Tommy Morrison

Thomas Morrison (16 December 1874 – 26 March 1940), also known as Ching Morrison, was a footballer for Glentoran, Burnley, Celtic and Manchester United, and for the Ireland national team.

Club career Morrison made his first appearance for Glentoran on 18 April 1891, in a Charity Cup game against Ulster at Solitude. He scored in that match which was abandoned with the Glens trailing 4–1. Early the following season he was dismissed by the Burnley committee for misconduct. meaning that a Protestant from East Belfast was the first Irish signing for a club with an overwhelmingly Catholic Irish reputation. He won the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup soon after arriving in 1895, scoring in the win over Rangers in the final, and played a small part in helping the Bhoys win the 1896 Scottish Football League championship with five appearances, but made only eight more over the next seven months.

Morrison returned to Burnley in February 1897. The following season, he helped them to the Second Division title in 1898. He gained the distinction of being Manchester United's first Irish player, although fellow Ulsterman Jack Peden had spent a season playing for United's predecessors Newton Heath during the previous decade.

Morrison spent only one full season at Bank Street in the Second Division but did leave an impression with the fans by scoring the first goal in a memorable 2–1 FA Cup upset of top-division Notts County in February 1904. Morrison remained at Manchester United until the beginning of the 1904–05 season when he signed for Colne. He later returned home to Belfast to end his career with Glentoran, scoring two goals in 16 appearances in 1906–07.

International career Morrison made his debut for Ireland in March 1895. All seven of Morrison's Ireland caps came in Home International Championship games. His last cap came on 22 March 1902, in a 1–0 defeat to England in Belfast.

Personal life Morrison was the youngest of five sons born to James Morrison and Annie (née McMillan). Another brother, Alex, also played for Glentoran in the 1890s.