Adam Lord profiles the Shrimps' important Youth set-up
Sammy McIlroy wasted no time in adding to Morecambe's squad come the end of the season. Players have come in from Darlington, Chesterfield and even Celtic, but perhaps most importantly for the future of Morecambe Football Club, two players were promoted from the football development centre based at Lancaster and Morecambe College.
Striker Aaron Taylor, has represented the British Colleges' side and Mathew Bell, a right sided or central defender is Captain of the English Colleges' side. Both now have the chance to fight for a place in Morecambe's first eleven.
Last season, as the first team participated in their first season in the Football League, the club's Under 18s side moved into the Puma Youth Alliance accordingly.
Youth team manager Dickie Danson described how it was "tough going" but as the team acclimatised, they made "great strides" after Christmas. "There were many promising displays both individually and collectively. We were certainly no pushovers", was Dickie's assessment.
Unlike the first team squad there is always almost wholesale change in personnel at youth level, and this season is no different. Last year's first year players, who impressively finished third in the North West Youth Alliance, will now make the step up to the Puma Youth Alliance.
A sign of the rising stock of Morecambe Football Club is that they will be joined by players who have not received scholarships with other clubs. A first for Morecambe. With three players from Crewe as well as others from Preston, Blackpool and even Liverpool.
In considering the season that lies ahead, Dickie also stressed the importance of the club's link with Lancaster and Morecambe College. Not only do both junior sides play their home games their, with the Puma Youth Alliance on Saturday and the North West Alliance on Sunday, but there is also a strong educational link between the two. Dickie believes it is important for the players to have a qualification if they can't make a career out of football.
The Youth teams kick of their pre-season with a game away to Dalton United on July 19th. Morecambe have played there the last three seasons due to the link with former Morecambe stalwart John Balm. They are a senior side who "play football the right way" according to Dickie.
The season proper kicks off with a game at the college against Oldham on August 16th.
