What a player, worked his socks off down the left and could put a cross on big Joe's head.
JOHNNY MORRISSEY might not have been the first name on manager Harry Catterick’s teamsheet . . . although despite international class competition like Alan Ball, Colin Harvey, Howard Kendall, Tommy Wright, Gordon West and Brian Labone, he certainly wasn’t far behind.
But the Everton winger was ALWAYS first pick in five-a-side.
Team-mate Colin Harvey revealed that such was Morrissey’s formidable reputation as a Mersey hard-man, even in training ground kick-abouts, that people always wanted him on their side.
“He was a winger who famously used to terrify the full-back who marked him,” smiled his former team-mate.
“He definitely belongs in any list of Mersey hard -men, but because of that reputation people don’t give him enough credit for the skill he had – and he was very skilful.
“He was an excellent crosser, with both feet. He would get up and down and put a good shift in every game. He was a real team player and when you put those qualities together you had a very good footballer.
“But he knew how to tackle, too!”
Leeds United were considered the most ruthless team of that era, with teak tough players who verged on the cynical.
Names like Norman ‘Bites Yer Legs’ Hunter, Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles and the formidable central defender Jackie Charlton were renowned for their ruthlessness.
In October 1970 Charlton famously appeared on a TV programme where he said he’d once kept a “little black book” of names of players whom he intended to hurt or exact some form of revenge upon.
Johnny Morrissey presumably figured on page one.
“We knew all about the so-called black book,” laughed Colin. “Johnny absolutely clattered Jackie one afternoon then went over to pick him up. As he bent over he muttered into his ear ‘you can put that in your ****ing book now!’
“It’s fair to say he wasn’t easily intimidated.”
That school of hard knocks attitude was imbued during Morrissey’s upbringing in the tough Scotland Road area of Liverpool in the 1940s and ‘50s.
His first club was Liverpool, but Morrissey’s value as a footballer was clear to all but the short-sighted members of the Liverpool FC board.
A £10,000 move from Liverpool to Everton for the diminutive dreadnought was sanctioned in September 1962 – without manager Bill Shankly’s knowledge.
When the incensed Reds boss belatedly discovered the deal had been done he penned a resignation letter and made it clear that any further transfers without his seal of approval would result in his exit.
Liverpool’s loss was undoubtedly Everton’s gain.
Morrissey made 33 appearances and scored eight goals in his debut season at Goodison, which culminated in the 1962/63 League Championship.
He missed only one league match in 1969/70 – claiming nine goals as Everton were crowned champions again – but it was the silverware Morrissey missed out inbetween times, the 1966 FA Cup, which played most on his mind.
The disappointment at missing out on that success perhaps explains his enthusiasm for accepting a nerve shredding role two years later – and underlined that Morrissey possessed mental strength as well as physical prowess.
The first penalty kick he ever took was in an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United – and it took Everton to the 1968 FA Cup final.
“I’d not been in the 1966 Cup winning side and was desperate to play at Wembley,” he later recalled. “It’s the one big occasion in a footballer’s life that he dreams about.
“I’ll never forget the circumstances during our preparations for that semi-final battle against Leeds were all against us.
“First of all Alan Ball was suspended. Then on the eve of the match poor John Hurst was ruled out with jaundice, which meant we had to call in reserves Tommy Jackson and Roger Kenyon, with Roger playing in the back four.
“Bally was our main penalty taker – well he took everything, corners, free-kicks, the lot! – and during our final workout on the Friday morning, the boss, Harry Catterick, asked which one of us was going to take over.
“None of the other lads were all that keen. So, because I didn’t suffer from nerves, I decided to volunteer and during practice that morning I had ten or a dozen spot kicks.
“During the game the turning point came just before half-time. Gary Sprake was put under pressure and trying to clear the ball he threw it straight to Jimmy Husband.
“Jimmy chipped it back into the goalmouth where Jack Charlton was forced to handle it to save a goal.
“I remember screaming for a penalty and when things had died down after the referee had pointed to the spot, I suddenly realised it was me who had to take it!
“Tommy Wright and one or two of the other lads couldn’t bear to watch as I put the ball on the spot.
“Despite the noise I didn’t panic. I took about a 12-yard run and sidefooted it with my right foot to Sprake’s left. He dived the right way but it went just inside the post.
“Seeing the ball go in was a tremendous experience. From that moment on we played a lot better and could have won comfortably in the end.
“It wasn’t until the Sunday that I appreciated just what an important penalty it had been. I watched a film of the game on TV. I saw how the crowd was going mad behind the goal and waiting for myself to take the penalty I broke out in a cold sweat.
“Even though I say it myself, it was the perfect penalty.
“I reckon if I’d missed that penalty I’d have been playing for Crewe Alexandra the following season!”
If he had, you can guarantee he’d have been the first pick in five-a-side there, too!
