Harry Morton

Harold "Harry" Morton (9 January 1909 – 4 April 1974) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Aston Villa in the 1930s.

Football career

Early career

Morton was born in Chadderton, near Oldham, Lancashire, and after working his way up through the local football leagues, he had trials with Bury, Southampton F.C. and Bolton Wanderers. However, before he was able to embark on a football career, he did his National service with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers serving with the British Army on the Rhine. He was spotted by Aston Villa Scouts Aston Villa during a match between the Villains and the B.A.O.R football team in Biebrich Germany. Impressed by his performance they asked the British Army permission to take him on. He signed with Aston Villa in 1930 and debuted his first division association football match against Manchester City at Maine Road in November 1931, replacing Biddestone who had been injured before kick off.

Aston Villa

After a trial with Villa in October 1930, he was signed as an amateur and made his club debut for the reserves in a Central League game against Everton Reserves on 22 November 1930. He went on to sign as a professional in March 1931. By the end of the 1931–32 season he had displaced Fred Biddlestone as first choice 'keeper and missed only one league game over the next three seasons, helping Villa to claim the runners-up position in the Football League in the 1932–33 season and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1933–34.