Morison: Steven William (Steve)

2013-Current (Leeds Player Details) (Player Details)

Striker

Born: Enfield, London: 29-08-1983

Debut: Wolverhampton Wanderers (a): 09-02-2013

6’2” 13st 3lb (2013)

Morison attended Enfield Grammar School, leaving school at the age of sixteen with one GCSE qualification. He began his football career with Northampton Town, at the age of sixteen, as part of the club's youth system at their centre of excellance, after a successful trial period with the club. He had also spent time on trial at Leicester City. When he turned eighteen, he signed a two-year professional contract with Northampton on 27th August 2001. He played regularly for the club's reserve team and impressed manager Kevan Broadhurst. He made his debut 20th April 2002 in a 2–2 draw at home to Cambridge United. He scored three League goals in seven starts and seventeen games from the bench and also made two substitute appearances in the League Cup and twice in other games before being released by Manager Colin Calderwood. During his time at Northampton Town, Morison added to his qualifications with a National Diploma in Sports science, and also earned a coaching badge. He joined Conference South side Bishop's Stortford for an undisclosed fee on 1st December 2004. He scored on his debut in a 1–1 draw against Redbridge and scored in the following game in the 3–1 loss at Bognor Regis Town. He also helped Bishop's Stortford reach the FA Trophy semi–final and Morison finished the season as the club's top goalscorer, as well as finishing as the 2004–05 FA Trophy top goalscorer. In the 2005-06 season, Morison struggled for form at the start of the club's league campaign, and was subsequently used as a substitute during the first two months of the season. He started in a game against Histon in November 2005 and scored a hat–trick in a 5–0 win. He followed this up with goals against St Albans City and Eastbourne Borough respectively, as well as scoring Bishop's Stortford's fourth in a 5–2 victory over Dorchester Town. He ended the season by scoring twice against Eastleigh, meaning he scored a total of fifteen League goals as he continued to impress at Woodside Park. He started the 2006–07 season by scoring twice goals in two games for Bishop's Stortford, before joining Conference National side Stevenage Borough on a two-year deal on 18th August 2006 for a "small four figure fee. He had scored twenty-eight League goals in forty-five starts and thirteen games from the bench for Bishop's Stortford. He also scored three goals in four F.A. Cup ties and twelve goals in ten other games. Morison was called up to the England C team, who represent England at non-league level, in November 2006, scoring in a European Challenge Trophy game against the Netherlands. He was then chosen to represent his country for the Four Nations Tournament hosted by Scotland in May 2007, where he played in victories over the Republic of Ireland C and Scotland C. He was included in the sixteen-man squad for the Four Nations Tournament hosted by Wales in May 2008, scoring in the side's 1–0 win against Scotland C, as well as featuring against both Gibraltar and Wales C.] He was subsequently called up for the England C tour of the Caribbean in June 2008, in which Morison played both games against Grenada and Barbados, scoring against the former in a 1–1 draw. He played a total of eight times for the England C side, scoring three goals, before his age meant that he was ineligible to be selected. When Morison fell into part–time football with Bishop's Stortford in 2004, he worked for a shredding company, "getting up at four in the morning shredding paper around London". However, he said he "could not handle the early starts" and subsequently got "an easier job indoors" doing administration work in an office. He quit the administration job immediately after signing for Stevenage in August 2006.He scored on his Stevenage Borough debut in a 3–2 defeat against Crawley Town, also having a goal disallowed in the same game. He continued his goalscoring form at his new club by scoring a hat-trick against Morecambe in a 3–3 draw at Christie Park, and then a brace two days later against Forest Green Rovers. The following week, he partnered George Boyd upfront, scoring once and assisting all of Boyd's three goals in a 6–0 victory against Stafford Rangers. He went on to score doubles against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup, Oxford United, and Leigh RMI in the FA Trophy. He also scored goals in draws against Morecambe and Forest Green Rovers respectively in April 2007, and scored his last league goal of the season in Stevenage's 3–0 win against Tamworth. He also helped the club to success in the FA Trophy, finishing the competition's top goalscorer with eight goals, including a goal in the final in May 2007 against Kidderminster Harriers, scoring the winner in a 3–2 victory at Wembley Stadium in front of a competition record crowd of 53,262. In total, Morison played fifty-three games during the season, scoring thirty-four times in all competitions and finishing as the club's top goalscorer for the season. Morison continued his scoring form throughout Stevenage's 2007–08 campaign, scoring twenty-two times in forty-three League appearances, as the club narrowly missed out on the play-offs. He scored his first goal of the campaign in Stevenage's 2–1 victory against Histon in the club's first home fixture of the season, following this up with goals in victories against Weymouth, Stafford Rangers, and York City respectively. Morison scored his first brace of the season in a 4–0 win over Farsley Celtic in September 2007. He went on to score six goals in four games during the Christmas period, including doubles against Altrincham, Stafford Rangers, and Droylsden. He also scored on the last day of the season in a 2–1 win against Halifax Town. Although his least prolific season at Stevenage Borough, Morison still managed a one-in-two ratio. At the end of the season, Morison handed in a transfer request as he sought a return to the Football League. Despite the club granting him his wish, and attracting interest from League Two side Crewe Alexandra, nothing materialized and Morison signed a new three-year contract at Stevenage Borough. There was a clause in the contract that stated he could leave the club at the end of the 2008–09 season for a pre-arranged fee if Stevenage Borough failed to make it into the Football League. He scored thirty goals in fifty-one games for the Hertfordshire outfit during the 2008–09 season, and captained the side for the majority of the campaign. His season got off to a bad start, however, with Stevenage Borough losing 5–0 away to Wrexham; a game in which Morison was sent-off for an "off the ball headbutt". He subsequently missed the next three games, but quickly re-discovered his goalscoring form in early September 2008, following up a hat-trick against champions Burton Albion with a brace against Altrincham. Another brace followed shortly after in a 3–3 draw against York City, as well as scoring the winner in a 3–2 win against Mansfield Town. Morison's goals were vital in ensuring Stevenage's surge up the League table over the Christmas period; notching braces against Rushden & Diamonds, Lewes, and Barrow, whilst also scoring Stevenage's solitary goal in a 1–1 at Nene Park against Rushden. He later scored goals in away victories to both Weymouth and York City, as well as scoring in a 3–1 win over Kidderminster Harriers to ensure Stevenage Borough made the play-offs, finishing in the final play-off spot. Morison was also instrumental in the side's successful FA Trophy campaign in the same season, scoring seven times in seven games, including once in the side's 2–0 win against York in the Final, as captain Morison lifted the trophy at Wembley Stadium. However, Stevenage failed to achieve promotion to League Two following an aggregate 4–3 defeat to Cambridge United in the play-offs; with Morison scoring twice at Broadhall Way, but missing a "gilt edged" chance in the return leg. Subsequently, activating a release clause in his contract, Morison was allowed to leave and, shortly after, agreed personal terms with League One team Millwall in May 2009, with a fee of £130,000 being agreed for the transfer. During his three-year tenure at the club, Morison made a total of one hundred and fifty-one appearances, scoring eighty-six goals. He scored sixty-eight League goals from one hundred and-twenty-seven games. He scored three goals in the F.A. Cup from eight appearances and fifteen goals in the F.A. Trophy in sixteen appearances. He made his debut for Millwall in the opening game of the 2009–10 season, starting in the club's 1–1 draw with Southampton; providing the assist for Millwall's equaliser. A month later, he scored his first goal for Millwall in a 3–1 victory over Huddersfield Town. Playing in a deeper role than when at Stevenage, Morison struggled for goals, but most of Millwall's goals throughout October stemmed from him, and he also found the net in the 5–0 win over Tranmere Rovers. In December 2009, he scored a ninety-first minute winner in a 3–2 victory over Milton Keynes Dons, and he also scored a similar goal in a 4–0 win over Staines Town in the FA Cup. Three days later, he scored twice in Millwall's 2–1 victory over Walsall. His fine form through December continued, scoring twice in a 4–4 draw against Charlton Athletic at The Valley. He scored his seventh goal in as many games in a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers, whilst also setting up the second goal. He scored his second goal of Millwall's FA Cup campaign against Derby County at Pride Park in early January 2010 and scored in the one hundred and eighth minute as Millwall were knocked out 5–3 on a penalty shootout. He instrumental in both of Millwall's goals in the games against Southampton and Oldham Athletic, before scoring the winner in a 1–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion for his eleventh goal of the season. This was followed up with two more in a 3–1 win away to Carlisle United, whilst also setting up Millwall's third goal. There were another two four days later, as Millwall beat Charlton Athletic 4–0. His seventeenth of the season came in front of the Sky cameras against Leeds United at Elland Road and shortly after, he scored his eighteenth goal of the campaign, with a header from an acute angle, in Millwall's 5–0 win over Stockport County. As a result of his fine goalscoring form throughout March, he was named Football League One Player of the Month. There was another goal in a 2–1 win away at Colchester United before he achieved his twentieth goal of the season in a 2–1 victory over Leyton Orient, when he scored Millwall's second from the penalty spot. The goal meant that Morison had now scored twenty goals or more in each of his last six seasons for three different clubs. On the last day of the season, he got two more against Swindon Town in a 3–2 victory. His first was a coolly dispatched penalty, before he supplied the cross that led to an own goal. His second goal of the game was a half-volley from outside the area which looped into the top right-hand corner of the net. He scored his Twenty-third goal of the season in Millwall's 2–0 win against Huddersfield Town as Millwall progressed to the League One play-off final, where they beat Swindon Town 1–0 at Wembley Stadium. In May 2010, it was identified that Morison was eligible to represent Wales due to Welsh ancestry. His grandmother was born in Tredegar, near Ebbw Vale. In July 2010, Wales boss John Toshack named Morison in the Welsh squad for a friendly against Luxembourg in Llanelli on 11th August 2010. On being called up to the Welsh squad, Morison said "It's a fantastic achievement and it feels good to be recognised for my hard work". Morison subsequently started in Wales' 5–1 victory against Luxembourg. He played the full game and assisted in Ashley Williams' goal. Following Morison's debut, manager John Toshack said "I was very impressed with the debut of Steve Morison, he didn’t get on the scoresheet, but he certainly made his presence felt". A week after his first appearance for Wales, Morison was called up again as part of the Twenty-five man squad for Wales' first UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro in September 2010. He started the match against Montenegro, but was substituted with ten minutes remaining as Wales lost 1–0. In October 2010, Morison was again included in Wales' squad for their qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland respectively. He started in Wales' 1–0 home loss to Bulgaria, before appearing as a substitute with ten minutes remaining in the team's 4–1 loss to Switzerland in Basel. Morison earned his fifth cap for Wales on 26 March 2011, starting in Wales' UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against England. The game ended 2–0 to England. Ahead of the 2010–11 season, Morison scored in pre–season friendlies against AFC Wimbledon and Stevenage. He started the season by setting up two of Millwall's goals in the club's 3–0 win against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. In the club's following League match, he scored two headed goals as Millwall beat Hull City comprehensively at The Den. He scored his third goal of the season from the penalty spot as Millwall beat Middlesbrough 2–1 in the League Cup. Four days later, he was on the scoresheet again, scoring a penalty to seal Millwall's 3–1 win against Coventry City and also helped set up Millwall's first goal. He scored his fifth goal in six games in Millwall's 1–1 draw with Nottingham Forest at The City Ground, giving Millwall the lead in the fifth minute with a header. Ten days later, he added to his goal tally when he scored against Ipswich Town in the League Cup, scoring after the hour mark in a 2–1 home defeat. In October, Morison scored his seventh goal of the campaign in Millwall's 2–0 win against Derby County, the club's first home win since August. Two weeks later, Morison scored the opening goal of the game against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium, but was unable to prevent Millwall from going down 2–1. He went three games without scoring through November 2010, before scoring two late goals in Millwall's televised victory over Scunthorpe United in early December 2010. On 15th December 2010, it was widely reported that Millwall had rejected a £2million offer for Morison from Nottingham Forest, with Millwall manager Kenny Jackett claiming there is "no chance" that Morison will be sold in the January transfer window. A day later, Jackett said the club had not received a formal bid for Morison from Forest. His eleventh goal of the season came in Millwall's last game of 2010, when he scored the first goal in a 2–0 home win over Leicester City. He went on to score goals in home victories against Ipswich Town and Barnsley. Morison signed a new two-and-a-half year contract with Millwall on 5th February 2011, ending transfer speculation about his long term commitment to the club, he stated "I'm looking forward to playing my part in the future success of Millwall". After a run of six games without a goal, Morison scored in Millwall's 2–0 win over eventual Championship winners Queens Park Rangers, netting Millwall's first goal in the sixty-third minute. Eleven days later, he scored with a lob against Cardiff City to equalize in a game that ended 3–3. His sixteenth goal of the 2010–11 campaign came on 2nd April 2011, scoring with another lob, this time in a 1–0 away win at Hull City. A week later, Morison was on hand to score Millwall's third goal in a 3–2 home win over Leeds United. He was sent-off just three days later in the club's 0–0 draw with Bristol City, receiving the red card for a "reckless lunge" on Bristol City's Jamal Campbell-Ryce. This meant he had to serve a three game suspension, and returned for Millwall's two final League games of the season. Morison ended the season having scored seventeen goals for Millwall in forty-three appearances, thus earning the interest of bigger clubs. At the end of the 2010–11 season, Morison handed in a written transfer request amid speculation about a move to newly-promoted Premier League side Norwich City. The transfer request was rejected by Millwall. A day later, Morison revealed "Norwich have made a couple of bids that have been turned down so I've done what I've done. I want to play in the Premier League, I might not get another opportunity". On 2nd June 2011, Millwall accepted an offer from Norwich City for Morison after the two clubs agreed a fee for the player, it was the fourth bid Norwich had made for him.He signed for the them, on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in £2.8 million, on 6th June 2011. In his time at Millwall he scored thirty-five goals in eighty-three League games. He also scored two goals in six F.A. Cup ties, two goals in three League Cup games and one goal in three other games. Morison made his Norwich City debut against Wigan Athletic during the club's first game of the 2011–12 campaign, playing seventy-five minutes of the match which finished in a 1–1 draw. He was crucial in Norwich's equalising goal, beating Adrian Lopez Rodrνguez on the right wing and providing a cross that was ultimately turned in by Wes Hoolahan. He scored his first goal for the club in Norwich's first home win of the season, a 2–1 victory against Sunderland on 26th September. The goal came shortly after half-time, with Morison heading in Marc Tierney's cross to give Norwich a two goal lead. He scored his second goal for Norwich in a 3–3 draw against Blackburn Rovers on 29th October 2011, with the goal being described as a "stunning strike" from the edge of the area. A week later, he scored with an header from an acute angle in Norwich's 3–2 away defeat at Aston Villa. Morison's fourth goal of the campaign came in a 2–1 home defeat to Arsenal on 19th November 2011, when he scored the opening goal of the game after he stole the ball from Per Mertesacker before calmly beating Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. He scored his fourth goal in five Premier League appearances on 3rd December 2011, beating Gaλl Clichy at the back post to powerfully head the ball past Joe Hart in the Manchester City goal. His goal was a minor consolation in a 5–1 defeat at the City of Manchester Stadium. The Welsh International was also on target for the Canaries in the club's 4–2 home win over Newcastle United on 10th December 2011, scoring Norwich's third goal when he powerfully headed in Andrew Crofts' cross from twelve yards. He scored in Norwich's first three games of 2012 despite featuring as a substitute in two of the matches. He scored once in the FA Cup in a 4–1 victory over Burnley, as well as netting late goals in 2–1 away victories against Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion. After his goal at West Brom, Morison did not find the net again for another three months but eventually scored his tenth goal of the campaign in a 3–3 draw with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on 5th May 2012. His late strike from a tight angle drew Norwich level after they had trailed 3–2 with five minutes remaining. During his first season at the club, he scored ten goals in Thirty-seven appearances. The following season, under new Norwich manager Chris Hughton, Morison featured predominantly as a substitute; starting just four games during the first half of the campaign. He scored his first goal of the season in a 5–2 home defeat to Liverpool in September 2012, a match in which he started. He went on to score one further goal for the club, netting in Norwich's 4–1 loss to Aston Villa in the League Cup quarter-final on 11th December. He dedicated the goal to former team mate Mitchell Cole, who had recently passed away. Morison made his last appearance for Norwich in a 4–3 defeat to Manchester City in the club's final game of 2012. Morison finished the 2011/12 season with thirty-seven appearances and ten goals as Norwich finished 12th in the Premier League. He made fifty-nine appearances during his one-and-a-half year spell at the club, scoring twelve goals. He scored ten League goals in twenty-six starts and another twenty-seven from the bench. His one F.A. Cup goal came from one start and one game from the bench, while his one League Cup goal was from three starts and one substitute appearance. In the season his Welsh International career progressed. At the start of the 2011–12 season, Morison was called up for Wales' friendly game against Australia, coming on as a sixty-second minute substitute in a 2–1 defeat. Welsh manager Gary Speed called Morison up for the country's two UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers in September 2011. He scored his first international goal for Wales in a 2–1 victory against Montenegro, played at Cardiff City Stadium on 2 September. Morison's goal came from six yards, sliding in to make contact with David Vaughan's low cross. The victory was Wales' first of the qualification group. He earned his tenth cap for Wales in a 1–0 defeat by England at Wembley Stadium four days later, on 6th September 2011.He went on to make two further appearances in victories against Switzerland and Bulgaria in October 2011, before starting up-front alongside Craig Bellamy in a 4–1 friendly win over Norway. Two further appearances in friendly matches against Costa Rica and Mexico took his appearances for Wales to fifteen. He opened the 2012–13 season by appearing in a 2–0 friendly loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, coming on as a sixty-ninth minute substitute. He started in Wales' first two 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a 2–0 home defeat to Belgium on 7th September 2012, followed by a 6–1 away loss to Serbia four days later. He started in Wales' first win of the World Cup campaign a month later, playing the first sixty-five minutes as Wales came from behind to defeat Scotland at Cardiff City Stadium. He earned his 20th cap in a 2–0 defeat to Croatia in Osijek on 16 October 2012. On the last day of the 2013 January transfer window, Morison signed for Championship side Leeds United as part of a swap deal. The transfer involved Luciano Becchio moving to Norwich, as well as Norwich paying Leeds a "further undisclosed sum". The value of Morison was thought to have been £2 million and the amount paid in excess for Becchio was £200,000. On signing Morison, the then-Leeds manager Neil Warnock said, "Steve meets all the requirements of the striker we've been looking to bring in. For me, he is a player who has everything. He can score goals from anywhere, whether it's Twenty-five yards or a tap-in. He has pace, and he has all the attributes you want". He made his Leeds debut on 9th February 2013, playing the whole match in the club's 2–2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. He scored his first goal for the club on his home debut on 20th February 2013, netting the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Blackpool. He scored twice for Leeds in the club's 2–2 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 9th March 2013. The two goals proved to be Morison's last of the season, scoring three goals in sixteen appearances during the second half of the 2012–13 campaign. After just five months at Leeds, Morison rejoined Millwall on a season-long loan on 28th June 2013. His record at Leeds was three goals in the League from thirteen starts and two games from the bench, while he also made one appearance from the bench without scoring in the F.A. Cup. Morison has always had an interest in greyhound racing, ever since he attended Walthamstow Stadium as a boy. In January 2013, Morison set up a greyhound racing syndicate alongside his former strike partner at Norwich City, Grant Holt, and the two launched the SMGH Racing Club. Talking of the racing club, Morison stated "I've got lots of kennels myself, lots of animals, lots of dogs. So me and Grant got together bought a couple of dogs and it’s spiralled out of control a little bit, because we’ve bought seven now in the space of about three months. But it's been brilliant". When he finishes playing football, he says it would be "a dream" to be a greyhound trainer. He made his debut for Millwall in a 0-1 home defeat to Yeovil Town on 3rd August 2013 and scored his first goal for Millwall in the seventy-third minute of a 3-1 home win over Blackpool on 17th September 2013. He went on to score eight goals in the League from twenty-five starts and sixteen more games from the bench and also started one F.A. Cup tie without scoring. He returned to Leeds and had to endure the three changes of managers and the different tactics employed as Leeds switched from one to two men and sometimes even three up front. He was Souleymane Doukara, Matt Smith, Billy Sharp, Noel Hunt and even Dominic Poleon, before Mirco Antenucci and Brian Montenegro arrived to push him further down the pecking order. The competition was intense and saw Matt Smith and Dominic Poleon depart and Noel Hunt sent out on loan. It was not until 20th September 2014 that he came on as a substitute in the home game with Huddersfield Town when he replaced Doukara five minutes from time. He had to wait until 25th October 2014 to get into the starting side but despite losing 1-2 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers he was retained for the next match at Cardiff City, but he was replaced in the sixty-ninth minute by Chris Dawson and did not make the first team squad until almost Christmas when he replaced Adryan after sixty-six minutes of the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Foreston 20th December 2014. He did force his way back into the reckoning as a lone striker in Neil Redfearn's squad starting withthe 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers on 10th January 2014 and repaid the faith shown in him with wholehearted effort. He scored in consecutive fixtures in the 1-2 loss to Charlton Athletic and the 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday at the end of April.

(To 2014/15)