When Morecambe lifted their first piece of silverware

Morecambe's celebrate their 1924/25 title victory

This week, club historian Lawrence Bland takes up the story further with a look back at a successful season in 1924/25 which laid the foundations for trophies to come in later years...

Further good players arrived to join Morecambe for the 1924/25 Lancashire Combination season.

These players included inside-right John Hosker from Accrington Stanley, centre-forward Eugene O’Doherty (ex-Blackpool and Walsall), inside-left Arthur Brown from Lancaster Town and outside-left C Lomax, while Jack Sloane returned in goals.

Another of the players was former Preston North End, Southport and Chesterfield right-back Bill Greatorex.

Born in Preston on January 3, 1895, William Henry Alphonse Greatorex started with Preston Winckley in 1914, before serving with the Royal Horse Artillery in World War One on the Somme.

On demob, he signed amateur forms with North End in August 1919 and professionally in November 1919.

He spent two seasons at Deepdale from 1919-21, making more than 20 appearances before moving to Southport for £75 in September 1921.

After two years with Southport, he joined Chesterfield in September 1923 and made 13 appearances in his only season.

He then joined Morecambe in August 1924, adding extra quality to a side which enjoyed success in the 1920s.

He moved to Darwen in 1928/29 before passing away in Preston on July 20, 1971.

Greatorex was part of a good Morecambe side, which went on to win the Lancashire Combination championship in his first season.

They had trailed Rochdale Reserves for most of the season but they dropped a point in their final game.

Facing Barnoldswick Town in their last game, Morecambe won 4-0 at home with goals from O’Doherty (2), Farnworth and Gradwell to lift the title.

The club again reached the final of the Combination Cup, but lost, this time 1-0 at home to Chorley on April 27.

The Combination title was the start of a successful period with Lancashire Junior Cup wins in 1925/26 and 1926/27, as well as Combination Cup victory in 1926/27.

Lawrence Bland is also appealing for readers to kindly scan any old photos of players and teams – especially from the club’s first 50 years – for a future history of the club.

Anyone who can oblige should email [email protected]