Pat Morrissey

Although Pat was born in Ireland’s County Wexford he grew up in Coventry and was playing for the Priory School when he was spotted by the Sky Blues around 1964. He turned professional in July 1965 following his 17th birthday and played in a strong City Youth team, which included Mick Coop, Trevor Gould and a 15-year old Willie Carr.

He was a skilful wing half with a strong tackle and his reserve appearances impressed not only City’s management team but also the Irish selectors who gave him an Under 23 cap six months before he played for City’s first team. His first team chance came during City’s promotion season of 1966-67, a memorable Friday night game against Ipswich. Substitute Pat replaced an injured Ernie Machin and helped City to an impressive 5-0 win over the league leaders. Another appearance as twelfth man came in the 3-4 FA Cup defeat at home to Newcastle soon afterwards but the form of Machin, Ian Gibson and Ronnie Farmer meant he was restricted to reserve games.

In Division 1 with City beset by injuries to key players Pat got another opportunity and played ten games (including three as a substitute) as City struggled with life in Division 1. His final game in a City shirt was the ignominious 0-2 defeat at Tranmere in an FA Cup replay. He signed for Torquay United in the summer of 1968 and a year later moved on to Crewe and then Chester before a £7,000 fee took him to Watford in 1971 where he was a regular for three seasons as a more attacking midfielder notching 29 goals in 117 appearances. Three years at Aldershot followed and then a succession of non-league clubs including Dartford, Hayes, Slough, Hendon, Dunstable and Buckingham Town. At the age of 41, in 1989 he was still player-manager of Chesham United. He died after a long illness in 2005.