Although the competition is currently suspended, the Lancashire Senior Cup has a proud history, a competition that, within Lancashire, was before the proliferation of the various "new" competitions over the last 20-30 years, viewed as only second to the the FA Cup in pecking order of cup competitions. For Morecambe therefore, to be the only non-league team to have reached two finals and won one of them is a record of which the club can be justifiable proud.

Morecambe's links with the Senior Cup, which is a magnificent trophy, and can be viewed at the Lancashire FA headquarters at Leyland, started back in 1963. The club as champions of the Lancashire Combination were invited to join with Lancashire 's 15 league clubs and contest that season's trophy. The rules of the competition, regarding playing strength, were as follows: 3rd and 4th division clubs had to put out a full strength team, with 2nd and 1st division teams had to play a reserve team, that included 4 players with "substantial" first team experience. Therefore, you can see the enormity of Morecambe's task over the next 10 years, bearing this in mind, you will understand how well the Shrimps acquitted themselves over this period. On November 4th Manchester City provided the opposition, at Christie Park for Morecambe's first ever Lancashire Senior Cup tie. Had it not been for the legendary German goalkeeper, Bert Trautman, the first division side would have suffered an embarrassing defeat, as almost single handedly he kept the rampant Shrimps at bay. A 1-4 defeat in front of a healthy crowd of 2,300 did not bear justice to the efforts of the Morecambe team.

3 years later, again as champions of the Combination, the club were invited to take part. Bolton Wanderers provided the Christie opposition on a Thursday night in October, and the Shrimps, playing in their "floodlight" kit of all sky blue, beat the Trotters with goals from Borrowdale and Holding. 3rd division Barrow came to Morecambe in the next round, with a travelling support of over 1,500, and amidst outbreaks of terrace violence, won 2-1, with Paul Scott, scoring the home goal.

The question had been asked over the last 5 years, since the Combination Champions had been invited to participate in the Senior Cup, was could a Combination team win the Cup? The league clubs doubted it very much! In 1967-68 season Morecambe were to prove them all wrong, and they had to do it the hard way. Blackburn Rovers came to Christie Park on December 12th 1967, with all bar one of the 1st team. Keith Newton was missing from the left back spot, but only because he was away representing England! Steve Porter, and Bobby Hough scored the goals that gave them a 2-1 victory and an away draw at rivals Netherfield . A hard fought 1-0 victory was earned with the "baby faced executioner" Arnold Timmins scoring the vital goal. 2nd Division Bury, came to Christie Park with a full 1st team and whilst dominating for the majority of the game, could not breach the Shrimps rearguard of Millard, Varcoe, Baldwin, Porter and Halstead. An own goal from Bury defender Bobby Saile gave the non-leaguers a place in the semi finals. Promotion chasing Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park stood in the way of a historic final date for the part-timers from the Lancashire Coast . After a goalless first half, and with only 14 minutes remaining, Arnold Timmins, no doubt to the surprise of himself and the 1500 plus Morecambe fans gathered behind the goal that the reds were attacking, found himself in acres of space and neatly slotted home. 1-0 to the Morecambe. It was to remain like that. History beckoned.

Bob Lord's Burnley, winners of the FA Youth Cup, would provide the opposition. The town was expectant. Morecambe on the point of leaving the Combination for the new pastures of the Northern Premier League could write their name into the history books. This they did with a deserved 2-1 victory, amid scenes of great rejoicing by the majority in the crowd of nearly 4,500. Bob Lord, the Burnley Chairman, and Harry Potts, the Burnley manager, praised the club wholeheartedly.

Morecambe's own butcher Chairman, Robert Altham, said, "This is my proudest moment in football" The celebrations went on long into the night! For the record the two teams lined up as follows.

Morecambe. Lance Millard, Derek Varcoe, Bob Baldwin, Steve Porter, David Halstead; Gerry Irving, Denis Crompton; Johnny Martin (sub Stuart Holding) Keith Borrowdale, Arnold Timmons and Charlie Lea.

Burnley, Rod Jones, Fred Smith, Mick Buxton, Arthur Bellamy, (sub Stan Ternant), Dave Merrington, (to be Morecambe's shortest reigning manager, 16 hours) Len Kinsella, Ralph Coates, Frank Casper, Martin Dobson, Dave Thomas, and Steve Kindon. When you consider that 4 of the Burnley team became full internationals, and that collectively they made just under 2,000 appearance for the Clarets, all mainly in the 1st division, it shows just what a night it was for all involved.

Further involvement in the Senior Cup came in seasons 1668-69, lost 1-2 at Maine Road 2-1, lost by the same score at home to Netherfield the following season, with the K shoe men inflicting another defeat the in 1970-71 season. Missing out on an invitation in 1971-72, the Shrimps returned in 1972-7, beating Barrow, 2-0 with goals from Done and Sutton before losing to eventual winners Liverpool, 1-2 at Christie Park.

Season 1973-1974 will always be indelibly etched in the mind of all Morecambe fans for the glorious triumph in the FA Trophy, yet it may well have been even better. Had not the backlog of fixtures, built up not only by the club's success in the trophy but also by 3 replays in the Senior Cup, caught up with the fitness of the players, even further glory could well have been Morecambe's. After beating Everton, 3-1 in a replay only 4 days after the Wembley triumph, and then accounting for Manchester United 7 days later in a 1-0 victory witnessed by 3,014 spectators, the weary and overworked players finally succumbed to Manchester City 0-3 on Friday May 11 th in front of 3,221.

The Shrimps have been invited to participate in the Senior Cup on one occasion since then. In 1996-97, when it was run as a min league prior to the start of the season, the club played Blackpool at home lost 2-3, after being 2-0 up, and in the second game overcame Rochdale 1-0. Due to Blackpool gaining an extra point for scoring 3 goals the Shrimps failed to qualify for the next stage of the competition.