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Ernest Morgan (13 January 1927 – 3 October 2013) was an English professional football player and manager. He spent the bulk of his career with Gillingham, where he set a record for the highest number of goals scored in a single season which still stands.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ernest Morgan | ||
| Date of birth | 13 January 1927 | ||
| Place of birth | Royston, England | ||
| Date of death | 3 October 2013 (aged 86) | ||
| Place of death | Rainham, Kent, England | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1943–? | Royston Youth Club | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| ?–1949 | Royston Colliery | ||
| 1949–1953 | Lincoln City[1] | 3 | (0) |
| 1953–1957 | Gillingham[2] | 155 | (73) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1962–1966 | Chatham Town | ||
| 1966–1972 | Dartford | ||
| 1972–1973 | Maidstone United | ||
| 1973–1975 | Dartford | ||
| 1978–1980 | Tonbridge | ||
| 1982–1983 | Dartford | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born in Royston, Morgan worked as a miner from the age of 14 and played for his colliery football team, leading them to a Sheffield Senior Cup win shortly after World War II, the first time a works team had won the cup.[3]
Morgan initially turned down the chance to turn professional, despite being offered a contract by Barnsley, but eventually signed for Lincoln City, albeit on a part-time basis. He only managed three Football League appearances for the "Red Imps" and was allowed to move on to Gillingham in 1953 for a fee of £3,000.[3]
Finally turning fully professional with the Kent club, he scored 21 goals in his debut season and then topped this by scoring 31 in 1954–55, a new club record. This record was equalled by Brian Yeo during the 1970s but Morgan remains the joint holder of the record to this day.[4][5]
He was selected to play for the Third Division South team against the North in 1955–56.
Morgan's playing career came to an end due to injury in 1957.[3]
In 1962 Morgan was appointed manager of Chatham Town, having previously served as coach. He went on to manage a number of other Kent non-league clubs, with his greatest success coming at Dartford, whom he led to the Southern League championship and an appearance in the FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium.[3]
Morgan died, aged 86, in Rainham, Kent on 3 October 2013.[6]
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