J.S.F. Morrison
John Stanton Fleming Morrison: (Student and Full-back)
Described as, ‘a bulky but none the less effective and inspiring defender’, Morrison was considered one of the cleverest backs in amateur football. ‘Massive, fit and fearless’, it was said that he would invariably come out of a tackle with the ball at his feet. He had a large frame and iron constitution and once won a beer drinking contest at the Munich Beer Festival, and celebrated by ordering a pint of sherry, his favourite tipple. Although still a student, Morrison had already played for Corinthian five times and three ties for Casuals. Born in Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1892, he lost his father, a solicitor, at the age of four. Educated at Charterhouse then Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied history and law, he graduated in 1919, after a break for the War.
Morrison’s sporting achievements are numerous. In cricket, while at school, he captained Public Schools Team versus the MCC; captained Cambridge scoring 233, not out against the MCC, (an innings described as ‘brilliant’ by the Press), and also played first class cricket for Somerset and minor counties cricket for Northumberland. He played football as an amateur for Sunderland football club, for England Amateur against Wales, and captained the Corinthians when they beat Blackburn football club in F.A. Cup 1st round proper 1 - 0. At Cambridge he earned his Blue for cricket and football, and after the War, adding a blue for golf too. Later in his career, he also won the Belgian Amateur Golf Championship in 1929.
On returning from the abandoned tour, Morrison joined the Royal Flying Corps and his records state he was flying by September 1914. He gained his Aviator Certificate in March 1915 in Hendon Aerodrome, London and posted to the HMS Ark Royal. His record says,”Since joining R.N.A.S. flown 37 different types of aeroplanes and seaplanes. 2 1/2 years service in Mediterranean,including Dardanelles, Asia Minor, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Albania”. In 1916, was promoted to Flight-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service. He won the DFC and Bar, Italian Silver and Bronze Medals for Military Valour flying bombers in Italy.
The Army and Navy Gazette wrote, “A distinguished and zealous officer whose success in carrying out photographic reconnaissances is marked. He has also on several occasions led his flight on long-distance bombing raids, displaying sound leadership and powers of endurance”. In Morrison’s naval records, it states “Consistent good work in "Short" seaplanes. Has carried out some very daring attacks.”. He was considered an excellent flyer and was also among the first pilots to land a plane on a aircraft carrier.
As a Major in the Royal Naval Air Service, in the First War, he became a Wing Commander in the Second War, then Group Captain as Officer in charge of a training wing.
He married Gwen Cradock-Hartopp, in 1938, a leading female golfer and spent the inter-war years immersed in golf, competing, often playing doubles with his wife, or with his brother R.G. Morrison, keeping a weekly golf column in magazines and designing in golf courses. During his career, which spanned some 38 years, he designed or remodelled numerous courses such as Wentworth, Prestbury, Mayland, St Mellon, Truro and Princes. He championed the steel shaft for golf clubs, and invented the waterproof golf skirt, in order that ladies wouldn’t have to revert to wearing trousers on golf courses!
In 1933, at the age of 41, he played his last game for Corinthians against Arsenal, in a golf tournament to raise money for the Playing Fields Association, (who would later take over the running of King George’s Fields Association). The golf tournament included such famous Corinthians as S.H. Day, C.J. Burnup, George Brann, G.N.Foster, A.G. Doggart, Miles Howell and Charles Wreford Brown, who turned 67 years old on the same day.
Morrison was a committee member of Sunningdale Golf Club, on a sub-committee at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, a selector for the Walker Cup and once unsuccessfully tried to become a Member of Parliament.
He was also noted as being a cheery, popular character who had a penchant for watching golf on horseback, and for smoking a massive briar pipe!
He died on 28th January, 1961 in Farnham, Surrey. He had one daughter.