Morecambe have announced their 17th summer signing, striker Lee Angol, who reunites with former manager Derek Adams.
Angol, who previously played under Adams at Bradford City, joins Morecambe after being released by Sutton United at the end of last season. This marks the 14th club of his career.
The 29-year-old striker began his career in the Tottenham Hotspur academy, but his first professional football experience came with Wycombe Wanderers in 2012. Angol found his scoring form during a loan spell with Conference South side Boreham Wood in the 2014-15 season.
He was a key player in Boreham Wood’s promotion to the National League through the playoffs, scoring 25 goals in 45 appearances. His outstanding performance earned him the Conference South golden boot, as well as Boreham Wood’s player and young player of the year awards.
In 2015, Angol moved to Peterborough United, where he scored 11 goals in his first season. He was then loaned to Lincoln City at the end of the 2016-17 season, contributing six goals in 13 games to help them win the National League title and secure promotion back to the EFL.
Angol had subsequent spells with several EFL clubs, including Mansfield Town, Shrewsbury Town, Leyton Orient, and Bradford City, before moving to Sutton United in January 2023. He made 51 appearances for the South London club, scoring six goals.
Now, Angol stays in League Two for the 2024-25 season, having signed with Derek Adams’ Morecambe.
Angol’s move to Morecambe and reunion with Derek Adams could signal a fresh start for the 29-year-old striker, as he hinted when signing:
“It feels nice and refreshing to be in a new environment with new goals and targets, so for me it feels like a fresh start.”
A fresh start is precisely what the former Bradford striker needs after a challenging period at Sutton. Angol struggled to find his form in South London, often being deployed as the U’s target man, a role that did not suit his style of play.
Despite his height, Angol is not effective as the focal point in an attack, as evidenced by his 31.6% success rate in aerial duels last season. The 29-year-old thrives when the ball is played to his feet, allowing him to take on defenders and shoot at goal. He is versatile enough to play alongside another striker or as a lone striker running the channels.
His ability was showcased during the 2022-23 season, where he averaged 2.04 successful dribbles and 2.31 shots per 90 minutes. His goal in the FA Cup against Plymouth Argyle demonstrated his potential, as he outplayed his defender before firing into the bottom corner.
Under Adams’ leadership last season, Morecambe predominantly used a 4-3-2-1 formation, in which Angol could fit as the main striker. With limited resources and a low budget, Angol could be a valuable, cost-effective option for the Lancashire side, provided they play to his strengths and avoid relying on long balls for him to hold up or win flick-ons.
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