MORECAMBE Football Club is saddened to report the death of former player and manager Don Cubbage.
Don (pictured far left training behind Christie Park 1968 with his team mates) was a junior player for Blackpool before signing for Morecambe as a player in 1960, for a short term he transferred to Altrincham before returning to the club.
He played a key role in the success of the team in the 1960s, being a key part of the normal back line. He left in 1971 after making 376 appearances for the club, moving to Penrith and then Trimpell in the West Lancashire League.
Don returned as Manager in November 1979 but he struggled with the limited finances and resources at that time and felt he had to resign in September 1981 after an indifferent start to the season 1981/82
The thoughts of everyone of the club are with Don's family at this time.
Don was interviewed for Derek Quinn's book "Sunset Over Christie Park''. Here is the interview in full.
"Moreambe became a part of my life after I left Blackpool. I was there with Roy Fawcett when the minimum wage was abolished and Blackpool released more than half their squad.
They had 42 players and some of us were forced to leave. I had some offers from Torquay and Accrington but I chose Morecambe because Roy was going there – and they also offered the best money.
It proved to be a great decision because I had a wonderful time at Christie Park. We had two superb years under Joe Dunn and then had a bit of a transitional period under Geoff Twentyman before we had more success under Ken Horton and Ken Waterhouse.
I was very fortunate to play for the club during great times and with great players such as Roy. Joe Dunn was about 36 when he came but he was as fit as a fiddle and had everything and I loved playing with Ray Evans as well. There were some great characters around as well with Charlie Lea and Lance Millard just wonderful to be around.
I shared a house with Charlie and he was just a bundle of fun while Lance was by far the best goalkeeper I ever played with, better in my opinion than internationals I played with in Gordon West and Tony Waters. I rated him that highly.
But Lance was someone who liked to have a good time which I am sure he will admit himself and he just loved being at Morecambe. One thing he did that I always remember was mark every player out of 10 after the game. He would go through everyone but he always got man of the match somehow and he was that big that not many argued.
After playing for so long and at such a great time for the club it came as something of a shock a few years later when I managed the club. The glory days were long behind us and we had no money whatsoever. We had no strip and no training balls it had got that bad.
Colin Udall and I used to go round the pubs asking if they would sponsor us a ball, it was that bad. But despite that we still managed to do something that I was always proud of and opened the World Cup Bar. The opening night was brilliant.
We got Alan Ball and Nobby Stiles to come along with Tom Finney, Keith Newton and Peter Swales and it was an evening I will never forget. One thing I remember was asking Alan Ball how much he wanted for coming and he told me not to be silly and put the money away and put it back into the club. It was a lovely gesture. But another thing we did was write to all the countries who had won the World Cup and we got some great stuff back from a lot of them with Germany sending us Karl Heinz Rummenige’s shirt. The English FA sent us nothing and gave us a price of their kit – with postage and package added!
While looking to get stuff for the club I wrote on spec to Adidas and after a chat with a rep I was surprised one day get a delivery. In it was a full set of Adidas playing kit for the new season. It was unbelievable, a real shock and was a massive boost to us because we literally had nothing.
When I think of those days and look at the new stadium today I find it incredible. The club’s progress has been nothing short of a miracle and I am so pleased for everyone involved.''
Don's funeral will be held at Lancaster & Morecambe Crematorium on Friday 1st June at 12.30pm and Morecambe FC supporters are welcome to attend the service.