Who Are Ya? - Morecambe (#2) - Vital Lincoln City

Thank you to Morecambe supporter James for answering these questions!

Thank you to Morecambe supporter James for answering these questions!

How Long Have You Supported Morecambe?

I’ve supported Morecambe since the age of 5, although my first game was when I was 1. I’ve being going regularly up until recently as I’ve moved to Sunderland for University.

Last Season’s League Finish?

Last season we finished 18th which was a very good achievement giving the rocky season we had. The club’s future was thrown into jeopardy, with wages being paid late on three different occasions but it was good to see the fans really getting behind the club, and it brought out the best in us.

What Do You Think Of Your Manager?

Jim Bentley has been a very good servant to the club since he joined as a player in 2002. He was an absolutely brilliant captain for us, and when the manager’s job came up in 2011 he was most likely the best person for it. He knows the club inside out, and he’s done a very good job as manager on the league’s lowest budget. He was especially brilliant last season, and it was remarkable how he managed to keep up the morale in the changing room despite the fact they weren’t being paid at times.

Hopes/Expectations This Season?

On the pitch it’s been a tough one for us this year and we’ve been lingering about just above the relegation spots. At this point, our only realistic hope is to retain our Football League status this season and I expect us to do just that.

One(s) To Watch?

Our ones to watch in my view are Barry Roche, Kevin Ellison, Callum Lang and Gregg Wylde.

Roche has been at the club for nearly 10 years now, and fully deserved his place on the legends wall that the supporter’s trust helped to organise very recently. He’s made some crucial saves this season, especially in the reverse fixture at Sincil Bank when he had the game of his life!

Ellison is another one that has been at the club for a while now. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time and can score goals even when he’s having a bad game.

Callum Lang is a good young player on loan from Wigan and he’s looked a very exciting player since he’s been given his chance. He’s scored seven goals during his spell, and really is one to look out for in the future.

Wylde joined on loan from Plymouth in January and whilst I’m yet to see him play, ive heard that he’s really made a difference to the side since joining. He’s got pace, is creative and has already popped up with a few goals!

Top Seven Predictions?

1) Luton, 2) Wycombe, 3) Accrington, 4) Notts County, 5) Lincoln, 6) Exeter, 7) Mansfield

Bottom Two Predictions?

23) Grimsby, 24) Barnet

Thoughts on Lincoln City?

I do have a soft spot for Lincoln City. They’re a well-supported club, with great fans and a good atmosphere at home games. I saw them shock Burnley in the FA Cup last season, something I was really glad I was at, and I was at the reverse fixture at Sincil Bank back in August. I really enjoyed the trip in August, and it was great to see the Co-Op stand full and rocking. I particularly like the ‘ole ole ole’ chant. Don’t like Matt Rhead though!

Score Prediction?

Going to go 2-1 to us – we’ve had a habit of beating top-half teams lately.

Random Fact About Your Club?

We’ve never been relegated in our entire history.

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Morecambe Supporter?

My proudest moment has to be when we beat Exeter City 2-1 at Wembley in 2007 to make it to the Football League. I was only 7 at the time, but I travelled down to London and it was a really memorable and special occasion. I still remember it really well to this day.

Most embarrassing: I don’t really have a specific one but it’s always embarrassing when we get hammered. For example when we lost 5-1 at home to Doncaster last season and 4-1 at home to Notts County this season on Boxing Day.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

Yes we do have a Supporters Trust. It was formed last year in light of our well-publicised financial struggles. They’ve done a really good job in improving communication between the fans and the club, and have achieved lots already for example at the start of the season they raised enough money for the team to have a full set of HR monitors so we can use them in competitive matches and of course the legends wall which has been a more recent achievement. They have some really good ideas and I’m proud to be a member of it. I look forward to seeing what they achieve next.

Which was your favourite match involving Morecambe?

Favourite match has to be the win at Wembley, the reasons for which I’ve explained above.

Which was your least favourite match involving Morecambe?

There’s been a few but I can’t really put a nail down on one specific one.

You had some sort of dodgy Brazilian(?) owner who disappeared when wages needed to be paid. Is he still involved in the Club?

Yes Diego Lemos took over in September 2016. I met him and he seemed a really nice guy, but I think a few people were fooled by that. He basically went AWOL in November and we didn’t really see him again after that. Thankfully, he’s not involved in the club anymore. Thank goodness for Abdul Al-Hashemi and Graham Burnard who have taken over his shares via court order and have got the club ‘financially stable’ again.

Kevin Ellison – 58 years of age but still popping up with crucial goals. How important is he?

Ellison is certainly not 58 years of age, but he is nearly 40! He’s been a very important player for the club in his time, and like I said in a previous question he always seems to come up with goals out of nowhere.

You have a relatively new Stadium. What aspects of the Stadium would you change and why?

Well I really miss the atmosphere that the North Stand at the old ground Christie Park had. The stand behind the goal that we have now isn’t as big, and doesn’t generate such a good atmosphere. In an ideal world, I’d bring back the North Stand but I know that won’t be possible!

Where on earth have all your fans gone? Just 1,056 were against Exeter on Saturday. Does apathy rule in Morecambe?

Attendances have been an issue since the move to the Globe. Ticket prices have gone up, and the ground is harder to get to as it isn’t on one of the main bus routes. It was even worse on Tuesday. 893 at home to Colchester United.

How disappointed have you been with Adam Campbell? He looked quite useful at Notts, but it just hasn’t happened for him at Morecambe.

Campbell is one of those players that was tipped to be one for the future when he was at Newcastle United’s academy. It hasn’t worked for him at the Globe so far, and he’s been really unlucky with regards to scoring goals. You should’ve seen him when he had his head in his hands in the game against Hartlepool United in the FA Cup! His shot bounced off the post and then the keeper’s back meaning it wasn’t his goal! He’s got another year left on his contact however, so hopefully we’ll see the best of him next season.

What do fans make of our old friend Vadaine Oliver? Just two goals in his last 23 games suggests he is struggling somewhat?

Vadaine is another player that has been unlucky since joining the club this season. At the start of the season I thought he looked a great player, but he’s been lacking the service or the end product to get the goals that he needs.

Kevin Ellison (39), Garry Thompson (37), Barry Roche (35), Michael Rose (35), Steven Old (32), Andy Fleming (30)… is it time for some fresh, younger blood at Morecambe? Or are the experienced ones vital in helping you stay up?

I think it’s important to have a mix of youth and experience in a side and I think we have that. The experienced ones, particularly Ellison and Roche have played an important role this season. It is worth mentioning however that we do have some good younger players coming through like Aaron McGowan (21), Sam Lavelle (21), Alex Kenyon (25) and Dan Nizic (23) – most of whom you’ll probably see in the starting line-up on Saturday.

Eric or Ernie?

Both Eric and Ernie are legends in this area, but they’re a bit before my time. I would have to go Eric though.

Who Are Ya? – Morecambe (#1)