The captain Bramall Lane, Sheffield Yorkshire England
The captain
Published: 26th June 2010
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Paul Morgan | ||
| Date of birth | 9 November 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Barnsley, England | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Central Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Sheffield United | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Hoyland Common Falcons | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1996–2003 | Barnsley | 185 | (7) |
| 2003– | Sheffield United | 239 | (14) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:36, 11 May 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Christopher Paul Morgan (born 9 November 1977 in Barnsley) is an English footballer currently playing as a defender for Sheffield United.
Playing career
Barnsley
He started his football career in 1996 in his home town of Barnsley and made a total of 212 appearances for The Reds in six seasons, including their only season in the Premier League, before signing for Sheffield United in July 2003.
Sheffield United
Morgan signed for The Blades on a free transfer in the close season and made his debut in the opening game of the 2003–04 season, a 0–0 draw against Gillingham at Bramall Lane. He had to wait until 25 January the following year to score his first goal for the Blades, netting in the 3–0 away victory over Nottingham Forest in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Morgan was shown a first half red card during the Blades' 2–0 victory over Hull City in April 2008. This means that he has the dubious honour of being the club's all-time most dismissed player having been shown red in six first team games.
Controversy
Wigan Athletic player Lee McCulloch punched Morgan in the eye during a match at the JJB Stadium in December 2006, but Morgan did not complain afterwards, stating "We're all sportsmen. We're going to get knocks and black eyes. It is part and parcel of the game."] Morgan was given a three-match ban for violent conduct after appearing to punch Robin van Persie in the chest during Sheffield United's match against Arsenal later the same month.
On 8 November 2008, Barnsley player Iain Hume's skull was fractured when it was caught by Morgan's elbow as the players challenged for an aerial ball. Hume underwent emergency surgery after suffering internal bleeding and spent 48 hours in the high-dependency unit of a Manchester hospital with life-threatening injuries. He spent a further 48 hours in hospital two weeks later, as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell at home. In May 2009 it was reported that Barnsley F.C. and Hume were considering legal action against Morgan, who described the period since the incident as "a test of character".
