“The National League North is a tough league”: Shrimps’ boss prepared for a tough challenge
AFC Fylde have set the example when it comes to winning the National League North title as a full-time club.
That is the view of Morecambe manager Adam Lakeland as he prepares for his first season in charge of the Shrimps.
Three relegations in four seasons leave them playing regionalised football for the first time in three decades, having played in League One as recently as 2023.
Morecambe will remain a full-time club next season under new boss Lakeland, who has plenty of experience of life at that level.
Whoever wins NLN next season will succeed Fylde as champions after they finished five points clear of South Shields.
They rattled up 100 points in winning the division, scoring 112 goals along the way, under head coach Craig Mahon and his assistant, former Morecambe stalwart Alex Kenyon.
The Coasters will be making the trip to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium as one of Morecambe's pre-season opponents, as they meet on Tuesday, July 28 (7pm).
Mahon succeeded Lakeland as Curzon Ashton manager in 2023 before moving to Mill Farm last summer and guiding them back to non-league’s top flight.
Asked about whether there had been any input from Mahon and Kenyon, Lakeland told a fans’ forum last week: “He (Mahon) was under a lot of pressure this year and massive credit to him and Alex for winning that league.
“It’s difficult to win any league and the National League North is a tough league as we’re going to find next year.
“I think when you are one of the full-time teams, when you’ve got one of the bigger budgets, you’ve got a target on your back and everybody wants to beat you.
“That’s hard because you’ve got to deal with that expectation and pressure every day, not just every game.
“From the outside, they’ve obviously handled that incredibly well and massive respect to them for winning that division; hopefully we can do that ourselves next year.”
Fylde will be one of seven pre-season matches for Morecambe ahead of the new campaign, one of which will be held behind closed doors.
Clitheroe announced on social media that they would host the Shrimps on July 14 (7.45pm).
Morecambe, for their part, have also revealed matches at Kendal Town (July 4) and Bury (July 25), both with 3pm kick-offs.