Bert Morley
Encyclopedia
Herbert "Bert" Morley was an English professional footballer who played at right-back for Grimsby Town
and Notts County
in the 1900s and 1910s. He also made one appearance for England
in 1910.
, but was brought up in the Kiveton Park
area of Rotherham
, where he played youth football for the local team. His Football League career began when he joined Grimsby Town
in August 1904. He remained with Grimsby for three years before moving to Notts County
in March 1907.
He stayed at Notts County for eight years during which time they were generally in the lower half of the First Division
until they were relegated in 1913. They quickly returned to the top flight, winning the Second Division
title in 1913–14. Morley's professional career was ended a year later, when league football was suspended during the First World War.
His solitary international appearance came when he was called up in place of Bob Crompton
for England
against Ireland in the opening match of the 1910 British Home Championship
played at the Solitude Ground, Belfast
on 12 February 1910. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with goals from Frank Thompson
for Ireland and Harold Fleming
for England.
for several years.
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in the 1900s and 1910s. He also made one appearance for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1910.
Football career
Morley was born in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, but was brought up in the Kiveton Park
Kiveton Park
Kiveton Park, informally Kiveton , is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, England. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, from the Norman conquest to 1868, Kiveton was a hamlet of the parish of Harthill-with-Woodall...
area of Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, where he played youth football for the local team. His Football League career began when he joined Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in August 1904. He remained with Grimsby for three years before moving to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in March 1907.
He stayed at Notts County for eight years during which time they were generally in the lower half of the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
until they were relegated in 1913. They quickly returned to the top flight, winning the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title in 1913–14. Morley's professional career was ended a year later, when league football was suspended during the First World War.
His solitary international appearance came when he was called up in place of Bob Crompton
Bob Crompton
Robert "Bob" Crompton was an English professional footballer. He spent the entirety of his career with his hometown club, Blackburn Rovers...
for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
against Ireland in the opening match of the 1910 British Home Championship
1910 British Home Championship
The 1910 British Home Championship was an annual football competition played between the British Home Nations during the second half of the 1909/10 season...
played at the Solitude Ground, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
on 12 February 1910. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with goals from Frank Thompson
Frank Thompson (footballer)
Francis William "Frank" Thompson was an Irish international football player and manager who played professionally in Ireland, England and Scotland.-Career:...
for Ireland and Harold Fleming
Harold John Fleming
Harold John Fleming was a footballer for St. Marks F.C. and Swindon Town.-Football career:Fleming was an Inside Forward and began his career at St. Marks before being invited for a trial at Swindon Town by manager, Sam Allen. Fleming scored a brace in a 4-0 win over Salisbury City F.C...
for England.
Later career
After the war, Morley continued to be associated with Notts County and acted as a scoutScout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for several years.
Honours
Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
- Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions: 1913–14