Sammy Morgan
Encyclopedia
Samuel John "Sammy" Morgan (born 3 December 1946 in Belfast
) is a Northern Irish former footballer, who now works as Academy Manager at Ipswich Town
.
Moving from non-league Gorleston
to Port Vale
in 1970, the young forward picked up the club's Player of the Year
award 1972
, before winning a move to Aston Villa
the following year. Villa won promotion out of the Second Division
in 1974–75, though he was never a first team regular and so was sold on to Brighton & Hove Albion
later in 1975. Helping Brighton to promotion out of the Third Division
in 1976–77, following this success he moved on to Cambridge United
. With United he won promotion out of the third tier for a second successive season, before moving on to Sparta Rotterdam
in the Netherlands
. In 1979 he transferred to FC Groningen, helping them to the Eerste Divisie
title in 1979–80. He then returned to his native Gorleston, who he later managed.
Between 1972 and 1978 he won eighteen caps for Northern Ireland
, and scored three goals at international level. These goals came against Spain
, Cyprus
, and Norway
.
After his retirement he worked behind the scenes at various Football League clubs.
and attended Nettlefield Primary School alongside with George Best
. When he was 11 years old, his family settled in Gorleston
, in England
. He studied at the University of Nottingham
to become a maths
and physical education
teacher
.
at the relatively older age of 23, having played for local club Gorleston
in the Eastern Counties League
before signing for Fourth Division
Port Vale
in January 1970, after impressing on trial. The late bloomer
made his professional debut as a substitute on 30 March 1970, scoring in a 1–1 draw at Newport County. After quitting teaching to take up professional football, he had to wait until the following season
to make his full debut, appearing as the #10 on 15 August 1970, finding the net in a 2–0 win at Swansea City
. The club won promotion to the Third Division
at the end of the campaign, and he found himself to be a regular starter in the first team, and picked up six goals in forty games in the 1970–71
season.
He nearly left the club at the start of the 1971–72
campaign after falling out with manager Gordon Lee
over his decision to remain resident in Great Yarmouth
, rather than move closer to Vale Park
. However the pair settled their dispute, and Morgan went on to score nine goals in 41 games, picking pup the club's Player of the Year award
. He went on to become the joint-top scorer in the 1972–73
season with eleven goals in 44 games (tied with strike partner Ray Williams
). Aston Villa
purchased Morgan for £22,222 in August 1973 (£5,400 also changed hands due to goalscoring bonuses).
He scored four goals in twelve games during Villa's 1974–75 Second Division
promotion campaign, though his season was hampered by a back injury which kept him out of the 1975 League Cup Final
. He played just the three games in the First Division
before being sold to Brighton & Hove Albion
for £10,000 in December 1975.
Seven goals in eighteen games from Morgan helped him return to the Second Division as a Third Division
runner-up. His time at the Goldstone Ground
was also ravaged with injury and in August 1977 he dropped back into the third tier, signing with Cambridge United
for £15,000. He chose Cambridge over a return to Port Vale, then managed by Roy Sproson
.
That season saw the club achieve promotion as runners-up, but Morgan left United in August 1978 after a dispute with the club. Choosing to head to the Netherlands
, rather than Norway
, he signed with Sparta Rotterdam
. He moved on to FC Groningen in 1979, where he achieved a fourth promotion as the club claimed the Eerste Divisie
title. He returned to his old club Gorleston in 1980 and was appointed manager the following year.
s for his country
between 1972 and 1978. He scored a goal on his debut in a 1–1 draw with Spain
on 16 February 1972, after replacing Derek Dougan
in the first eleven. He also scored against Cyprus
on 8 May 1973 and Norway
on 29 October 1975, both 3–0 home wins.
in Gorleston
. He also became team manager, secretary and later chairman of Great Yarmouth Schools F.A.
He then became a schoolboy coach in the United States
before returning to England to become a schoolboy coach at Norwich City
youth team in 1990. In January 1998 he signed for Norwich full time as the youth development officer and was able to become the club's first Director of their Football Academy, as he holds a UEFA
Class A licence.
He resigned his Norwich post in 2004 and moved to East Anglian neighbours
Ipswich Town
as education officer. In February 2009 he became Academy Manager.
with Port Vale
with Aston Villa
with Brighton & Hove Albion
with Cambridge United
with Groningen
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...
) is a Northern Irish former footballer, who now works as Academy Manager at Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.
Moving from non-league Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in 1970, the young forward picked up the club's Player of the Year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
award 1972
1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1971–72 season was Port Vale's sixtieth season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season back in the Third Division...
, before winning a move to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
the following year. Villa won promotion out of 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...
in 1974–75, though he was never a first team regular and so was sold on to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
later in 1975. Helping Brighton to promotion out of the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1976–77, following this success he moved on to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
. With United he won promotion out of the third tier for a second successive season, before moving on to Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In 1979 he transferred to FC Groningen, helping them to the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
title in 1979–80. He then returned to his native Gorleston, who he later managed.
Between 1972 and 1978 he won eighteen caps for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
, and scored three goals at international level. These goals came against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, Cyprus
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
, and Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
.
After his retirement he worked behind the scenes at various Football League clubs.
Early life
Morgan was born in East BelfastBelfast East
Belfast East can refer to:*The eastern part of Belfast.*Belfast East *Belfast East *Belfast East *Belfast East...
and attended Nettlefield Primary School alongside with George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
. When he was 11 years old, his family settled in Gorleston
Gorleston
Gorleston-On-Sea, also known colloquially as Gorleston, is a settlement in Norfolk in the United Kingdom, forming part of the larger town of Great Yarmouth. Situated at the mouth of the River Yare it was a port town at the time of the Domesday Book. The port then became a centre of fishing for...
, in 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...
. He studied at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
to become a maths
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
Club career
Morgan entered the Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
at the relatively older age of 23, having played for local club Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
in the Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
before signing for Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in January 1970, after impressing on trial. The late bloomer
Late bloomer
A late bloomer is a person whose talents or capabilities are not visible to others until later than usual. The term is used metaphorically to describe a child or adolescent who develops more slowly than others in their age group, but eventually catches up and in some cases overtakes their peers, or...
made his professional debut as a substitute on 30 March 1970, scoring in a 1–1 draw at Newport County. After quitting teaching to take up professional football, he had to wait until the following season
1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1970–71 season was Port Vale's fifty-ninth season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division...
to make his full debut, appearing as the #10 on 15 August 1970, finding the net in a 2–0 win at Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. The club won promotion to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
at the end of the campaign, and he found himself to be a regular starter in the first team, and picked up six goals in forty games in the 1970–71
1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1970–71 season was Port Vale's fifty-ninth season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division...
season.
He nearly left the club at the start of the 1971–72
1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1971–72 season was Port Vale's sixtieth season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season back in the Third Division...
campaign after falling out with manager Gordon Lee
Gordon Lee (footballer)
Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...
over his decision to remain resident in Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
, rather than move closer to Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
. However the pair settled their dispute, and Morgan went on to score nine goals in 41 games, picking pup the club's Player of the Year award
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
. He went on to become the joint-top scorer in the 1972–73
1972–73 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Port Vale's sixty-first season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Third Division. Their promotion efforts ended with a sixth place finish, whilst in the two cup competitions they lost out to Newcastle United and West Ham United...
season with eleven goals in 44 games (tied with strike partner Ray Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....
). Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
purchased Morgan for £22,222 in August 1973 (£5,400 also changed hands due to goalscoring bonuses).
He scored four goals in twelve games during Villa's 1974–75 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...
promotion campaign, though his season was hampered by a back injury which kept him out of the 1975 League Cup Final
1975 Football League Cup Final
The 1975 Football League Cup Final took place on 1 March 1975 at the old Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Aston Villa and Norwich City. To date it is the only time a major domestic Cup Final that has been played at Wembley Stadium between two clubs where neither were then currently in...
. He played just the three games in 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....
before being sold to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
for £10,000 in December 1975.
Seven goals in eighteen games from Morgan helped him return to the Second Division as a Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
runner-up. His time at the Goldstone Ground
Goldstone Ground
The Goldstone Ground was a football stadium and home ground of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. between 1902 and 1997. The club currently plays at American Express Community Stadium, a stadium on the outskirts of the city, following the move from their temporary stadium in the Brighton suburb of...
was also ravaged with injury and in August 1977 he dropped back into the third tier, signing with Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
for £15,000. He chose Cambridge over a return to Port Vale, then managed by Roy Sproson
Roy Sproson
Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957...
.
That season saw the club achieve promotion as runners-up, but Morgan left United in August 1978 after a dispute with the club. Choosing to head to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, rather than Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, he signed with Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
. He moved on to FC Groningen in 1979, where he achieved a fourth promotion as the club claimed the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
title. He returned to his old club Gorleston in 1980 and was appointed manager the following year.
International career
Morgan won eighteen capCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s for his country
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
between 1972 and 1978. He scored a goal on his debut in a 1–1 draw with Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
on 16 February 1972, after replacing Derek Dougan
Derek Dougan
Alexander Derek Dougan was a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers....
in the first eleven. He also scored against Cyprus
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
on 8 May 1973 and Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
on 29 October 1975, both 3–0 home wins.
Post-retirement
When his playing days were over he became a teacher at Lynn Grove High SchoolLynn Grove High School
Lynn Grove VA High School is a Voluntary Aided comprehensive school with approximately 1100 children on roll of between 11 and 16. It is located in the town of Gorleston near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk...
in Gorleston
Gorleston
Gorleston-On-Sea, also known colloquially as Gorleston, is a settlement in Norfolk in the United Kingdom, forming part of the larger town of Great Yarmouth. Situated at the mouth of the River Yare it was a port town at the time of the Domesday Book. The port then became a centre of fishing for...
. He also became team manager, secretary and later chairman of Great Yarmouth Schools F.A.
He then became a schoolboy coach in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
before returning to England to become a schoolboy coach at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
youth team in 1990. In January 1998 he signed for Norwich full time as the youth development officer and was able to become the club's first Director of their Football Academy, as he holds a UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
Class A licence.
He resigned his Norwich post in 2004 and moved to East Anglian neighbours
East Anglian Derby
The East Anglian derby is a sobriquet used to describe football matches held between Ipswich Town and Norwich City. In recent years it has sometimes been described humorously as the Old Farm derby, a reference to the Old Firm derby played between Celtic and Rangers...
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
as education officer. In February 2009 he became Academy Manager.
Honours
Individual- Port Vale F.C. Player of the YearPort Vale F.C. Player of the YearThe Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
: 19721971–72 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1971–72 season was Port Vale's sixtieth season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season back in the Third Division...
with Port Vale
- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
promotion winner: 1969–701969–70 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1969–70 season was Port Vale's fifty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. They achieved promotion with a fourth place finish, taking them back into the Third Division...
with Aston Villa
- Football League 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...
runner-up: 1974–75
with Brighton & Hove Albion
- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
runner-up: 1976–77
with Cambridge United
- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
runner-up: 1977–78
with Groningen
- Eerste DivisieEerste DivisieThe Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
champion: 1979–80