Derby County: Caught napping

Rams' Scottish winger Angus Morrison (left) in a goal-mouth tussle with Grimsby Town keeper George Tweedy at Blundell Park in February 1948

ONLY football fans of a certain vintage will remember the days when Grimsby Town were playing in the top flight of English football alongside the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool – and even Derby County, writes Anton Rippon.

Our great action picture this month shows the Rams’ Scottish winger, Angus Morrison, battling it out with the Mariners’ England international goalkeeper, George Tweedy.

Tweedy made 372 appearances for Grimsby between 1932 and 1953.

This game was at Grimsby’s home ground Blundell Park, in February 1948, when the Rams won 3-2 with goals from Jack Stamps (two) and Morrison.

The result pushed Grimsby further into the relegation mire; they eventually finished bottom of the table.

The Rams, meanwhile, were riding high, finishing fourth that season and third the next.

Morrison was born at Dingwall, near Inverness, in April 1924 and joined the Rams from Highland League club Ross County, in October 1944.

He was serving in the RAF and the Rams sent a box of cigars to the officer who had recommended him.

Morrison was an important part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 1946, although, after playing in the first six Cup ties, he was unlucky not to be chosen for the final itself.

One of the players disenchanted by the Rams’ big-name signing of Billy Steel, Morrison was transferred to Preston North End in November 1948.

He scored for Preston in the 1954 FA Cup Final and was also capped by Scotland “B”. He had an unhappy spell at Millwall before a long period playing and managing in local non-League football.

Morrison, who made his home in Mickleover, died in Derby, in December 2002.

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