THE SHRIMPS FA CUP HISTORY
Compiled By Morecambe FC's
Secretary Neil W Marsdin with Many Thanks
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Morecambe celebrate 85+ years involvement in the FA Cup, with a chequered record, some highs, some lows, and a whole host of "what might have been", but without doubt Morecambe's finest hours have been during the last 4 seasons when the Shrimps have been paired against East Anglian's Ipswich Town in the 3rd round, once at Christie Park and once at Portman Road. The 06th January 2001 will be etched indelibly into the memory bank of all Shrimp devotees. After beating Bedlington, Forest Green and Division Two side Cambridge, the "Tractor Boys", sitting in 3rd place in the Premier League, won by 3-0 to nil, but Football was the winner, a wonderful day enjoyed by Morecambe supporters and the travelling Ipswich contingent. Incredibly, 2 years after that wonderful occasion at Christie Park, the Shrimps made the return journey, with over 1200 supporters, and again football was the winner, the atmosphere was wonderful, the hospitality exceptional, the result (0-4) was nearly an irrelevance.
Every clubs history is littered with cup exploits, and the Shrimps are no different, although the start was inauspicious. In the clubs very first season, 1920-1921 we were drawn to meet Breightmet United at home in the preliminary round, and after drawing 1-1 with a goal by Parker in front of 1,000 spectators, the Shrimps lost the replay by 2-0. The first time the club progressed to the competition proper was in 1938 when the Shrimps went down 1-0 to fellow non leaguers South Liverpool 0-1. Real success eluded the club up until 1956, when for the first time ever, the club was drawn to play a league side. Wins against Milnthorpe Corinthians (who the previous season had inflicted Morecambe's most humbling FA Cup defeat), Fleetwood, after a replay, and finally Horwich, who were beaten 3-2 at Christie Park in front of 3,600 spectators. The glory ended at Peel Park, home of Accrington Stanley, then a league club, losing 4-1 in front of 9,260 spectators, with player manger Horton scoring the Shrimps goal.
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