Clubs from across the country have shown their support to Morecambe FC on what was due to be the start of the season for the Shrimps.
Morecambe were due to start their National League campaign away at Boston United on Saturday, but remain suspended from playing due to the ongoing crisis over their future, with the club remaining unsold, and staff still without pay.
The National League could expel the club completely if the sale process isn’t completed by August 20.
Over the weekend, a number of clubs from across the country offered Morecambe fans free entry to watch their team play, while others also undertook fundraising activities for the official body of the fans, the Shrimps Trust.
Bury FC - who themselves were expelled from the English Football League due to very similar financial issues in 2019 - welcomed Morecambe supporters to their opening NPL Division One West game against Newcastle Town for free.
Morecambe fans showing their season ticket or the club’s badge were able to watch the game, more than a hundred supporters attending the game.
Video below by Colette Davies
Generous donations from Bury and Chester fans also covered the cost of a coach to Gigg Lane organised by the Shrimps Trust, as football fans united behind the stricken fanbase. There was also a bucket collection at the game to raise funds for the Shrimps Trust, with a total of £2304 collected.
Bury posted on X: “We’ve been where you are. We stand with you.”
League Two Harrogate Town also offered Morecambe season ticket holders free entry to yesterday’s game with Grimsby Town, with a small handful of fans making the journey to Yorkshire.
Below - Morecambe fan Michael Gibson at Harrogate Town
Northern League Kendal Town pledged to donate 50 per cent of the gate fee of any Shrimps’ fans at their game with Crook Town.
Around 35 fans attended at Parkside Road, with more than £503 raised for the Trust.
Meanwhile, other Morecambe fans attended other fixtures as neutrals, including three fans who decided to travel to Boston United’s Jakeman Community Stadium anyway, where the club had rearranged a National League Cup fixture in place of facing the Shrimps.
The fans – Paul Carter, Yvonne Carter and Jon Orton – watched the game and were welcomed by the chairman of the club (below)
Fans from other clubs showed their support too, including at Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, where a banner (below) was on display during their friendly with Wolfsburg.
This Saturday (August 16), Morecambe FC season ticket holders can attend Preston North End's fixture in the Championship against Leicester City at Deepdale for free. Click here for details .
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Morecambe Football Club is currently suspended from the National League. The men's first team are unable to start the new league season this weekend, and has been removed from this season's National League Cup.
The club could be expelled from the league altogether after a meeting on August 20.
Staff at the club were paid only a third of their salaries in June and none in July, and a proposed sale of Morecambe FC has stalled.
Bills have been unpaid amid the financial crisis gripping the club, and the Shrimps are under a transfer embargo, preventing them from signing new players.
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