2007–08 Morecambe F.C. season

The 2007–08 season was Morecambe's 84th season since formation, and their first ever in the Football League, having won promotion from the Conference the previous season. They played in League Two, the fourth tier of English football.

Morecambe
2007–08 season
ChairmanPeter McGuigan
ManagerSammy McIlroy
StadiumChristie Park
League Two11th
FA CupFirst round
League CupThird round
League TrophyArea Final
Top goalscorerLeague:
Carl Baker (10)
Matthew Blinkhorn (10)

All:
Carl Baker (11)
Matthew Blinkhorn (11)
Highest home attendance4,761 v Bradford City
12 October 2007
Lowest home attendance1,634 v Shrewsbury Town
8 April 2008
Average home league attendance2,812
Biggest winMorecambe 5–1 Rotherham United
29 March 2008
Biggest defeatSheffield United 5–0 Morecambe
25 September 2007
All statistics correct as of match played 3 May 2008.

Their league campaign can roughly be broken down into three periods of mixed form, excellent form and poor form. After a mixed start, they went on a run of eight wins in 10 games, before recording just two wins in their final 14 games. An 11th placed finish in front of good crowds at Christie Park was a solid start to life in the Football League.

In the cup competitions, they excelled themselves. Although they were eliminated from the FA Cup in the First round, in the other two competitions they recorded their – as of 2021 – best ever performances.

In the League Cup they reached the Third round, being drawn away to Championship opposition on each occasion. They stunned Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers (after extra time), before losing 5–0 to Sheffield United.

Meanwhile in the League Trophy, four victories saw them through to the Northern Area Final. A two legged affair against Grimsby Town stood between them and a second Wembley final in as many seasons. However after losing the first leg 1–0 at home, they were unable to turn the tie around at Blundell Park (0–0), and Grimsby progressed.

Competitions

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League Two

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
9 Rotherham United 46 21 11 14 62 58 +4 64[a]
10 Bradford City 46 17 11 18 63 61 +2 62
11 Morecambe 46 16 12 18 59 63 −4 60
12 Barnet 46 16 12 18 56 63 −7 60
13 Bury 46 16 11 19 58 61 −3 59
Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2008. Source: The Football League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Rotherham United deducted 10 points for administration entrance.[1]

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 16 12 18 59 63  −4 60 9 6 8 33 32  +1 7 6 10 26 31  −5

Last updated: 3 May 2008.
Source: 11v11.com

Results by matchday

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Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAHHAAHHAHHAHAAHAAHHAHAHHAHA
ResultDLWDWLDLWDWLDDLWWWLWWWLWWLLDDWLWLLLLWLDWLDDLLD
Position172211107111417111191212141613109101010888888999108101010111010119111010101211
Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2008. Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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11 August 2007 1 Morecambe 0–0 Barnet Morecambe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 3,633
Referee: Phil Joslin
18 August 2007 2 Wrexham 2–1 Morecambe Wrexham
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 5,504
Referee: Graham Horwood
25 August 2007 3 Morecambe 3–1 Mansfield Town Morecambe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,980
Referee: Clive Oliver
1 September 2007 4 Notts County 1–1 Morecambe Nottingham
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 4,434
Referee: Steve Bratt
7 September 2007 5 Chester City 0–1 Morecambe Chester
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Deva Stadium
Attendance: 3,199
Referee: Phil Dowd
15 September 2007 6 Morecambe 0–3 Hereford United Morecambe
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,949
Referee: Mark Haywood
22 September 2007 7 Peterborough United 1–1 Morecambe Peterborough
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: London Road Stadium
Attendance: 4,473
Referee: Gavin Ward
29 September 2007 8 Morecambe 0–1 Milton Keynes Dons Morecambe
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,688
Referee: Michael Oliver
2 October 2007 9 Morecambe 2–0 Stockport County Morecambe
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,871
Referee: Paul Taylor
6 October 2007 10 Lincoln City 1–1 Morecambe Lincoln
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 3,281
Referee: Steven Cook
12 October 2007 11 Morecambe 2–1 Bradford City Morecambe
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 4,761
Referee: Colin Webster
20 October 2007 12 Rotherham United 3–1 Morecambe Rotherham
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Millmoor
Attendance: 4,181
Referee: Darren Deadman
27 October 2007 13 Morecambe 1–1 Rochdale Morecambe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 3,651
Referee: Kevin Friend
3 November 2007 14 Chesterfield 2–2 Morecambe Chesterfield
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 3,721
Referee: Paul Melin
6 November 2007 15 Morecambe 0–1 Accrington Stanley Morecambe
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,814
Referee: Mark Halsey
17 November 2007 16 Grimsby Town 1–2 Morecambe Cleethorpes
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,897
Referee: Pat Miller
24 November 2007 17 Morecambe 2–1 Bury Morecambe
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 3,124
Referee: Rob Shoebridge
4 December 2007 18 Brentford 0–1 Morecambe Brentford
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 3,155
Referee: Iain Williamson
14 December 2007 19 Wycombe Wanderers 2–0 Morecambe High Wycombe
19:30 GMT
Report
Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 3,821
Referee: Andy Penn
22 December 2007 20 Hereford United 0–3 Morecambe Hereford
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 3,058
Referee: Steve Bratt
26 December 2007 21 Morecambe 5–3 Chester City Morecambe
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 3,419
Referee: Mike Pike
29 December 2007 22 Morecambe 3–2 Peterborough United Morecambe
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,371
Referee: Carl Boyeson
1 January 2008 23 Stockport County 2–1 Morecambe Stockport
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 5,489
Referee: Graham Salisbury
5 January 2008 24 Macclesfield Town 1–2 Morecambe Macclesfield
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Moss Rose
Attendance: 2,254
Referee: Jon Moss
12 January 2008 25 Morecambe 1–0 Dagenham & Redbridge Morecambe
15:00 GMT
Report Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,754
Referee: Karl Evans
15 January 2008 26 Morecambe 0–3 Darlington Morecambe
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,773
Referee: Darren Drysdale
19 January 2008 27 Shrewsbury Town 2–0 Morecambe Shrewsbury
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: New Meadow
Attendance: 5,036
Referee: Danny McDermid
26 January 2008 28 Morecambe 1–1 Notts County Morecambe
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,727
Referee: Scott Mathieson
29 January 2008 29 Morecambe 2–2 Wrexham Morecambe
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,421
Referee: Andy Hall
2 February 2008 30 Barnet 0–1 Morecambe Chipping Barnet
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Underhill Stadium
Attendance: 1,619
Referee: Andy D'Urso
9 February 2008 31 Morecambe 0–1 Macclesfield Town Morecambe
15:00 GMT Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,626
Referee: Andy Haines
12 February 2008 32 Mansfield Town 1–2 Morecambe Mansfield
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 2,287
Referee: Ray Lee
23 February 2008 33 Dagenham & Redbridge 2–0 Morecambe Dagenham
15:00 GMT
Report Stadium: Victoria Road
Attendance: 1,809
Referee: Clive Penton
1 March 2008 34 Morecambe 0–4 Grimsby Town Morecambe
15:00 GMT Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,303
Referee: Colin Webster
8 March 2008 35 Bury 2–1 Morecambe Bury
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 2,596
Referee: Anthony Bates
12 March 2008 36 Accrington Stanley 3–2 Morecambe Accrington
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Fraser Eagle Stadium
Attendance: 1,448
Referee: Alan Wiley
15 March 2008 37 Morecambe 3–1 Brentford Morecambe
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,180
Referee: Richard Beeby
22 March 2008 38 Morecambe 0–1 Wycombe Wanderers Morecambe
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,524
Referee: Rob Lewis
24 March 2008 39 Darlington 2–2 Morecambe Darlington
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The Darlington Arena
Attendance: 3,719
Referee: Michael Oliver
29 March 2008 40 Morecambe 5–1 Rotherham United Morecambe
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,171
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
5 April 2008 41 Bradford City 1–0 Morecambe Bradford
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Coral Windows Stadium
Attendance: 13,562
Referee: David Coote
8 April 2008 42 Morecambe 1–1 Shrewsbury Town Morecambe
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 1,634
Referee: Mike Jones
12 April 2008 43 Morecambe 1–1 Chesterfield Morecambe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,531
Referee: Stuart Attwell
19 April 2008 44 Rochdale 1–0 Morecambe Rochdale
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 3,706
Referee: Jon Moss
26 April 2008 45 Morecambe 1–2 Lincoln City Morecambe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,762
Referee: Steven Cook
3 May 2008 46 Milton Keynes Dons 1–1 Morecambe Milton Keynes
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Stadium MK
Attendance: 17,250
Referee: Paul Armstrong

FA Cup

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10 November 2007 (2007-11-10) First round Morecambe 0–2 Port Vale Morecambe
15:00 GMT Report
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 2,730
Referee: Clive Oliver

League Cup

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14 August 2007 (2007-08-14) First round Preston North End 1–2 Morecambe Preston
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 7,703
Referee: Alan Wiley
28 August 2007 (2007-08-28) Second round Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 (a.e.t.) Morecambe Wolverhampton
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 11,296
Referee: Anthony Taylor
25 September 2007 (2007-09-25) Third round Sheffield United 5–0 Morecambe Sheffield
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 8,854
Referee: Steve Tanner

First-team squad

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Squad at end of season[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ENG Steven Drench
2 DF   ENG Adam Yates
3 DF   ENG Michael Howard
4 DF   ENG David Artell[notes 1]
5 DF   ENG Jim Bentley
6 MF   ENG Craig Stanley
7 MF   ENG Michael Twiss
8 MF   ENG Garry Hunter
9 FW   ENG Wayne Curtis
10 MF   ENG Carl Baker
11 MF   ENG Garry Thompson
12 MF   ENG Damien Allen
14 MF   ENG Neil Sorvel
15 MF   ENG Fraser McLachlan
16 MF   ENG Stewart Drummond
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF   ENG Jamie Burns
18 MF   ENG Paul Lloyd
19 DF   ENG Simon Grand
20 FW   ENG Jon Newby
21 FW   ENG Matthew Blinkhorn
22 DF   ENG Jamie Davies
23 DF   IRL Henry McStay[notes 2]
24 DF   ENG Andy Langford
25 DF   ENG Danny Adams
26 MF   ENG Paul Jarvis
28 MF   ENG Gary Ball
30 GK   ENG Scott Davies
32 GK   ENG Shwan Jalal[notes 3] (on loan from Peterborough United)
33 GK   SCO Steve McIlhargey

Left club during season

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
23 DF   ENG Keiran Walmsley (to Fleetwood Town)
27 DF   ENG Phil McLuckie (to Workington)
29 DF   ENG Ryan Cresswell (on loan from Sheffield United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
31 GK   ENG Scott Loach (on loan from Watford)
32 GK   ENG Joe Lewis (on loan from Norwich City)

References

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  1. ^ "Rotherham go into administration". BBC Sport. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  2. ^ "FootballSquads - Morecambe - 2007/08". footballsquads.co.uk.

Notes

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  1. ^ Artell was born in Rotherham, England, but also qualified to represent Gibraltar internationally and made his international debut for Gibraltar in March 2014.
  2. ^ McStay was born in Armagh, Northern Ireland, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and has represented them at U-21 level.
  3. ^ Jalal was born in Baghdad, Iraq, but was raised in England and played for the England C team; he later made his international debut for Iraq in June 2015.