A whirlwind four months at Morecambe for Kyle Letheren

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Since joining Morecambe in January, Kyle Letheren has had a sensational four months at the club, playing a major role in the club’s promotion success.

After previously playing under Derek Adams for two seasons at Plymouth Argyle, when he received the phone call in January of Morecambe’s interest, he has never looked back.

“I had two seasons under him at Plymouth. I nearly joined him in the summer, but it didn’t happen for some reason. I got the phone call in January after I had just kept six or seven clean sheets in a row for Chesterfield. They asked if I wanted to join and after I spoke with Chesterfield, we agreed to part ways, and it has worked out ever so well for me.”

Morecambe fell short of automatic promotion by just a single point, as Bolton Wanderers clinched third place and automatic promotion on the final day of the season. Disappointment for the team on the day, but they still had a job to do with the playoffs just around the corner.

“We came in after the game and there was disappointment for that night, but we brushed it to one side and said ‘We just have to keep on doing what we are doing as we knew we had two tough games coming up against Tranmere”.

The Shrimps travelled to Prenton Park in the first leg and left with what proved to be a vital 2-1 win. The second leg saw the long-awaited return of home fans. It came at the perfect time for Kyle Letheren’s side as they spurred them on to a 3-2 aggregate win.

“They are the sort of games I love, especially with fans back in the stadium. There was a buzz around the place again, that had been missing when we were behind closed doors. I loved every minute of it. Having the fans back in the last three games has been great, they have been sorely missed. In my mind it makes me play much better and I enjoy it so much more with fans. The playoff legs are games I will look back on for the rest of my career; they were thoroughly enjoyable”.

The win against Tranmere meant a trip to Wembley, which wasn’t the first time Letheren had been at the National Stadium.

“I went there with York in 2017; we beat Macclesfield in the FA Trophy and I also went there with Barnsley in the FA Cup but I was just an 18-year-old boy then. We lost, so I have been on both sides of winning and losing at Wembley. I didn’t play when we lost but it was still an experience as a young boy, and it stood me in good stead for the rest of my career”.

In the 2021 League Two playoff final, Morecambe faced Newport County; a side they had lost to twice throughout the regular season.

“We knew what they were all about from playing them twice. We had 10 players in both games in the league when we played them. Especially in the second game, reflecting on the game, we played quite well with 10 men. We had opportunities where we could have nicked a draw. We knew that if we were on our game, we could beat anybody and we have proved that this season”.

“They dominated possession, but we don’t mind sitting back and hitting teams on the counterattack, we aren’t known for dominating possession. It is a testament to our defensive unit; we defend from the front, and we are hard to beat. We knew they were going to have chances and I knew I would have to make some saves, just like their keeper”.

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With the match entering the second half of extra time, the potential of a penalty shoot-out was on Kyle’s mind but thankfully Carlos Mendes Gomes stepped up to dispatch a 107th-minute penalty to hand Morecambe a 1-0 victory and promotion to League One.

“I was preparing myself for pens in the back of my mind, but we got the pen and it wasn’t to be. The feeling at the final whistle was pure relief. We have worked so hard all season for that moment and it takes a bit for it to sink in. The emotions are running through your veins. It is a feeling you can never describe. It was brilliant to share it with my team and my family who were in the stands”.

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At the start of the 2021 season, Morecambe were one of the favourites to go down. But it’s proved to be a fairy-tale season in what is the club’s centenary year.

“I have had promotions with other clubs in the past but with Morecambe’s statute, they were one of the favourites to get relegated this year. That moment is up there as one of the best moments of my career, if not the best moment”.

The Shrimps fans were back in attendance for the final at Wembley, which was a special moment for the 33-year-old.

“Having them there was amazing. We had missed it all season and the boys were itching for them to come back. It was great over the two legs but to go to Wembley with fans was incredible. That experience gets taken away from you when fans are not allowed in. But we were thankful that they were allowed in, and they could share that moment with us”.

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