Billy Morgan

Who was Billy Morgan?

William Henry "Billy" Morgan was an English footballer who played as a half back.

Born in Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, he began his football career with Horwich F.C. In January 1897, he was sold to Newton Heath, making his debut appearance against Darwen on 2 March 1897. He was one of the team during the first season after Newton Heath became Manchester United. During his time with the club, he made 152 appearances and scored seven goals.

He transferred to join Bolton Wanderers in March 1903 and went on to play for Watford, Leicester Fosse, New Brompton and Newton Heath Athletic.

By the time he joined up for the First World War, Morgan was working as a cleaner. But the fact that he still enjoyed his football is clear from the notes in his army pension records when he was discharged in February 1915 as being "[unlikely] to become an efficient soldier". The reason given was that he had "an old football injury [and had been injured] once again last Saturday the 28th playing football."

Morgan married Mary Alice Barnett in 1900 and the couple had two children, both born in Newton Heath, Manchester. He died in Manchester on 5 June 1939, at the age of 61.