BRYAN GRIFFITHS 1989 - 1993
A popular manager whilst at Morecambe, Bryan was born on Merseyside and signed for Everton, making his debut for the 1st team at 18. He spent 5 years at Goodison before moving to Southport (who were still in the League) making 200 straight appearances before an injury forced him out of the game as a player. A year later, not wanting to lose contact all together with his beloved game, Bryan joined Formby as manager. He moved onto Burscough winning them a league championship. His next club was South Liverpool where he won the Lancashire Junior Cup, the Northern Premier League Cup and the Liverpool Senior Cup 1983-84. He returned to Southport (now in non-league football), who he took to a F.A. Cup 1st Round home game against Port Vale and the quarter-finals of the F.A. Trophy. However he left Southport after a disagreement with the board and moved on to Mossley, who were then at the bottom of the Northern Premier League. In 18 months he took them to mid-table and four trophies. Bryan was appointed Manager of Morecambe in December 1989, along with David Jones (who left at end of the season to pursue a career in management in the Football League). By the of the season the team had reached the semi-finals of the H.F.S. Loans League Cup only to loose against Gateshead over 2 legs and the final of the Lancashire A.T.S Cup to loose against Colne Dyamoes. 1991-92 the team reached the 1st Round to F.A. Cup to play at home against Hull City, only to loose after one of the most thrilling games Christie Park has ever witnessed. In the same season they reached the 2nd round of the F.A. Trophy, to loose away to Colchester United, the eventual winners. The season finished on what was to prove to be Bryan's high point as Manager of Morecambe, when the team won the 2 legged Final of the H.F.S. Loans League Presidents Cup, beating Stalybridge Celtic 3-2 on aggregate. In season 1992-93 the club reached the 2nd round of the F.A. Trophy drawing at home but loosing away at Wycombe Wanderers, who were then the Conference leaders. The following season 1993-94 the club had an indifferent start going out of both Cup and Trophy in the early rounds and Bryan was sacked by the board in December 1993, after being manager of Morecambe FC for a little over four years. Bryan stayed in club management after leaving Morecambe, having terms at Witton Albion and Chorley amongst others.
