As Newport County prepare to take on Morecambe, we took a closer look at Saturday’s opposition.
What’s their story?
Founded in 1920, Morecambe wouldn’t join the Northern Premier League (part of the seventh and eighth tiers of the English Football League system) until 1968. Just six years later, the Shrimps marked a milestone by winning the FA Trophy in 1974. The club’s success continued with a victory in the Northern Premier League President’s Cup in 1992.
Under manager Jim Harvey, Morecambe secured a second-place finish in the 1994–95 Northern Premier League Premier Division, earning promotion to the Conference. Despite play-off semi-final setbacks in 2003 and 2006, Morecambe finally earned promotion to League Two in 2007, defeating Exeter City 2-1 in the Conference play-off final.
Morecambe spent 14 years in League Two, including a near-miss in the 2009-10 play-off semi-finals. The 2020-21 season saw them fulfil their dream of reaching League One. The Shrimps narrowly defeated Newport County 1-0 in the play-off final, with Mendes Gomes scoring a decisive penalty in the 107th minute of extra time.
In their first season in League One, Morecambe avoided relegation, finishing 19th. However, their stay in the third tier was short-lived, as a 22nd-place finish the following season resulted in relegation. Last season, Morecambe made a steady return to League Two, securing a mid-table finish in 15th place.
Who’s the boss?
Derek Adams, in his third spell at Morecambe, brings a wealth of experience to the Shrimps. Adams began his managerial career at Ross County in a player-coach role, where he quickly made an impact. He led Ross County to the Scottish Second Division title in 2008, earning promotion to the First Division. The following season, Adams guided Ross County to the 2010 Scottish Cup final, achieving notable upset victories over Scottish giants Hibernian and Celtic. However, they were defeated 3-0 by Dundee United in the final.
Adams first ventured into the English Football League with Plymouth Argyle, where he led the club to a second-place finish, earning promotion to League One. After a challenging season in League One, he was dismissed in 2019, leading to his first stint with Morecambe. During this period, Adams successfully guided Morecambe to promotion to League One, highlighted by a 1-0 victory over Newport County in the 2020-21 play-off final.
Adams then left Morecambe to take on a managerial role at Bradford City. His time there was brief, and he returned to Morecambe just nine months later.
Even though he left Morecambe in ninth place in League Two, Adams’ third spell with Ross County ended abruptly following a 5-0 defeat to Motherwell on February 7, 2024.
Adams returned to Morecambe at the start of this season and boasts an impressive managerial record, having managed 718 games with 280 wins, 184 draws, and 254 losses, giving him a current win percentage of 39%.
Who’s the captain?
French-born midfielder Yann Songo’o, with extensive League One and League Two experience, currently captains Morecambe. Songo’o developed his early footballing skills in the academies of Deportivo La Coruña, Metz, and Zaragoza.
After spending a few seasons with Spanish clubs Sabadell and Pobla Mafumet, Songo’o signed with MLS side Sporting Kansas City. However, un-able to make an appearance there, he joined Orlando City on loan for the rest of the 2013 MLS season.
Songo’o's performances at Orlando City caught the attention of Championship side Blackburn Rovers, but like his time in Kansas City, he did not make an appearance for Rovers. During a loan spell with Ross County, Songo’o first connected with his current manager, Derek Adams. Impressed by his abilities, Adams brought Songo’o to Plymouth Argyle, where he made 139 appearances. He later had stints with Scunthorpe United, Morecambe, Bradford City, and Walsall.
Songo’o rejoined Morecambe at the start of the 2023-24 season and has made 50 appearances in his second stint with the Shrimps. His impressive performances and leadership on the field were recognised by Adams, who awarded him the captain’s armband at the start of this season.
Key Player
Rhys Williams, on loan from Premier League giants Liverpool, brings top-level experience to the Shrimps, making him a key player to watch in Saturday’s clash.
During the 2020-21 season, Williams made 19 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool, including nine Premier League matches and six Champions League outings. Notably, he helped Liverpool secure a 1-0 victory over Ajax in the Champions League group stage, coming off the bench to help keep a clean sheet at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Since then, Williams has gained further experience through loan spells with Swansea City, Blackpool, Aberdeen, and Port Vale. Williams showed promise in his debut for the Shrimps, despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to a strong Doncaster Rovers side that had convincingly beaten Accrington Stanley 4-1 on the opening day of the 2024-25 season.