Johnny Morrissey
Encyclopedia
John "Johnny" Morrissey (born 18 April 1940) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League
for Liverpool
, Everton
and Oldham Athletic
.
, and began his football career as a junior with Liverpool F.C.
, signing professional forms when he turned 17, and making his debut in September 1957. He played as an outside left, and was unable to dislodge Alan A'Court
from that position in the first team.
In 1962 he "crossed the park" to join Everton
for a fee of £10,000, sold without manager Bill Shankly
's knowledge. He scored on his Everton debut, in the first league Merseyside derby
in 11 seasons, which finished as a 2–2 draw, and went on to help the club to the First Division
title in his first season. He scored the goal in the semi-final that took Everton to the 1968 FA Cup Final
, and played on the losing side in that match. In ten years with Everton, Morrissey scored 50 goals from 314 games in all competitions. Despite his small stature Morrissey had a reputation as an uncompromising player, Jimmy Greaves
once commenting that he "always got the retaliation in first!".
He finished his career with a brief stay at Oldham Athletic
, which brought his total of League appearances over the 300 mark. His son John had a successful career with Tranmere Rovers
making 470 League appearance for them between 1985 and 1999.
The 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...
for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
.
Club career
Morrissey was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and began his football career as a junior with Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, signing professional forms when he turned 17, and making his debut in September 1957. He played as an outside left, and was unable to dislodge Alan A'Court
Alan A'Court
Alan A'Court was an English footballer who mostly played for Liverpool.- Life and playing career :Born in Rainhill, Lancashire, England, A'Court was a winger who started out at Prescot Cables as an amateur before he was signed by Reds manager Don Welsh...
from that position in the first team.
In 1962 he "crossed the park" to join Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
for a fee of £10,000, sold without manager Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
's knowledge. He scored on his Everton debut, in the first league Merseyside derby
Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the name given to any football match contested between Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the city of Liverpool in England...
in 11 seasons, which finished as a 2–2 draw, and went on to help the club 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....
title in his first season. He scored the goal in the semi-final that took Everton to the 1968 FA Cup Final
1968 FA Cup Final
The 1968 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Everton at Wembley. West Brom won by a single goal, scored by Jeff Astle three minutes into extra time. The goal meant that Astle had scored in every round of that season's competition....
, and played on the losing side in that match. In ten years with Everton, Morrissey scored 50 goals from 314 games in all competitions. Despite his small stature Morrissey had a reputation as an uncompromising player, Jimmy Greaves
Jimmy Greaves
James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -...
once commenting that he "always got the retaliation in first!".
He finished his career with a brief stay at Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, which brought his total of League appearances over the 300 mark. His son John had a successful career with Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
making 470 League appearance for them between 1985 and 1999.
External links
- League stats at Neil Brown's site