Morris Fred Image 8 West Bromwich Albion 1924

Description

Tipton, Staffordshire born inside forward Fred Morris had played in local Midlands football for Tipton Victoria and Redditch Town from September 1910, and was capped as an England junior international in 1911 before joining First Division West Bromwich Albion in May 1911, making his Football League debut against Sunderland in April 1912, scoring in a 1-0 victory a week before the FA Cup Final for which Morris wasn’t picked, and which Albion lost to Barnsley in a replay. He became a regular in the first team and a regular scorer later that year, being the club’s top scorer in the last season before the interruption of the First World War with 11 goals in 1914-15, guesting for Fulham and Watford during the War, scoring a goal a game in 24 appearances for The Cottagers between 1917 and 1919.

After the War it was Morris’s goals that drove Albion to their League Championship triumph in 1919-20, catching fire with an incredible 37 strikes in 40 games, including a remarkable 5 goal feat against Notts County in an 8-0 win in October 1919. From the end of November to early January he scored 13 goals in 8 consecutive games including 5 consecutive braces, and only one match wasn’t won. He also won The Charity Shield in a 2-0 win over Tottenham at the end of the season. In 1920-21 his 16 goals ensured he was The Baggies’ top scorer for three consecutive seasons either side of the War.

He scored on his England debut in an incredible 5-4 win over Scotland at Hillsborough in April 1920, winning a second international cap against Ireland at Roker Park that October in a 2-0 win. He also represented The Football League once, Morris scoring twice in a 4-0 win over The Scottish League at Celtic Park in March 1920. In August 1924 he transferred to Coventry City for £625 after 116 goals in 284 Baggies appearances. His one season stay at Coventry saw another 9 goals in 24 appearances before joining non league Oakengates Town for £50 in August 1925, and he subsequently retired in May 1930.

NB in the photograph Morris scores in a 5-0 FA Cup 2nd round victory over The Corinthians at The Hawthorns on 2nd February 1924. The Corinthians goalkeeper is former Everton, Chelsea and England international B. Howard Baker.