Arthur Grenville Morris (13 April 1877 – 27 November 1959) was a Welsh footballer who played in the Football League for Nottingham Forest. He is the club's all-time highest scorer with 217 goals. He also played for Aberystwyth Town and Swindon Town, and represented Wales internationally, earning 21 caps between 1896 and 1912.
Club career Usually just known as Grenville Morris, he was born in Builth Wells, Wales. He was educated at Ellesmere College, Shropshire from May 1892 to December 1893.
Morris began playing football for his local team, Builth Wells F.C. He was still recorded as playing for this team (described as "Builth Football Club" in the press) in the Brecon County Times, of 29 December 1893, scoring a goal in a 4–1 win over Brecon.Brecon County Times, Friday 29 December 1893, p.5. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 2 October 2021. By January 1894, he was playing for Aberystwyth Town."Welsh Cup Tie - 4th Round". Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser, Saturday 27 January 1894, p.6. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 2 October 2021. Morris scored 111 goals for the team in 75 appearances.Grosvenor, Gavin (12 November 2020)."Builth Wells born 'Prince of Inside Lefts' who remains Nottingham Forest all time top scorer".Powys County Times. Retrieved 2 October 2021. He moved from Aberystwyth Town to Swindon Town making his debut on 6 February 1897."Football Notes". Gloucester Citizen, Monday 8 February 1897, p.4. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 4 October 2021.Plowman, Paul (7 February 2012)."Grenville was footballing royalty". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 2 October 2021. At this time Swindon played in both the Southern Football League, and the Western Football League. Grenville scored on his debut for Swindon in a game away against North Fleet in the Southern League. He then scored a goal in the game at home to New Brompton in the same league a week later."Playing Record: Grenville Morris: Season 1896 - 97". swindon-town-fc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2021. He went on to play 50 games for the Robins in all competitions, scoring 44 goals. This total consisted of 31 appearances in the Southern League, scoring 23 goals. Sixteen appearances in the Western League, scoring 20 goals. And three appearances in the FA Cup, with 1 goal. He was one of the greatest players of his generation and was known as The Prince of the Inside-Lefts.
Morris moved on to Nottingham Forest in 1898 for a sum of £200. He still holds Forest's all-time goal scoring record with 217 in all competitions.
International
On 29 February 1896, at the age of 18 years and 321 days old"Wales national football team statistics and records: youngest players". Via 11v11.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021. he won his first full international Welsh cap against Ireland, scoring a goal in a 6–1 victory. It took place at the Race Course Ground in Wrexham."Wales v. Ireland". Sporting Life, Monday 2 March 1896, p.4. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 4 October 2021."Wales v Ireland, 29 February 1896". Via 11v11.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021. Morris went on to play 21 times for his country, the last 16 of which were whilst he was with Forest. His last Welsh cap came on 11 March 1912 against England. He scored a total of nine goals in international football.
Career statistics Club ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSwindon Town1896–97Southern Football League4200421897–98Southern Football League18123121131898–99Southern Football League990099Total3123313424Nottingham Forest1898–99First Division177301971899–00First Division2986335111900–01First Division31143134151901–02First Division277323091902–03First Division33244237261903–04First Division24123227141904–05First Division26122143131905–06First Division32194336221906–07Second Division36212138221907–08First Division237102571908–09First Division34123037121909–10First Division30191131201910–11First Division26111144121911–12Second Division19101020101912–13Second Division3416113517Total4211993818459217Career total4522224119493241
International WalesYearAppsGoals 1896 3 1 1897 1 0 1898 1 0 1899 2 0 1903 2 0 1905 2 2 1907 2 1 1908 1 0 1910 3 2 1911 3 3 1912 1 0Total 21 9
Honours
Nottingham Forest Football League Second Division: 1906–07
References
External links Aberystwyth career profile Ellesmere College, Shropshire