Tony Morley
Encyclopedia
William Anthony Morley (born 26 August 1954) is an English
former football
player who played in the Football League
for Preston North End
, Burnley
, Aston Villa
, West Bromwich Albion
and Birmingham City
, as well as playing for other teams abroad. He also won six cap
s for England
.
and represented Ormskirk and District Schools. He signed as an apprentice with Preston North End
in July 1969 before turning professional in August 1972. In February 1976 he moved across Lancashire
to join Burnley
for a £100,000 fee. He joined Aston Villa
for £200,000 in June 1979.
A skilful, nippy winger , Morley enjoyed the best days of his career at Villa Park
. He was seen as a wayward genius but was moulded by manager Ron Saunders
into one of the most dangerous players around. He was famed for scoring spectacular goals, in particular one against Everton
at Goodison Park
which won him the 'Goal of the Season' award for 1980–81.
He was a vital part of the Villa side that won the League Championship in 1980–81 and the European Cup
the year after. His brilliant dribble and cross set up Peter Withe
for the winning goal against Bayern Munich in the final. His full Villa record was 170(+10 as sub) appearances, 34 goals.
Morley won six caps for England
, but his career fell into decline after not being picked for any of their games at the 1982 World Cup
. This despite the fact that England boss Ron Greenwood supposedly favoured attacking football. After adding a European Super Cup
Winners' medal to his collection, he was transferred from Villa to local rivals West Bromwich Albion.
He won a Dutch Cup
runners-up medal in 1987 playing for FC Den Haag.
Morley is now a regular on the 'Villa Old Stars' circuit. He also provides colour commentary for radio broadcasts on Aston Villa's website.
Tony Morley was not selected for the England Squad for the World Cup in Spain in 1982. Ron Greenwood opted for Arsenal's Graham Rix instead.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, as well as playing for other teams abroad. He also won six cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Football career
Morley was born in OrmskirkOrmskirk
Ormskirk is a market town in West Lancashire, England. It is situated north of Liverpool city centre, northwest of St Helens, southeast of Southport and southwest of Preston.-Geography and administration:...
and represented Ormskirk and District Schools. He signed as an apprentice with Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in July 1969 before turning professional in August 1972. In February 1976 he moved across Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
to join Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
for a £100,000 fee. He joined Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
for £200,000 in June 1979.
A skilful, nippy winger , Morley enjoyed the best days of his career at Villa Park
Villa Park, England
Villa Park is an association football stadium in the district of Witton, Birmingham, England with a seating capacity of 42,786. It has been the home of Aston Villa Football Club since 1897. The team previously played at Aston Park from 1874 to 1876 and Perry Barr from 1876 to 1897...
. He was seen as a wayward genius but was moulded by manager Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders is a retired English football player and former successful manager. He remains the only manager to have taken charge of Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, normally bitter rivals....
into one of the most dangerous players around. He was famed for scoring spectacular goals, in particular one against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
which won him the 'Goal of the Season' award for 1980–81.
He was a vital part of the Villa side that won the League Championship in 1980–81 and the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
the year after. His brilliant dribble and cross set up Peter Withe
Peter Withe
Peter Withe is a much-travelled English footballer who played as a striker, between 1971 and 1990...
for the winning goal against Bayern Munich in the final. His full Villa record was 170(+10 as sub) appearances, 34 goals.
Morley won six caps for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, but his career fell into decline after not being picked for any of their games at the 1982 World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
. This despite the fact that England boss Ron Greenwood supposedly favoured attacking football. After adding a European Super Cup
European Super Cup
The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
Winners' medal to his collection, he was transferred from Villa to local rivals West Bromwich Albion.
Aston Villa
Winner- 1980/81 League Championship
- 1981/82 European Cup winner
- 1982/83 European Super Cup winner
He won a Dutch Cup
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
runners-up medal in 1987 playing for FC Den Haag.
Morley is now a regular on the 'Villa Old Stars' circuit. He also provides colour commentary for radio broadcasts on Aston Villa's website.
Tony Morley was not selected for the England Squad for the World Cup in Spain in 1982. Ron Greenwood opted for Arsenal's Graham Rix instead.