MORECAMBE RESERVES ~ A POTTED (SHRIMP) HISTORY
(kindly supplied by club secretary Neil Marsdin)
History Of Morecambe FC Since 1920
Following the founding of Morecambe Football Club in 1920-21, the reserves took their place in the North Lancashire League. This was to be the Shrimps main residence until after the war, although short spells were had in the West Lancashire League. After the war the reserves returned to the West Lancashire League, until in 1950 they joined the 2nd. Division of the Lancashire Combination. This, except for a couple of seasons, was to be the reserves home until the re-forming of non league football in 1968, which saw the 1st. team join the new Northern Premier League.
Due to this the Lancashire Combination reverted to one division and only 1st. teams were allowed admittance. The Shrimps applied to join the Lancashire league and were admitted to the 1st. Division to play alongside the likes of Manchester United "A", Liverpool "A', etc. The first season was the club's most successful, finishing runners up to Liverpool "A'. In 1974-1975 the club, at the behest of the manager Dave Roberts, resigned from what in his eyes was a youth league to rejoin the more competitive Lancashire Combination.
Four Seasons in the Combination followed, until in 1981 we were re-elected to Division 2 of the Lancashire League.
Financial constraints meant that we did not enter a team during seasons 1981-82 and 1982-1983, but on our rejoining the league in 1983-1984 success was enjoyed. Dave Edge, the current head physiotherapist managed the reserves that season and was influential in leading them to the championship. The past 17 seasons have seen uninterrupted membership, but until this season very little success. The Reserves did make way for the Youth team to play in the Lancashire League in 1998-99 season, and played in the North West Alliance.
Jeff Udall's team won the championship in their one and only season in that league. 1999-2000 season saw the reserves finish runners up to Southport in the League, and reach the semi-final of the cup before going down by a single goal over the two legs against Altrincham. This past season has seen the Shrimps take that final step. The league has been won in style, losing only 2 games before securing the title, scoring over 100 goals in the process. The icing on the cake was victory in the League Cup Final 4-0 against Burscough, so the double was achieved
Season 2001-2002 saw the reserves once again play in the Lancashire League but for this season the team could not win the double, the league had decided to forgo the League Cup. The reserves retain the league championship in fine style, only losing 2 games, gaining 80 points and scoring 142 goals in the season. The team also equaled the highest home win in beating Bamber Bridge Res 16-0 on March 6th 2002. The following season 2003 the reserves again retained the league championship with 21 wins and 65 points. 2003-04 saw the league go to final games of the season, with reserves again taking the championship for the forth season running with 68 points; they also won the League Cup beating Accrington Stanley in the first ever 2 legged final. 2004-05 saw Jeff Udall guide the reserve team to the league championship for the fifth year in a row.