CHRIS MORRIS: THE CORNISHMAN WHO PLAYED FOR IRELAND

As the Republic of Ireland embark on their first European Championship finals campaign, since 1988, when they take on Croatia tomorrow, we will now take a look at the role Cornishman Chris Morris played for Ireland in Euro 88.

During his reign as Republic of Ireland manager, Jack Charlton cast his net far and wide in the search of players who were eligible to play for the Emerald Isle.

Amongst those he brought into the squad were Liverpudlians (John Aldridge), Glaswegians (Ray Houghton) and even a Cornishman in the form of Chris Morris, who was born in Newquay, a right back who would be ever present through out Ireland’s Euro 88 campaign in Germany.

Morris, who was no stranger to Charlton as the 1966 World Cup winner had handed him his league debut for Sheffield Wednesday in 1982, qualified to represent the Republic through his mother, Evelyn, who hailed from County Monaghan.

After making his debut in a friendly against Israel in 1987, Chris soon made the right back spot his own.

Within a year of his debut, the Irish reached the final stages of a major tournament, under Charlton’s guidance, for the first time by qualifying for the 1988 European Championship finals in Germany.

Despite possessing players with the calibre of Liam Brady, Ronnie Whelan, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, Mark Lawrenson, Chris Hughton, Paul McGrath and David O’Leary, Ireland had never qualified for a major tournament before Charlton’s appointment.

The Irish were drawn in Group B with England, Holland and the Soviet Union.

By this time, Chris was now playing his club football for Celtic and was joined in the squad by his Bhoys’ team-mates, goalkeeper Packie Bonner and future Republic manager Mick McCarthy.

In their first match with England, Ireland pulled off the biggest shock of the tournament as they won 1-0 courtesy of a sixth minute header from Ray Houghton.

Next up was the Soviet Union, where they were forced to settle for a point after Oleg Protasov’s late equaliser cancelled out Ronnie Whelan’s opener.

The Irish were eight minutes away from a place in the Semi Finals in their final group game with Holland before Wim Kieft scored a late winner for the Dutch, who featured Gullit, Van Basten, Rijkaard et al, as they went on to win the tournament.

Chris was also ever present for Ireland in their 1990 World Cup campaign in Italy as they reached the Quarter Finals. He remained with Celtic until 1992 when he joined Middlesbrough and remained with Boro until he retired from playing at the end of the 1996-97 season.

Following his retirement, Chris has been working for, and now runs, his family business, “Morris Cornish Pasties”. 

He was also involved in Truro City Youth Football Club's Community Football programme in 2010.