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Morecambe Football Club will never forget the 2020/21 season which culminated in play-off victory at Wembley Stadium to seal promotion to Sky Bet League One.
Before a ball was kicked, the Shrimps were once again tipped for relegation to the National League by most, as they have been for the majority of seasons in recent memory. And yet, manager Derek Adams was able to guide the Lancashire side to the third tier of English football, in his first full season with the club, for the first time in their illustrious 101 year history.
With the incomplete 2019/20 season being decided on a points per game basis on 15 May 2020, a decision which saw Morecambe finish 22nd, clubs in the division were understandably itching to get back onto the pitch to control their own destiny, which the Shrimps managed to do in style.
The reward? Facing so-called bigger clubs within English football regularly, the likes of Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday week in, week out, not just in one off cup games, and my goodness do they deserve it.
Five Key Games
Cheltenham Town 1-2 Morecambe – 12 September, 2020
The first game of the season saw Adams’ men travel to eventual champions and early favourites for promotion Cheltenham Town. Looking back, it’s fair to say this opening fixture would set the tone for the year of football ahead for the Mazuma Stadium side.
Alfie May fired the hosts ahead on 28 minutes before Burnley loanee Adam Phillips equalised from the spot on 78 minutes. Carlos Mendes Gomes completed the comeback in the second minute of injury time through a calm and collected finish. The message was very clear early on, this team do not know when they’re beaten, a message that the manager reiterated in his post match interview, saying:
“I’m trying to change the mindset at this football club, and the mindset is that we’re trying to be not little old Morecambe, we’re trying to be Morecambe Football Club. We’re trying to be bigger and better than we ever have been.”
Exeter City 0-2 Morecambe – 26 January, 2021
The Shrimps came into this game on the back of only one loss in three and needing a win to propel them into the automatic promotion places.
In what was a mostly dominant performance, Morecambe found themselves ahead on 9 minutes courtesy of an Adam Phillips penalty following a foul on the Burnley loanee inside the box. Adams’ side made it difficult for the hosts to get going and posed a real attacking threat for the majority of the afternoon.
21 minutes into the second half and Cole Stockton put the game to bed after latching onto a long pass and finishing off a perfect counter attack. The three points saw Morecambe climb to third and if any result was to make those around them sit up, take note and realise that they mean business, this was the one.
Morecambe 2-1 Salford City – 23 February, 2021
As far as dramatic endings go, you’ll do well to find one as big as this all season. The Ammies came into the tie without a loss in three, whereas the Shrimps form was somewhat up and down having won one, drawn one and lost one.
Despite the strong winds and heavy rain on the west coast, nothing could put a dampener on what would play out on the pitch.
Brandon Thomas-Asante’s first half strike looked to claim all three points for then manager Richie Wellens’ side, however the home side had different ideas.
Ever present Mendes Gomes poked home an equaliser on 92 minutes before midfielder Wildig got an all-important touch on the back of a long-range effort from Toumani Diagouraga two minutes later, sending the Reds into raptures.
To add to the drama, the visitors thought they rescued a point on 97 minutes when James Wilson found the back of the net, though the goal was disallowed for a foul in the build up.
In spite of the mass celebrations, there was a slight sense of disappointment that such a glorious moment wasn’t witnessed by the Morecambe faithful. You can bet your bottom dollar that the Mazuma Stadium would’ve been bouncing had the stands and terraces been full, however the loyal supporters needn’t wait too long for an enjoyable return.
Morecambe 0-1 Bolton Wanderers – 20 April, 2021
The West Lancashire club hosted Ian Evatt’s Bolton Wanderers at the Mazuma Stadium in an automatic promotion six pointer with the winners all but securing pole position for a minimum third place finish.
Morecambe approached the game in better form, having won all of their last three whereas Wanderers had one loss and two wins on the board.
Despite a strong start for the Reds, the game was ultimately flipped on its head on 23 minutes when defender Kelvin Mellor was shown a red card for a kick out on Dapo Afolayan. Moments before half time and the visitors were ahead courtesy of a Ben Jackson strike from the edge of the box.
The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and really should’ve been out of sight, however they failed to increase their advantage and nearly paid for their lack of cutting edge when Toumani Diagouraga looked to bundle the ball over the line following a goal mouth scramble, only to see his effort cleared to safety.
The result eventually saw Wanderers claim automatic promotion whilst Morecambe fell into the play-offs.
Morecambe 1-0 Newport County (AET) – 31 May, 2021
After overcoming their Merseyside opponents in the semi-finals, Morecambe secured their place at Wembley to face Newport County for a place in next season’s League One. 4,000 lucky fans from the West Lancashire coast descended on the capital hoping to see their team make history. Prior to this fixture, the Shrimps last appeared at the national stadium in 2007 when they defeated Exeter City 2-1 in the Conference play-off final just over 14 years ago.
The game itself saw the Welsh side dominate possession and create more chances, which is testament to Morecambe’s defensive unit who have done their jobs resolutely all season and put bodies on the line when it matters most. Irrespective of big chances for both sides, most notably through Ryan Cooney for Morecambe and Liam Shephard for Newport, the game finished 0-0 in normal time.
The Exiles came inches away from taking the lead in the 104th minute when a low, whipped cross took the slightest of touches off former Shrimp Kevin Ellison before the outstretched foot of Joss Labadie sent the ball over the top from five yards.
The deciding moment of the tie came on 107 minutes when O’Sullivan was tripped inside the box, gifting Mendes Gomes the opportunity to fire the Reds into the lead from the spot. The Spaniard made no mistake and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
2020/21 Signing’s & Their Impact
Stephen Hendrie
Former Blackburn Rovers and Kilmarnock defender Stephen Hendrie signed a one year deal for the club in August and has made 45 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal in a home draw with Exeter City. At the time of signing, Hendrie was 25 years old but bragged a vast amount of experience having started as a professional footballer in 2011 at the age of 16.
The Scotsman, who played alongside the likes of Declan Rice and Mark Noble at West Ham, has played a big part in the team’s success this year thanks to his experience, his excellent defensive capabilities and his never-say-die attitude.
Harry Davis
Morecambe secured their second signing of the summer in August when former Grimsby Town man Harry Davis joined the club. The strong 6ft 1 defender who can play at the centre of defence or in the right back position immediately offered versatility to the Shrimps’ back line, whilst his 303 career appearances at the time of signing proved his wealth of experience.
Throughout the campaign, Davis has made 34 appearances for the club, scoring one goal in a 4-0 victory over Manchester United u21’s in the Football League Trophy. The signing of Davis was a solid one, especially upon reflection when you look at injuries and suspensions particularly in the centre back area of the pitch.
Nathaniel Knight-Percival
A further signing to help bolster the defence was Nathaniel Knight-Percival, an accomplished EFL player who made 344 appearances prior to joining the Lancashire club, including a play-off final appearance for Bradford City in 2017.
The cheery 34-year-old went on to play 40 times for the side, scoring the first goal in the play-off first leg away to Tranmere Rovers back in May. His wealth of experience as well as unquestionable ability undoubtedly helped steer the Shrimps to promotion. Morecambe have proved to be a solid defensive outfit this year, and I think Knight-Percival played a big part of that.
Liam McAlinden
Derek Adams’ first attacking signing of the window was former Wolves striker Liam McAlinden. The former Irish u21 forward has made a total of 37 appearances for Morecambe this season and scored three times. Whilst some may think that’s a poor return for an established striker, it’s important to acknowledge that each of McAlinden’s goals came in important games, including the 1-0 home win over Cheltenham in March, the 2-0 win over Bradford City on the final day and the winning goal of the play-off semi final first leg at Prenton Park.
In addition, McAlinden offers a faultless work rate and doesn’t seem to stop running. He also has popped up with four assists, two of which came in the play-off semi-finals. The Cannock-born player has without question shown up when it matters this season and the Shrimps can be thankful for having him.
Ben Pringle
Ben Pringle is a well-known name across the Sky Bet football league, so his signing proved popular amongst the Morecambe fans when it was announced last summer. A popular member of the squad, Pringle has featured 17 times for the Reds this year, providing three assists from midfield in the process.
Whilst I’m sure the former Derby man would have liked to feature more this campaign, I don’t doubt that he’ll be the first to admit that those higher in the pecking order have been in great form, such is his professional attitude.
Kelvin Mellor
One of the players brought in that had worked with the manager before was defender Kelvin Mellor, yet another experienced football league player with previous successes including winning the play-offs with Crewe Alexandra in 2012, winning the Football League Trophy with the same club in 2013, winning the League Two play-offs with Blackpool in 2017 and being named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year that same season.
With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that the reliable right-back made 40 appearances for the club this season, proving himself as a solid member of the back-line.
Liam Gibson
Full-back Liam Gibson joined the Shrimps in September following release from his boyhood club Newcastle United in the summer. The defender had spells with the likes of Accrington Stanley and Grimsby Town before signing with the club.
Gibson proved to be an intelligent, hard-working and no-nonsense player this season and the club will do well to maintain his services for another year, having proved to have been one of the better pieces of business made last year.
The County Durham born man played 27 times this season, a figure which undoubtedly would have been higher if it wasn’t for injury and suspension, although he regained fitness to rightfully line-up at Wembley in the play-off final.
Yann Songo’o
The final signing of the summer transfer window was midfielder Yann Songo’o, a player who had worked under manager Derek Adams previously at Plymouth Argyle and Ross County.
Having scored six goals in 45 appearances, Songo’o has proven to be one of the players of the season. Whether it’s his strong challenges, clever interceptions or indistinguishable creativity in the middle of the park, the Frenchman has shown to be a real fans favourite and it would come as no surprise to me if there’s significant interest in him from other clubs this summer.
Kyle Letheren
Experienced Welsh goalkeeper Kyle Letheren signed for the club in January, providing competition to Mark Halstead for a space between the sticks. Since joining, Letheren, who also played under Adams at Plymouth, has kept hold of the number one shirt after an impressive start to his Morecambe career.
A good goalkeeper is someone you can rely on when you least expect it, like Tranmere Rovers at home in the second leg for example. The keeper, who had almost nothing to do in the first half, was called upon in the dying embers of the half to pull off an extraordinary save to keep Rovers at bay. In addition, his performance at Wembley was superb, yet again pulling off a number of unbelievable saves to keep the promotion dream alive.
Ryan Cooney (Loan)
Ryan Cooney re-joined the Shrimps on a season long loan from the Clarets after a successful spell from January through until March 2020, and what an impact he had. Reminiscent of an old school full-back, Cooney proved to be tough in the tackle, defensively sound as well as having the ability to make a difference in an attacking sense.
The Manchester-born defender made a total of 46 appearances this campaign and had numerous Team of the Week appearances. Whilst Cooney’s immediate future is up in the air, it would likely be in Morecambe’s best interests to try and secure his services for another season, whether that’s on loan again from Burnley or even on a permanent basis.
Adam Phillips (Loan)
Midfielder Adam Phillips was another player to arrive at the club on loan from Burnley after a successful stint last season and despite leaving the Shrimps to join Accrington Stanley on loan in February, Phillips deserves a lot of credit for Morecambe’s success this season.
The Garstang native made 33 appearances between September and January, scoring 10 goals before departing the Mazuma stadium as the club’s then leading goalscorer.
Brad Lyons (Loan)
Northern Irish midfielder Brad Lyons signed on loan from Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window on a deal until the end of the season. The youngster settled straight into the squad and his first goal came soon after in a 1-1 draw away at Bolton Wanderers.
An unfortunate injury sustained at the beginning of March meant that Lyons endured a hefty spell on the sidelines, however upon returning he did show promising spells of serious quality. He always liked to be involved in play, he got stuck in and looked to be as creative as possible. Morecambe fans would likely be delighted to see Lyons featuring for the team in some capacity again next season following his release from Blackburn.
Key Players
The beauty of Morecambe’s 2020/21 campaign is that they can’t attribute their success to one or two individuals, it’s been a full team effort with every player playing their own part in some way or another.
Cole Stockton
It comes as no surprise that Cole Stockton was voted Players’ Player of the Season for 2020/21 after making 49 appearances and scoring 15 goals in all competitions.
The forward, who is enjoying his second spell with the club, is a constant thorn in the side of any opponent, using his power to out-strengthen defenders and bring the ball down with ease.
In addition, Stockton knows exactly where the goal is and can find it from most angles, from long range thunderbolts to neat tap ins. It is without question that Stockton’s input has helped the club achieve history this season.
Carlos Mendes Gomes
The only player to outscore Stockton this season is Carlos Mendes Gomes, whose 16th of the season came from the penalty spot at Wembley, a fitting end to a magnificent season for the Spaniard.
Mendes Gomes has been one of the brightest lights in League Two this year, with his ability to bamboozle any defence with his mazy runs or pick any pass across the pitch.
The former Atletico Madrid youth player has even been linked with a move away from the Mazuma, with interest reportedly coming from Rangers and Blackburn Rovers, though Shrimps fans will be hoping to see their number 11 starting for their side in League One next season.
Sam Lavelle
Step forward captain fantastic. A true leader on and off the field, skipper Sam Lavelle optimises Morecambe Football Club. He is passionate, hard-working and gives his all for the shirt every time he pulls it on.
What has become more noticeable this season due to the lack of fans at games is just how vocal he is. Of course, you’d expect this from your captain, but Lavelle seemingly goes above and beyond for the cause, whether it’s barking instructions or encouraging his team mates when they need it most.
As well as being a brick wall at the back, Morecambe’s number five also has the ability to cause issues at the other end of the pitch, proving to be a real aerial threat from set pieces. What more could you want?
John O’Sullivan
One of Morecambe’s brightest sparks this season was John O’Sullivan. He has scored 5 goals in 47 appearances this campaign, and would no doubt have played more if not for a nasty injury sustained in April’s 4-3 victory at home to Oldham Athletic.
O’Sullivan powered through recovery and was able to make the bench for the play-off final, which is testament to his attitude and work rate. Not only this, but the former Republic of Ireland youth player came on in extra time and ended up winning the penalty which ultimately sent the Shrimps into League One.
Season Verdict
It goes without saying that this season has been one of, if not, the most successful season’s in the history of Morecambe Football Club.
It’s extremely rare for a team tipped for relegation at the start of a season to defy all odds and win promotion to the division above, and that’s exactly what the Shrimps did.
When you look at other clubs in League Two, the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Salford City who, financially speaking, are a million miles away from Morecambe, you don’t expect them to be able to compete the way they have, and yet here we are.
They’ve proven many, many doubters wrong, they’ve fought back against the cries of ‘they’ll burnout’ and ‘their luck will run out’. If ever there was a fairytale story of the 2020/21 season, you can’t look too far beyond Morecambe.
2021/22?
The Shrimps have NEVER played in the third tier of English football before, so it is uncharted territory for them. The hopes of most fans is to finish anywhere above 21st, or even to emulate the likes of Accrington Stanley who were promoted to League One in 2017/18 and have since established themselves as a division regular.
The club have earned the right to compete at that level, so why can’t they do a job and make it a permanent stay?
If they strengthen certain areas of the squad and stick true to themselves and their game plans, and based how they did this season, and the fact that Morecambe have never been relegated in their history, it would come as no surprise to see the Shrimps staying in League One for years to come.
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