Played for Villa: 1931-1937
Position: Goalkeeper
Appearances: 207
Villa lined up a friendly match against a select military 11 in November 1930, and despite letting seven goals in, the opposition goalkeeper, Harry Morton, was 'spotted' by the Villans. He was swiftly targetted and by March 1931, was out of the army and on Villa's books. Getting into the first team was another matter, but fate leant a hand: in November, Villa turned out against Manchester City at Maine Road, with Fred Biddlestone in the Villa goal. Biddlestone managed to get injured in the pre-match warm-up, and Morton, who was in the stands as a spectator, was called down to the pitch, and took up the position for his full debut - and he would only miss one game in the next four years. Thereafter, he had to share duties with a resurgent Biddlestone, and with Villa down in Division 2 come 1937, moved on to top-flighters, Everton, where he never really established himself. World War II ended his playing career. His finest game in claret and blue was probably the March, 1934 victory over arch-rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final, a performance described by author, Peter Morris, as 'brilliant', in particular a point-blank save two minutes from time.
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Position: Goalkeeper
Appearances: 207
Villa lined up a friendly match against a select military 11 in November 1930, and despite letting seven goals in, the opposition goalkeeper, Harry Morton, was 'spotted' by the Villans. He was swiftly targetted and by March 1931, was out of the army and on Villa's books. Getting into the first team was another matter, but fate leant a hand: in November, Villa turned out against Manchester City at Maine Road, with Fred Biddlestone in the Villa goal. Biddlestone managed to get injured in the pre-match warm-up, and Morton, who was in the stands as a spectator, was called down to the pitch, and took up the position for his full debut - and he would only miss one game in the next four years. Thereafter, he had to share duties with a resurgent Biddlestone, and with Villa down in Division 2 come 1937, moved on to top-flighters, Everton, where he never really established himself. World War II ended his playing career. His finest game in claret and blue was probably the March, 1934 victory over arch-rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final, a performance described by author, Peter Morris, as 'brilliant', in particular a point-blank save two minutes from time.
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