Wendell Morgan

Wendell Morgan (born 22 April 1935) is a retired professional Welsh football wing half and outside left who played in the Football League for Brentford, Carlisle United and Gillingham. Though Morgan did not make a first team appearance while with Cardiff City early in his career, his later spells with Swansea Town and Newport County made him one of a small group of players who have been contracted to all three South Wales Football League clubs.

Wendell Morgan
Personal information
Full name Wendell Morgan[1]
Date of birth (1935-04-22) 22 April 1935
Place of birth Gorseinon, Wales
Position(s) Wing half, outside left
Youth career
Grovesend Welfare
1952–1954 Cardiff City
1954–1955 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1955–1957 Brentford 47 (6)
1957–1958 Gillingham 34 (3)
1958–1959 Swansea Town 7 (0)
1959–1960 Newport County 26 (3)
1960–1961 Carlisle United 36 (2)
1961–1962 Llanelly
Teams managed
Garden Village
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early years

Morgan began his career with local Gorseinon non-league club Grovesend Welfare, before moving to First Division club Cardiff City in May 1952.[2] He failed to make an appearance for the first team before departing in June 1954.[3]

Brentford

Morgan signed for newly-relegated Third Division South club Brentford in June 1954, after writing a letter to manager Bill Dodgin to request a trial.[3] He spent the 1954–55 season in the reserve team and finally made the first senior appearance of his career in a 3–0 victory over Crystal Palace on 15 October 1955.[4] He made 16 further appearances during the 1955–56 season and scored five goals.[4] After making five appearances at the beginning of the 1957–58 season,[4] Morgan left the Bees.[3] He made 49 appearances and scored six goals during just under two years as a first team player at Griffin Park.[3]

Gillingham

Morgan signed for Third Division South strugglers Gillingham on a free transfer in September 1957.[3] He immediately established himself in the team, making 38 appearances and scoring four goals,[5] but he could not help the Gills suffering relegation to the Fourth Division at the end of the 1957–58 season.[6] He departed Priestfield in July 1958.[2]

Swansea Town

Morgan returned home to West Glamorgan to sign for Second Division club Swansea Town for a £5,000 fee in July 1958.[3] He was kept out of the team by fellow outside left Norman Lawson and made just seven appearances during the 1958–59 season.[2] He left Vetch Field in June 1959.[2]

Newport County

Morgan moved across South Wales to join Third Division club Newport County in June 1959.[2] He made 26 league appearances and scored three goals during the 1959–60 season, but the club finished in mid-table mediocrity.[1][7] He left the club in July 1960.[2]

Carlisle United

Morgan moved back to England to join Fourth Division club Carlisle United in July 1960.[2] He made 36 league appearances and scored two goals during his season with the club.[1]

Llanelli

Morgan ended his career with Welsh League First Division club Llanelly during the 1961–62 season.[2]

Representative career

As a boy, Morgan represented the Great Britain Boys Clubs team.[2]

Managerial career

After his retirement from football, Morgan served as manager at Welsh lower league club Garden Village.[2]

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1955–56[4] Third Division South 16 5 1 0 17 5
1956–57[4] 26 1 1 0 27 1
1957–58[4] 5 0 — 5 0
Total 47 6 2 0 49 6
Gillingham 1957–58[5] Third Division South 34 3 4 1 38 4
Career total 81 9 6 1 87 10

References
  1. "Wendell Morgan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. "Players of the past | Swansea City FC". swanseacity.com. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  3. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 110. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 383–384. ISBN 0951526200.
  5. "Gillingham FC Career Details". Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  6. Gillingham F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  7. Newport County F.C. at the Football Club History Database
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