Shrimpsvoices

Fantastic old photograph for sale of The Kings Arms in Morecambe which is where our club was formed of course and held its Headquarters.

The sign on the right hand side of the building proudly proclaims.

Maybe the club should buy this for Club Records ??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/C-1881880-190 ... SwpLNYBPG9

We were formed in 1920 and that looks a lot earlier than that.

If the dates are correct, I think the signs will be referring to the towns long defunct Rugby team - also Morecambe FC - which was formed in 1876, later joined the Northern Union (Rugby League) and left the semi-professional ranks in 1905/06. Pretty sure they were also based in Kings Arms, which would tie in.

Eric Morecambes uncle (Jack Bartholomew) played for them and would later go on to represent Great Britain.

Indeed we were formed in 1920, and the club which we know it today was born out of the initial Rugby Club (as RRW mentions) - the inaugural formation meeting of which was held in The Kings Arms and subsequently our "Head Quarters" as they called them back then.

I thought we were formed at the West View Hotel? Seems a long period between 1906 and 1920?

Got me thinking now....!!

I'll dig out my Potted Shrimps when I get home !

The pitch that Morecambe Rugby club played on is now Battismore/Corringham Rd.

Seasider9601 wrote:Got me thinking now....!!

I'll dig out my Potted Shrimps when I get home !

RRW is correct about West View hotel.

The West View Hotel was where the initial meeting was held. It was knocked down to be replaced by Burtons buildings in the 1930's I think, Its now the Oasis amusement arcade at the bottom of Queen Street and the Promenade.

Freez wrote:The West View Hotel was where the initial meeting was held. It was knocked down to be replaced by Burtons buildings in the 1930's I think, Its now the Oasis amusement arcade at the bottom of Queen Street and the Promenade.

Freez was at the meeting...

halftimeresults wrote:

Seasider9601 wrote:Got me thinking now....!!

I'll dig out my Potted Shrimps when I get home !

RRW is correct about West View hotel.

It's all correct... was it ever in doubt? This picture has nothing to do with the Shrimps. Like most football teams, we were the initially setup by a cricket team to make sure cricketers could keep fit over the winter months, hence why our first ground was Woodhill Lane.

For anybody interested Potted Shrimps by the late Ken Ormrod is a great read full of stats and season reviews covering parts of the clubs history that aren't really available anywhere else. Many of the later books about MFC are heavily influenced by this one.... you can usually pick one up for a couple of quid on eBay from time to time.... well worth it just to out statto the Programme Editors Guild (PEGs).

The picture could be the west view hotel, it doesn't look like the kings arms.

Ken Ormerod is alive and well and still a regular attendee at The Globe despite being wheelchair bound.

If ever the phrase Club Legend was justified - Ken gets my vote EVERY time.

What a great man, and gentleman.

Had to get something wrong eventually, however I'm glad to be on this occassion!

There is a plaque behind one of the gents stood on the right of the photo. You can just make out Kings Arms Hotel.

This picture is nothing to do with The Shrimps and relates to the Rugby club of the same name that had nothing to do with MFC as we know it today.

Isn't that Suggs out of Madness, front centre and Jeremy Corbyn front left. I think there's Lord Lucan on the back row too. Which ones Christies Child?

And the club as se know it today has nothing to do with tbe club JB founded at Christie park.

RedRedWine wrote:For anybody interested Potted Shrimps by the late Ken Ormrod...

Seasider9601 wrote:Ken Ormerod is alive and well and still a regular attendee at The Globe despite being wheelchair bound.

If ever the phrase Club Legend was justified - Ken gets my vote EVERY time.

What a great man, and gentleman.

Gave me a bit of a moment there RRW!

Without Ken Ormerod, there wouldn't be a Morecambe Football Club, he carried the club practically single handedly, through the doldrums of the late 70's & early 80's. I used to operate a turnstile, and Ken would be cashing up the takings during the first half of the match, so that he could pay the players. Often he would raid the fruit machine on a Saturday afternoon because the takings weren't enough. Then he'd get out to watch the last 20 minutes or so go the game if he was lucky. Sunday morning, he'd be back at Christie Park to wash the kit and sweep the terraces etc. Don't know how his wife put up with it all!

New_Ground_Watcher wrote:Isn't that Suggs out of Madness, front centre and Jeremy Corbyn front left. I think there's Lord Lucan on the back row too. Which ones Christies Child?

My memory isn't as good as it used to be, but one of the babes in arms on the second row.....