Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 9:18:38 GMT
I fear Timbo will be struggling to find too many Morecambe v Torquay programmes from the past. So, in their possible absence, here’s a few pages from my only visit to Christie Park well over twenty years ago.
The GMAC Cup – the General Motors Acceptance Corporation was (according to an advert in the programme) “the world’s major provider of instalment credit facilities to the General Motors Dealer Organisation and their customers” – was open to the (GM Vauxhall) Conference clubs and members of the premier divisions of its feeder leagues. Roughly speaking, it was of the status of the Setanta Shield. If the following year’s Rothmans is to be believed the actual trophy involved was the Bob Lord Trophy (begging the question: who are the current holders of this piece of silverware?)
As to the 1987/88 competition, Horwich RMI were to beat Weymouth in the final.
Weymouth were in the Conference at the time; Morecambe in the Northern Premier League. You'll notice a few familiar Torquay United names in the Weymouth line-up and profiles. Another - Chris Myers - appeared for Weymouth in the final at Horwich. Richard Bourne also played a few games that season.
Although there was a fair degree of excitement about a semi-final being played at Morecambe on a Sunday, the occasion paled into insignificance alongside the 1962 FA Cup 3rd round game between the two clubs – watched by an all-time Christie Park record crowd of 9,383. Morecambe had started in the first qualifying round and had beaten Chester in the 2nd round proper; Weymouth beat Newport County en route and were to lose to PNE in the 4th round (a special event for Frank O’Farrell no doubt).
The picture of the Christie Park main stand is taken from Kerry Miller's 1996 non-leagues ground book in which he states that the structure is very similar to one at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham (where many years later I saw a certain Brian Healy play for Morecambe - he was a decent player, wasn't he?).
This aerial shot is from the current edition of the Aerofilms guide to football grounds. The club are due to move to a new ground at Westgate next season: www.morecambestadium.co.uk
The GMAC Cup – the General Motors Acceptance Corporation was (according to an advert in the programme) “the world’s major provider of instalment credit facilities to the General Motors Dealer Organisation and their customers” – was open to the (GM Vauxhall) Conference clubs and members of the premier divisions of its feeder leagues. Roughly speaking, it was of the status of the Setanta Shield. If the following year’s Rothmans is to be believed the actual trophy involved was the Bob Lord Trophy (begging the question: who are the current holders of this piece of silverware?)
As to the 1987/88 competition, Horwich RMI were to beat Weymouth in the final.
Weymouth were in the Conference at the time; Morecambe in the Northern Premier League. You'll notice a few familiar Torquay United names in the Weymouth line-up and profiles. Another - Chris Myers - appeared for Weymouth in the final at Horwich. Richard Bourne also played a few games that season.
Although there was a fair degree of excitement about a semi-final being played at Morecambe on a Sunday, the occasion paled into insignificance alongside the 1962 FA Cup 3rd round game between the two clubs – watched by an all-time Christie Park record crowd of 9,383. Morecambe had started in the first qualifying round and had beaten Chester in the 2nd round proper; Weymouth beat Newport County en route and were to lose to PNE in the 4th round (a special event for Frank O’Farrell no doubt).
The picture of the Christie Park main stand is taken from Kerry Miller's 1996 non-leagues ground book in which he states that the structure is very similar to one at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham (where many years later I saw a certain Brian Healy play for Morecambe - he was a decent player, wasn't he?).
This aerial shot is from the current edition of the Aerofilms guide to football grounds. The club are due to move to a new ground at Westgate next season: www.morecambestadium.co.uk
