Ernie Morgan

Football player infobox
playername = Ernie Morgan


fullname = Ernest Morgan
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1927|1|13
cityofbirth = Royston
countryofbirth = England
position = Striker
youthclubs=Royston Youth Club
youthyears=1943-?
years = ?-1949
1949-1953
1953-1957
clubs = Royston Colliery
Lincoln City
Gillingham
caps(goals) = 00? 0(?)
003 0(0)Cite web
url = http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/lincoln/lincoln.htm
title = LINCOLN CITY : 1946/47 - 1986/87 & 1988/89 - 2005/06
accessdate = 2007-08-22
publisher = Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database

]
155 (73)Cite web
url = http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/gillingham/gillingham.htm
title = GILLINGHAM : 1950/51 - 2005/06
accessdate = 2007-08-20
publisher = Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database

]
manageryears = 1962-1966
1966-1972
1972-1973
1973-1975
1978-1980
1982-1983
managerclubs = Chatham Town
Dartford
Maidstone United
Dartford
Tonbridge
Dartford

Ernest "Ernie" Morgan (born Royston, 13 January, 1927) is an English former professional football (soccer) player and manager. He spent the bulk of his career with Gillingham, where he set a record for the highest number of goals scored in a single season which stands to this day.

Playing career

Morgan worked as a miner from the age of 14 and played for his colliery football team, leading them to a Sheffield Senior Cup win shortly after World War II, the first time a works team had won the cup.cite book | first=Roger|last= Triggs | title=The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club| publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | year=2001| id=ISBN 0-7524-2243-X|pages=p226]

Morgan initially turned down the chance to turn professional, despite being offered a contract by Barnsley, but eventually signed for Lincoln City, albeit on a part-time basis. He only managed three Football League appearances for the "Red Imps" and was allowed to move on to Gillingham in 1953 for a fee of £3,000.

Finally turning fully professional with the Kent club, he scored 21 goals in his debut season and then topped this by scoring 31 in 1954–55, a new club record. This record was equalled by Brian Yeo during the 1970s but Morgan remains the joint holder of the record to this day.cite book | first=Roger|last= Triggs | title=The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club| publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | year=2001| id=ISBN 0-7524-2243-X|pages=p348] Cite web
url = http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10416,00.html
title = History of the Gills
accessdate = 2007-08-23
publisher = Gillingham F.C.]

Morgan's playing career came to an end due to injury in 1957.

Managerial career

In 1962 Morgan was appointed manager of Chatham Town, having previously served as coach. He went on to manage a number of other Kent non-league clubs, with his greatest success coming at Dartford, whom he led to the Southern League championship and an appearance in the FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium.

References