Footballers who have played league football for PNE & WBA since 1888
L-Z
680) MARTIN Mick (PNE signed Sept 85 35 apps 0 gls) (WBA 89 apps 11 gls)
141) MCLEAN Jimmy (PNE signed 1903/04 185 apps 4 gls) (WBA 57 apps 10 gls)
595) MORLEY Tony (PNE signed Aug 72 84 apps 15 gls) (WBA 61 apps 11 gls)
399) RAWLINGS Syd (PNE signed 1933/34 12 apps 0 gls) (WBA 10 apps 1 goal)
78) STEVENSON Jim (PNE signed 1895/96 82 apps 26 gls) (WBA 120 apps 9 gls)
679) THOMAS John (PNE signed June 85 105 apps 44 gls) (WBA 18 apps 1 goal)
606) TREACY Ray (PNE signed Dec 73 58 apps 11 gls) (WBA 21 apps 6 gls)
125) WILCOX Harry (PNE signed 1901/02 99 apps 42 gls) (WBA 17 apps 5 gls)
704) WILLIAMS Paul (PNE signed Dec 86 1 app 0 gls) (WBA 44 apps 5 gls)
Player Profile TONY MORLEY
William Anthony Morley was born in Ormskirk on August 26, 1954. Morley signed as an apprentice for Preston in the summer of 1970 and turned professional in August 1972.
His debut for Preston was on January 6th, 1973 in a 3-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers as a substitute for Dave Wilson, a month prior to the departure of manager Alan Ball. His first starting eleven appearance was on March 19 in a 3-1 home defeat against Sunderland. Morley made a further two appearances that season.
The 1973/74 season saw the arrival of Bobby Charlton as manager and Morley played in the first two matches. Preston struggled at the foot of the table before eventually suffering relegation to the Third Division as Morley spent most of the season in the reserves as he only made a further 8 appearances that season.
The 1974/75 season saw Morley only miss one league match, scoring the first of ten goals on the opening day of the season in front of Granada TV cameras as PNE beat Plymouth by the only goal at Deepdale. Morley began to impress with his wing play and pace leading him to win an England Under-23 cap against Wales at Wrexham in January 1975 despite playing in the Third Division.
The following season saw the departure of Charlton as Morley turned down the chance to join Arsenal for £110,000 and double his basic wage of £80 per week as he wished to remain in the North. But a few days later Morley joined Burnley for a fee of £100,000. Morley's final appearance for PNE was on January 31st 1976 in a 2-0 defeat at Peterborough and made 84 appearances, scoring 15 goals.
His stay in the First Division for the Turf Moor club was brief as Burnley was relegated at the end of the season, having made nine appearances. The following three season saw Morley make a further 82 appearances for Burnley scoring 5 goals before joining Aston Villa in June 1979 for £200,000.
His first season at Villa was spoiled by injury, after making his debut on August 18 1979 in a 1-1 draw at Bolton, Morley only managed a further 17 appearances, scoring three goals.
The 1980/81 season started in fine style scoring the opening goal of the season in a 2-1 victory at Leeds as Villa won three and drew one in the opening four games. Throughout the season Villa only used 14 players that season with Morley one of seven players who were ever present as Aston Villa won the League Championship. Morley scored 10 goals that season including the spectacular goal at Everton which won him the Goal of the Season award.
The following season saw Morley play in the European Cup, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win at Dynamo Berlin as Villa got through on away goals and scored the only goal in the Semi Final against Anderlecht. His brilliant dribble and cross set up Peter With to score the winning goal in the final against Bayern Munich.
Morley made six appearances for England between November 18th, 1981 and November 17th, 1982. His debut was as a substitute for Steve Coppell in a 1-0 World Cup qualifier victory at Wembley against Hungary. His next two appearances were victories in the Home Championships against Northern Ireland and Wales. He was not chosen by Ron Greenwood for the World Cup squad in 1982. His final two appearances for England were under Bobby Robson in the European Championship Qualifiers away at Demark and Greece.
Morley added a European Super Cup Winners medal before transferring to West Brom for £75,000 in December 1983 after 135 appearances and 35 goals.
Morley made his debut for West Brom in a 2-1 home victory against Queens Park Rangers on December 10th 1983 and made a total of 26 appearances in 1983/84 scoring 4 goals. After 7 appearances in the 1984/85 season Morley went on loan to Birmingham in November 1984 scoring 3 goals in 4 appearances.
Morley joined Dutch club Den Haag and gained a Dutch Cup runners-up medal in 1987. Morley returned to West Brom in August 1987, who was now playing in the Second Division scoring 7 goals from 28 appearances in 1987/88 season and 11 goals in 61 appearances in his two spells for the Baggies.
Morley returned to another former club, Burnley on loan in October 1988 making 5 appearances for the Fourth Division team.
Morley had spells in the US with Tampa Bay Rowdies and Maltese club Hamrun before returning to England with non-league clubs Bromsgrove Rovers and Stratford .
Morley plays regularly on the Villa Old Stars circuit and provides commentary for radio broadcasts on the Official Aston Villa FC Website.