Mick Morris (footballer, born 1943)

Michael John Morris (20 January 1943 – 15 March 2020) was an English footballer who played as a forward. He spent time with Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United (without making a first-team appearance), and Faversham Town, before he joined Oxford United in 1964. He helped the club to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1964–65, before he moved on to Port Vale in July 1967. He helped the "Valiants" to also win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1969–70, before he was moved on to Stafford Rangers in May 1972. After five years with Rangers he ended his career at Leek Town.

Mick Morris

Personal information
Full name	Michael John Morris[1]
Date of birth	20 January 1943[1]
Place of birth	Plaistow, Essex, England[1]
Date of death	15 March 2020 (aged 77)[2]
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Barking
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Grays Athletic
	West Ham United	0	(0)
	Faversham Town
1964–1967	Oxford United	90	(15)
1967–1972	Port Vale	184	(24)
1972–1977	Stafford Rangers
	Leek Town
Total		274+	(39+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Morris played for Barking (Isthmian League), Grays Athletic, West Ham United (without making a first-team appearance), and Faversham Town, before he joined Oxford United in June 1964.[4] He helped Arthur Turner's "U's" to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in the 1964–65 campaign.[4] United managed to establish themselves in the Third Division in 1965–66 and 1966–67. He scored 15 goals in 90 league games during his time at the Manor Ground.

Morris signed with Stanley Matthews's Port Vale in July 1967, having cut short his honeymoon in Spain in order to join the club.[1][5] He scored six goals in 31 appearances in the 1967–68 season and scored five goals in 38 games during the 1968–69 season.[1] He then found himself as a utility player at Vale Park under manager Gordon Lee, and missed just two of the "Valiants" 52 games in the 1969–70 Fourth Division promotion-winning campaign.[1] He nevertheless had a fractured relationship with Lee.[6] Morris was ever-present in the 1970–71 season, scoring eight goals in 48 appearances.[1] He then scored three goals in 33 games in the 1971–72 campaign.[1] The chant “We’ve got Micky, Micky Morris on the wing" was frequently sung on the terraces.[5] He was given a free transfer in May 1972, after becoming disillusioned with Lee's defensive tactics.[1] He then spent five years with nearby Northern Premier League side Stafford Rangers; he appeared for them at Wembley in the 1976 FA Trophy defeat to Scarborough.[7][5] He later played for Leek Town and Jubilee W.M.C.

Personal life

After retiring as a player he settled in North Staffordshire.[7] He also ran the first ten Potteries marathons, as well as twice in the London Marathon. In 2002, he underwent a double heart bypass operation.[6] His wife, Avis, died in 2008.[5] He was diagnosed with dementia in 2012 and died on 15 March 2020, leaving behind children Andrew and Laura.[5]

Statistics

Source:[8][9]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Oxford United	1964–65	Fourth Division	29	3	1	0	2	0	32	3
	1965–66	Third Division	27	5	0	0	0	0	27	5
	1966–67	Third Division	34	7	1	0	1	0	36	7
	Total		90	15	2	0	3	0	95	15
Port Vale	1967–68	Fourth Division	30	6	1	0	0	0	31	6
	1968–69	Fourth Division	33	4	5	1	1	0	39	5
	1969–70	Fourth Division	45	3	5	0	0	0	50	3
	1970–71	Third Division	46	8	1	0	1	0	48	8
	1971–72	Third Division	31	3	2	0	0	0	33	3
	Total		184	24	14	1	2	0	200	25
Career total			274	39	16	1	5	0	295	40

Honours

Oxford United

• Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion winner: 1964–65

Port Vale

• Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion winner: 1969–70[10]

Stafford Rangers

• FA Trophy runner-up: 1976[5]

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 205. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. Former Oxford Utd and Port Vale promotion winner Mick Morris passes away aged 77
3. "1967: Chapman arrives and Czech tour". onevalefan.co.uk. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
4. "RIP Mick Morris". www.oufc.co.uk. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
5. Baggaley, Michael (19 March 2020). "Tributes are paid to former Port Vale forward Mick Morris". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
6. "Vale's vital away victory came with a few hitches". The Sentinel. 6 February 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
7. "Mystery Sportsman: Can you identify Port Vale's marathon man?". The Sentinel. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
8. Mick Morris at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
9. "Stats". Neil Brown stat site. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
10. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.