we look at some of those players:

Ian Cain 1988 – 1990, 1991 – 1994

He made 362 appearances, scoring 75 times. Ian Joined from Fleetwood for a club-record fee of £7500 and won promotion from Northern Premier League, winning the division's POTY.

Stewart Drummond 1994 – 2004, 2008 – 2015

All-time appearances holder with 606 across two spells. He became the first player to score in the Play-Offs at the new Wembley in 2007. Also, he recently was academy manager until the summer, taking his affiliation with the Shrimps to over a quarter of a century.

Gary Thompson 1999 – 2008, 2017 – 2018

Came through Morecambe’s academy, making over 300 appearances. Scored in the Conference Play-Off Final at Wembley against Exeter in 2007. Returned in 2017, adding a further three goals in a season.

Jim Bentley 2002 – 2011

Captained Morecambe to promotion in 2007. Played over 300 times, scoring over 30 times. Went on to manage 434 games from 2011 to 2019.

Barry Roche 2008 – 2020

Played 481 times during 12 years at the club. Kept 115 clean sheets as a goalkeeper. Is currently a Goalkeeping Coach, with a couple of spells as caretaker manager.

Kevin Ellison 2011 – 2020

Made 391 appearances in eight years. Scored 88 times and assisted on 33 occasions. Hit double figures for goals in five seasons.

Jack Redshaw 2012 – 2015

Spent three and a half years with the club. Played 129 times after being signed from Altrincham. Scored 16 and 12 goals in two of the seasons.

Cole Stockton 2020 – 2023

Won League One Player & Goal of the Month in August and September 2021. Finished top goalscorer in 2021/22 with 26 goals. Was named in the PFA Team of the Year in League One.

Morecambe Team Metrics and Performance

The current 2024/25 season is Morecambe’s second season at this level in succession, following relegation from League One in 2022/23.

On the Shrimps return to League Two, finishing in 15^th place with 58 points representing a disappointing season. But with off-the-field issues, and points deduction, a season of relative struggle was to be expected.

The 2022/23 season saw their relatively short stay in League One come to an end. Ironically, the Shrimps accumulated more points than their previous season (44), but were relegated in 22^nd place with 10 wins.

In 2021/22, Cole Stockton’s 23 goals helped Morecambe to a 19th-place finish, also winning ten times. That was on the back of a fourth-place finish the year prior, where they just missed out on automatic promotion in fourth spot. But an aggregate win over Tranmere Rovers, and a victory at Wembley over Newport County, saw the Shrimps into League One for the first time ever.

With the club back at the bottom end of League Two, it marks a return to the previous decade whereby the club struggled to maintain their EFL status. But with previous experience fighting at that end of the league, they will be hoping to draw on that to move them away from danger.

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Morecambe Pitch and Amenities

The club play their home games at the Mazuma Globe Stadium, which they have done since moving from their only previous home, Christie Park, 14 years ago. The ground has a capacity of 6476 supporters, with a mixture of terracing and seating. The ground has four stands, one of which is split between home and away supporters, named:

• Wright and Lord Stand
• Beyond Radio Stand
• The Halo Terrace
• Dennison Trailers Terrace
• MGS Terrace

In the north east corner of the ground is the Tyson Fury Foundation. The heavyweight boxer lives in the area, and has a gym in the building which he purchased in 2020.

Morecambe Fan Base and Support

Morecambe have an incredibly loyal band of supporters, that have followed their progress from the depths of non-league to the Football League. Surrounded by more illustrious names in Lancashire makes it difficult to attract similar support, but have averaged over 4000 fans for the last few years.

Attendances have risen steadily throughout their history, as a result of their climb up the divisions. The clubs' Supporters’ Trust helps to represent the views of the fans, while also organising community initiatives.

Like most clubs, local derbies help to increase attendances, and with sides such as Bradford City in the division, increases crowds with large away followings. Recent financial difficulties mean that fans coming through the turnstiles every week is even more crucial, to help keep the club going.

Morecambe Rivalries and Notable Matches

As Morecambe are based in the North-west of England, they partake in local derbies against Accrington Stanley and Fleetwood Town. Lancaster can also be considered a local game too, but there is a significant gap between the sides at present.

The rivalry between Morecambe and Accrington is the main Lancashire derby that the side compete in. Stanley took the bragging rights back in October, while the next meeting between the sides is scheduled for 15^th February 2025. Since the reformation of Accrington in 1968, there have been 30 meetings between the sides since the first meeting in 2007. Morecambe have won five, drawn nine and lost sixteen in this frequently competed derby.

Some notable matches between these two teams include:

• March 12^th, 2008 – League Two: Accrington Stanley 3-2 Morecambe
• March 18^th, 2014 – League Two: Accrington Stanley 5-1 Morecambe
• August 27^th, 2016 – League Two: Accrington Stanley 2-3 Morecambe
• September 25^th, 2021 – League One: Morecambe 3-3 Accrington Stanley

Morecambe Facts

Morecambe History

Football in Morecambe had existed for almost 20 years before the formation of the current side in 1920. A meeting at the West View Hotel were the first steps to the club being formed, and they entered the Lancashire Combination League ahead of the 1920-21 season. Most current EFL clubs were formed almost a quarter of a century prior, so they were late starters in that respect.

The Shrimps' home of 90 years, Christie Park, was named after a former president of the club, Mr J B Christie. He bought the ground, then left it for the club to have seven years after their formation, which they shared with Morecambe Cricket Club.

After winning that division five times, they moved into the Northern Premier League in 1968. The next decade was turbulent, as attendance fell to three figures, but they eventually came through the other side as a Conference side. After solidifying themselves in the fifth tier, they made it second time lucky to reach the Football League via the Play-Offs.

Despite reaching the Play-Offs soon after, the Shrimps struggled to survive at the bottom end of League Two. In lockdown though, they reached the Play-Offs once again, defeating Newport County to reach the third tier for the first time, a remarkable achievement having finished 22^nd the season before.

A 19th-place finish is their highest in history, before relegation after 2 years from the third tier. But now Morecambe faces a genuine threat of relegation back to the National League for the first time since 2007.

Morecambe Social Media Links

Following the clubs' social media is very important, in order to be regularly updated about the affairs of the club. The club have 62k followers on Twitter, which provides regular updates on matchdays, while also providing news. On top of watching the side, this is the best way to stay updated.

Below are the links for the clubs' Twitter, and the website:

https://twitter.com/MorecambeFC
https://www.morecambefc.com/

Morecambe Outlook and Forecast

Having only recently dropped out of League One, Morecambe will be extremely disappointed to find themselves struggling at the wrong end of the division. But with ownership issues clouding their business on the field, it perhaps isn’t a massive surprise. Retaining their position as a fourth-tier club appears to be the most important aim this year, along with finalising a takeover.

But with a manager of Derek Adams quality, and his know-how of the club, they can hardly be better placed to fight relegation. With two league wins in the past fortnight, surpassing that of the rest of the season, they appear to be on the up. The Shrimps have moved off the foot of the league, and are only in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Frequently Asked Questions on Morecambe

How much would it cost to buy Morecambe Football Club?

The club appear to be valued at around £20m, as of early last year. Whether that valuation is met is a different question, though, particularly given the desperation of the owner to sell the club.

What happened to Morecambe Football Club?

The Shrimps have faced numerous financial issues In recent years. Most recently, the club were given a financial penalty and were restricted on transfers, which was suspended for two years.

Who is trying to buy Morecambe FC?

There have been numerous suitors in Morecambe, including famous fan Tyson Fury a couple of years ago. In June, the owner suggested that there were four ‘credible buyers’ interested in buying the club. Only this month, Jason Whittingham, the owner, said a sale had been agreed. Fan protests took place ahead of and during their home encounter with Port Vale.

Have Morecambe FC been sold?

No, at current, Morecambe have not been sold. But, it is hoped that for all parties that a sale can be completed very quickly.

Who owns Morecambe?

Jason Whittingham has been the owner of Morecambe, since 2018. He is the sole director of Bond Group Investments, but has been looking to sell the club since September 2022, when stepping down from the board. The club have faced a points deduction and a transfer embargo in 2024 so far.

Are Morecambe a big club?

Relative to the clubs surrounding Morecambe, they are not considered to be a big club. But given their ability to overachieve, and the fact they were a non-league side until 2007, the Shrimps have gained many admirers for this.

Where to watch Morecambe?

To watch the club live, you would have to attend a home game at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium. Alternatively, you could watch one of their 23 league games away from home. As part of the new Sky Sports deal for the EFL, at least 20 Morecambe games will be available to watch on TV too.