This week’s player spotlight is Tamworth’s player-manager Andy Morrell.
Born in 1974 Morrell has been in and around the Football League for the majority of his career, making over 350 appearances for Wrexham, Coventry City, Blackpool and Bury accumulating over 90 goals.
The Yorkshireman made the move up to Newcastle as he was studying Sports Science at Northumbria University. It was at that point he started his career off at now dissolved club Newcastle Blue Star.
Morrell had two separate spells at Welsh side Wrexham with the first coming about in an unheard of way. Sky Sports presenter Rob McCaffrey arranged for Morrell to have a trial at the club, McCaffrey was helping Wrexham’s first-team coach Joey Jones write his autobiography so that played a big part in getting the striker his trial and he never looked back after earning his first contract, partnering the prolific Lee Trundle up front. Morrell then went on to play for Coventry City, Blackpool and Bury before heading back to Wales.
His second spell at The Dragons involved the starting point of his managerial career. Morrell took over as caretaker player-manager in 2011 after Dean Saunders let for Doncaster Rovers and impressed on and off the pitch with the 41-year-old staying in Wales until 2014.
The 41-year-old has turned his attention to management now as he settles down to life at Tamworth. Morrell still has an eye goal for himself though as he continues to turn back the clock making regular appearances off the bench for The Lambs. Player-managers are a rare breed in this day and age, and to be commanding his troops on and off the pitch is no easy feat.
Morrell popped up with a vital goal at the weekend to take all three points against AFC Telford. The gaffer subbed himself on with just over 10 minutes to go and the former Bury forward stole the three points for his side.
The chances of Morrell subbing himself on at The Shay are looking very likely after making appearances in all three of the league fixtures so far. Despite his age The Lambs boss still knows where the goal is and it could be a tough afternoon for the central defenders to contain the former Bury forward.
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