Morecambe
vs
Rochdale
Match preview

Build Up

....... there's something clearly not right about this game. It's not down to Morecambe's past history or some feeling that they are undeserving to be where they are. Far from it, as regular readers will know, we welcome as much as anyone the promoted sides from the Conference. Ahem.

But for two Lancastrian sides, it seems somewhat odd that this game will be the first ever meeting between the two sides. Obviously we accept that there's not been any League meetings between the two teams, but there's not been anything. You look around the traditional Lancashire area, and we've got plenty of history with many of the non league North West sides.

Whether it be FA Cup games, or even when the Football League experimented with allowing Conference sides into the AutoWindscreen Shield in its various guises. In fact, all we can recall between the two teams is a obscure pre-season friendly masquerading as a Lancashire Cup game back in 1996 when fans remained optimistic about the Barrow era.

And given that Morecambe have tended to float around the Conference level, it is odd how our paths haven't crossed more than what they have. You look around the NW, and we've got history with the likes of Northwich, Southport, Alty, and Barrow, but Morecambe seems to have been missed off the Rochdale historical map.

Even with the switch of players between the two clubs, there's not been a right lot to talk about there. Obviously we've had Perkins off them in the past year, and they've got Simon Grand in their squad. And before them, you have to go back to such greats as Carl Parker, Frankie Gamble and Julian Dowe. Oh and a certain K. Hill who finished his career at Christie Park.

Even a trip to the Morecambe sites don't make it much easier. All you find is the typical former Conference side with the chips on their shoulder about any negative comments about them and their non league past. Funny how quick they are to play the little old non league side card when the Match of the Day cameras come to town. Or I guess Jim Bowen went to every game.

So given how tricky it is to write about Morecambe, here's five facts about Morecambe which may or may not be true:

1) Morecambe's Christie Park ground was named after former Dale striker Iyesden Christie who played for Morecambe as a youngster.

2) Both Sammy McIlroy and his assistant manager Mark Lillis have independently of each other applied to become Rochdale manager at various times in the past. As did former Morecambe manager Jim Harvey who seems to apply every time the job became available in the past ten years.

3) Dale had a £50,000 bid for Morcambe left winger / striker Wayne Curtis during the 2005-6 season. We signed Rickie Lambert instead. And Marcus Richardson.

4) Jon Newby plays as a striker for Morecambe. At least he's not Marcus Richardson.

5) In a bid to boost the hype for this game, Morecambe have produced a poster for you to cut out and stick in your bedroom window. Click here to see it full glorious technicolour

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Oppositionwatch - Morecambe

Sammy Mac's lot have made a decent start to the season, and whilst 12th position might not sound the most impressive, they've been solid enough with some great results. Indeed, scalps of Wolves and PNE in the League Cup have strongly suggested that they are here to more than just enjoy a full time footballing holiday.

And full marks to them, because they've done so pretty much with the same squad that they had last season. There's been the odd tweaking here and there, but McIlroy has pretty much stuck with what he had, and he's seeing the benefit from it.

However, it's probably too early to start claiming they are full established now. This honeymoon period has been seen many a time before, and teams like Morecambe can find themselves in a post November slump where they don't know where their next point is coming from. Accrington had a very similar start to last season before finishing the season in a relegation battle.

The Shrimps were dealt a blow last week when on loan keeper Joe Lewis suffered a horrendous facial injury and is set to miss the game this weekend. He required 20 stitches and reserve keeper Steven Drench is set to come in and make his first start of the season, despite only recently being back from injury himself.

Former Bury striker Jon Newby is likely to be up front for Morecambe this weekend.

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