Tony Morley

Infobox Football biography
playername = Tony Morley


fullname = William Anthony Morley
dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1954|8|26
cityofbirth = Ormskirk
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
position = Winger
youthyears = 1969–1972
youthclubs = Preston North End
years = 1972–1976
1976–1979
1979–1983
1983–1985
1984
1985–1986
1986–1987
1987–198?
198?–19??
1989
1990
clubs = Preston North End
Burnley
Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion
→Birmingham City (loan)
Seiko
ADO Den Haag
West Bromwich Albion
→Burnley (loan)
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Hamrun Spartans
caps(goals) = 084 (15)
091 0(5)
137 (25)
033 0(4)
004 0(3)
030 (13)
028 0(7)
005 0(0)
nationalyears = 1980–1981
1981–1982
nationalteam = England B
England
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 0(0)
006 0(0)

William Anthony Morley (born 26 August 1954) is an English former football player who played in the Football League for Preston North End,Hamrun Spartans, Burnley, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City, as well as playing for other teams abroad. He also won six caps for England.

Football career

Morley was born in Ormskirk and represented Ormskirk and District Schools. He signed as an apprentice with Preston North End in July 1969 before turning professional in August 1972.cite book | last = Matthews | first = Tony | title = The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion | publisher = Breedon Books | date = 2005 | pages = pp157–158 | isbn = 1-85983-474-4] 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.

References

*cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/tonymorley.htm |title=Tony Morley |work=Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=2008-06-02
*cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=3393 |title=Tony Morley
publisher=The Football Association |accessdate=2008-06-02
*cite web |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-b-intres-det.html |title=England - International Results B-Team - Details |publisher=RSSSF |date=2004-03-21 |author=Barrie Courtney |accessdate=2008-06-02

Persondata
NAME = Morley, Tony
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Morley, William Anthony
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 1954-08-26
PLACE OF BIRTH = Ormskirk, Lancashire, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =