The general consensus was that Morecambe’s first-ever season in League One would be one of struggle and ultimately end in relegation.
But thanks to the goals of Cole Stockton, the Lancashire seaside town that counts heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury among its residents has more than a fighting chance of survival.
Stockton, 27, has netted 12 times in 15 games across all competitions during a blistering start to the campaign and the personal accolades have flowed for League One’s joint-top goalscorer.
Cole Stockton has taken Morecambe’s promotion into League One in his stride with 10 league goals and 12 overall during the opening weeks of the season
Stockton, 27, celebrates scoring in Morecambe’s win over Lincoln City late last month
World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury lives and trains in Morecambe and Stockton would love to see him attend one of their matches
He won back-to-back EFL Player of the Month gongs in August and September and also claimed September’s Goal of the Month prize for an audacious 40-yard lob against AFC Wimbledon.
Now, Stockton has scooped the first-ever PFA Vertu Motors Player of the Month prize by topping a fan poll and admits he might need a bigger shelf to show them all off.
The PFA commissioned this artwork of Stockton by David Roman to mark his success in the Player of the Month vote
Indeed, such was the ease with which Stockton took to League One football after Morecambe’s promotion he was being mentioned in the same breath as Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as one of Europe’s most in-form strikers a few weeks back.
‘It is something you would never think of, even being in the same sentence as some of those players,’ Stockton tells Sportsmail. ‘But it is nice to hear and I have just got to continue doing what I am doing.’
Even when Morecambe won promotion by beating Newport County at Wembley back in May, there were plenty telling Stockton he’d never be good enough for third-tier football despite starting his career at that standard with Tranmere.
‘I’ve always believed in myself, that I was good enough to play at that level,’ he said.
‘Even touching back on last year, I was told I wasn’t good enough for League One after being promoted and it’s nice to prove those people wrong.
‘It was social media but I had the medal round my neck to get into League One. I wanted to silence it, but more for myself as a personal achievement.’
Stockton celebrates Morecambe’s Play-off final victory over Newport County back in May
Morecambe had the smallest budget even in League Two last season but defied the odds under manager Derek Adams to reach the highest point in their 101-year history.
Adams left for Bradford City two days after the play-off win but Stephen Robinson has picked up the baton and the Shrimps have certainly not been overawed in a league featuring some famous names in the game.
They drew at Ipswich on the opening day and beat another ex-Premier League club in Sheffield Wednesday at the end of August but three straight losses of late have seen them slump to 18th.
‘We were favourites to go down last year and we were like a team of bandits, in terms of just being there for each other, and look where it got us,’ Stockton says.
‘This season, we have a much better squad and we’re well driven. We have to use the relegation predictions as motivation, it keeps us hungry to prove people wrong and we’re proving something to ourselves.
Stockton tries to find a way through the Burton Albion defence during last weekend’s game
‘It’s a good challenge for us all. We have got a new manager in this season and the way he is as a manager and a person is just incredible.
‘His attention to detail is something I have never seen before and you are always learning day-in, day-out and taking that into games and it is just waiting for that to fully click now.
‘We had a great start to the season, we having a little sticky spell but it doesn’t change the way we want to play.
‘I always look at what Bolton did last year [in League Two]. They were struggling and they went and got automatic promotion.
‘But the aim has to be survival at the minute, most definitely, we want to be looking up rather than worrying about what is behind us.’
After 13 goals in Morecambe’s League Two promotion season, Stockton has stepped up well
A non-league club until 2007, Morecambe has never witnessed such dizzying footballing heights. So can they attract a certain high-profile fan to their fanbase?
‘There is a buzz, matchdays at our place are lively and it’s nice to see more and more fans coming in week in, week out,’ Stockton says.
‘I know Tyson Fury’s gym is in Morecambe so it would be nice to see him at the stadium. I’d love a signed glove off him!
‘I do watch his fights and the way he is as a person is just incredible.’
Salah is fans’ choice in top-flight
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah added another accolade to his enormous collection when he was voted the PFA Vertu Motors Fans’ Player of the Month for September.
The Egyptian won resoundingly with 69 per cent of the vote after scoring three Premier League goals during the month and became the maiden winner of the award.
Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic was the most popular pick in the Championship, Stockton won in League One and Forest Green’s Jamille Matt scooped the prize in League Two.
Chelsea forward Fran Kirby was voted fans’ favourite for September in the Women’s Super League.
The PFA and Vertu Motors have for the first time commissioned two specialist artists, Marc Loboda and David Roman, who have produced unique individual artwork of all five winners.
The PFA and Vertu Motors commissioned this striking artwork of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to mark his win in their first-ever Player of the Month poll
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