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Quite a bunch to pick from - here's just three of them -
Willie Morgan
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William "Willie" Morgan (born 2 October 1944 in Sauchie) is a Scottish former professional football player.
A winger, Morgan started his career with Burnley, making his first-team debut against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in 1963. He took over from John Connelly who was transferred to Manchester United and scored his first Burnley goal, when he scored twice in a Boxing Day demolition of Manchester United in a 6–1 win at Turf Moor.
He made his Scotland debut against Northern Ireland at Belfast's Windsor Park in 1967.
During the summer of 1968 he was transferred to Manchester United where he took over from John Connelly again. He scored 34 goals for United and led them to promotion in 1975 after one season in the Second Division. He played in the World Cup Finals of 1974, which took place in West Germany.
With Steve Coppell's signing in 1975, Morgan lost his place in the Manchester United team and returned to Burnley. His second spell at Turf Moor lasted less than a year. He moved to Bolton Wanderers, enjoying a successful spell at Burnden Park before finishing his career at Blackpool.
Morgan played summers on loan in the North American Soccer League in the late 1970s, playing for the Chicago Sting in 1977 and Minnesota Kicks the following three summers.
Morgan won 21 caps for Scotland including world cup 1974, scoring once against Denmark in 1972.
During his time at Manchester United, the band Tristar Airbus dedicated the song Willie Morgan on the Wing to Morgan
Phil Brown
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Born in South Shields, County Durham and educated in the North East,[2] Brown started his career playing Sunday league football for South Shields side Red Duster in the South Shields Business Houses League, in the same team as Ray Dunbar and Bobby Davison, who went on to play for Derby County and Leeds United.
As a professional, Brown played at full back for many years with Hartlepool United, followed by a spell at Halifax Town (with fellow north easterner Billy Ayre at both clubs and under him at the latter),[3] In 1988 he moved to Bolton Wanderers, winning the Associate Members Cup in 1989.[4]
Brown joined Blackpool in 1994, playing under Sam Allardyce until 1996 while also being his assistant manager.
Brown started taking his coaching badges while playing for Bolton, encouraged by Bruce Rioch.[5] His first coaching role was as assistant to Sam Allardyce at Blackpool.[6] He returned to Bolton Wanderers after his playing career ended and served as assistant manager to Colin Todd. Following Todd's departure in 1999, he took charge of the team as caretaker manager, winning four games out of five, until the appointment of Sam Allardyce. He then served as Allardyce's assistant for six years, before deciding to forge his own career as a manager.
Alex Baptiste
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Born in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and educated at All Saints RC School, Mansfield. Baptiste came up through the youth team at Mansfield Town. He was originally a central midfielder before gradually dropping back into defence and made his first-team debut aged 17 against Barnsley in April 2003.
On 12 December 2003 he joined newly promoted Conference National side Tamworth on a one-month loan deal, making four league appearances, before returning to Mansfield on 12 January 2004. On 7 February he was sent out again on loan for a month, this time to Burton Albion, for whom he made three appearances.
Baptiste established himself as first-choice central defender for Mansfield Town towards the end of the 2003–04 season. He was ever-present during the 2006–07 season, and by the end of the campaign had made over 150 appearances for Mansfield. Baptiste signed a new three-year contract despite interest from Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2007. However, he missed three months of the 2007–08 season with a back injury. After Mansfield Town were relegated to the Conference National at the end of the 2007–08 season, he requested a transfer, which was granted. He made a total of 198 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring six goals.
On 1 July 2008, Baptiste agreed a deal to join Championship club Blackpool. Speaking about the move, he described it as a "great opportunity and challenge". He started the season as a regular in the Seasiders' reserve team, and for the first few months of the season he was not named in the first-team squad. He made his first-team debut on 22 November 2008 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux at right-back. He scored his first goal for the Seasiders in a 1–1 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road on 14 February 2009. Three days later he was named in the Football League's "Championship Team of the Week".
Baptiste cemented his place in the starting line up in the latter stages of the 2008–09 season, playing either centre back or right back. On 20 January 2010, after 27 appearances and two goals in the 2009–10 season, Baptiste signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract until June 2013. He said of the new contract: "I am very pleased. I had a good chat with the gaffer and Thommo and the direction of the club is upwards and I want to be a part of it." Blackpool manager Ian Holloway expressed his belief that Baptiste can play in the Premier League: "Baps has played at left-back, right-back and centre-back and he has been different class. I believe he can play in the Premiership and I have told him that. I am working on the areas that he needs working on, but as a defender I don't think I have had a better one and I am delighted he has signed."
On 14 August 2010 he scored as Blackpool marked their Premier League debut on the opening day of the 2010–11 season with a 4–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. Baptiste scored the final goal of the game. He was subsequently named in the Premier League "Team of the Week", alongside teammate Marlon Harewood.
Baptiste played in the Championship playoff final against West Ham United in May 2012, which was won by West Ham 2–1. After the match Baptiste was vocal in his criticism of West Ham's style of football saying “They just hoof it, and hope for the best”.
In May 2013, Baptiste signed a three-year deal with fellow Championship side Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer that took effect once his Blackpool contract expired on 30 June 2013. He made his debut for Bolton in their 1–1 draw with Lancashire rivals Burnley on 3 August 2013, operating in the right-back position. He recorded his first goal for Wanderers in the same month by scoring a consolation in the 4–1 away defeat at Blackburn Rovers. His first goal at the Reebok Stadium was Bolton's opener in their 2–2 draw against Derby County in an end to end game which saw Wanderers claim a share of the spoils.
Others who have been a tangerine and a trotter include - Steve Banks, David Burke, Jeff Chandler, Tony Cunningham, Wyn Davies, Wayne Entwhistle, Gareth Farelly, Paul Fletcher, Bob Hatton, Dave Hatton, Colin Hendry, Chris Basham, Gary Jones, Paul Jones, Sanny Livsey, Jason Lydiate, Ian Marshall, Henry Mowbray, Peter Nicholson, John, O'Kane, Graham Rowe, Barry Sidall, Brian Smith, Greg Strong, Chris Thompson, Alan Waldron, Mike Walsh, Paul Warhurst and Ray Parry.
Author: Sluffy
Willie Morgan
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
William "Willie" Morgan (born 2 October 1944 in Sauchie) is a Scottish former professional football player.
A winger, Morgan started his career with Burnley, making his first-team debut against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in 1963. He took over from John Connelly who was transferred to Manchester United and scored his first Burnley goal, when he scored twice in a Boxing Day demolition of Manchester United in a 6–1 win at Turf Moor.
He made his Scotland debut against Northern Ireland at Belfast's Windsor Park in 1967.
During the summer of 1968 he was transferred to Manchester United where he took over from John Connelly again. He scored 34 goals for United and led them to promotion in 1975 after one season in the Second Division. He played in the World Cup Finals of 1974, which took place in West Germany.
With Steve Coppell's signing in 1975, Morgan lost his place in the Manchester United team and returned to Burnley. His second spell at Turf Moor lasted less than a year. He moved to Bolton Wanderers, enjoying a successful spell at Burnden Park before finishing his career at Blackpool.
Morgan played summers on loan in the North American Soccer League in the late 1970s, playing for the Chicago Sting in 1977 and Minnesota Kicks the following three summers.
Morgan won 21 caps for Scotland including world cup 1974, scoring once against Denmark in 1972.
During his time at Manchester United, the band Tristar Airbus dedicated the song Willie Morgan on the Wing to Morgan
Phil Brown
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Born in South Shields, County Durham and educated in the North East,[2] Brown started his career playing Sunday league football for South Shields side Red Duster in the South Shields Business Houses League, in the same team as Ray Dunbar and Bobby Davison, who went on to play for Derby County and Leeds United.
As a professional, Brown played at full back for many years with Hartlepool United, followed by a spell at Halifax Town (with fellow north easterner Billy Ayre at both clubs and under him at the latter),[3] In 1988 he moved to Bolton Wanderers, winning the Associate Members Cup in 1989.[4]
Brown joined Blackpool in 1994, playing under Sam Allardyce until 1996 while also being his assistant manager.
Brown started taking his coaching badges while playing for Bolton, encouraged by Bruce Rioch.[5] His first coaching role was as assistant to Sam Allardyce at Blackpool.[6] He returned to Bolton Wanderers after his playing career ended and served as assistant manager to Colin Todd. Following Todd's departure in 1999, he took charge of the team as caretaker manager, winning four games out of five, until the appointment of Sam Allardyce. He then served as Allardyce's assistant for six years, before deciding to forge his own career as a manager.
Alex Baptiste
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Born in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and educated at All Saints RC School, Mansfield. Baptiste came up through the youth team at Mansfield Town. He was originally a central midfielder before gradually dropping back into defence and made his first-team debut aged 17 against Barnsley in April 2003.
On 12 December 2003 he joined newly promoted Conference National side Tamworth on a one-month loan deal, making four league appearances, before returning to Mansfield on 12 January 2004. On 7 February he was sent out again on loan for a month, this time to Burton Albion, for whom he made three appearances.
Baptiste established himself as first-choice central defender for Mansfield Town towards the end of the 2003–04 season. He was ever-present during the 2006–07 season, and by the end of the campaign had made over 150 appearances for Mansfield. Baptiste signed a new three-year contract despite interest from Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2007. However, he missed three months of the 2007–08 season with a back injury. After Mansfield Town were relegated to the Conference National at the end of the 2007–08 season, he requested a transfer, which was granted. He made a total of 198 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring six goals.
On 1 July 2008, Baptiste agreed a deal to join Championship club Blackpool. Speaking about the move, he described it as a "great opportunity and challenge". He started the season as a regular in the Seasiders' reserve team, and for the first few months of the season he was not named in the first-team squad. He made his first-team debut on 22 November 2008 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux at right-back. He scored his first goal for the Seasiders in a 1–1 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road on 14 February 2009. Three days later he was named in the Football League's "Championship Team of the Week".
Baptiste cemented his place in the starting line up in the latter stages of the 2008–09 season, playing either centre back or right back. On 20 January 2010, after 27 appearances and two goals in the 2009–10 season, Baptiste signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract until June 2013. He said of the new contract: "I am very pleased. I had a good chat with the gaffer and Thommo and the direction of the club is upwards and I want to be a part of it." Blackpool manager Ian Holloway expressed his belief that Baptiste can play in the Premier League: "Baps has played at left-back, right-back and centre-back and he has been different class. I believe he can play in the Premiership and I have told him that. I am working on the areas that he needs working on, but as a defender I don't think I have had a better one and I am delighted he has signed."
On 14 August 2010 he scored as Blackpool marked their Premier League debut on the opening day of the 2010–11 season with a 4–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. Baptiste scored the final goal of the game. He was subsequently named in the Premier League "Team of the Week", alongside teammate Marlon Harewood.
Baptiste played in the Championship playoff final against West Ham United in May 2012, which was won by West Ham 2–1. After the match Baptiste was vocal in his criticism of West Ham's style of football saying “They just hoof it, and hope for the best”.
In May 2013, Baptiste signed a three-year deal with fellow Championship side Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer that took effect once his Blackpool contract expired on 30 June 2013. He made his debut for Bolton in their 1–1 draw with Lancashire rivals Burnley on 3 August 2013, operating in the right-back position. He recorded his first goal for Wanderers in the same month by scoring a consolation in the 4–1 away defeat at Blackburn Rovers. His first goal at the Reebok Stadium was Bolton's opener in their 2–2 draw against Derby County in an end to end game which saw Wanderers claim a share of the spoils.
Others who have been a tangerine and a trotter include - Steve Banks, David Burke, Jeff Chandler, Tony Cunningham, Wyn Davies, Wayne Entwhistle, Gareth Farelly, Paul Fletcher, Bob Hatton, Dave Hatton, Colin Hendry, Chris Basham, Gary Jones, Paul Jones, Sanny Livsey, Jason Lydiate, Ian Marshall, Henry Mowbray, Peter Nicholson, John, O'Kane, Graham Rowe, Barry Sidall, Brian Smith, Greg Strong, Chris Thompson, Alan Waldron, Mike Walsh, Paul Warhurst and Ray Parry.
Author: Sluffy