How 'frustration' over boxing icon Tyson Fury contributed to disruption during Chelsea vs Morecambe FA Cup tie

There was to be no third round giant-killing at Stamford Bridge when the Shrimps headed to west London, with the Premier League heavyweights easing their way to a 5-0 win. The day was, however, about much more than performances on the field for those from Lancashire.

With a global spotlight being pointed in Morecambe’s direction, disgruntled fans took the opportunity to air their long-standing grievances. The League Two strugglers are facing the threat of suffering relegation out of the EFL.

They were a third-tier outfit when owner Jason Whittingham put the club up for sale in September 2022, and a lack of support off the pitch has contributed significantly to regression on it. Morecambe have endured points deductions and transfer embargoes, with talk of potential takeovers delivering no positive resolution.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Fury, who lives in the Morecambe area, has seen investment speculated on over several years – but a supposed injection of £3,000 spread across several years, which sees his Gypsy King logo appear on the club’s kit, is as far as things have gone.

Tarnia Elsworth, head of the Shrimps Trust, has said in The Mirror: “The Tyson Fury link is frustrating. When we get media coverage he is always brought into the picture but there’s never been an indication that he would buy or is even a fan of the football club.”

With that in mind, 3,000 Morecambe fans – led by the 1920 Union group - took it upon themselves to stage protests during a meeting with Chelsea. They released hundreds of balloons at kick-off, turned their back on the action after 19 minutes and were granted permission to take a number of banners into the ground – with a couple of those reading “862 days for sale, Jason Whittingham sell now” and “Save our Shrimps”.