THE Shrimps are saddened to hear about the death of former player and coach Gerry Irving.
Gerry was an integral part of the Morecambe FC team of the 1967-1968 season which was probably the most successful in the club's history winning the Lancashire Combination League, the Senior Cup, the Junior Cup and the Combination Cup all in the same year.
The eldest of seven sons, Gerry was born in a small town called Allerby near Maryport back in 1937 and began his career as a teenager with Workington Reds who were in the old third division north.
Gerry’s rise towards the Workington first team coincided with the managerial appointment of the legendary Bill Shankly who gave him his reserve team against a Middlesbrough side that included Brian Clough.
Gerry eventually progressed to the Workington first team and was given his full debut against Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park before moving on to Queen of the South in Scotland where he stayed for seven years as a part time player before joining Morecambe when Geoff Twentyman was manager in 1963.
When Morecambe appointed Ken Waterhouse as manager, a new and exciting chapter in Gerry's life story began.
The Morecambe FC team of the 1967-1968 season was probably the most successful in the club's history. They won the Lancashire Combination League, the Senior Cup, the Junior Cup and the Combination Cup all in the same year.
Gerry continued to play football for Morecambe while running businesses locally and hung up his boots at the age of 33 before going into coaching and acting as assistant manager to Ronnie Clayton and Dave Roberts, being a major figure as the Shrimps won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1974.
He also acted as coach to the team under the management of Les Rigby.
Over the years Gerry has remained a popular and regular visitor to the Globe Arena and a big supporter of the club.
We would like to send all our wishes to his family at this sad time.