Morecambe's involvement in the FA Cup includes some highs, some lows, and a whole host of "what might have been", but without doubt Morecambe's finest hours have been during the last few seasons when the Shrimps have been paired against East Anglian's Ipswich Town in the 3rd round, once at Christie Park and once at Portman Road. The 6th January 2001 will be etched indelibly into the memory bank of all Shrimp devotees. After beating Bedlington, Forest Green and Division Two side Cambridge, the "Tractor Boys", sitting in 3rd place in the Premier League, won by 3 goals to nil, but football was the winner, a wonderful day enjoyed by Morecambe supporters and the travelling Ipswich contingent. Incredibly, 2 years after that wonderful occasion at Christie Park, the Shrimps made the return journey, with over 1200 supporters, and again football was the winner, the atmosphere was wonderful, the hospitality exceptional, the result (4-0 defeat) was nearly an irrelavance.

Every clubs history is littered with cup exploits, and the Shrimps are no different, although the start was inauspicious. In the clubs very first season, 1920-1921 we were drawn to meet Breightmet United at home in the preliminary round, and after drawing 1-1 with a goal by Parker in front of 1,000 spectators, the Shrimps lost the replay by 2-0. The first time the club progressed to the competition proper was in 1938 when the Shrimps went down 1-0 to fellow non leaguers South Liverpool 0-1. Real success eluded the club up until 1956, when for the first time ever, the club was drawn to play a league side. Wins against Milnthorpe Corinthians (who the previous season had inflicted Morecambe's most humbling FA Cup defeat), Fleetwood, after a replay, and finally Horwich, who were beaten 3-2 at Christie Park in front of 3,600 spectators. The glory ended at Peel Park , home of Accrington Stanley, then a league club, losing 4-1 in front of 9,260 spectators, with player manger Horton scoring the Shrimps goal.

Since that first appearance in 1938 the club had progressed to the 1st round on a reasonably regular basis but undoubtedly one of the club's most memorable seasons was 1961-1962. Joe Dunn, ex PNE had taken over as player manager and proved to be an inspiration. Leading the club to the league title and the Lancashire Cup, his crowning glory was being the first Morecambe manager to defeat a league club. This happened in the 2nd round beating Chester at the old Sealand Road ground, 1-0, Gordon Howarth scored in front of over 8,000 spectators. The club drew fellow non leaguers Weymouth at home in the 3rd round, with the other non-leaguers, Kings Lynn drawing the plum tie in Everton at Goodison Park. Further progress was hoped for, nay expected. Alas, with Dunn and Richardson missing, the Shrimps went down to a 1-0 defeat amid much controversy. Did the "Terras" keeper Bly pull the ball back, (the very same end as Tommy Millar's "equaliser" against Hull City some 30 years later was seen by everyone except the referee) when to all in the record crowd of 9,383 it looked a goal? We will never know. The crowd went home stunned. It was the end of a dream. Worse was to follow. In Monday's draw, Weymouth were given the tie that every Morecambe fan had pleaded for, Preston North End.

The cup can be very cruel! The penalty shoot out defeat by bogey team Emley(now Wakefield Emley) proved that. Leading 3-2 in the final minute of extra time, and with the referee's whistle to his lips to signal the full time, a miss hit shot crept into the left hand corner of the Shrimp goal. The rest as they say is history! Talking of history, this game has become famous, as it was in this match that Keisuke Takano became the first Japanese player to score in an FA Cup match.

The club may well have been involved in another "famous match" (well infamy really) if a sensible solution had not been found. The Shrimps were due to replay against Rotherham United, when on the way to the game, the players advised the Directors that if they were not going to get a bonus, they would not be playing. Negotiations took place at Hartshead Moor services, and a compromise was reached. The game went ahead, the militant Shrimps however, lost 2-0.

Morecambe's most regular opponent in the competition proper has been York City. 6 games, 3 draws and 3 defeats.