Previously I posted items about lesser known footballers, such as Fulham’s Les Barrett and Plymouth’s Barrie Vassallo. Today it is the turn of Scotia born Willie Morgan who in the 70’s turned out for Burnley, then Man U before going back to Burnley.

Willie Morgan

Sporting Heroes.net has a one paragraph summary about him, but the Clarets Mad website has a detailed history of Morgan’s time at Burnley and other places:

(Willie) had two spells with the club and managed to fall out with chairman Bob Lord during both of them, no mean achievement, and went on to play league football until the age of 37 before finally hanging up his boots….

… Morgan established himself as one of the best wingers in the league. He had great close control, could beat defenders almost at will and was a superb crosser of the ball…

… Such was his form that he was called up for Scotland, only the third Burnley player to be capped by the Scots…

… His debut for United came on the right wing – the forward line that day was Willie Morgan, Brian Kidd, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best…

… He signed for United at a time when they were about to go into a decline although Morgan blossomed despite the lack of honours. He was relegated with United in 1974 but was in the side that bounced straight back and even scored against Burnley that season in a League Cup tie. United, a second division club, beat first division Burnley.

That promotion was the first honour at club level for him but he was involved in the highly publicised court case against manager Tommy Docherty and left United to return to Turf Moor.

» Take a moment to read the whole thing.

As for the song…

Whoever recorded the following song: “Willie Morgan On The Wing” also thought it would be a jape to call themselves Tristar Airbus. (Geddit… wing…Airbus…Nah it’s not funny at all) And now thanks to this moment of brainfartiness we’ll never know who it was. Which is probably a good thing.

» Tristar Airbus – Willie Morgan On The Wing

To accompany that one about a Scotia winger at Old Trafford – this is by another unknown (Scottish) singer:

» Unknown Artist – United, United

3 Replies to “Willie The Wingman”

  1. TRISTAR AIRBUS.
    GRIFF—BASS PLAYER,
    GOOD TIMES HAD BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE BAND.

    frank wothington—siinger
    john kellman — lead guitar
    griff bayley — bass guitar
    rick rothwell — drums
    STILL HAVE PHOTOS OF BAND:-LOG ON TO- manchesterbeatgroups/60s!!

  2. the singer is jeff smith (real name geoff foot) and is a member of the 60’s pop band hermans hermits.

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