Colin Morris appreciation thread

[Cerberus Blade]

not talked about much, but Colin was one of the most entertaining and effective players I’ve seen play for United.

Him and Edwards had an understanding second to none. He made so many goals for Keith and scored a good few himself.

He was a master dribbler of the ball. Could turn defenders inside out and frequently made them look daft or leave them flat on their arse wondering where he’d gone to!

I don’t wish to wait till the lad has passed on (and I hope he’s nowhere near it) to acknowledge the superb contribution to our club.

Never met the guy but he also came across as a decent human being too.

Thanks Colin for some wonderful memories.

 

[Bashar Al Asaba]

Legs have gone.

 

[oldblade]

Morris was one of those players that always got the crowd buzzing with expectation whenever he got the ball. You always expected something positive to happen.

His understanding with Edwards was a key factor in that fourth division championship.

Mind you, I thought Hatton was a Trojan as well. Didn't score as many goals as Edwards, but kept defenders occupied and did a lot of work that enabled Edwards to get into space and goal scoring positions.

 

[YouFUMS]

I had the pleasure of finding myself sat next to him on a flight back from Portugal last October. He lives and works on the Algarve sorting out peoples finances when they are buying property out there. An absolutely delightful man. He loved his time at Bramall lane, and always looks out for our result. He still speaks regularly with Keith Edwards, and Keith Waugh also. Says that there Lee is doing really well coaching in the USA.
He looked in good health, and was telling of how delighted he was to get an invite to the 125 year dinner and how good United are at looking after former players.
great memories indeed.

 

[spongebobblade]

The difference with Morris was that he didn’t just beat a man and get to the byline. He often then ran along it providing a simple pass for Edwards to slot in from close range. King Keith scored plenty in his time but I wonder just how many Morris put on a plate for him? I remember us signing Steve Wigley as his replacement and he had a blinding debut (against Hull I think) but it wasn’t long before Morris saw him off. Probably the most talented winger behind Woody I ever saw pull on a Blades shirt

 

[Cheets]

He was a great player. I was too young to have seen Woodward and Currie but lucky enough to have seen Edwards and Morris. I always remember him looking gutted when he got subbed for Steve Wigley in 1985. Wigley had been signed to replace Morris but Morris ended up outlasting Wigley.
Another memory, his goal against Bristol City in the 1988 play-off home leg and how gutted Morris looked following our relegation - which I think was his final game for us.

 

[oldblade]

The difference with Morris was that he didn’t just beat a man and get to the byline. He often then ran along it providing a simple pass for Edwards to slot in from close range. King Keith scored plenty in his time but I wonder just how many Morris put on a plate for him? I remember us signing Steve Wigley as his replacement and he had a blinding debut (against Hull I think) but it wasn’t long before Morris saw him off. Probably the most talented winger behind Woody I ever saw pull on a Blades shirt

And why on earth Porterfield had that funny few weeks where he kept playing Morris in a central position and dropped Edwards I'll never know.

I thought it was a master stroke when Porterfield signed Morris. He was exactly the right player for us at that time and he helped to maximise Edwards talents.

At that time Edwards was probably the best goal poacher outside of the first (premier) division and Morris was an exceptional winger, so why would you move your exceptional winger into your most prolific goal scorer's position and drop your prolific goal scorer?

Completely baffling.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

Met one of my hero’s when I met and talked to Keith Edwards at Norton Lees golf course whilst playing a round! Told Keith that him and Colin were and still are my all time heroes whilst I have watched the Blades. Keith seemed slightly humbled and actually got me a discount on my next round of golf! Colin had such great balance and was a joy to watch, I always got the impression that he genuinely loved playing for us. He was at Burnley the night Hull had to win 3-0 to tip us for promotion, he says it was one of the longest nights of his life as they won only 2-0. God bless Colin and Keith and thanks for the great memories.

 

[sitwell]

Met him at Burnley when Burnley played Wolves and we went up ,great night all round.
I think we signed him the day we lost away at Colchester 5-2 ,Im sure it was on On the ball at dinner time in a pub in Suffolk somewhere ,and we were all well chuffed because when he played for Blackpool he murdered us.
Top player ,Morris-Edwards- Hatton was fantastic

 

[Mouth of the South]

I had the pleasure of finding myself sat next to him on a flight back from Portugal last October. He lives and works on the Algarve sorting out peoples finances when they are buying property out there. An absolutely delightful man. He loved his time at Bramall lane, and always looks out for our result. He still speaks regularly with Keith Edwards, and Keith Waugh also. Says that there Lee is doing really well coaching in the USA.
He looked in good health, and was telling of how delighted he was to get an invite to the 125 year dinner and how good United are at looking after former players.
great memories indeed.

My dad dealt with him whilst selling a property in Portugal last year - he said he was a great bloke and he spoke fondly of his time at Utd. He also said he got him a very good deal on fx if anyone in considering purchasing/selling over there.

 

[wavy-blade]

Met him at Burnley when Burnley played Wolves and we went up ,great night all round.
I think we signed him the day we lost away at Colchester 5-2 ,Im sure it was on On the ball at dinner time in a pub in Suffolk somewhere ,and we were all well chuffed because when he played for Blackpool he murdered us.
Top player ,Morris-Edwards- Hatton was fantastic

I think it was Hull they played and hull had to win to either stop up or go up , and hull scored in the first 10 mins , it was an unbelievable night that one and we walked to burnleys ground with Colin , reght player wish we had him now !!

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

And why on earth Porterfield had that funny few weeks where he kept playing Morris in a central position and dropped Edwards I'll never know.

I thought it was a master stroke when Porterfield signed Morris. He was exactly the right player for us at that time and he helped to maximise Edwards talents.

At that time Edwards was probably the best goal poacher outside of the first (premier) division and Morris was an exceptional winger, so why would you move your exceptional winger into your most prolific goal scorer's position and drop your prolific goal scorer?

Completely baffling.

Agree entirely, except that it was beyond baffling. - it was utterly ludicrous.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Very much an old school type winger. When he was on song, he could run rings round defenders but was not fond of a battle. Edwards makes reference to it in his book that Morris suffered a broken leg before he joined us and following that wasn't keen on getting stuck in.

 

[Sirius]

Legs have gone.

I'll have a look for them

 

[Keen Blade]

And why on earth Porterfield had that funny few weeks where he kept playing Morris in a central position and dropped Edwards I'll never know.

I thought it was a master stroke when Porterfield signed Morris. He was exactly the right player for us at that time and he helped to maximise Edwards talents.

At that time Edwards was probably the best goal poacher outside of the first (premier) division and Morris was an exceptional winger, so why would you move your exceptional winger into your most prolific goal scorer's position and drop your prolific goal scorer?

Completely baffling.

Come on , Keith's explained this a thousand times

 

[goatherder]

Colin has to be my all time favourite ex player...I modeled my own playing style on Colin's, skipping down the wing skilfully avoiding the 15 stone centre half sliding in with no consideration for where the ball was... before placing a perfect cross on the head of our centre forward. Thats how it happened in my head anyway...reality was probably something else.

I remember always wishing I had a head of hair like his too & also the bow legs which I thought lowered his centre of gravity to help him take blokes on.

Never wanted the moustache tho

 

[stringjunior]

Great hair

 

[Blade58]

One of my fav players

So much so he was in my fav all time Blades best 11

 

[Liverpool blade]

Colin Morris was one of my favourite players.
The one memory that sticks in my mind was when he scored a penalty at villa park to earn us a point!!. It was good because it was a twice taken penalty and he scored both.
A quality player.

 

[LS16Blade]

He was a great player. I was too young to have seen Woodward and Currie but lucky enough to have seen Edwards and Morris. I always remember him looking gutted when he got subbed for Steve Wigley in 1985. Wigley had been signed to replace Morris but Morris ended up outlasting Wigley.
Another memory, his goal against Bristol City in the 1988 play-off home leg and how gutted Morris looked following our relegation - which I think was his final game for us.

I have that same recollection, Cheets.

That was an awful night against Bristol City. We had a single goal deficit to make up from the first leg at Ashton Gate and, I recall, that the feeling in the media beforehand was that it would be well within our capability to turn that round at home.

In the event, though, I remember standing on the Kop during that match with the sense that that team that Bassett had cobbled together, when, by his own admission, he tried to change too much too soon, simply didn't look like scoring. And, of course, Shutt scored early to make it an even bigger task.

In amongst it all, Morris, who was now at veteran stage and must have known full well that his time with United was almost up, proved to be the only hope of pulling it out of the fire. He smashed in a superb equaliser and, frankly, seemed to be the only United player on the park who might have the skill and class to be able to save us.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I think it was Hull they played and hull had to win to either stop up or go up , and hull scored in the first 10 mins , it was an unbelievable night that one and we walked to burnleys ground with Colin , reght player wish we had him now !!

Hull needed to win by 3 clear goals to pip us to promotion.
I was working 2-10 at Fletcher's bakery and listening to radio Sheffield on a portable transistor radio!
I think it was a re-arranged last game of the season and everyone else had finished.
All I remember at 0-2 was the presenter saying something like, "Not long to go now, if the red light does on, I'll know someone has scored and you'll know straight away" Felt like the longest few minutes of my life!

 

[Revolution]

Colin, Colin Morris, Colin Morris on the Wing...one of my favourites.

My main memories of Colin:

His great goal against Wimbledon in May 1984 when he bent it into the top corner to leave Beasant standing. Was only a consolation but so important
His goal against Bristol City, as mentioned above. Pleased that's on film
His winning goal 4 minutes from time in a must win game against Plymouth earlier in 1988 when he bundled in from close range after Bassett restored him to the side. He looked so happy!
His missed penalty late in our 5-0 win against Bolton on New Years' Eve 1983 when he already had a hattrick - the keeper smothered it. The next United player to actually manage 4 in a game? Leon Clarke
Too many missed pens ( including Bolton 84, Huddersfield 85 (Brian Cox saved), Millwall 1986 (hit the post during that awful home defeat), Leicester 1988 (Paul Cooper saved)).
The sheer delight of watching Colin deliver a cross and King Keith get on the end of it.
My sadness as he got subbed against Hull in 1985-6 to make way for new signing Steve Wigley - there was a sense that that was it for him. It wasn't. He outlasted Wigley by over a season.
Seeing him at Junior Blades under 8s with young Lee.

I miss having good wingers.

As for what oldblade said above, the main reason for Edwards being dropped in 1985-6 was Porterfield thought that Morris and new signing Peter Withe was a better combination. They started well as we got 8 points from 12 but then form became patchy and Porterfield eventually gave in. King Keith's response was of course to score 9 goals in 4 games and finish with 20 from 32. The lesson, as ever, was never drop King Keith. (on a similar theme, I know he's had bad games, he's missed a few here and there, and I'm a fanboy, but I do wonder whether we might have had more points since Christmas if Wilder had left Sharp and Clarke as the front 2 and just let them get on with it. Oh well).

 

[Deadbat]

Echo most of the thoughts and kind words about Colin.

One of the few ex United players I can say I actually knew personally.

I went to school with Lee (and Mark his older brother in my year) at primary and so knew the family really well. Lee was always a talented player but the typical 'taking my ball home' type - he will not mind me saying that. Obviously the family moved to Scarborough (well Kilham) when he joined them as player - coach after the aforementioned Bristol City play off defeat. He then became manager but was not there long. I stayed with the family a few times over there into early secondary school and Lee/Mark came to stay with me and watched United play a few times also but then gradually we sadly lost touch when I was around 14 or 15 which was a shame.

Saw Lee at the Arsenal semi final (came as a fan) and had a really good chat. He coached non league and at Derby academy after giving up the game and now coaches in South Carolina.

Not seen Colin for years as others have said he moved to Portugal - had a lovely wife Linda too. Just a really nice family and I know he cared massively about SUFC and was delighted his son got to play for us (not sure what he would have made of his son turning us down to sign for Leicester some years later!).

Have some fond memories of the family growing up - I was gutted when they left the area (South Anston) as Mark the other son was one of my best mates.

 

[I should coco]

Not seen Colin for years as others have said he moved to Portugal - had a lovely wife Linda too. Just a really nice family and I know he cared massively about SUFC and was delighted his son got to play for us (not sure what he would have made of his son turning us down to sign for Leicester some years later!).

I used to deliver his milk early on a Saturday and then collect the money on a Monday night. Ever hopeful that Colin would answer the door so I could engage him in a studied, intelligent and rational debate about the Blades, it was usually his nice wife who answered.

Important Blade trivia - Four pints of full cream on a Saturday to cover the weekend, IIRC.

 

[oldblade]

Come on , Keith's explained this a thousand times

Not to me he hasn't!

 

[John Street West Terrace]

not talked about much, but Colin was one of the most entertaining and effective players I’ve seen play for United.

Him and Edwards had an understanding second to none. He made so many goals for Keith and scored a good few himself.

He was a master dribbler of the ball. Could turn defenders inside out and frequently made them look daft or leave them flat on their arse wondering where he’d gone to!

I don’t wish to wait till the lad has passed on (and I hope he’s nowhere near it) to acknowledge the superb contribution to our club.

Never met the guy but he also came across as a decent human being too.

Thanks Colin for some wonderful memories.

Great player who should have definitely played at a higher level and one of my early hero’s in a red & white shirt & I’m glad Mr Edwards acknowledges his goal tally would have been a significantly less without him.
He coached a certain Mr John Street Terrace West for a season while I was SUJB and I will forever be grateful for his advice & coaching which went onto to help me a lot . Aside from the football he’s was a great bloke , nothing but respect for him forum my quarters

 

[Sothall_Blade]

The difference with Morris was that he didn’t just beat a man and get to the byline. He often then ran along it providing a simple pass for Edwards to slot in from close range. King Keith scored plenty in his time but I wonder just how many Morris put on a plate for him? I remember us signing Steve Wigley as his replacement and he had a blinding debut (against Hull I think) but it wasn’t long before Morris saw him off. Probably the most talented winger behind Woody I ever saw pull on a Blades shirt

Spot on, I think of Colin Morris every time I see one of our wide players aimlessly "easing one into the mixer".
Why not at least try and pick out a teammate with an accurate pass or cross?
Morris was absolutely brilliant at delivering the final ball and as you say if it wasn't on, he had the skill to keep hold of it until it was.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Nice to see that Colin Morris is held in such high esteem. A tremendous player, and it's not stretching things to refer to Morris as a great, because that's exactly what he was for us.

We were fortunate to have someone like Morris, he'd create that air of expectation, and more often than not he'd create something for the likes of Edwards or Hatton to at least have a goal scoring chance. If we had his equivalent now we'd be a far more threatening team, and although we don't currently use out and out wingers, Morris would be one of those exceptions that would be difficult to resist. A truly superb master of wing play.

 

[Trafford]

The big difference between Morris and most of the other wingers that I have watched in my 45+ years watching the Blades is that Morris was only focused on getting the ball into the danger areas. He would beat his man when that was required to enable him to get a good cross in but would then deliver the ball quickly - how many times do we see wingers either failing to take their man on or cutting back again after they've beaten them or simply not being able to get a decent ball into the box.

 

[Maidenhead]

I wanted to call my second child Colin Morris in his honour but she was a girl.

My eldest is called Keith Edward.