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History of Marine Football Club
The Club celebrated its centenary in 1994 having been formed by a group of local businessmen and former college students – taking its name from the hotel on the River Mersey sea front at Waterloo, seven miles to the north of Liverpool – where the founders met. They moved to their present ground The Arriva Stadium (formerly Rossett Park) in 1903.
Marine quickly made an impression on local football, winning numerous titles in the I Zingari League and the Liverpool Combination. Their greatest success as an amateur team in this period culminated in an F.A. Amateur Cup Final appearance in 1931/32, when they lost 7 – 1 to Dulwich Hamlet in front of a 22,000 crowd at West Ham United. In 1946 they went close again by reaching the semi-final.
In 1935/36 they moved to the all-professional Lancashire Combination and enjoyed limited success before moving to the Cheshire County League in 1969/70. In 1972 Roly Howard was appointed first team manager and completed 1,975 competitive games over a 33 year period before retiring at the end of the 2004/05 season. He was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the longest serving manager in world football as Marine enjoyed its most successful period winning some 30 trophies.
The Club relinquished its amateur status and became professional in 1974. Three Cheshire League Championships were won in five seasons before progressing to the Northern Premier League in 1979/80. They have twice been Champions (1993/94 and 1994/95) as well as twice being runners-up and have won the League Cup on three occasions (1984/85, 1991/92, and 2002/03).
The best performance in the F.A. Cup was reaching the 3rd Round in 1992/3 when they lost 3-1 to Crewe Alexandra. Marine have also achieved ten first and two second round appearances in the FA Cup and have beaten two Football League Clubs (Barnsley and Halifax Town) in the competition. Marine have twice reached the semi-finals of the F.A. Trophy in 1983/84 and 1991/92 and have been winners of 13 senior county cups.
Under the new management team of Alvin McDonald and his assistant, Peter Carroll, Marine have begun to challenge for honours again. In the past two years the Mariners have qualified for the UniBond Premier play-offs only to lose to the eventual winners on both occasions.
Management Team
Alvin McDonald was assistant manager at Burscough before becoming manager of Bromborough Pool. After a successful three years he took over at Poulton Victoria where he won seven trophies in six seasons which included winning the Carlsberg Cup at Wembley. In 1998 Alvin was appointed manager at Vauxhall Motors bringing in Peter Carroll as his assistant. The pairing had a successful period which saw Vauxhalls move up the leagues and into the Northern Premier League. They also knocked QPR out of the FA Cup. Two short managerial stints followed at Northwich Victoria and Runcorn FC Halton during the 2004/05 season before joining Marine.
Playing Squad
Andy Banks - Goalkeeper. Joined Marine in January 2007 from Fleetwood Town where he played nearly 200 games in five seasons. Also played for Bamber Bridge.
Andy Ralph - Goalkeeper. Formerly with Vauxhall Motors and Kidderminster Town. Rejoined Marine in January 2008 after a year in New Zealand.
Andy Brown - Goalkeeper. Student who signed in September 2007. Previously with Chesham United.
Adam Farley - Defender. A member of Everton's FA Youth Cup winning side in 1998 who played one game for the first team. Joined Altrincham before moving to Burscough and Droylsden. Signed for Marine at the start of the 2005/06 season.
James Connolly - Defender and team captain. Joined Marine on loan from Southport but made permanent move to Rossett Park in 2003. Commanding and solid defender.
Freddie Potter - Defender. Graduated from the Reserves at the end of last season.
Phil Brazier - Defender. Signed from Vauxhall Motors in the summer of 2006. Captained the Liverpool F.C. Youth Cup winning team that included Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher. Previously with Northwich Victoria.
Wayne McDermott - Defender / Midfielder. Left sided player who was previously with Everton, Northwich Victoria and Leek Town. Signed in the summer of 2006 from Vauxhall Motors.
Darren Brookfield - Midfielder. Joined the Club on loan from Southport in 2004 before signing in summer 2005. Tenacious and attacking player who can also play up front.
Eddie Hussin - Midfielder. Rejoined Marine in February 2007 after spells with Alrincham and Leigh RMI. Began at Everton where he played for the Reserves and has also played for Chorley and Winsford United. Appointed player coach in 2007.
Lee Parle - Midfielder. A former Mariner who returned to the club after spending four seasons with Runcorn F.C. Halton. Industrious and combative central midfielder.
Ian Latham - Midfielder / Defender. Versatile player who joined Marine in December 2005 from Witton Albion. Had a brief spell with Leigh RMI.
Paul Woolcott - Midfielder. Graduated from the reserve team last season.
Steve Hussey - Midfielder. Joined Marine from Clitheroe in December 2006. Previously with Colwyn Bay, the Everton academy, Burscough and Skelmersdale United.
Nicky Young - Forward. Returned to Marine in summer 2005 from Runcorn F.C. Halton. An experienced striker who spent eight seasons at Vauxhall Motors scoring over 100 goals.
Peter Cumiskey - Forward. Joined initially on loan from Vauxhall Motors in March 2006. Played over four successful seasons with the Motormen scoring 90 goals in 200 appearances. Previously with Leigh RMI and Prescot Cables. Last season he was the Clubs leading goalscorer with 27 goals.
Shaun Tuck - Forward. Signed from Liverpool FA Premier League East Villa in October 2007. He is a former full time trainee with Accrington Stanley and played briefly for Marine whilst on loan in season 2004/5.
Marine Football Club 2007/2008
Photo by Ken Head
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