Morecambe

For some reason our alphabetical run-down of our Division Four opponents this season leapfrogged Morecambe, going straight from Macclesfield to Northampton Town. No one noticed. However, it's probably only right to rectify that unintentional error caused by circumstances beyond our control (it's honestly not our fault that we're inept) so here's the missing Morecambe mess.

Morecambe were formed relatively recently, compared to most of their peers, seeing the light of day only in May 1920, when the new club joined the Lancashire Combination. At the end of that first season came their first relocation, moving from the cricket ground to Roseberry Park. The ground's name was changed to Christie Park, in honour of the club President, when he purchased it a few years later. In 1925 Morecambe won the league title for the first time, after which it all went a bit quiet up north Lancs way.

After World War II things slowly improved, and in both 1962 and 1963 Morecambe won the Lancashire Combination, followed by further titles in 1967 and 1968, when they also won the Lancs Senior Cup. The culmination of the side's success arrived when they beat Dartford 2-1 to win the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1974. After years of decline the club's fortunes improved during the mid-1980s and they eventually won the Northern Premier League in 1995 to win promotion to the Conference.

In 2003 Morecambe finished second in the Conference, but lost to Dagenham & Redbridge in the play-off semi-finals in the first year that two clubs were promoted to the Football League. In 2006 the Shrimpers finished fifth, losing to eventual winners Hereford United in the play-off semi-finals, and the following season they finished third on goal difference behind Oxford United, going on to beat Exeter City 2-1 in the final to earn promotion to the Football League. After finishing 11th in two consecutive seasons, last season Morecambe finished fourth to reach the play-offs, but in the semi-final first leg they were hammered 6-0 by Dagenham to effectively end their promotion chances, despite winning the second leg 2-1.

Last season was also Morecambe's last at Christie Park, as they start next season in the brand spanking new Globe Arena. The