Sammy McIlroy Era
McIlroy took over the Shrimps initially as caretaker manager on 17 November 2005 after Jim Harvey had suffered a heart attack. In the absence of Harvey, Morecambe reached the Conference play-offs. They lost to Hereford 4–3 on aggregate, but this was a fantastic achievement for McIlroy, who was appointed permanent in May 2006. This was to be a wise appointment, as McIlroy guided to club to League Two for the first time in their history with a 2–1 win over Exeter City at Wembley Stadium. In their first season in the league, the Shrimps finished a very respectable 11th, and managed to beat Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 and 3–1 in the English League Cup respectively. In the 2008–09 season, Morecambe finished 11th yet again. The 2009–10 season was to be Morecambe's last at Christie Park, the club's home for 89 years. They surpassed every pundit's predictions to finish 4th, and earned the chance to participate in the League Two play-offs. However, they lost 7–2 on aggregate to Dagenham and Redbridge. A 6–0 battering at Victoria Road made the second leg almost meaningless, but McIlroy encouraged his team to a 2–1 win in the last ever game at Christie Park. The Shrimps then moved on to their first season at the Globe Arena, however it was a disappointing one. They finished 20th, only four points above the relegation zone. On 9 May 2011 McIlroy left the club by mutual consent.
Read more about this topic: Morecambe F.C.
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“How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)