Wendell Morgan (born 22 April 1935) is a retired Welsh professional footballer who played as a wing half and outside left in the Football League for Brentford, Carlisle United and Gillingham. Though Morgan did not make a first team appearance while with Cardiff City early in his career, his later spells with Swansea Town and Newport County made him one of a small group of players who have been contracted to all three South Wales Football League clubs.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wendell Morgan[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 April 1935 | ||
| Place of birth | Gorseinon, Wales | ||
| Position(s) | Wing half, outside left | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Grovesend Welfare | |||
| 1952–1954 | Cardiff City | ||
| 1954–1955 | Brentford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1955–1957 | Brentford | 47 | (6) |
| 1957–1958 | Gillingham | 34 | (3) |
| 1958–1959 | Swansea Town | 7 | (0) |
| 1959–1960 | Newport County | 26 | (3) |
| 1960–1961 | Carlisle United | 36 | (2) |
| 1961–1962 | Llanelly | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Garden Village | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career edit
Early years edit
Morgan began his career with local Gorseinon non-League club Grovesend Welfare, before moving to First Division club Cardiff City in May 1952.[2] He failed to make an appearance for the first team before departing in June 1954.[3]
Brentford edit
Morgan signed for newly relegated Third Division South club Brentford in June 1954, after writing a letter to manager Bill Dodgin to request a trial.[3] He spent the 1954–55 season in the reserve team and finally made the first senior appearance of his career in a 3–0 victory over Crystal Palace on 15 October 1955.[4] He made 16 further appearances during the 1955–56 season and scored five goals.[4] After making five early-1957–58 season appearances,[4] Morgan left the Bees.[3] He made 49 appearances and scored six goals during just under two years as a first team player at Griffin Park.[3]
Gillingham edit
Morgan signed for Third Division South strugglers Gillingham on a free transfer in September 1957.[3] He immediately established himself in the team, making 38 appearances and scoring four goals,[5] but he could not help the Gills suffering relegation to the Fourth Division at the end of the 1957–58 season.[6] He departed Priestfield in July 1958.[2]
Swansea Town edit
Morgan returned home to West Glamorgan to sign for Second Division club Swansea Town for a £5,000 fee in July 1958.[3] He was kept out of the team by fellow outside left Norman Lawson and made just seven appearances during the 1958–59 season.[2] He left Vetch Field in June 1959.[2]
Newport County edit
Morgan moved across South Wales to join Third Division club Newport County in June 1959.[2] He made 26 league appearances and scored three goals during the 1959–60 season, but the club finished in mid-table mediocrity.[1][7] He left the club in July 1960.[2]
Carlisle United edit
Morgan moved back to England to join Fourth Division club Carlisle United in July 1960.[2] He made 36 league appearances and scored two goals during his season with the club.[1]
Llanelli edit
Morgan ended his career with Welsh League First Division club Llanelly during the 1961–62 season.[2]
Representative career edit
As a boy, Morgan represented the Great Britain Boys Clubs team.[2]
Managerial career edit
After his retirement from football, Morgan served as manager at Welsh lower league club Garden Village.[2]
Career statistics edit
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brentford | 1955–56[4] | Third Division South | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 5 |
| 1956–57[4] | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 | ||
| 1957–58[4] | 5 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 47 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 6 | ||
| Gillingham | 1957–58[5] | Third Division South | 34 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 4 |
| Career total | 81 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 87 | 10 | ||
References edit
- ^ a b c "Wendell Morgan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Players of the past". Swansea City FC. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 110. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ a b c d e f White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 383–384. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ a b "Wendell Morgan". Gillingham FC Scrapbook. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ Gillingham F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Newport County F.C. at the Football Club History Database