Clinton Morrison

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Clinton Morrison
Personal information
Full name	Clinton Morrison
Date of birth	May 14, 1979 (age 27)
Place of birth	Wandsworth, London, England
Position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Crystal Palace
Youth clubs
1996	Crystal Palace
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1997–2002 2002–-2005 2005–-	Crystal Palace Birmingham City Crystal Palace	180 (72) 107 (16) 63 (18)
National team**
2001–present	Ireland	35 (9)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 02/12/2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of 06/09/2006.

Clinton Morrison (born May 14, 1979 in Wandsworth, London, U.K.) is an Irish footballer of Jamaican & Trinidadian descent who currently plays for Crystal Palace F.C.. Morrison, a centre forward, also plays his international football for Ireland due to his grandmother being born in Dublin.

Contents 1 Morrison's first spell at Crystal Palace 2 Morrison at Birmingham 3 Morrison back at Crystal Palace 4 Other Information 5 External links

[edit] Morrison's first spell at Crystal Palace

He initially made his name as a player for Crystal Palace F.C., making his debut on May 10, 1998 as an 82nd minute substitute for team-mate Neil Shipperley, capping his performance with an injury-time winner over opponents Sheffield Wednesday F.C.. The next season (1998-99, his first full year-long tenure at the club) was packed with 13 goals, turning Morrison into a light among the darkness for a team who were struggling both on and off the pitch.

14 goals during 1999-00 continued this reputation, as he played more than 30 games, and scored 14 goals, including his only brace of the season at Swindon Town F.C..

His 2000-01 season gave him 14 goals but he really made a mark the following year with 26 goals, and a loan move to Premiership side Birmingham City capped his season perfectly. This year also saw his debut for the Republic of Ireland, against Croatia, a 2-2 draw on August 15, 2001, in which Morrison entered the game at 53 minutes, and scored the second Ireland goal. He also travelled to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but did not participate.

[edit] Morrison at Birmingham

With a tricky relationship becoming clear between Morrison and Trevor Francis, then Palace manager, it was Birmingham City who fought and won his signature, for 4.25 million pounds, in exchange for Andrew Johnson. However, Morrison struggled somewhat more in the top league, scoring only six goals in his first, and four goals in his second season. However, following a spell on the sidelines with injury, during the 2004-05 season he began to form a decent partnership with striker Emile Heskey.

[edit] Morrison back at Crystal Palace

Due to pressure for first team places Morrison left Birmingham on August 24, 2005. Palace agreed a £2m fee for the 26-year-old, who was also linked with Norwich and Southampton. He claimed that his decision to return was, ironically, due to being able to play alongside Andrew Johnson, the man Birmingham had originally swapped to get Morrison.

Clinton had a successful first season back at Palace, alternating with former strike-partner Dougie Freedman in playing alongside Johnson, scoring 13 goals in 33 starts and 8 substitute appearances.

However, Morrison will almost certainly get his chance, in 2006/07, with Johnson having been sold to Everton.

[edit] Other Information

He received an honorary doctorate in 2005 for services to Irish football from Professor Fitzsimons of Dublin University for promoting racial equality in football. Often referred to as The Doctor by his teammates and commentators he is seen as an inspiration for many and continues to attain plaudits for his talents.

Clinton's son, Shay, was born on 19 February, 2005.

[edit] External links

• Clinton Morrison career stats at Soccerbase

	Republic of Ireland squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Given | 2 Finnan | 3 Harte | 4 Cunningham | 5 Staunton | 6 Roy Keane | 7 McAteer | 8 Holland | 9 Duff | 10 Robbie Keane | 11 Kilbane | 12 Kinsella | 13 Connolly | 14 Breen | 15 Dunne | 16 Kiely | 17 Quinn | 18 G. Kelly | 19 Morrison | 20 O'Brien | 21 Reid | 22 Carsley | 23 A. Kelly | Coach: McCarthy

Crystal Palace F.C. - Current Squad
1 Flinders | 2 Lawrence | 3 Granville | 4 Ward | 5 Hudson | 6 Cort | 7 McAnuff | 8 Scowcroft | 9 Freedman | 11 Morrison | 12 Speroni | 14 Watson | 15 Kennedy | 17 Hughes | 18 Borrowdale | 19 Soares | 20 Butterfield | 22 Reich | 23 Fletcher | 25 Green | 28 Király | 29 Turner | 31 Fray | 32 Kuqi | 33 Grabban | 34 Starkey | 35 Wiggins | 36 Spence | 37 Sheringham | 38 Wilkinson | Manager: Taylor