Good evening and welcome to the Globe Arena for this Carling Cup second round tie.

May I extend a special welcome to the directors, officials, management, players and supporters of our Lancashire neighbours, Burnley Football Club. We have met Burnley many times in pre-season friendlies over the years at Christie Park, but, as far as I can recall, this is only the second meeting in a competitive game (no doubt our secretary, Clarets fan Neil Marsdin, will correct me if I am wrong!) Some of you will remember that famous May evening in 1968, when the Shrimps overcame a strong Turf Moor outfit, managed by Burnley legend Harry Potts, by two goals to one, to become the first nonleague side to lift the Lancashire Senior Cup. Arnold Timmins scored a brace for Morecambe against a Football League Division One Burnley side that included Ralph Coates, Frank Casper, Martin Dobson, Dave Thomas, Steve Kindon and Stan Ternant. One from the memory banks of Shrimp's supporters of a certain age! Was that really forty two years ago?

I thought we put in a decent performance at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium on Saturday.

Having conceded an early goal, we dominated play for long periods and at 2-1 up it looked like we would kill the game off.

However, it was not to be, and the game was lost 3-2. I can take a lot of positives from that performance and I am confident that the quality of signings made by Sammy & Mark over the summer, to enhance an already strong squad, will pay dividends as the season progresses. A big thank you, to the travelling support at Burton. You got behind the lads, made plenty of noise and, as always, you were a credit to your club.

It has been a busy time for the staff and officials of the club, as we moved into the Globe Arena and hosted our first games here. We are dealing with the teething troubles, refining systems and procedures so that we can deliver a quality match day experience to you, the fans.

If you have any observations on how we can improve things, then please feel free to contact me at the club and I will, as always, endeavour to help.

Tomorrow night sees a change in fixture for the reserves. Instead of the first "home" game versus Burnley at Kendal Town, we take on Blackpool at Bloomfield Road in the Lancashire Senior Cup. This is a "warm-up" game for the Tangerine's new stand. Please try and get to the game and support Jim Bentley's side.

Now, to tonight's cup-tie. We witnessed and enjoyed many great games at Christie Park over the years and the old place developed a "special" atmosphere, competitive, but always welcoming and friendly.

We have now moved into our new home and have to give it life and an ambience and character its own. This is your job! Get behind the lads tonight, make some noise and let's develop the Globe Arena experience into something we can all play our part in and be proud of.