Colin Morris

[SUFC Handsworth]

He was gutted we went down as he knew that was the end of his playing days at the Lane. Bassett actually offered him a deal but with relegation it was only a years contract so he moved on and we signed Alan Roberts that summer.

Didn't Morris score our goal in the second leg at the Lane v Bristol City, seem to vaguely remember that it was a bit of a corker of a goal? Didn't Bassett and Morris have quite a bit of respect for each other, but both acknowledged Morris wasn't exactly a Bassett type player, DB generally tended to go for the hard working wide midfield players rather than out and out wingers, although he'd have them at the club as a bit of a different option (Alan Roberts, Paul Wood, Franz Carr spring to mind).

If we would have got another season out of Morris (in 88-89) that would have been some forward line Bryson-Agana-Deane-Morris.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

"Along with Edwards and Stancliffe maybe the three best servants and players from 82 ish to 88 and Bassett's days. "

Agreed, but from that era I'd say Glenn Cockerill was the best of the lot, we just didn't have him at the club long enough. I can still see that last ditch challenge on the line at Southend late on in the 83-84 promotion season. With 5 minutes to go Fanny Arnott had just waltzed through what seem liked most of the Southend team to put us 1-0 up, then two minutes later, right in front of the United fans it looked nailed on that one of their players was going to level it with a virtual open goal to aim at, however from out of nowhere Cockerill managed to get a brilliant block to stop what should have been an easy goal for them.

 

[Cheets]

Had a quick chat with Keith Edwards about 4 years ago at Lees Hall Golf Club. Asked how Colin was and said that Keith and Colin were my heroes back then. Had great times watching them play. Colin had great balance, great crosser of the ball and could take a good penalty kick. Remember going to Oldham in 85 and winning 5-0, Colin ripped them a new arsehole. Colin went to the Burnley v Hull game where Hull had to win 3-0 to pip us to promotion. Hull won 2-0, radio interviewed Colin after the game who was so emotional he could hardly speak. Top guy Colin, hope you and your family are well.

It was 5-1 at Oldham. Oldham actually took the lead but we were 4-1 up by half-time. I'm the second half we 'only' scored one goal so our fans were chanting 'All we are saying, is five us a goal.'
This was a real purple patch for us away from home, with the Oldham result sandwiched between a 4-1 win against Bradford at Elland Road and an incredible 3-0 win at top of the table Portsmouth leaving us dreaming of promotion to top flight. Of course it all went tits up though with Ian Porterfield losing his job in March.

 

[Deadbat]

"Along with Edwards and Stancliffe maybe the three best servants and players from 82 ish to 88 and Bassett's days. "

Agreed, but from that era I'd say Glenn Cockerill was the best of the lot, we just didn't have him at the club long enough. I can still see that last ditch challenge on the line at Southend late on in the 83-84 promotion season. With 5 minutes to go Fanny Arnott had just waltzed through what seem liked most of the Southend team to put us 1-0 up, then two minutes later, right in front of the United fans it looked nailed on that one of their players was going to level it with a virtual open goal to aim at, however from out of nowhere Cockerill managed to get a brilliant block to stop what should have been an easy goal for them.

Yes, Cockerill was an excellent player but as you say was not at the Lane long...less than two seasons was it...recall him signing half way through that promotion season and then only playing one full season in the 2nd Division before signing for Southampton early the next season.

Very skilful and powerful player who got up and down the pitch. No surprise he was a regular in the top flight for a long time for Southampton.

Didn't his brother John play for Grimsby...the town they both originated from?

 

[Revolution]

Yes, Cockerill was an excellent player but as you say was not at the Lane long...less than two seasons was it...recall him signing half way through that promotion season and then only playing one full season in the 2nd Division before signing for Southampton early the next season.

Very skilful and powerful player who got up and down the pitch. No surprise he was a regular in the top flight for a long time for Southampton.

Didn't his brother John play for Grimsby...the town they both originated from?

He did. Their father, Ron, also played 300 games for Grimsby.

In the dog days of the 1984-5 season (when from memory we got about 2 points from the last 6 or 7 games and finished 18th because there were 4 crap teams below us) Cockerill was so much better than the rest of the team it was ridiculous.

 

[Revolution]

Didn't Morris score our goal in the second leg at the Lane v Bristol City, seem to vaguely remember that it was a bit of a corker of a goal? Didn't Bassett and Morris have quite a bit of respect for each other, but both acknowledged Morris wasn't exactly a Bassett type player, DB generally tended to go for the hard working wide midfield players rather than out and out wingers, although he'd have them at the club as a bit of a different option (Alan Roberts, Paul Wood, Franz Carr spring to mind).

If we would have got another season out of Morris (in 88-89) that would have been some forward line Bryson-Agana-Deane-Morris.

It was a great strike - he hit it from about 20 yards. then Paul Williams missed his sitter, and that was that.

Morris had come back from injury and scored a late winner against Plymouth a few weeks before.

 

[Revolution]

My first ‘favourite player’ when I started going to the Lane. Watching him get a hat-trick against Bolton was the game that had me hooked.

He was also one of the players who played in that dreadful play-off second leg against Bristol City that looked genuinely bothered and put everything into it.

Also remember a cracking night under the lights in the Milk Cup against the Everton team that went on to win it (and the league the following season). Think Morris put us one up after a bunch of flat caps near us in the John Street stand were getting on his back for lacking bottle. On a separate note, that was a great atmosphere that night.

He scored a penalty after getting brought down by Neville Southall. We drew 2-2 and got hammered 4-0 in the second leg.

Keith Edwards scored the second from an offside position that was so offside it was ridiculous.

Everton ended up winning the League and the Cup Winners Cup and losing the FA Cup final so a draw at home wasn't a bad result.

 

[Paisley Blade]

I can still picture Morris' part in the injury time winner at the Lane v Wigan in the run into the 81-82 title season. I think they were top and we were second, 0-0 going into injury time, Matthews sprayed the ball out to Morris on the right wing, he scampered past the left back (he was always described as 'scampering past full backs' back then lol) and crossed from the bye line, inch perfect cross for Edwards to steer home in front of a jubilant Kop. What a night that was.

Great goal and a great night , Bomber Graham was on the pitch at half time showing off one of his recently won belts to a massive reception. One of 'those' goals you can really remember celebrating as it was so important.

PS - pretty sure it was Kevin Arnott who sprayed the ball out to Morris .

 

[petcharlie]

Great goal and a great night , Bomber Graham was on the pitch at half time showing off one of his recently won belts to a massive reception. One of 'those' goals you can really remember celebrating as it was so important.

PS - pretty sure it was Kevin Arnott who sprayed the ball out to Morris .

I think Morris and Edwards were the jewels in that team for me .A great little winger always gave his best ,you knew what you were going to get with him.
By the way do you live in Paisley?My dad was from there and he was caught up in the Globe Cinema tragedy when all those kids were killed in 1929.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Great goal and a great night , Bomber Graham was on the pitch at half time showing off one of his recently won belts to a massive reception. One of 'those' goals you can really remember celebrating as it was so important.

PS - pretty sure it was Kevin Arnott who sprayed the ball out to Morris .

No defo Matthews, Arnott signed for us the season after, summer 82

 

[Paisley Blade]

No defo Matthews, Arnott signed for us the season after, summer 82

You're not wrong ..... thought Matthews was still hiding from the penalty spot at that time ...!!

 

[Paisley Blade]

I think Morris and Edwards were the jewels in that team for me .A great little winger always gave his best ,you knew what you were going to get with him.
By the way do you live in Paisley?My dad was from there and he was caught up in the Globe Cinema tragedy when all those kids were killed in 1929.

I do mate , have done for nearly 30 years .... the Glen Cinema tragedy is still remembered in a Memorial here every Christmas time.

 

[petcharlie]

I do mate , have done for nearly 30 years .... the Glen Cinema tragedy is still remembered in a Memorial here every Christmas time.

I was there a few years ago and visited the site ,i think it is a store now but there is a plaque on the wall.Dad got out with his sister and brother through the toilet window ,he was the eldest at 11 years old .Above the stores false ceiling is the original cinema ceiling still in tact.He lived on Great Hamilton Streets in a tenament block.Long gone now.

 

[Paisley Blade]

I was there a few years ago and visited the site ,i think it is a store now but there is a plaque on the wall.Dad got out with his sister and brother through the toilet window ,he was the eldest at 11 years old .Above the stores false ceiling is the original cinema ceiling still in tact.He lived on Great Hamilton Streets in a tenament block.Long gone now.

That's a remarkable story. You must have been incredibly proud of your Dad managing to escape whilst likely marshalling his younger siblings with him.

 

[Silent Blade]

He scored a penalty after getting brought down by Neville Southall. We drew 2-2 and got hammered 4-0 in the second leg.

Keith Edwards scored the second from an offside position that was so offside it was ridiculous.

Everton ended up winning the League and the Cup Winners Cup and losing the FA Cup final so a draw at home wasn't a bad result.

 

[Silent Blade]

I do mate , have done for nearly 30 years .... the Glen Cinema tragedy is still remembered in a Memorial here every Christmas time.

My wife was born in Johnstone, lived in Kilbarchan and Brookfield.

 

[Paisley Blade]

Well I never ...... missus worked in Kilbarchan for nigh on 30 years .

 

[Davie Blade]

Good man and great family too.

Indeed he is a very warm friendly man.
Kindly visited me in Rivelin Valley hospital about 40 years ago, a never forgotten time.
Delighted to hear he is in Portugal with his lovely wife Linda. Are you still in contact DB?

 

[Silent Blade]

Well I never ...... missus worked in Kilbarchan for nigh on 30 years .

Mrs Silent lived in Station Wynd in Kilbarchan from 1972 to 1986. What was your wife's occupation?

 

[petcharlie]

That's a remarkable story. You must have been incredibly proud of your Dad managing to escape whilst likely marshalling his younger siblings with him.

Yes well Dad always had a calming nature and knew just what to do in a crisis .My grandmother always said he was always reliable to do the right thing.He wedge the door so he could get his siblings out because he said there would have been a stampede and would have got crushed.When they were all out before he escaped he unwedged the door so others could escape .Most of the kids that died ran to the emergency exit but because the doors opened inward they could not open the doors because of kids behind them crushing kids infront of them.After the inquest a law was passed that all emergency doors from that day on had to open outwards.He never altered he was a man of few words but when he did speak he always hit the nail on the head leaving all the mouthy ones speechless ,It was rather funny at times always engaged brain before mouth very very wise.

 

[Paisley Blade]

Yes well Dad always had a calming nature and knew just what to do in a crisis .My grandmother always said he was always reliable to do the right thing.He wedge the door so he could get his siblings out because he said there would have been a stampede and would have got crushed.When they were all out before he escaped he unwedged the door so others could escape .Most of the kids that died ran to the emergency exit but because the doors opened inward they could not open the doors because of kids behind them crushing kids infront of them.After the inquest a law was passed that all emergency doors from that day on had to open outwards.He never altered he was a man of few words but when he did speak he always hit the nail on the head leaving all the mouthy ones speechless ,It was rather funny at times always engaged brain before mouth very very wise.

Absolutely lovely account and tribute to your Dad. Great Hamilton Street is about a mile away from me.

 

[Paisley Blade]

Mrs Silent lived in Station Wynd in Kilbarchan from 1972 to 1986. What was your wife's occupation?

She was the Dentist in the surgery on Steeple Street , pretty much opposite Station Wynd between 1985 -2013.

 

[BladeFisher]

Was that Phil Thompson in there playing for the Blades?

 

[petcharlie]

Absolutely lovely account and tribute to your Dad. Great Hamilton Street is about a mile away from me.

I went to find it and of course it had all been knocked down but I did find it.I always remember him telling me about the bonny we well that when kids they always drank from but as much as i tried i could not find itAlso across from where he lived on Great Hamilton street was the Co-oP and he used to groom the horses that did the deliveries for them and became really attached to them.

 

[Silent Blade]

She was the Dentist in the surgery on Steeple Street , pretty much opposite Station Wynd between 1985 -2013.

Mrs Silent's dentist was in Collier Street. Is it still there?

 

[petcharlie]

Absolutely lovely account and tribute to your Dad. Great Hamilton Street is about a mile away from me.

Back to Football I was told that one of my relations played for St Mirran around the early 20th century.do not know how true it was.

 

[Silent Blade]

Was that Phil Thompson in there playing for the Blades?

No the team was Waugh, Heffernan, Bolton, Arnott, Stancliffe, Kenworthy, Morris, West, Edwards, McHale, Atkins sub Philliskirk (for Stancliffe)

 

[Paisley Blade]

Mrs Silent's dentist was in Collier Street. Is it still there?

She doesn't know if it's still there , but knows it was run by the Collins twins who were the year below her at Glasgow Uni

 

[Silent Blade]

She doesn't know if it's still there , but knows it was run by the Collins twins who were the year below her at Glasgow Uni

Mrs Silent said it was a husband and wife partnership but forgot their surname! Lol!

 

[Paisley Blade]

Mrs Silent said it was a husband and wife partnership but forgot their surname! Lol!

The husband/wife would have pre-dated the Collins twins and my wife is now wracking her brains to think of their surname , it's bugging her enormously . She has suggested a glass of wine may help her remember.

I bet everyone else is finding this riveting !