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Phil Morris (speedway rider)
Encyclopedia
Phillip William Morris (born 10 September 1975 in Newport
, Wales
) is a retired British motorcycle speedway
rider who has appeared on several UK television game show
s.
.
With his previous grasstrack success in mind, Morris elected to pursue a career in Professional Speedway and was signed by the Reading Racers
a few days before his 16th Birthday. Plunged straight into first team action at the end of the 1991 season, the Welsh teenager was then named in the Racers starting line up for the 1992 season and was part of the team that won the British League title that season. Morris later admitted in the interviews that riding alongside riders like Per Jonsson
, Jan Andersson and Jeremy Doncaster allowed him to learn lots of from these eastablished stars and helped him shape his speedway career. Morris became a key part of the Reading side over the next 5 seasons and although the club didn't repeat the success of that 1992 season, the Welshman was firmly established in the sport.
After his home town club Newport Wasps
reneged on a contract offer for the 1997 season, Morris joined Stoke Potters
on loan from Reading, before re-joining his parent club for the 1998 season. In 1999 Morris proved himself as a force to be reckoned with in the British Premier League and continued this form into the 2000 season, when he won the first speedway meeting in the world in the new millennium, at the New Year Classic on 2nd Jan 2000 at Newport Speedway. The 2000 season was Morris' 10th on the books of Reading Speedway and he was granted a testimonial meeting, which attracted over 3000 people to Reading's Smallmead Stadium on a sunny July evening. Tne event was a great success with not only an excellent individual meeting on track which was won by Craig Watson, but also off track the likes of Reading FC Captain Phil Parkinson, Meadow Rangers FC skipper Mattie "Mad Dog" Stringer and Morris' favourite magician Paul Daniels
mingling with the fans.
In 2001 and 2002 Morris continued to prove he was a one of the best riders in the Premier League and he came 3rd in the 2002 Premier League Riders championship at Belle Vue. Sadly a nasty knee injury suffered in Sweden curtailed his 2003 season, but he was back in the saddle for 2004 and proved his fitness with a superb 12 point maximum in his first meeting back on a difficult track against Kings Lynn. This meeting was witnessed by two of his former Wrestling buddies Gez "The Anaconda" Goring and Pretty Boy Valentine, who introduced Morris to their manager Uppy McGuppy (also known as C U Beaton and Kelsey Kay). McGuppy was to become firm friends with Morris and later became Morris' mechanic and mentor. Although 2004 was to be his last full time campaign in Reading colours, he also achieved one of his finest moments in the sport, when he partnered Danny Bird to win the Premier League Riders pairs championship.
For 2005 Morris signed for Newcastle Diamonds
, where he proved be a cult figure after flying in especially to meet the fans at a pre season gathering. Unfortunately, niggling injuries meant Morris didn't quite live up to expectations. In 2006, he was signed by Elite League Belle Vue
, where his long time friend and multi-world champion Jason Crump
was team captain. Morris proved he could still mix it with the best in the sport and finished the season with a very credible 4 and a half point average.
For the 2007 season, he received the offer to ride for his home town club Newport, some ten years after they had pulled the plug on his contract. Although Morris was their highest scorer in most matches, the team struggled badly and crowds dwindled, which lead to the promotion cutting costs and Morris agreeing to move on, joining fellow Premier side Birmingham. His short spell with the newly formed Midlands club proved a great success and he very quickly became a fans favourite.
Morris was signed on a full transfer by Birmingham Brummies
in 2008. After a terrific start to the campaign, Morris suffered serious internal injuries in a terrible crash at Mildenhall
in early April and on his return to action in late May he suffered a badly dislocated shoulder at Rye House
. These injuries were to have a lasting effect on the Welshman and altghough in he returned to the saddle in 2009, signing to ride for the Stoke Potters
in the Premier League
and starting the season well with some good performances, problems with his shoulder meant his scoring slumped and he was axed from the side and went onto to join Workington Comets
where again he struggled for points. He also doubled-up with the Lakeside Hammers
in the Elite League
where he produced a number of good performances for the Hammers. However, he took a heavy fall at Workington in the August and once again the shoulder was badly dislocated. On the advice of medics he was took the decision to retire from speedway or face permanent damage to the shoulder. Morris announced his retirement from competitive Speedway at the age of 34 in September 2009.
With the sport in his blood and his obvious passion to be involved in management, he was appointed as head coach of the 2010 Great Britain under 21 team. The proved so successful that he was retained in the role for 2011 and was appointed Assistant Team Manager for the Senior Squad as well.
In September 2011 Morris staged his farewell meeting at Birmingham Speedway, where he rode 4 laps of the track to warm ovation from the large crowd.
Outside of speedway he owns a chain of snack shops in South Wales and is a keen singer/songwriter, he won a Karaoke competition at Pontins in Prestatyn in 2005, which lead to him performing a duet with Sinitta on Channel Five
. In the spring of 2009 under the management guidance of Uppy McGuppy he formed a Boyzone tribute band along with four close friends Barry, Leon, Andy Hutton and fellow speedway rider Tim Webster
, known as BOYOZONE they have built up a cult following across Wales and headlined the 2010 Barry Island festival along with Ian "H" Watkins from Steps. Morris plays the part of Keith Duffy, performing backing vocals and leads most of the dance routines.
where he won several hundred pounds and Eggheads where his team lost, Morris blamed their performance on nerves, with his close friend Barry even forgetting his name at one point. Morris though had two big wins on national TV shows, he appeared on Dick and Dom's Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old?
where he won £25,000, and The Colour Of Money
which with close support from his loyal friend McGuppy he won £63,000.
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
) is a retired British motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider who has appeared on several UK television game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
s.
Career
Phillip Morris was the Welsh Schoolboy Grasstrack champion at the age of 9 and within two years was also the British Youth Grasstrack Champion, a title he won a total of 5 times. During his final year at school, Morris had to decide whether to take up motorcycle sport professionally or look to further excel at Rugby Union or Wrestling. Morris had already had trials for the Welsh national Rugby team and was undergoing training at a Professional Wrestling School under the watchful eye of former superstar Kendo NagasakiKendo Nagasaki
Kendo Nagasaki is a professional wrestling stage name, used as a gimmick of that of a Japanese Samurai warrior with a mysterious past and even supernatural powers of hypnosis...
.
With his previous grasstrack success in mind, Morris elected to pursue a career in Professional Speedway and was signed by the Reading Racers
Reading Racers
Reading Racers were a British motorcycle speedway team. Formed in 1968, they won four British League titles during their history...
a few days before his 16th Birthday. Plunged straight into first team action at the end of the 1991 season, the Welsh teenager was then named in the Racers starting line up for the 1992 season and was part of the team that won the British League title that season. Morris later admitted in the interviews that riding alongside riders like Per Jonsson
Per Jonsson
Per Jonsson is a former speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1990, and finished runner-up in 1992.In 1985, his second season with the Reading Racers, the team won six major trophies...
, Jan Andersson and Jeremy Doncaster allowed him to learn lots of from these eastablished stars and helped him shape his speedway career. Morris became a key part of the Reading side over the next 5 seasons and although the club didn't repeat the success of that 1992 season, the Welshman was firmly established in the sport.
After his home town club Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales. They were the 1999 Conference League champions.-History:The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport...
reneged on a contract offer for the 1997 season, Morris joined Stoke Potters
Stoke Potters
The Stoke Potters are a British Speedway team currently competing in the National League. The team races at Loomer Road Stadium.In the late 1940s, early 1950s and the early 1960s, the club was based in Sun Street in Hanley, and were originally known as the Hanley Potters when crowds of over 12,000...
on loan from Reading, before re-joining his parent club for the 1998 season. In 1999 Morris proved himself as a force to be reckoned with in the British Premier League and continued this form into the 2000 season, when he won the first speedway meeting in the world in the new millennium, at the New Year Classic on 2nd Jan 2000 at Newport Speedway. The 2000 season was Morris' 10th on the books of Reading Speedway and he was granted a testimonial meeting, which attracted over 3000 people to Reading's Smallmead Stadium on a sunny July evening. Tne event was a great success with not only an excellent individual meeting on track which was won by Craig Watson, but also off track the likes of Reading FC Captain Phil Parkinson, Meadow Rangers FC skipper Mattie "Mad Dog" Stringer and Morris' favourite magician Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels, born Newton Edward Daniels on 6 April 1938, is a British magician and television performer. He achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.-Early life:...
mingling with the fans.
In 2001 and 2002 Morris continued to prove he was a one of the best riders in the Premier League and he came 3rd in the 2002 Premier League Riders championship at Belle Vue. Sadly a nasty knee injury suffered in Sweden curtailed his 2003 season, but he was back in the saddle for 2004 and proved his fitness with a superb 12 point maximum in his first meeting back on a difficult track against Kings Lynn. This meeting was witnessed by two of his former Wrestling buddies Gez "The Anaconda" Goring and Pretty Boy Valentine, who introduced Morris to their manager Uppy McGuppy (also known as C U Beaton and Kelsey Kay). McGuppy was to become firm friends with Morris and later became Morris' mechanic and mentor. Although 2004 was to be his last full time campaign in Reading colours, he also achieved one of his finest moments in the sport, when he partnered Danny Bird to win the Premier League Riders pairs championship.
For 2005 Morris signed for Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle Diamonds are a motorcycle speedway team who compete in the British Premier League. The club has a reputation of importing young foreign talent and have given starts to the British careers of six times World Champion Ivan Mauger, three times World Champion Ole Olsen, 1974 World Champion...
, where he proved be a cult figure after flying in especially to meet the fans at a pre season gathering. Unfortunately, niggling injuries meant Morris didn't quite live up to expectations. In 2006, he was signed by Elite League Belle Vue
Belle Vue
-Placenames:*Belle Vue, Bradford, a district of Bradford, England*Belle Vue, County Durham, an area of Hartlepool, England*Belle Vue, Cumbria, a district of Carlisle, England*Belle Vue, Greater Manchester, an area of Manchester, England...
, where his long time friend and multi-world champion Jason Crump
Jason Crump
Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:...
was team captain. Morris proved he could still mix it with the best in the sport and finished the season with a very credible 4 and a half point average.
For the 2007 season, he received the offer to ride for his home town club Newport, some ten years after they had pulled the plug on his contract. Although Morris was their highest scorer in most matches, the team struggled badly and crowds dwindled, which lead to the promotion cutting costs and Morris agreeing to move on, joining fellow Premier side Birmingham. His short spell with the newly formed Midlands club proved a great success and he very quickly became a fans favourite.
Morris was signed on a full transfer by Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team, who were reformed in 2006 and then accepted into the Premier League in 2007. The club race at Perry Barr Stadium ....
in 2008. After a terrific start to the campaign, Morris suffered serious internal injuries in a terrible crash at Mildenhall
Mildenhall Fen Tigers
The Mildenhall Fen Tigers are a British speedway team, currently riding in the National League.The club moved up to the Premier League in 2006 after twelve seasons in the Conference League when new promoter Mick Horton took over. In 2007 Stadium owner Carl Harris formed 'Fen Tigers Limited' with...
in early April and on his return to action in late May he suffered a badly dislocated shoulder at Rye House
Rye House Rockets
The Rye House Rockets are a Speedway team based at Rye House Stadium, Hoddesdon, England. They currently compete in the British Premier League.The club is promoted by Len Silver who previously ran the Hackney Hawks promotion at Hackney Wick Stadium....
. These injuries were to have a lasting effect on the Welshman and altghough in he returned to the saddle in 2009, signing to ride for the Stoke Potters
Stoke Potters
The Stoke Potters are a British Speedway team currently competing in the National League. The team races at Loomer Road Stadium.In the late 1940s, early 1950s and the early 1960s, the club was based in Sun Street in Hanley, and were originally known as the Hanley Potters when crowds of over 12,000...
in the Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
and starting the season well with some good performances, problems with his shoulder meant his scoring slumped and he was axed from the side and went onto to join Workington Comets
Workington Comets
Workington Comets is a speedway club based in Workington, Cumbria. Their track is at Derwent Park Stadium, which they share with Workington Town Rugby League Football Club.They compete in the Premier League...
where again he struggled for points. He also doubled-up with the Lakeside Hammers
Lakeside Hammers
The Lakeside Hammers are a speedway team who race in the British Elite League. They were founded by promoter Wally Mawdsley and stock car promoter Chick Woodroffe...
in the Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
where he produced a number of good performances for the Hammers. However, he took a heavy fall at Workington in the August and once again the shoulder was badly dislocated. On the advice of medics he was took the decision to retire from speedway or face permanent damage to the shoulder. Morris announced his retirement from competitive Speedway at the age of 34 in September 2009.
With the sport in his blood and his obvious passion to be involved in management, he was appointed as head coach of the 2010 Great Britain under 21 team. The proved so successful that he was retained in the role for 2011 and was appointed Assistant Team Manager for the Senior Squad as well.
In September 2011 Morris staged his farewell meeting at Birmingham Speedway, where he rode 4 laps of the track to warm ovation from the large crowd.
Outside of speedway he owns a chain of snack shops in South Wales and is a keen singer/songwriter, he won a Karaoke competition at Pontins in Prestatyn in 2005, which lead to him performing a duet with Sinitta on Channel Five
Channel Five
Channel 5 is a television network that broadcasts in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1997, it was the fifth and final national terrestrial analogue network to launch. The station was branded as Five between 2002 and 2010...
. In the spring of 2009 under the management guidance of Uppy McGuppy he formed a Boyzone tribute band along with four close friends Barry, Leon, Andy Hutton and fellow speedway rider Tim Webster
Tim Webster
Tim Webster is a Australian television and radio personality. He currently is a fill-in presenter for Ten News....
, known as BOYOZONE they have built up a cult following across Wales and headlined the 2010 Barry Island festival along with Ian "H" Watkins from Steps. Morris plays the part of Keith Duffy, performing backing vocals and leads most of the dance routines.
Game show appearances
Morris has appeared on a number of UK television game shows including The Weakest Link, where he was voted off in the second round, Brainbox ChallengeBrainbox Challenge
Brainbox Challenge is a game show hosted by Clive Anderson and produced by BBC Manchester. It is broadcast weekdays on BBC Two at 6:30pm, and started on 25 February 2008. From 17 March, the show moved to a lunchtime slot of 1:00pm....
where he won several hundred pounds and Eggheads where his team lost, Morris blamed their performance on nerves, with his close friend Barry even forgetting his name at one point. Morris though had two big wins on national TV shows, he appeared on Dick and Dom's Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old?
Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old? (UK)
Are You Smarter Than a/Your 10 Year Old? was a British quiz show which aired on Sky1. There were two editions, one broadcast weekly in primetime, hosted by Noel Edmonds and a daily version, originally hosted by Dick and Dom, but later hosted by Damian Williams...
where he won £25,000, and The Colour Of Money
The Colour of Money (TV series)
The Colour of Money was a British game show, broadcast on ITV between 21 February and 11 April 2009. The programme was produced by 12 Yard Productions, and hosted by Chris Tarrant and Millie Clode...
which with close support from his loyal friend McGuppy he won £63,000.