Johnny Morrissey Appreciation Thread

[Groucho]

I never really saw him as " the fourth man" in a midfield, mind you my tactical knowledge then was not so keenly honed as now , at such a tender age. While we played different formations with different players my Hare Krishna chant of " Gordonwest, Tommy Wright, Keith Newton , Howard Kendal,;Brian labone, Colin Harvey , Jimmy husband, Alan ball; Joey Royle, Johnny Hurst , Johnny Morrisey , Harry Catterick ,; Harry Catterick , Harry Catterick etc " suggests he was one of the front three with Husband and Royle. Lovely barrel of a player . Got to dash now , got keys for parkrun, more later.

You may be right mate, I was going off something that was mentioned to me about him.

*forth man? Hmm? I hope Tommy Jackson get a mention in this series as he was the proper 4th man of the Trio

Anyway, Moggsy...

I don't really hold with the some what trendy view that the 69-70 team played 4:5:1. Just like now with 10 outfielders, the formation was flexible, nominal 4:3:3. (Though the newspapers of the day still printed the teams in the old manner - 1:2:3:5) and could be any permutation of numbers at any time...Though it has to be said that the back 4 was less flexible than now, the FB's did push up but as much as now.
Morrissey did drop back and tuck in more than Husband, but that was just his nature and a measure of his versatility...I seem to recollect him playing at LB once or twice. But in those days a winger was mostly a winger, get up, get it over or cut in and shoot.

So on to what we all know; He WAS as hard as nails, he backed down to no one, but didn't need or have to prove or flaunt it. He just was, you didn't mess with moggsy, everybody knew you'd get no change out of him...but he wasn't 'hard' in the sly, snide, dirty manner that some where and still are today.

The 'alleged' tins of salmon and ciggies I'll leave alone and let others tell the stories, from both on and off the field, tell them better than me.

Yeah as you can see from posts above I did admit as much, hence why I was asking for opinions of older blues who saw them at the time.

 

[dave abrahams]

Yes one of my earlier heroes, can't remember if he went on to play for another team ?

He went to Oldham Athletic, wasn't there long, I think he finished with football after that brief stay.

 

[degsy]

Yeah as you can see from posts above I did admit as much, hence why I was asking for opinions of older blues who saw them at the time.

I was there and that's my opinion...glad to confirm your suspicions

 

[peteblue]

I could have sworn it was £11,000, but hey ho. Brilliant left winger with a good turn of pace. Legendary toughness is always mentioned but his skill on the ball was wonderful. Best I've seen in that position. When Bolasie skinned that lad at Sunderland and put the ball on Roms head that reminded me of Johnny .......

 

[McMagic]

Johnny was a 2 footed footballer, could play on both wings and could centre the ball into the box (Not like our current crew). He
scored a penalty in the 68 semi against Leeds, he wasn't picked for the 66 final, luckily enough the fella who replaced him scored
the winner. In the early 60s we used to go for a pint in the Ribble Bus Station (Near The Adelphi I think) and Johnnys Dad (or he
said he was) used to drink there quite often, he used to tell us some stories about young John and other things, he was a right
character. In about 1970 I can remember Johnny being called up by Alf Ramsey to play for the English League Team and saying
that he had chosen Morrissey for his contribution to English football. Obviously not just an Everton favourite!

 

[Jeff Jones]

I'm not sure exactly when, but in about 1958 Everton played Liverpool in a two legged affair called, I think, the Floodlight Cup.

It was a contrived thing so we could have a couple of derbies because they were in the second division.

Both games were pretty much packed out midweek matches and we won 2-0 at home and they won 3-2 at their place. I was at both.

This was when we first saw Johnny Morrissey - playing for Liverpool. He stood out as an exceptional talent but couldn't get in
over there because Alan A'Court was undroppable on their left wing.

Their loss and our gain because Everton snapped him up and what a player he was for us.
.

 

[Eggs]

...now this was a footballer. Tough as teak, apparently the first name in Jack Charlton's 'Little Black Book', a winger who dipped a shoulder and shimmy to get half a yard and deliver great crosses. John Robertson at Forest was very much in the Morrisey mould.

 

[Eggs]

I'm not sure exactly when, but in about 1958 Everton played Liverpool in a two legged affair called, I think, the Floodlight Cup.

It was a contrived thing so we could have a couple of derbies because they were in the second division.

Both games were pretty much packed out midweek matches and we won 2-0 at home and they won 3-2 at their place. I was at both.

This was when we first saw Johnny Morrissey - playing for Liverpool. He stood out as an exceptional talent but couldn't get in
over there because Alan A'Court was undroppable on their left wing.

Their loss and our gain because Everton snapped him up and what a player he was for us.
.

....I think the story was that Shankly was on holiday when we bought him and went bollistic when he found out.

 

[Eggsyblueskin]

Another one of my heroes. Exciting to watch and could look after himself, what's not to revere? Integral part of a truly great side.

 

[bcblue1878]

Think I may have posted this before, if so apologies!!
When I was about 8 I used to go to Boys Club on a Friday night in Crosby in the hall at St Nick's church, 5 a sides, table tennis etc. I'd been off school for about a week after a big dental op in Walton hospital so couldn't go to Boys Club and was particularly gutted as one of the Everton players was supposed to be turning up! Can't quite remember the exact timings but about half 8 there was a knock on our front door, me lying on the settee feeling as miserable as sin and in walks the guy who ran the Boys Club closely followed by Johnny Morrissey!!!!!! He'd been told about this mad Evertonian kid who couldn't make Boys Club that night because of his op, and only flippin' well came down to see me! He stayed about half an hour, not sure who was more excited me or me Dad, but it certainly made me feel a bit better!
He was one of my favourite players after that, fantastic player, hard as nails and definitely not to be messed with, scored some great goals for Everton as well as creating many more! He'd cost a fortune in todays market!

 

[dave abrahams]

I'm not sure exactly when, but in about 1958 Everton played Liverpool in a two legged affair called, I think, the Floodlight Cup.

It was a contrived thing so we could have a couple of derbies because they were in the second division.

Both games were pretty much packed out midweek matches and we won 2-0 at home and they won 3-2 at their place. I was at both.

This was when we first saw Johnny Morrissey - playing for Liverpool. He stood out as an exceptional talent but couldn't get in
over there because Alan A'Court was undroppable on their left wing.

Their loss and our gain because Everton snapped him up and what a player he was for us.
.

Yes Jeff remember both them games, Everton played in Blue silk or satin shirts, Andy Penman played for Everton in the
game at Anfield at outside right aged fifteen, Liverpool got a penalty in that game, the referee was the only one in the
ground who knew what it was for. Everton won the cup on aggeragate, you are right it was called the Floodlight cup, both
matches were to celebrate the first ever games to be played under floodlight at Goodison Park and Anfield Road.

 

[Setter]

One of my favourite players from that great era. I can still picture him going down the wing and crossing the ball on to big Joe's head!

 

[Bluebonic]

If you want to know what he was like, imagine a hellish amalgamation of pat van de hauwe, Stuart Pearce, Roy Keane and away speedy skilful,winger you can think of. Harder than any of those three though, proper little snarler but my god what a footballer too.

 

[Joey66]

I was with him only a few months ago. He hasn't changes a single bit apart from his hair which is "ghostly white. "

will he give you an interview the best hardest winger you will ever see in a blue shirt £10,000 from Liverpool he did a ten year stint for us absolutely brilliant scored goals too - his skill factor was up there with John Robertson of Forest who got recognition
1
moggsy made most of my idols goals he could cross the ball with his eyes closed, and Joe Royle would be there to head or set up a goal he was a magician with his footwork defenders underestimated how fast he could be as he had the build of a tank - thunderous shot too - bally would shout over to him pointing he needs taking out and Moggsy never let him down lol

 

[Joey66]

I'm not sure exactly when, but in about 1958 Everton played Liverpool in a two legged affair called, I think, the Floodlight Cup.

It was a contrived thing so we could have a couple of derbies because they were in the second division.

Both games were pretty much packed out midweek matches and we won 2-0 at home and they won 3-2 at their place. I was at both.

This was when we first saw Johnny Morrissey - playing for Liverpool. He stood out as an exceptional talent but couldn't get in
over there because Alan A'Court was undroppable on their left wing.

Their loss and our gain because Everton snapped him up and what a player he was for us.
.

Bill Shankly was on holiday he went berserk with his board sold behind his back lollollollollollol
HC had pulled of a master transfer a red fan on their ground staff £10, 000 we robbed them
years later we did it again with Sheedylollollollollol