SHRIMPERS
Well, well, well; one minute he's Norman Stanley Fletcher, Chelmsford Prison was even used in the movie, the next minute he's whisked to Morecambe to take his place in the starting eleven!
It's certainly a boost for the Blues as Ryan Hall is very important and if he can keep his mind on the job could be the difference between defeat and a place in the top seven.
So after that shock it's expected that Kane Ferdinand could well be fit to replace the unlucky Lee Sawyer in the middle but bring back some much needed defensive stabilty.
Which Morecambe will turn up? Hopefully the won that lost at home to Oxford three weeks ago and not the won that somehow beat runaway leaders Chesterfield!
As for us, no excuse of tired legs and with 15-goal Barry Corr seemingly able to find the net while not moving more than five meters, a 2-1 win.
Possible Southend United: Evans, Clohessy, Coughlan, Barker, Gilbert, Ferdinand, Grant, Easton, Hall, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Morris, Herd, Prosser, Comminges, Sawyer, Soares, Asante.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
Shrimps boss Sammy McIlroy is unlikely to make any changes from their shock 2-0 win at npower League Two leaders Chesterfield last weekend (report below.)
Defender Paul Scott will remain absent as he continues to recover from a knee operation.
Last weekend's victory was their first three points in ten games, while the Shrimpers off course have lost only won over the same number of games.
Morecambe have lost five times at the Globe Arena.
Player to Watch
Kevan Hurst
The midfield loanee has got it all to prove again after parent club Carlisle paid a six-figure sum for his services from Scunthorpe in 2009. Scored his first goal for the Shrimps last Saturday at the his home town Spireites and could be the spark for the home side to put Southend under pressure.
Watch out for big Phil Jeavons on the subs bench if he comes on. Morecambe's top scorer has done many a Shrimpers side damage over the years, usuallly from set pieces, especially corners!
Full player info here:
Last time out
Morecambe 0 Oxford United 2 (played on Saturday, February 15th, 2011);
Morecambe 0 Oxford United 2 (played on Saturday, February 15th, 2011);
Chesterfield 0 Morecambe 2 (played on Saturday, February 26th, 2011.)
Report: www.morecambefc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10866~53066,00.html
Report: www.morecambefc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10866~53066,00.html
Beeb Highlights: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/9409104.stm
| 17 | Aldershot Town | 33 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 21 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 21 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 34 | 42 | 38 | -8 |
| 18 | Hereford United | 31 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 23 | 25 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 40 | 47 | 37 | -7 |
| 19 | Morecambe | 33 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 19 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 40 | 50 | 37 | -10 |
| 20 | Bradford City | 32 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 31 | 42 | 37 | -11 |
| 21 | Macclesfield Town | 30 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 21 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 38 | 47 | 35 | -9 |
PREVIOUSLY
Our first ever visit to Morecambe.
| At Morecambe (0) | At Southend Utd. (1) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Morecambe | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Morecambe | 1 | 100.00 | |
| Draws | 0 | 0.00 | Draws | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Morecambe | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 2 | 2.00 | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Morecambe | 3 | 3.00 | |
| On Neutral Ground (0) | Overall (1 matches) | |||||
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Morecambe | 0 | 0.00 | Morecambe | 1 | 100.00 | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Draws | 0 | 0.00 | Draws | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Morecambe | 0 | 0.00 | Morecambe | 3 | 3.00 | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 2 | 2.00 | |
| Records | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Aggregate | 5 | Southend Utd. | 2 - 3 | Morecambe | 2010/2011 |
| Highest Morecambe score: | 3 | Southend Utd. | 2 - 3 | Morecambe | 2010/2011 |
| Highest Southend Utd. score: | 2 | Southend Utd. | 2 - 3 | Morecambe | 2010/2011 |
| 2010/2011 | Sat 18 Sep | Southend Utd. | 2 - 3 | Morecambe | League Two |
GROUND
After 89 years at Christie Park the Club have moved to a new purpose built stadium. At a cost of around £12m, the Globe Arena (which is named after the company Globe Construction that built the stadium) was opened in 2010.
The stadium is dominated by the Peter McGuigan Stand one side. This stand which is named after the current Club Chairman, has a capacity of just under 2,200 seats. This all seated, covered stand, has a box like feel, with a corporate glassed area to the rear. It is though free of supporting pillars and has windshields to either side, essential for a football ground located near the coast.
Opposite is the North Terrace, which is a very small open terrace that is only a few steps high. Although reminiscent of the Car Wash Terrace at Christie Park, it does detract from the overall look and feel of the stadium. Both ends are covered terraces.
The West Terrace is for home supporters and houses 2,234 fans, whilst the East Terrace is substantially smaller and is for the away support. In the North East corner of the stadium, adjacent to the away terrace is a Police Control Box.
Away fans are mostly housed in the East Terrace at one end of the ground, where just under 1,400 supporters can be accommodated. In addition the Club also make around 300 seats available in the Peter McGuigan Stand, which is shared with home fans. As you would expect with a new stadium the facilities and the view of the playing action are good.
(Thanks to www.footballgroundguide.com for stadium information.)
TICKETS
It's pay on the day only for standing & sitting.
Full details here:
The West Terrace is for home supporters and houses 2,234 fans, whilst the East Terrace is substantially smaller and is for the away support. In the North East corner of the stadium, adjacent to the away terrace is a Police Control Box.
Away fans are mostly housed in the East Terrace at one end of the ground, where just under 1,400 supporters can be accommodated. In addition the Club also make around 300 seats available in the Peter McGuigan Stand, which is shared with home fans. As you would expect with a new stadium the facilities and the view of the playing action are good.
(Thanks to www.footballgroundguide.com for stadium information.)
TICKETS
It's pay on the day only for standing & sitting.
Full details here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw9/morecambe_tickets_652729/index.shtml
WEATHER
Sunny intervals and 9c's, it's spring!
WEATHER
Sunny intervals and 9c's, it's spring!
A full interview with him here: http://refworld.com/referee/180/1/chris-sarginson
His assistants are Mark Heywood from Cheshire and Mike Salisbury from Lancashire; The fourth official is with Paul Davison from Cleveland.
FIXTURES
League Two
League Two
Saturday, March 5th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Cheltenham v Chesterfield, Crewe v Burton Albion, Gillingham v Bradford, Hereford v Bury, Lincoln City v Accrington Stanley, Morecambe v Southend, Northampton v Shrewsbury, Port Vale v Macclesfield, Rotherham v Barnet, Stockport v Oxford Utd, Torquay v Stevenage, Wycombe v Aldershot.
Tuesday, March 8th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Accrington Stanley v Stockport, Aldershot v Torquay, Barnet v Wycombe, Bradford v Rotherham, Burton Albion v Lincoln City, Bury v Morecambe, Chesterfield v Northampton, Macclesfield v Crewe, Shrewsbury v Port Vale, Southend v Gillingham, Stevenage v Hereford.
Morecambe (to win) - 17/10, Draw - 12/5, Southend (to win) - 15/8.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/
TRANSPORT
By Train go here:
By Coach go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/morecambe_653614/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking around the ground and in the town go here:
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking around the ground and in the town go here:
SOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR HAT
For an overnight stay:
HISTORY
Football in the town dates back to the turn of the 20th century; however it was not until 7 May 1920 that Morecambe FC was formed after a meeting at the local West View Hotel. The club then took its place in the Lancashire Combination League for the 1920-21 season.
Sharing grounds with the Cricket Club during the first season, football proved popular, with crowds in excess of 3,000 for derby fixtures with Lancaster City and Fleetwood Town. Although success on the field was hard to come by, with the club lanquishing near the bottom of the table, at the end of the first season the club moved grounds to Roseberry Park.
A few years later after the purchase of the ground by the then-President, Mr. J.B. Christie, the grounds' name was changed to its current title, Christie Park, in his honour. Those early seasons proved difficult and it was not until 1924-25 that the club began to enjoy some success, claiming the league title for the first time; this was later followed by success in the Lancashire Junior Cup (now the ATS Trophy) beating old rivals Chorley after two replays, and amazingly in front of over 30,000 spectators.
Mr. Christie bequeathed the ground to the club in 1927 and also helped incorporate the club into a Limited Company with a then share capital of £1,000. The rest of the 1920s and the whole of the 1930s saw a constant struggle to keep football alive on the North West coast, with poor results on the field and little or no revenue off the field, a near certain recipe for disaster.
Morecambe were promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history after winning the Conference National Playoff Final 2007, beating Exeter City 2-1 at Wembley Stadium on 20 May 2007, in front of over 40,000 fans which followed their semi-final victory over York City.
On 17 July 2007, Morecambe announced plans to move to a new stadium in time for the start of the 2009-2010 season. Work did not commence on the proposed site until Spring 2009 with an anticipated completion date of Summer 2010.
Morecambe played their first game in The Football League against Barnet at Christie Park in August 2007, in which they played out a 0-0 draw to secure their first ever league point. They finished their opening season in 11th place with 60 points. They also finished the 08/09 season in 11th this time with 63 points.
The Shrimps mascot is surprisingly a cat. Christie the cat was adopted in the middle of the 07/08 season, it was revealed at a Home game Vs Grimsby Town.
2009-10 was Morecambe's last season at Christie Park. They finished the season in fourth place, qualifying for the playoffs, where they lost 7-2 on aggregate to Dagenham & Redbridge.
On August 10, 2010, Morecambe played their first match at the Globe Arena against Npower Championship side Coventry City in the Carling Cup 1st Round. Morecambe secured a superb 2-0 win, with Andy Fleming scoring the first 2 goals at the stadium. This earned Morecambe a Lancishire Derby in the 2nd Round against another Npower Championship side, Burnley, which they lost 3-1.
(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morecambe_F.C.)
Sharing grounds with the Cricket Club during the first season, football proved popular, with crowds in excess of 3,000 for derby fixtures with Lancaster City and Fleetwood Town. Although success on the field was hard to come by, with the club lanquishing near the bottom of the table, at the end of the first season the club moved grounds to Roseberry Park.
A few years later after the purchase of the ground by the then-President, Mr. J.B. Christie, the grounds' name was changed to its current title, Christie Park, in his honour. Those early seasons proved difficult and it was not until 1924-25 that the club began to enjoy some success, claiming the league title for the first time; this was later followed by success in the Lancashire Junior Cup (now the ATS Trophy) beating old rivals Chorley after two replays, and amazingly in front of over 30,000 spectators.
Mr. Christie bequeathed the ground to the club in 1927 and also helped incorporate the club into a Limited Company with a then share capital of £1,000. The rest of the 1920s and the whole of the 1930s saw a constant struggle to keep football alive on the North West coast, with poor results on the field and little or no revenue off the field, a near certain recipe for disaster.
Morecambe were promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history after winning the Conference National Playoff Final 2007, beating Exeter City 2-1 at Wembley Stadium on 20 May 2007, in front of over 40,000 fans which followed their semi-final victory over York City.
On 17 July 2007, Morecambe announced plans to move to a new stadium in time for the start of the 2009-2010 season. Work did not commence on the proposed site until Spring 2009 with an anticipated completion date of Summer 2010.
Morecambe played their first game in The Football League against Barnet at Christie Park in August 2007, in which they played out a 0-0 draw to secure their first ever league point. They finished their opening season in 11th place with 60 points. They also finished the 08/09 season in 11th this time with 63 points.
The Shrimps mascot is surprisingly a cat. Christie the cat was adopted in the middle of the 07/08 season, it was revealed at a Home game Vs Grimsby Town.
2009-10 was Morecambe's last season at Christie Park. They finished the season in fourth place, qualifying for the playoffs, where they lost 7-2 on aggregate to Dagenham & Redbridge.
On August 10, 2010, Morecambe played their first match at the Globe Arena against Npower Championship side Coventry City in the Carling Cup 1st Round. Morecambe secured a superb 2-0 win, with Andy Fleming scoring the first 2 goals at the stadium. This earned Morecambe a Lancishire Derby in the 2nd Round against another Npower Championship side, Burnley, which they lost 3-1.
(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morecambe_F.C.)