Johnny Morrissey

[banno]

https://www.toffeeweb.com/season/17-18/comment/history/36630.html

Great extract from Becky Tallentire's book on Everton wives posted on Toffeeweb - this time about Mrs Morrissey.

Does anyone know why Johnny has never been brought back on the pitch to Goodison to take the deserved plaudits from all those who remember him, like so many others have been over the years?

Great story. Used to go to his house in Aintree but never had the guts to knock on his door

 

[Joey66]

One of those rare players that old reds and blues speak of in the same terms, my uncle (an rs) told me he was the only fella tommy smith backed down from, would love to have seen him play, especially against that horrible leeds side

Sandy Brown was hard , but Moggsy was a killer - Bally was no softie , but was a target - he would cry to Hursty, and Labby give um the same stick they are giving me they laughed, and just pointed to Moggsy tell him he will sort them out - he certainly did - his footwork as a winger was exceptional he looked overweight he was not it was all muscle, he had pace to but did not waste it as soon as the full back was beaten he whipped the ball in where Joe Royle was often on the end off!
The comparison to John Roberts of Notts Forest by @Eggs is spot on very similar apart from Moggsy mean streak which was needed to help the holy trinity out as a safety valve - Leeds targeted him often seen him get done only once by them - other than that they were aware he would get them the next game!

 

[Joey66]

He was in Jack Charltons infamous..' little black book'.....

Moggsy got anyone who was in the team's way - also his opposing fullback would get it early - you could not get away with it now - it was only part of his game he was a very talented tricky winger very underrated, as opposing teams found out - to think he started as a youth player/groundsman at LFC -thank god they had Callahan , and Thompson on the wings , and we picked him up at a bargain £10,000 - The shanks went mad - coming back off holiday the board had sold him a great swoop by the Catt!
we followed it up many years later with Sheedy!

 

[McMagic]

Morrissey was a very under-rated player. In my opinion he was better than Dave Thomas, even.

You are quite right mate, Morrissey was picked by Alf Ramsey to represent the 'Football League' when we used to have 'inter-league' matches
in blank midweeks. Ramsey said he picked Morrissey because of his first class contribution to the game. Dave Thomas was a 'Whinging Minge'.
I went to QPR late 70s the game we won 5-1 He whinged about McKenzie not passing enough to him, kept on at The Screaming Skull to
tell McKenzie to pass to him. It was a good job I was there to explain to Dave what I thought he should do.

 

[Brisan123]

First game I ever seen live and Johnny scored a hat trick against Sunderland.
I was 7 and that Small I didn’t see a whole lot of the game

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Didn't he get done for having a load of stolen fags in his garage? Good player...strong tackler for a winger. It was tough in those days!!

My dad told me Steve it was tinned salmon,the very cheapest,moggsy and his best mate from his lfc days Bobby Campbell got hold of john west salmon labels stuck them on and flogged themlol

 

[allezlesbleus]

Brilliantly skilful but as tough as they come. I always remember my dad raving about him when I started watching and how his boxing background meant that he was not a delicate winger but one you could rely on. No idea about the accuracy of the boxing bit! One of my best moments as an Everton fan was when he scored the penalty that beat Leeds at OT 1968 FA cup final....nerves of steel, heavily sanded pitch, no Alan Ball in team so he stepped up, gently rolled the ball into the corner...cue bedlam!!!!

 

[allezlesbleus]

My first hero, had the old round neck top which my gran sewed no:11 onto, used to go past his house in Aintree every week on my way to my grans and my dad used to have me chanting "rah, rah,rah,Morrissey"Well I was only four or fivelol

I used to love that chant mate!!!!!

 

[Toffeelover]

Sandy Brown was hard , but Moggsy was a killer - Bally was no softie , but was a target - he would cry to Hursty, and Labby give um the same stick they are giving me they laughed, and just pointed to Moggsy tell him he will sort them out - he certainly did - his footwork as a winger was exceptional he looked overweight he was not it was all muscle, he had pace to but did not waste it as soon as the full back was beaten he whipped the ball in where Joe Royle was often on the end off!
The comparison to John Roberts of Notts Forest by @Eggs is spot on very similar apart from Moggsy mean streak which was needed to help the holy trinity out as a safety valve - Leeds targeted him often seen him get done only once by them - other than that they were aware he would get them the next game!

Ask Tommy Smith.lol

 

[NewRadical]

Thanks for posting that, Great read.

 

[roy vernon]

Smashing player Moggsie was, and as has been said, as hard as nails. He was the first winger to give the full back a kicking.

The holy trinity would not have been half as good without him, he allowed them to play.

 

[AndyC]

I speak to Johnny occasionally, and basically his answer is that he now has a new life. What went on in the past is another time. His son Johnny has the same outlook. They are just not interested.

What a shame.