In the second of our Centenary Tales series we highlight Paul Burns’s interview in Derek Quinn’s book Sunset Over Christie Park.
"I had an amazing time at Morecambe and like most players I will say it was the best time of my playing career.
"But it was more than that as it was a special time for me in my family life. I got married when I was there and became a dad for the first time as well and made some of the best friends I have ever had. One of the highlights was obviously the year `we won promotion to the Conference in 1995. We had a fantastic team and although we sealed promotion with a draw against Buxton at Christie Park the game was an anti-climax in some ways because we wanted to go up as champions.
If we had won that game and beaten Colwyn Bay on the last day of the season we could have done that but it wasn’t to be. But take nothing away it was a brilliant time and it was just a momentous occasion for the club the players and the fans. To make it all the more special for me I won the players’ player of the year and the fan’s player of the year awards that season and that meant so much to me.
"To win promotion was a huge achievement and we carried on much of that success into the Conference and I will always remember the opening game against Telford United. It was a glorious sunny day and a carnival atmosphere with brass bands playing. To make the occasion even better I scored a penalty and I think I got two penalties in the next game so three goals in two games was a great start for me. I think I scored 19 out of the first 19 penalties I took in the Conference which was a great record. I always aimed to the right of the keeper and hit it firmly and it used to pay off.
"I was lucky enough to play in two great teams really under Bryan Griffiths and then Jim Harvey and I had a great time. We had some great players in those teams and I’m sure like me, most of them think that nothing came close to Morecambe and its family atmosphere.
"What I take as a legacy of my time here at Morecambe are the many friends I’ve made not just team mates but people who have stayed with me for life. I’ve had a couple of holidays with Brian Healy and his family and we have many good close friends which I’m thankful to the club for.
"I think the day I had to leave was the biggest low point in my career and that is despite the fact I went on to pick up an FA Trophy winner’s medal with John Norman at Burscough a few years later which was a massive achievement for a club of its size.''