John William Morfitt (28 September 1908 – 1973) was an English professional footballer who scored 21 goals in 77 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham, Blackpool, Bradford and Southend United.[2] He played as a centre forward.

Jack Morfitt
Personal information
Full name John William Morfitt
Date of birth (1908-09-28)28 September 1908
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Date of death 1973 (aged 64–65)
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Heeley
Anston Athletic
1929–1930 Mansfield Town
1928–1931 Birmingham 1 (0)
1931–1932 Blackpool 1 (0)
1932 Bradford 9 (5)
1932–1936 Southend United 66 (16)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Morfitt was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire. He played local football in the Sheffield area and for Mansfield Town in the Midland League before he joined First Division club Birmingham in March 1928.[2] His game was based on pace rather than strength, and he played only once for Birmingham's first team,[3] on 21 March 1931 in a 2–1 home defeat to Middlesbrough.[4] Later that year he joined fellow First Division club Blackpool, where again he played only once (in a 1–1 draw, against the club he had just left, at Bloomfield Road on 12 September),[5] and in March 1932 he dropped down a division to sign for Bradford. Five goals in nine games for Bradford preceded another move, this time to Southend United of the Third Division South.[2] Here Morfitt finally got regular first-team football. In four years he scored 23 goals in 81 appearances in all competitions before injury forced his retirement from the game in 1936.[6]

Morfitt died in 1973, aged 64 or 65.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Southend United. Staff of 25". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. xi – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 189. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. ^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  4. ^ Matthews, p. 173.
  5. ^ Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Sport. p. 238. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.
  6. ^ "Jack Morfitt". Southend United Database. Retrieved 28 March 2009.