Chester FC are sorry to learn of the death of former player, Sam Morris, who has died at the age of 84. A right wing back or centre half, Sam made 90 league appearances for the club in the 1950s and also represented the reserves in the Cheshire County League on more than 100 occasions.

Sam signed for Chester as a part-time professional after leaving the army in late 1951 having previously played for Stockton Heath. He made his first team debut in a Welsh Cup tie against Bangor City at the beginning of January 1952 and three days later made his first league start in a Division Three North match against Hartlepools at Sealand Road where he impressed watchers with a calm and authorised display.

The Warrington born defender’s meteoric rise was completed the following week when he was a member of the Chester team that held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in the Third Round of the FA Cup in front of over 42,000 spectators. Sam kept his place in the team for the replay at Sealand Road where Chester were unlucky to lose 3-2 in front of the club’s highest ever home attendance.

Over the next five seasons Sam was in and out of the first team without ever having a consistent run of games although he won a Welsh Cup runners-up medal in 1955 when he was a member of the Chester team beaten by non-league Barry Town in a replay at Cardiff. In September 1956 he finally established himself in the first team, replacing Eric Lee at centre half, after Chester had only picked up two points from the first eight games of the campaign. He retained his place until the following Easter when a knee injury sustained in a game at Southport effectively ended his career although he managed a handful of appearances in the Cheshire County League during 1957/58.

Sam was one of three players awarded a testimonial by the club in 1957 when Chester faced an Everton team at Sealand Road.

The club send out their condolences to his family and friends.

Football League – 90 appearances 0 goals
First Chester game – v Hartlepools United (H) 5 January 1952
Last Chester game – v Southport (A) 19 April 1957

Chas Sumner [4/1/15]