Fleetwood enjoyed the best season in their history in 2011/12 as they sealed their first ever promotion to the Football League having enjoyed a rapid rise through the divisions in the last few years. Securing promotion was hardly a surprise given the resources that the club had at the start of the season but the ruthless manner in which it was achieved is still hugely impressive. And at the beginning it looked like they might struggle under the weight of expectations. A severe injury crisis ensued even before the first game of the season and Fleetwood had indeed won just two of their first six games in the league, losing heavily to local rivals Barrow and also to would-be title challengers Wrexham. Micky Mellon managed to completely turn the fortunes of the team around from then on and the team had lost only one league game away from home for the rest of the season and it was the last one in April. It really was quite a turnaround with the team starting to play some controlled passing football and pose a constant threat up front which was little wonder given that the likes of Gareth Seddon, Andy Mangan and Richard Brodie were lighting up the squad. Yet, the brightest jewel in the crown was Jamie Vardy who joined from Halifax at the end of August and completely took the league by storm. His powerful running from the left wing plus the technique and confidence quickly made him look like a player that should be playing at a much higher level. Fleetwood started getting some eye-catching results as the autumn came with Luton suffering a 2:1 loss at Kenilworth Road. The team was gathering momentum and really showed their credentials in a memorable 2:0 FA Cup win away at League One side Yeovil in a FA Cup replay in December. That win set up a big clash against local rivals Blackpool who ran out 5:1 winners but Fleetwood still gave it a good go. Meanwhile, the title battle in the league was shaping up nicely with Fleetwood and Wrexham both racking up the wins. Fleetwood started 2012 with a 6:0 beating of rivals Southport while Mellon was keen to add to his already strong squad with Lee Fowler and Danny Rose spurning Football League interest to join the Codmen. Fowler, in particular, added further control and assurance in midfield and Fleetwood looked unbeatable, getting wins from tough situations in a few key games like the last-minute 2:1 wins at home Grimsby and away at Forest Green. The title was not won yet though going to the final couple of months of the season though despite Fleetwood making it more than 25 games unbeaten in the league. Yet, a gap finally started to open up with Fleetwood maintaining their run by beating form team Mansfield 2:0 at home in March. And by the time of the big game against Wrexham at home on April 10 the title was already all but sewn up. Fleetwood ended the season a bit slowly but nothing could taint what has been a memorable campaign and thoroughly deserved title win for one of the best teams in the Conference in the last few years that should prosper in League Two next season with another promotion not out of the question which will follow the footsteps of Stevenage and Crawley who have mastered this feat in each of the last two seasons.
