The Longest Week

[Mark S]

Four days to go! Depending on your perspective that is either a spit away or a lifetime.

I have never once regretted choosing Morecambe as my team. There have been ups and lots of downs. There have been days to remember and days to forget, but I have never once given up on my club. I have always been optimistic and don't understand how to be anything else.

The good times outweigh the bad times, but the good times have upto recently been scant on the pitch. The glory of Wembley seems a while ago now. The last match at Christie Park after our last outstanding season lost in the mist that rolled in that night. The odd unexpected win and one or two memorable days and nights, but nothing consistent . The good times have actually been more around people. The players that have come and gone. Some you forget, but some you remember because they are exceptional players. Some you remember because they are exceptional people. There are actually so many exceptional people around our club. Some of these are Board members, some are staff, some are backroom support, and many of them are fans.

I am lucky enough that lots of these exceptional people are my friends and some are close friends that I share social and real life events with. The ones that keep you sane. The ones that rally round you in times of need and tragedy. The ones that call you out and keep you grounded too.

They share the lows and the highs. Many of the highs are in a car travelling back from Cheltenham or Exeter after a defeat laughing at ridiculous jokes or in a minibus singing loudly and carefree on the way to Torquay in October.

This is why I am so delighted that the same exceptional people are sharing in the glory of this season. A strange season that for most has meant watching from a distance through a TV or a laptop. But we are still together in spirit and watching with delight the job that Derek Adams and his team have done. Watching with pride the way the team are playing with confidence.

I am proud that one of the exceptional people I have met through the club is Jim Bentley. I class him as a friend. I supported him as a player and a manager and I know how much he cares about Morecambe FC. When he decided his future was elsewhere I don't mind saying I was upset and concerned about what would happen at the club. I still maintain he did a great job under challenging circumstances through times where there was no money or uncertain ownership. He got us through that and we all owe him a debt of gratitude, no matter which camp you sat in at the end of his tenure. He should never have to buy a pint in Morecambe ever again. He is a large part of our history, but he is now elsewhere.

Derek Adams has come in and alongside John McMahon he has done an amazing job. He has quite simply turned our fortunes around and made us into a force to be reckoned with. We may no longer be 'little Morecambe', but we have gone largely unnoticed this season as we have quietly gone about our business. Quietly moving up the table. Quietly moving on from match to match with a growing confidence and growing belief. A small squad with two players for every position and a close knit team that sincerely seem as one.

Derek isn't a man who seeks publicity or attention. He seems dedicated, focused, passionate and in many ways humble. I don't think he will be sharing a drink with any of us or getting up to sing on the stage, but whatever happens on Saturday he will be delivering us a dream. We will either get automatic promotion or we will be in the playoffs. Either one of those scenarios twelve months ago would have seemed incredible. They still do in many ways in a corner of my 'little Morecambe' mind, but we have achieved what Derek set out to do and believed he could do.

Do you know what? We deserve it! We deserve this amazing dream that we are in. All of the exceptional people associated with Morecambe Football Club who have been part of this long journey deserve this! It will be the longest week ever, but come Saturday, wherever we are watching we can share the hope and celebrate whatever the outcome at 4.45pm (plus stoppage). We are Morecambe and we are in it together! COYS!

[Keith]

By goodness, you don't post on here often, but when you do, you make it worthwhile!

Absolutely, 100% all of this.

What a bizarre, incredible season. Probably our most unforgettable season ever, without stepping inside the ground. Whatever happens next weekend, or later in this month, it has been a fantastic journey. I always believe we will go out and win, even when the odds are stacked against us, but now, I see a team that Derek has built, with such a determination, that they clearly believe too.

Are we nearly there yet?

...No, this journey is only just beginning.

[Bare bum]

Four days to go! Depending on your perspective that is either a spit away or a lifetime.

I have never once regretted choosing Morecambe as my team. There have been ups and lots of downs. There have been days to remember and days to forget, but I have never once given up on my club. I have always been optimistic and don't understand how to be anything else.

The good times outweigh the bad times, but the good times have upto recently been scant on the pitch. The glory of Wembley seems a while ago now. The last match at Christie Park after our last outstanding season lost in the mist that rolled in that night. The odd unexpected win and one or two memorable days and nights, but nothing consistent . The good times have actually been more around people. The players that have come and gone. Some you forget, but some you remember because they are exceptional players. Some you remember because they are exceptional people. There are actually so many exceptional people around our club. Some of these are Board members, some are staff, some are backroom support, and many of them are fans.

I am lucky enough that lots of these exceptional people are my friends and some are close friends that I share social and real life events with. The ones that keep you sane. The ones that rally round you in times of need and tragedy. The ones that call you out and keep you grounded too.

They share the lows and the highs. Many of the highs are in a car travelling back from Cheltenham or Exeter after a defeat laughing at ridiculous jokes or in a minibus singing loudly and carefree on the way to Torquay in October.

This is why I am so delighted that the same exceptional people are sharing in the glory of this season. A strange season that for most has meant watching from a distance through a TV or a laptop. But we are still together in spirit and watching with delight the job that Derek Adams and his team have done. Watching with pride the way the team are playing with confidence.

I am proud that one of the exceptional people I have met through the club is Jim Bentley. I class him as a friend. I supported him as a player and a manager and I know how much he cares about Morecambe FC. When he decided his future was elsewhere I don't mind saying I was upset and concerned about what would happen at the club. I still maintain he did a great job under challenging circumstances through times where there was no money or uncertain ownership. He got us through that and we all owe him a debt of gratitude, no matter which camp you sat in at the end of his tenure. He should never have to buy a pint in Morecambe ever again. He is a large part of our history, but he is now elsewhere.

Derek Adams has come in and alongside John McMahon he has done an amazing job. He has quite simply turned our fortunes around and made us into a force to be reckoned with. We may no longer be 'little Morecambe', but we have gone largely unnoticed this season as we have quietly gone about our business. Quietly moving up the table. Quietly moving on from match to match with a growing confidence and growing belief. A small squad with two players for every position and a close knit team that sincerely seem as one.

Derek isn't a man who seeks publicity or attention. He seems dedicated, focused, passionate and in many ways humble. I don't think he will be sharing a drink with any of us or getting up to sing on the stage, but whatever happens on Saturday he will be delivering us a dream. We will either get automatic promotion or we will be in the playoffs. Either one of those scenarios twelve months ago would have seemed incredible. They still do in many ways in a corner of my 'little Morecambe' mind, but we have achieved what Derek set out to do and believed he could do.

Do you know what? We deserve it! We deserve this amazing dream that we are in. All of the exceptional people associated with Morecambe Football Club who have been part of this long journey deserve this! It will be the longest week ever, but come Saturday, wherever we are watching we can share the hope and celebrate whatever the outcome at 4.45pm (plus stoppage). We are Morecambe and we are in it together! COYS!

Love it!

How many more sleeps?

[shrimp in cyprus]

Great post by Mark and I totally agree with everything he says. I was going to make this post as a new topic, but having read Mark's post, I felt that in a strange way, this actually fits in here quite well:-

My wife wanted us to go to a craft fair yesterday, so being a good hubbie (!!!) I agreed and off we went. On one of the stalls (which basically was hand painted pots, wood, signs etc), I stood in absolute amazement (albeit with a grin on my face), looking at a sign which the lady had hand painted. I calmly asked her if she had a hammer which obviously puzzled her and she asked what I wanted it for. Still with a grin on my face, I said to smash that sign you have painted. Slightly worried until she looked at my face, she said "Ah, so who do you support?". The sign read "**** *********" (gentleman's name) - Accrington Stanley's Number 1 Fan.
I told her Morecambe (and bear in mind this is all happening in Cyprus), a voice behind me says "well that was a commissioned piece of work for me. I can't believe that I have just bumped into a Morecambe fan." I made sure that he realised I was joking about smashing up his sign, and we then got into a chat about our two clubs.

He (an Accy fan) actually said that he believed that Morecambe truly deserved their success this season and he really hoped we got promoted. But he went on to say, that there were some things about the club that make them stand out from the crowd. One thing that he really loved was the way that we have in the past welcomed new arrivals into the EFL (Barrow and Burton Albion were cited specifically by him). He also said that on one visit (to Christie Park not The Globe/Mazuma), his car wouldn't start after the game and the offers of help from Morecambe fans was simply amazing. He agreed that there was plenty of banter between fans of the two clubs and in all probability there would be some fans at Accy who would not agree with him, but he truly hoped that we would be up in League 1 next season, and then he could really look forward to the games between us again.

So, I guess what I am trying to say is that there are people out there who appreciate MFC and all that it encompasses, who are not actual fans of the club - and some who perhaps you would not expect. I had never met this guy before, but we have now agreed to keep in touch.

It left me with a good warm feeling - so thank you Morecambe Football Club and everyone that makes it what it is. Outstanding and exceptional.

[redrobo]

Wow what a superb post by one of the club's most dedicated fans.

We've had our disagreements in the past but we are both through and through fans who live and breath our club.

Whatever happens this weekend and beyond I'm sure we and everybody else will remember were as a club we have come from and were our journey will continue to who knows where...

Life being a Shrimp has at times not been easy but lets embrace the days ahead and just give thanks to the manager and players who are taking us on a superb ride.

[Screenster]

Fantastic post! Really hope we can get the job done this weekend but won't be disappointed (for long!) if we settle for playoffs!

[Freez]

Brilliant post, well written and from the heart.
Three seasons ago we were off to Coventry needing a point to stay up, there was a fantastic turnout of 800 Shrimps that day, it’s a pity that the Mazuma cannot be packed for the Bradford game, as it surely would be.
However, I know which game I’d rather be talking about come Saturday night!!
Whatever happens, we can be proud of every single player, staff and supporter, as we have stood together all season.
If it’s play offs, how brilliant is that, don’t think anyone dreamed of that when last season ended.
If it’s automatic promotion, well I for one will expect to be on hard drugs for this to happen!! Surely not?
Just to even think about going into the last game and being disappointed with play offs as the worst case scenario makes me tingle, after going to places like Matlock, Shepshed and Gainsborough and getting stuffed and finishing second bottom of the Northen Premier League!!
Madness is upon us, but it’s real!!
Enjoy the feeling, enjoy Saturday and whatever happens drink it all in!
As an aside, IFollow have informed us that SHOULD we achieve promotion on Saturday, the IFollow stream will continue after the game for some time, to allow interviews and celebrations to be broadcast live!!
If we end up in the play offs, obviously our day may come later on, so it will be off 2 minutes after as normal!!
Up the Shrimps.

[AndyReifman]

As an aside, IFollow have informed us that SHOULD we achieve promotion on Saturday, the IFollow stream will continue after the game for some time, to allow interviews and celebrations to be broadcast live!!

And I'm sure they'll only sneak a few ad breaks in.

[P/T Indie]

Just look at some of the possible away trips next season Sunderland, Charlton, Ipswich & Sheff Wed might come down, madness when it only seems 5 mins since we were playing Daisy Hill in the Lancs cup.

How on earth are Lincoln 4th in League 1 shows it can be done.

[Shrimp Girl]

Refs for Saturday's games have been announced. We have Craig Hicks who reffed our win against Exeter at their place in January.
I don't recall hating him particularly Crawley/Bolton have Robert Madley.

[black morse]

Is it Saturday yet??

[AndyReifman]

Is it Saturday yet??

Judging from the amount of work I've got done this week I'm quite sure it's been Saturday since Monday.

Don't tell my boss.

[jbc.shrimp]

Refs for Saturday's games have been announced. We have Craig Hicks who reffed our win against Exeter at their place in January.
I don't recall hating him particularly Crawley/Bolton have Robert Madley.

Do we know anything about Mr Madley ?

[black morse]

Refs for Saturday's games have been announced. We have Craig Hicks who reffed our win against Exeter at their place in January.
I don't recall hating him particularly Crawley/Bolton have Robert Madley.

Do we know anything about Mr Madley ?

Not 'Red Card' Mad ley?

[Shrimp Girl]

Madley is the one that had to 'take a break' from refereeing, following I think, an unwise social media post. He had been at Premier league level but is now working his way back up.
Looking him up, his first game back in efl was at the Mazuma, us v Port Vale. He awarded us a penalty! So clearly he knows his stuff
Maybe he will not fall for 'the dark arts' should Bolton try their games. Can only hope.