Sammy Morgan

Samuel John Morgan (born 3 December 1946) is a Northern Irish former football player and coach.

Moving from non-League Gorleston to Port Vale in 1970, the young forward picked up the club's Player of the Year award 1972, before winning a move to Aston Villa the following year. Villa won promotion out of the Second Division in 1974–75. However, he was never a first-team regular and was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion later in 1975. Helping Brighton to promotion out of the Third Division in 1976–77, following this success, he moved on to Cambridge United. With United, he won promotion out of the third tier for a second successive season before moving on to Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In 1979, he transferred to FC Groningen, helping them to the Eerste Divisie title in 1979–80. He then returned to his native Gorleston, who he later managed.

Between 1972 and 1978, he won 18 caps for Northern Ireland and scored three goals at the international level. These goals came against Spain, Cyprus, and Norway. After his retirement, he worked behind the scenes at various Football League clubs.

Early life Samuel John Morgan was born in East Belfast on 3 December 1946; his mother was English, and had met his father whilst he was stationed in East Anglia. He attended Nettlefield Primary School alongside George Best. When he was 12 years old, his family relocated to England and settled in Gorleston-on-Sea.

Aston Villa Aston Villa manager Vic Crowe had hoped that Morgan would prove an ideal replacement for ageing Scottish centre-forward Andy Lochhead. It took him nine games to score his first goal for Albion when he broke his duck with a brace against Crystal Palace on 24 February. Morgan left United in August 1978 after a dispute with the club, having fallen out with John Docherty, who had replaced Ron Atkinson as manager at the start of the year.

International career Morgan won 18 caps for his country between 1972 and 1978. He scored a goal on his debut in a 1–1 draw with Spain on 16 February 1972, after replacing Derek Dougan in the first XI.

Style of play Morgan was a brave and bustling forward.

Personal and later life He married Alison and had a daughter, Hannah, and son, Ian. In February 2015, he was reported to have undergone stomach surgery in his battle against cancer.

Career statistics Club statistics

International statistics

Honours Individual Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year: 1972

Port Vale Football League Fourth Division promotion: 1969–70

Brighton & Hove Albion Football League Third Division promotion: 1976–77

Cambridge United Football League Third Division promotion: 1977–78

Groningen Eerste Divisie: 1979–80