| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ernest Morgan | ||
| Date of birth | (1927-01-13)13 January 1927 | ||
| Place of birth | Royston, England | ||
| Date of death | 3 October 2013(2013-10-03) (aged 86) | ||
| Place of death | Rainham, Kent, England | ||
| Position | 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 | |||
Ernest Morgan (13 January 1927 – 3 October 2013) was an English professionalfootball player andmanager. He spent the bulk of his career withGillingham, where he set a record for the highest number of goals scored in a single season which still stands.
Born inRoyston, Morgan worked as a miner from the age of 14 and played for his colliery football team, leading them to aSheffield 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 byBarnsley, but eventually signed forLincoln City, albeit on a part-time basis. He only managed threeFootball 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 theKent club, he scored 21 goals in his debut season and then topped this by scoring 31 in1954–55, a new club record. This record was equalled byBrian Yeo during the 1970s but Morgan remains the joint holder of the record to this day.[4][5]
He was selected to play for theThird 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 ofChatham Town, having previously served as coach. He went on to manage a number of other Kentnon-league clubs, with his greatest success coming atDartford, whom he led to theSouthern League championship and an appearance in theFA Trophy final atWembley Stadium.[3]
Morgan died, aged 86, inRainham, Kent on 3 October 2013.[6]