We were deeply saddened to hear the news that our former player Tony Morrin passed away on Monday 14th December at the age of 74.
During two separate spells with the Club (a decade apart) he played 50 times, scoring 4 goals.
Tony is one of the very rare and special County players to have won a Football League championship medal at Edgeley Park. During the 1966-67 season, as one of the youngest member of the team, he made 20 appearances as County won the 4th Division championship.
Born in Swinton, he was an apprentice at Bury FC, where he made his football league debut for The Shakers in the Second Division in 1963. He made three appearances at Gigg Lane and with first team opportunities limited he moved on to join First Division Burnley in July 1965. He failed to make a first team appearance during his one season at Turf Moor and following unsuccessful pre-season trials at Grimsby, Doncaster and Oldham, he was close to finishing his football career when County offered him a contract in Oct 1966.
After an injury to Albert Quixall, he made his first team debut in Nov 1966 as County beat Bradford Park Avenue 4-0 at Edgeley Park. Described at the time as “the discovery of the season” his performances at inside forward made him a regular starter for the next 16 games before he lost his place in the team on the arrival of Bert Lister from Rochdale. During this time he scored two crucial goals in home draws with Chester and Rochdale, that secured important points for County. His first goal for County was a stunning 25 yard strike with his favoured left foot against Darlington in the FA Cup.
With Lister and partner Derek Keven preferred as the strike force to close out the season, opportunities were limited but he made a further 4 appearances, playing his final game that season as number 9 in the last away fixture of the season at Southend.
During the following two seasons at Edgeley Park his appearances were limited but he was to help create history when his replacement Ian Ledgard became the first ever County substitute to score a goal during our League Cup defeat to Derby County in 1968.
He remained at Edgeley Park until March 1969 when he left to join Barrow. At Holker Street he made over 100 appearances before moving south to join Exeter City in July 1971. During a successful six year spell with The Grecians he was a regular in the team making 198 appearances which culminated in 1976/77 when he played in the team that finished 4th Division runners up.
Before the end of this season and after a 10 year absence he returned to Edgeley Park where he made 13 more appearances, scoring his final County goal in a 1-1 draw with Bradford City in March 1977.
He moved to Rochdale in August 1977 where he made a further 34 appearances before he finished his football career at Bangor City.
Tony was a key member of the team that won us our first League championship in 30 years, and to this day the last won by a County side. We were delighted that he returned with his championship colleagues in 1997 and most recently in 2017 when he was one of the guests of honour at the 50th anniversary celebration. At this event he was awarded his SCAN certificate (# 697) and a special commemorative shirt, as worn by the County players that day.
We mourn his passing and send our sincerest condolences to his family at this difficult time. He held a gold medal in his hand, and this marks him out as one of our most special former players.
