Club chief executive, Rod Taylor, speaking at Sunday night's annual end of season awards night, paid tribute to the support given to Sammy McIlroy's team in 2007/08.

He said: "It's sometimes a bit of a cliche but the supporters have been a real 12th man this season.

"From the Carling Cup nights at Preston and Wolves early on, right up to the party atmosphere at Milton Keynes on Saturday, you have been fantastic and I know Sammy and the lads have appreciated that effort.

"We were looking to increase attendances and we were hoping to get an average of 2,500 and we've beaten that with 2,800.

"But we have big plans for this club and getting more people through the gates is crucial to the success of that.

"We are moving to a new stadium as we all know and we'd like to see us over 3,000 next season and beyond.

"I'd ask all supporters to respond to our excellent season ticket offer where we have frozen prices at this season's amount and also our family ticket, which offers great value for money.

"And get out there and spread the word to friends and family.
"The more we get through the turnstiles, the more able we'll be to achieve what we want with this club."

About the new stadium, Mr Taylor said it was a necessary move but one that's not without its emotion.

"A lot of us have spent half our lives at Christie Park and we've had some of our best memories there over the years.

"But if we are to move forward we need the facilities the new stadium will offer us and this board is determined to make this club progress.

"In the Football League you have to move forward just to stand still and we want to do much more than that."

* MORECAMBE Reserves assistant manager Tony Gribbin also praised the Shrimps followers, saying they had inspired his side to their recent Pontin's League Cup final victory over West Brom.

"We were heavy-legged and losing against a very good West Brom side and we honestly didn't know where the extra effort was going to come from," Tony told the audience at the Carleton on Sunday.

"Then we heard the banging of a drum and the chanting in the North Stand and it really lifted the players to equalise before the penalty shoot-out win."

Supporters have the chance to show their support again tonight, Wednesday, when the Shrimps host Manchester City in the semi-final of the divisional play-offs. Morecambe qualified as West Division champions, with City the best runners-up from the three sections.

The winners of tonight's game (kick-off 7pm) take on the winners of the Nottingham Forest v Hartlepool (Central v East) semi.