Morgan Fox (footballer) explained

Morgan Fox
Fullname:Morgan Alexander Fox[1]
Birth Date:21 September 1993[2]
Birth Place:Chelmsford, England
Position:Left-back
Currentclub:Queens Park Rangers
Clubnumber:15
Youthyears1:2008–2010
Youthclubs1:Ipswich Town
Youthyears2:2010–2012
Youthclubs2:Charlton Athletic
Years1:2013–2017
Clubs1:Charlton Athletic
Caps1:103
Goals1:1
Years2:2013–2014
Clubs2:Notts County (loan)
Caps2:7
Goals2:1
Years3:2017–2020
Clubs3:Sheffield Wednesday
Caps3:90
Goals3:3
Years4:2020–2023
Clubs4:Stoke City
Caps4:70
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Queens Park Rangers
Caps5:20
Goals5:1
Nationalyears1:2013–2014
Nationalteam1:Wales U21
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:17:10, 13 May 2024 (UTC)

Morgan Alexander Fox (born 21 September 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for club Queens Park Rangers.

Fox began his career with Charlton Athletic and became a regular in the first team in the 2014–15 season after gaining experience on loan at Notts County. He made 116 appearances for the Addicks before joining Sheffield Wednesday in January 2017. Fox spent three and a half years at Hillsborough playing 103 times. Fox joined Stoke City in August 2020.

Early life

Fox was born in Chelmsford and grew up in South Woodham Ferrers near Southend-on-Sea and attended Southend High School for Boys.[3]

Playing career

Charlton Athletic

Fox earned his first professional contract at Charlton Athletic in March 2012 after leaving the Ipswich Town academy.[4] Fox was a member of the Charlton Athletic U21 side which won the Professional Development League 2 title in 2012–13, under the management of Nathan Jones.[4] Fox joined League One side Notts County on loan on 28 November 2013.[5] [6] He made his debut at Meadow Lane two days later in a 1–0 defeat to Brentford, coming on a substitute for Manny Smith on 68 minutes.[7] He scored his first senior goal on 14 December in a 4–0 win over Colchester United at the Colchester Community Stadium.[8] He played even times for the Magpies before returning to Charlton in January 2014.

Fox was an un-used substitute in Charlton's 1–0 home league win against Queens Park Rangers but made his debut in the next match against Sheffield Wednesday in a 2–1 win in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Hillsborough.[9] [10] On 25 April 2014, Fox signed a new three-year deal, securing his future to Charlton until 2017.[11] He became a regular member of the first team in 2014–15, making 34 appearances as the team finished in 12th position.

He scored his first goal for Charlton in a 2–0 win against Queens Park Rangers on 8 August 2015.[12] Fox signed a contract extension with Charlton in September 2015.[13] He played 45 times in 2015–16 as Charlton struggled and were relegated to League One.[14] Fox remained with Charlton for the first half of the 2016–17 campaign before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in January 2017.[15]

Sheffield Wednesday

On 6 January 2017, Fox joined Sheffield Wednesday for a fee of £700,000.[16] Fox made his full debut for Wednesday on 31 January 2017 in a 2–2 draw away at Bristol City.[17] He score his first goal for the Owls on 4 March 2017 in a 5–1 win against Norwich City.[18] Wednesday reached the Championship play-offs in 2016–17 but lost on penalties to Huddersfield Town.[19] He played 32 times in 2017–18 as the team finished in a mid-table. Fox struggled for form in 2018–19 and came in for criticism from the Wednesday supporters. He improved under Garry Monk in 2019–20 with the Sheffield Star commenting: "Fox endured a tough 2018–19 season at Hillsborough, with fans turning against him as he struggled for form and confidence, but fast-forward a year and he's become one of the top performers at Wednesday and is one of the first names on Garry Monk's teamsheet".[20]

On 24 June 2020, it was announced that he had declined a new contract and would be leaving the club on 30 June 2020.[21]

Stoke City

On 7 August 2020 it was announced that Fox joined Stoke City, on a free transfer following his departure from Sheffield Wednesday.[22] [23] Fox made his Stoke debut on the opening day of the 2020–21 season in a 0–0 draw away at Millwall.[24] He was a regular in Michael O'Neill's side until he picked up a hamstring injury in December 2020 which ruled him out until February 2021.[25] On his return to the team Fox managed three more games before he aggravated his injury against Sheffield Wednesday which kept him out for the remainder of the season.[26] Fox struggled with injures and form in 2021–22 and was restricted to 13 appearances.[27] Fox was a regular in the team in 2022–23, playing 43 times as Stoke finished in 16th position.[28] His contract was not renewed and he was released at the end of the season.[29] [30]

Queens Park Rangers

Fox joined Queens Park Rangers on 24 July 2023, signing a two-year deal at Loftus Road.[31]

International career

Fox was capped seven times for Wales at under-21 level.[32]

Fox was named in the Wales senior squad for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Cyprus and Israel played on 3 and 6 September 2015.[32] In March 2023 he was called up for the Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Croatia and Latvia.[33]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Charlton Athletic2013–14Championship60100070
2014–15Championship3101020340
2015–16Championship4211020451
2016–17League One240301020300
Total10316050201161
Notts County (loan)2013–14League One71000071
Sheffield Wednesday2016–17Championship101000000101
2017–18Championship2804000320
2018–19Championship2503010290
2019–20Championship2723120323
Total90310130001034
Stoke City2020–21Championship2000020220
2021–22Championship1002010130
2022–23Championship4002010430
Total700404000780
Queens Park Rangers2023–24Championship2011010221
Career total2906211130203267

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Professional Retain List & Free Transfers 2012/13. The Football League. 3 June 2013. 13 January 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131012034401/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf. 12 October 2013.
  2. Web site: Morgan Fox. 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 16 July 2018.
  3. Web site: Southend High School for Boys' pride at their old boys Morgan Fox and Josh Rees making a name for themselves in Championship . Echo News . 7 August 2020.
  4. Web site: Who is Morgan Fox? Introducing Stoke City's new left-back . Stoke Sentinel . 8 August 2020.
  5. News: Notts County: Morgan Fox, Bradley Jordan and Callum Ball join. 22 December 2013. BBC Sport. 28 November 2013.
  6. News: Notts County: Greg Abbott praises Charlton Athletic loan duo. 22 December 2013. BBC Sport. 29 November 2013.
  7. News: Notts County 0 – 1 Brentford. 22 December 2013. BBC Sport. 30 November 2013.
  8. News: Colchester 0 – 4 Notts County. 22 December 2013. BBC Sport. 14 December 2013.
  9. Web site: Charlton Athletic 1-0 Queens Park Rangers - BBC Sport . Bbc.co.uk . 2014-02-22 . 2019-01-27.
  10. Web site: Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Charlton Athletic - BBC Sport . Bbc.co.uk . 2014-02-24 . 2019-01-27.
  11. Web site: Fox and Phillips extend deals . Charlton Athletic . 2014-04-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140426214610/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20140425-phillips-fox-1510172.aspx . 2014-04-26 .
  12. News: Charlton 2–0 QPR. BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. 29 August 2016.
  13. Web site: Charlton: Morgan Fox and Tareiq Holmes-Dennis extend contracts . BBC Sport . 8 August 2020 . 30 September 2015.
  14. Web site: Bolton 0–0 Charlton . BBC Sport . 8 August 2020.
  15. Web site: Morgan Fox outlines his reasons for joining Sheffield Wednesday . Sheffield Star . 8 August 2020.
  16. News: Morgan Fox departs for Sheffield Wednesday . Charlton Athletic Official Site . 6 January 2017 . 6 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170106201937/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/charlton-morgan-fox-sheffield-wednesday-transfer-3505076.aspx . 6 January 2017 . dead .
  17. Web site: Bristol City 2–2 Sheffield Wednesday . BBC Sport . 8 August 2020.
  18. Web site: Sheffield Wednesday 5–1 Norwich City . BBC Sport . 8 August 2020.
  19. Web site: Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Huddersfield Town . BBC Sport . 8 August 2020.
  20. Web site: OutFoxed – How Morgan turned things around at Sheffield Wednesday . Sheffield Star . 8 August 2020.
  21. News: Owls 2019/20 player update. 24 June 2020. BBC Sport. 24 June 2020.
  22. Web site: Morgan Fox: Stoke City sign full-back after Sheffield Wednesday departure . BBC Sport . 7 August 2020.
  23. Web site: 'Great asset' - Stoke City seal three-year deal for Morgan Fox . Stoke Sentinel . 7 August 2020.
  24. Web site: 'Touch of class' - Stoke City boss hails new boy as Gary Rowett dishes out compliments . Stoke Sentinel . 13 May 2021.
  25. Web site: Stoke City cursed with left-back injury to give Michael O'Neill food for thought in transfer window . Stoke Sentinel . 13 May 2021.
  26. Web site: Stoke City hit by injuries to five left-footers as trio sit out training ahead of Middlesbrough . Stoke Sentinel . 13 May 2021.
  27. Web site: Keep, sell or release - Stoke City squad assessed ahead of massive summer window . Stoke Sentinel . 14 May 2022.
  28. Web site: Stoke City end of season player ratings for 32-man squad . Stoke Sentinel . 12 May 2023.
  29. Web site: Stoke City: Phil Jagielka, Morgan Fox & Nick Powell among seven released . BBC Sport . 11 May 2023.
  30. Web site: Morgan Fox signs off from Stoke City with classy message . Stoke Sentinel . 13 May 2023.
  31. Web site: Morgan Fox joins the R's . QPR . 24 July 2023.
  32. Web site: BBC Sport – Euro 2016 qualifiers: James Chester set to miss Wales qualifier . BBC Sport. 2 September 2015 . 2 September 2015.
  33. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65014921 Fox Wales call up