Morrall George Image 3 Birmingham City 1931

Description

Smethwick, Staffordshire born centre half George Morrall played junior football for Corser Street Primitives in 1923, Chance’s Glass Works in 1924, Littleton Harriers in 1925, returning to play for Corser Street Primitives the same year, and Allen & Everitt’s Sports in 1926 before joining First Division Birmingham in January 1927. He made his Football League debut at Derby County on Christmas Eve that year, making 12 appearances in his debut season and 20 the next before making the pivot role his own from 1929. He was a dominant defender, good both in the air and on the ground, and a fierce tackler. In 1930 it was said of him: “Of the right temperament for his job, he is never flustered, and sizes up the position with the utmost calm before making a tackle. Morrall is a brainy pivot, who should advance to the highest honour in the game”.

In 1931 he played 7 ties including the Final as Birmingham reached the FA Cup Final at Wembley, where they lost 2-1 to local rivals West Bromwich Albion. Morrall continued as a regular in the Birmingham side for another five years before transferring to Swindon Town in June 1936 after 7 goals in 266 appearances. He played for Swindon for the remaining three seasons prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, scoring 5 goals in 107 appearances before his eventual retirement.