Chris Morris (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Christopher "Chris" B. Morris (born 24 December 1963 in Newquay
, Cornwall
, England
) is a former professional footballer who made his name as a defender with Celtic
in Scotland
and Sheffield Wednesday & Middlesbrough
in England, among others. Morris also had a successful playing career with the Republic of Ireland
national side during the Jack Charlton
era.
under ex-England international, Jack Charlton
, in the old Division Two
. He won promotion to the First Division
with Wednesday in 1984. Morris made seventy-four appearances between 1983 and 1987, scoring one goal along the way. Morris then moved north of the border to Celtic, signing for £125,000 on 10 August 1987. He made his debut in the 4-0 win over Morton, at age 23. Between 1987 and 1992, Morris was the regular right-back for the Bhoys, with 160 appearances and 8 goals to his name. Morris then moved on to Middlesbrough on 14 August 1992, where he remained for several seasons as a first team regular without ever becoming a crowd favourite. Troubled by an anterior cruciate ligament injury
, he retired at the end of the 1996-97 season
, when Boro were runners-up in the FA Cup
and Football League Cup
, but a 3-point deduction for postponing a match at short notice had caused them to be relegated from the Premier League.
and Ray Houghton
into the national side. Morris, whose mother, Evelyn, was born in Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, also qualified under this rule, and made a promising debut in the 5-0 friendly win against Israel
at Dalymount Park
on 10 November 1987. Morris soon made the number 2 shirt his own, and played his part in the successful qualification bid for Euro 88, the Republic's first ever major tournament. Morris played in all three games of the championships, including the famous 1-0 win over England
. Although the Republic were eliminated following a late goal by Wim Kieft
in their final group game against Holland
, Morris became a household name in Ireland, along the with rest of the team, who were greeted as heroes on their return home. Morris continued in the side that qualified for World Cup 1990 in Italy
, another major first for the Republic. He played in every game This time it was a goal from Salvatore Schillaci
of Italy that saw Ireland off in the quarter finals, but it was another high-point for the team, and for Morris. Ireland failed to qualify for the next European Championships in 1992, and Morris played his final game against Wales
on 17 November 1992.
After leaving football, Morris went back to Cornwall to work for the family business "Morris Cornish Pasties," which his parents have run since 1971. He also coaches a college football team who were crowned east cornwall champions in Morris's first season with them.
Newquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a former professional footballer who made his name as a defender with Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Sheffield Wednesday & Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in England, among others. Morris also had a successful playing career with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
national side during the Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
era.
Club career
Morris first began his career in 1982, signing for Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
under ex-England international, Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
, in the old Division Two
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...
. He won promotion to 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....
with Wednesday in 1984. Morris made seventy-four appearances between 1983 and 1987, scoring one goal along the way. Morris then moved north of the border to Celtic, signing for £125,000 on 10 August 1987. He made his debut in the 4-0 win over Morton, at age 23. Between 1987 and 1992, Morris was the regular right-back for the Bhoys, with 160 appearances and 8 goals to his name. Morris then moved on to Middlesbrough on 14 August 1992, where he remained for several seasons as a first team regular without ever becoming a crowd favourite. Troubled by an anterior cruciate ligament injury
Anterior cruciate ligament injury
An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament can be a debilitating musculoskeletal injury to the knee, seen most often in athletes. Non-contact tears and ruptures are the most common causes of ACL injury....
, he retired at the end of the 1996-97 season
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
, when Boro were runners-up in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, but a 3-point deduction for postponing a match at short notice had caused them to be relegated from the Premier League.
International career
In 1988, Morris once again caught the attention of Jack Charton, who by then was the Republic of Ireland boss. Since taking over in 1986, Charlton had begun to make maximum use of the rule that allowed players with Irish heritage to play for the national team. In doing so, Charlton managed to get top players like John AldridgeJohn Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
and Ray Houghton
Ray Houghton
Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father...
into the national side. Morris, whose mother, Evelyn, was born in Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, also qualified under this rule, and made a promising debut in the 5-0 friendly win against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
on 10 November 1987. Morris soon made the number 2 shirt his own, and played his part in the successful qualification bid for Euro 88, the Republic's first ever major tournament. Morris played in all three games of the championships, including the famous 1-0 win over 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...
. Although the Republic were eliminated following a late goal by Wim Kieft
Wim Kieft
Willem "Wim" Cornelis Nicolaas Kieft is a retired Dutch footballer who played as a centre forward.A prolific goalscorer whose main asset resided in his heading ability, he played in his country for two of the most important clubs, Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven, with equal team and individual...
in their final group game against Holland
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
, Morris became a household name in Ireland, along the with rest of the team, who were greeted as heroes on their return home. Morris continued in the side that qualified for World Cup 1990 in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, another major first for the Republic. He played in every game This time it was a goal from Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...
of Italy that saw Ireland off in the quarter finals, but it was another high-point for the team, and for Morris. Ireland failed to qualify for the next European Championships in 1992, and Morris played his final game against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 17 November 1992.
Personal life
Morris has a daughter, Rebecca, and a son, Christopher, from his first marriage.After leaving football, Morris went back to Cornwall to work for the family business "Morris Cornish Pasties," which his parents have run since 1971. He also coaches a college football team who were crowned east cornwall champions in Morris's first season with them.