the FA Cup and FA Trophy then in July 2001 won the Liverpool Senior Cup for the first-ever time with a 1–0 victory over Conference neighbours Southport. During this period the club had a youth development programme game and one graduate, 19-year-old Lee McEvilly, signed for Rochdale in December 2001 for a club record £20,000 fee. Within 116 days of signing McEvilly had won full international honours for Northern Ireland against Spain. Following the resignation of John Davison the club appointed Shaun Teale as player/manager in May 2002 and the ex-Aston Villa defender went on to lead the club to its greatest-ever achievement as Burscough became the smallest club to win the FA Trophy following a 2–1 victory over Tamworth at Villa Park on 18 May 2003. Played in front of a crowd of 14,296, it was the Linnet's twelfth game in the competition, including a 2-0 quarter final win over holders, and eventual Conference champions, Yeovil. Despite the win, Teale was sacked six weeks later. Former Liverpool, Galatasaray and West Ham United midfielder Mike Marsh was appointed manager but after a poor start to the season Marsh resigned and ex-Southport defender Derek Goulding took over in October 2003. The 2003–04 season saw Burscough finish with a run of victories that allowed them to move from the relegation zone into the promotion play-off positions. Despite playing all their games away from home the Linnets went on to reach the play-off final where they only went down at Bradford Park Avenue following extra-time. The 2004–05 season ended in controversy as the Linnets were denied a play-off place following a decision to award three points to other teams for unplayed games against Spennymoor United who could not complete their fixtures. In 2005–06 the club reached the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. In reaching that milestone they defeated League One side Gillingham 3–2 at Victoria Park, before losing to Burton Albion. At the end of the 2006–07 season Burscough enjoyed one of their most successful in history when the Linnets won the Northern Premier League Premier Division and the Lancashire Junior Cup for the first time in 40 years when neighbours Marine were defeated. The league success was only confirmed on the last day of the season when the Linnets won at AFC Telford United. The victory meant they overtook Telford at the top of