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The Bayview | Black and Gold and Blue - Henry Morris
What was the name of the footballer who scored a hat-trick on his international debut but was never selected to play for his country again? This question has undoubtedly cropped up in pub quizzes all over the country, and the answer, if you didn’t already know, is East Fife’s Henry Morris!
Henry was born in Dundee on 17th December 1919, and was relatively late in stepping up to the Senior game at the age of twenty-six; his football development having been delayed by active service during World War Two.
Before the war, Henry had turned out for Lochee Central, where he formed a striking partnership with inside-forwards Jake and Dougie Davidson, a trio which was destined to fill the same role at Bayview during East Fife’s Halcyon days. Indeed, all three were transferred from Lochee to Dundee Violet during the summer of 1939, where the lethal striking force scored an incredible 36 goals in just four games, with Morris netting four times and the Davidson brothers a goal apiece in a league match against East Craigie at Glenesk Park on 11th August. Such was the attraction of the high-scoring Violet team at this time, an incredible crowd of 6,270 paid to see the ‘Pansies’ take on Dundee Harp at Glenesk Park that same month!
After being de-mobbed at the end of the Second World War, all three players teamed up once again at Dundee Violet, but it wasn’t long before the senior talent scouts came calling. On Friday 7th June 1946, East Fife fought off a host of Scottish and English clubs, including Dundee United and Blackpool, to land the signature of Henry Morris, who was joined a week later by Violet team-mate Dougie Davidson. Doug’s brother Jake, however, opted instead to sign for Dundee United, thus breaking up the striking partnership.
In Henry’s first season at Bayview, 1946/47, the centre-forward scored an amazing 36 goals in 37 competitive appearances; but things were to get even better the following season following the signing of old partner Jake Davidson, who had failed to hold down a regular place in the Dundee United first team during his year at Tannadice. The old trio were now back together again, and season 1947/48 saw Henry Morris score 59 goals in 48 appearances with the Davidson brothers weighing in with 32 goals between them; all three ending the campaign with a League Cup winners’ medal and a ‘B’ Division Championship medal to show for their efforts!
Although playing against tougher opposition in the top flight during season 1948/49, and without the assistance of Doug Davidson for most of the campaign following the player’s transfer to Blackpool in October 1948, Henry Morris still managed to find the net no fewer than 25 times in 37 appearances. It was inevitable that Henry’s scoring exploits would come to the attention of the international selectors, and the player was finally called up for international duty for the Home International Championship match against Ireland at Windsor Park in Belfast on 1st October 1949, which was also to double as a qualifying match for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.
On the Tuesday preceding the match, Henry and East Fife team-mate George Aitken met up with the rest of the Scotland party at Broomielaw Quay in the centre of Glasgow, where they battled their way through hordes of young autograph hunters and newspaper reporters before boarding the steamer Royal Ulsterman, bound for Belfast. Asked on the quayside how he felt about getting called up to the national team, Henry modestly replied: “I’ll do my best not to let Scotland down”.
Henry certainly didn’t let the team down, as after just two minutes’ play he got his head on to a cross from Willie Waddell to put the Scots ahead. It was a dream start to his Scotland debut and, into the bargain, Henry had written himself into the history books as the first British player to score a World Cup qualifying goal! And it wasn’t to end there, with Henry Morris scoring another two second half goals to complete a debut hat-trick which, along with two goals from Rangers’ Willie Waddell and further strikes from Derby’s Billy Steel, Hibs’ Lawrie Reilly and Third Lanark’s Jimmy Mason, was more than enough to sweep the Irish aside and record a remarkable 8-2 victory.
Having made such an impressive Scotland debut, one would naturally assume that Henry Morris would once again line up alongside East Fife team-mate George Aitken in Scotland’s next international at Hampden on 9th November 1949. Morris was not in the team that beat Wales 2-0, however, and it was assumed by many that the player had been snubbed by the international selection committee, but this is not quite true. The facts of the matter are that Henry picked up an injury in a league match against Motherwell just days before the Wales match, which effectively ruled him out. By the time he had regained his form, the Scotland centre-forward position had been claimed by Hearts’ Willie Bauld, which effectively spelled the end of Henry’s international career.
Despite a fall-out with East Fife just weeks after playing for his country, during which speculation was rife that he had played his last match for the club, Henry remained at Bayview until April 1953, during which time he picked up a second League Cup winner’s medal in 1949 and made an appearance in the 1950 Scottish Cup Final. He ended his senior career following brief spells at Dundee United and Portadown in Northern Ireland.
Henry passed away in Kirkcaldy in March 1993, aged 73.
Jim Corstorphine
Fifers Face Ayr United Test
East Fife are back on the road this weekend as we make the trip to the west coast to face Ayr United.
The Fifers are on a good run of form at the moment with back-to-back wins against Airdrieonians and Forfar Athletic who were comfortably dispatched last time out. Kyle Wilkie, Mark Lamont and Paul Willis are in line for a return to the squad for this weekend after missing the last match with captain Kevin Smith the only player unavailable to manager Darren Young. Ayr United got back to winning ways last weekend with 2-0 victory over Queen’s Park after 4 defeats on the bounce.
Recent meeting between the sides don’t make for easy reading for the Fifers. The last meeting between the sides was on the final day of the 2013/2014 season at Somerset Park. East Fife were sitting second bottom of League 1 going into the match, one point ahead of 10th placed Arbroath, and to match their result to avoid automatic relegation. Things didn’t go to plan with Ayr running out 4-1 winners thanks to a hattrick from Craig Malcolm and a 75 minutes strike from Brian Gilmour with Liam Buchanan grabbing a late consolation for the visitors. East Fife were saved from automatic relegation on this occasion as Arbroath failed to take anything from their match with Airdrieonians.
Our last win over Ayr United was back in December 2012 when, after being 2-0 down at the break, a tremendous second half comeback saw us claim a 3-2 victory at Somerset Park curtesy of a double from Scott McBride and a last-minute winner from centre-half David White.
The hosts are holding their annual armed forced day tomorrow and invite service personnel to the game for free on production of a valid ID and if they are in uniform.
Goldmine Jackpot Winner receives £2050
The latest Goldmine Jackpot Winner, Barry Wilson, received his cheque for £2,050.00 on Saturday, 23rd September 2017 at the match against Forfar Athletic. The ticket agent was Mr Mechanics of Buckhaven. Ken Henderson, Commercial Director, of East Fife FC presented the cheque.
If any one wishes to join this lotto, please contact the office or an East Fife agent. Simply e mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 01333 426323
Comfortable Victory For East Fife
Ladbrokes League 1
Saturday 23rdSeptember 2017
Bayview Stadium
East Fife 3 (Duggan 4’, Docherty 21’(P), 62’(P))
Forfar Athletic 0
East Fife XI: M Hurst, Dunsmore, Page, Watson, Linton (Mutch 76’), Docherty (Kane 72’), Slattery, G Hurst (Wilson 63’), Millar, Flanagan, Duggan
Subs: Goodfellow, Reilly
Forfar Athletic XI: McCallum, Bain, Kennedy, Whyte, Mensing (Travis 32’), Millar, Cregg (Lister 45’), Malone, Scott, Cox, Peters (Quigley 66’)
Subs: See, Easton, Aitken, King
Booked: Kennedy, Millar, Malone
Dismissed: Kennedy
Referee: David Lowe
Attendance: 519
East Fife welcomed Forfar Athletic to Bayview yesterday with the home side running out comfortable 3-0 winners. Manager Darren Young made one change to the side that overcame Airdrieonians last time out with Pat Slattery replacing Kyle Wilkie who missed out through illness.
Newly-promoted Forfar have found life difficult following their promotion last season with the side sitting bottom of League 1 with only 3 points, picked up in an opening day defeat of Airdrieonians, and lost Manager Gary Bollan earlier in the week after a run of six straight defeats.
The game was only 4 minutes old when Chris Duggan latched onto a long ball from Aaron Dunsmore to slot past Loon’s ‘keeper Marc McCallum for his third goal of the season. Forfar then had two great opportunities to draw level and were unlucky not to score when first David Cox rattled the crossbar from 12-yards before Josh Peters saw his drive saved by Mark Hurst and his follow-up blocked by Mark Docherty on 11 minutes. Docherty almost extended the home side’s lead at the other end with a volley from 30-yards that McCallum was forced to tip over the bar.
East Fife did double their lead from the penalty spot with 20 minutes on the clock when a quick break saw Dunsmore bundled over inside the area by Darren Whyte. Docherty stepped up and sent McCallum the wrong way for his second in as many games. In the build up to the penalty being awarded, Mark Hurst pulled off a terrific save to deny Eddie Malone who had been afforded a free header at the back post.
The rest of the opening 45 minutes was all East Fife with Nathan Flanagan in particular causing all sorts of problems on the right-hand side. Good play by the winger saw the ball eventually fall for Docherty at the back post forcing McCallum into a save from a tight angle. Kieran Millar was next to go close for the home side only to see his drive from 20-yards come back off the post with McCallum beaten. Duggan got in behind the Forfar defence again just before the half hour mark but was unable to get the ball out of his feet allowing McCallum to collect.
Michael Kennedy then picked up the first booking of the game for a pull of Flanagan. East Fife had a couple of opportunities to add to their lead before the break when first Greg Hurst hit the side-netting from close range before a long-throw by Scott Linton saw Duggan head narrowly over.
A difficult task got even harder for the visitor shortly after the re-start when Kennedy picked up his second yellow for a foul on Flanagan. In a rare venture into the East Fife half, Jim Lister sent a header wide of the target for the visitors on 56 minutes. East Fife added a deserved third goal on 61 minutes from the penalty sport after a hand-ball by Cox; Docherty giving McCallum no change a he converted his second of the game.
A terrific run by Flanagan with 20 minutes to go saw his leave at least 3 Forfar players in his wake but was unable to find the target when he got his shot away. Substitute Ross Mutch was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet with 5 minutes to go when he got on the end of a cross from Craig Watson but McCallum – easily the visitors man of the match – managed to turn his strike behind for a corner. McCallum was on hand again a couple of minutes later, this time denying Flanagan from close range.
A well-deserved victory for the home side with impressive performances across the park.
East Fife Welcome Loons to Bayview
Forfar Athletic are the visitors to Bayview Stadium tomorrow as East Fife look to build on last week’s win against Airdrieonians.
The Fifers were buoyed last week by the return of talisman Jonathan Page who made his first start in six months following an injury picked up during a 1-0 win over Livingston back in March and Manager Darren Young should have the same squad to pick from this weekend with only Captain Kevin Smith missing as he continues his recovery.
The visitors have not had the best start to their league campaign following promotion via the play-offs last season with their only points coming from a 2-1 win against Airdrieonians on the opening day of the season. However, they will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s painful 5-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Arbroath – a result that spelled the end for Manager Gary Bollan.
The last league meeting between the sides was back in March 2014 when goals from Liam Buchanan and Nathan Austin fired East Fife to a 2-1 win at Station Park, current Fifer Chris Duggan netting for the home side. The game will be remembered, however, for an impressive solo run from Kevin Smith when he picked up the ball on the edge of his own box and left three Loon’s defenders in his wake on route to setting up Austin for the winner.
The Fifers triumphed by the same scoring in the last meeting at Bayview in January 2014 when Marc McKenzie (with more than a little deflection off Forfar defender Darren Dodds) and Stephen O’Neill both scored on their debut.
Supporters of both clubs are reminded that they are welcome to enjoy refreshments in the stadium bars before and after the game.