Ernie Morgan Explained

Ernie Morgan
Full Name:Ernest Morgan
Birth Date:1927 1, df=y
Birth Place:Royston, England
Death Place:Rainham, Kent, England
Position:Striker
Youthclubs1:Royston Youth Club
Youthyears1:1943–?
Years1:?–1949
Clubs1:Royston Colliery
Years2:1949–1953
Clubs2:Lincoln City[1]
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:1953–1957
Clubs3:Gillingham[2]
Caps3:155
Goals3:73
Manageryears1:1962–1966
Managerclubs1:Chatham Town
Manageryears2:1966–1972
Managerclubs2:Dartford
Manageryears3:1972–1973
Managerclubs3:Maidstone United
Manageryears4:1973–1975
Managerclubs4:Dartford
Manageryears5:1978–1980
Managerclubs5:Tonbridge
Manageryears6:1982–1983
Managerclubs6:Dartford

Ernest Morgan (13 January 1927 – 3 October 2013) was an English professional football player and manager. He spent the bulk of his career with Gillingham, where he set a record for the highest number of goals scored in a single season which still stands.

Playing career

Born in Royston, Morgan worked as a miner from the age of 14 and played for his colliery football team, leading them to a Sheffield Senior Cup win shortly after World War II, the first time a works team had won the cup.[3]

Morgan initially turned down the chance to turn professional, despite being offered a contract by Barnsley, but eventually signed for Lincoln City, albeit on a part-time basis. He only managed three Football League appearances for the "Red Imps" and was allowed to move on to Gillingham in 1953 for a fee of £3,000.

Finally turning fully professional with the Kent club, he scored 21 goals in his debut season and then topped this by scoring 31 in 1954–55, a new club record. This record was equalled by Brian Yeo during the 1970s but Morgan remains the joint holder of the record to this day.[4] [5]

He was selected to play for the Third Division South team against the North in 1955–56.

Morgan's playing career came to an end due to injury in 1957.

Managerial career

In 1962 Morgan was appointed manager of Chatham Town, having previously served as coach. He went on to manage a number of other Kent non-league clubs, with his greatest success coming at Dartford, whom he led to the Southern League championship and an appearance in the FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium.

Morgan died, aged 86, in Rainham, Kent on 3 October 2013.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LINCOLN CITY : 1946/47 - 1986/87 & 1988/89 - 2005/06 . 2007-08-22 . Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Transfer Database .
  2. Web site: GILLINGHAM : 1950/51 - 2005/06 . 2007-08-20 . Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Transfer Database .
  3. Book: Triggs, Roger. The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd . 2001. 0-7524-2243-X. 226.
  4. Book: Triggs, Roger. The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd . 2001. 0-7524-2243-X. 348.
  5. Web site: History of the Gills . 2007-08-23 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070821142644/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10416,00.html . 21 August 2007 . dmy .
  6. http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway_messenger/news/death-of-gills-legend-6967/ Tributes to Gillingham FC legend Ernie Morgan after death aged 86