After a Glentoran career lasting twenty seasons, Elliott Morris has announced his intention to retire as a player. He will remain the club’s Goalkeeper Coach.
Elliott joined the club from West Bromwich Albion and made the first of his 743 first team appearances in a 4-1 home league win over Institute on 10 August 2002. Also making their debuts that day were Andy Kilmartin, Kevin Keegan, and Michael O’Neill who scored one of our goals (the others coming from Michael Halliday and Darren Fitzgerald with two). Other Glentoran legends in the team that day included Colin Nixon, Chris Walker, Paul Leeman, and Darren Lockhart.
By the time he made his final first team appearance – a 2-0 Danske Bank home win over Crusaders in the last game of the 2020-2021 season – Elliott had become the longest serving first team player in Glentoran’s 140 year with history, his career spanning an incredible 18 years, 8 months and 12 days!
During his time at the Glens, Elliott has won no fewer than fourteen senior trophies – 3 league titles, 4 Irish Cups (the last two as captain), 4 League Cups and 3 County Antrim Shields. He has also played twenty-six times for the club in European competition. At the age of 39 he was still performing heroics at the very highest level, saving important penalties in the 2019-2020 Irish Cup Semi Final and keeping Ballymena United at bay in our victorious final.
Roy Coyle's young keeper in his first season
Elliott spoke to www.Glentoran.com : “Its always a difficult decision to retire as a player, but I feel that after 20 seasons and with Aaron and Ross now well established at the club the time is right for me to concentrate on my coaching responsibilities at the club. From the first day I signed for Roy Coyle and started at Glentoran, I have felt like part of the club and Glentoran has become a very important part of me. Glentoran means everything to me. I love the club and I’m very happy to still be here after such a long time.
My two decades were very different. My first ten years or so we were challenging for everything, winning a lot of trophies and playing in Europe every season. The second decade was one where the club struggled financially before the takeover. But I never thought of leaving during that hard period. Yes, there were times I definitely had opportunities to join other clubs, but I never lost sight of the fact that the club and supporters have also stuck by me during difficult times or when I was out of form. That meant so much to me.
I owe Roy Coyle so much for bringing me to play in his great team, and also to Eddie Patterson who made me captain when Nicky retired. Following two great friends and great captains like Nicky and Leeper made me feel very proud and lifting the Irish Cup twice as captain when we’d been written off will always be two of my great memories. I also owe a lot to Davy McClelland who came in as Goalkeeper Coach when Alan McDonald was manager and worked closely with me here for over a decade. I learned a tremendous amount from Davy who’s another very good friend.
I’m very happy to be staying at the club as part of the Gaffer’s coaching team and I’m looking forward to being part of a lot more of the success our fantastic supporters deserve.”
Elliott with the Irish Cup in 2020
Mick McDermott said of Elliott’s impending retirement from playing: “Elliott has been an integral member of our team and staff since my arrival in 2019. Although ‘retirement’ may sound negative to some, we are delighted that he will remain in a senior coaching capacity with the Club into the future. To have a player remain at one Club for such a lengthy period of two decades is incredible and simply highlights the commitment and love he has for Glentoran FC. That commitment can only be respected and admired by every member of the Glentoran family – the term ‘Legend’ undoubtedly will remain with him forever.
I have watched Elliott develop from Player…to Player/Coach…and now this step to Coach. I have every respect for him as a person and have belief that his qualities will ensure many more years with Glentoran FC. To the Future!!!
Elliott with the Gibson Cup in 2009
Club Chairman Stephen Henderson: “Every club is able to tell stories of great players, great servants, those that either stood out in time or stood the test of time. Rarely does a club get to witness the same traits in one player. Elliott Morris is such a player. From the highs of league and cup winning teams, to the lows of the darker days at this club, Elliott has remained a consistent, loyal, calm, humble, dedicated and talented professional. But more than that, off the pitch he has been an ambassador for our club. He embodies everything we aspire to and everything any younger player should look up to.
It has been my personal privilege to witness his contribution first hand. Always willing to help with any initiative, any outreach programme, any requirement the club asked of him, he did so without complaint, whilst consistently maintaining the highest possible playing standards. Contract negotiations were some of the easiest to conduct, as all he wanted was to be here. In Elliott Morris, Glentoran found a gem of a player on the pitch and a gentleman off it and whilst the curtain may be finally coming down on his illustrious playing career, it is with a deep sense of relief that he will remain on our coaching staff and will seek to pass on his wealth of experience to the next generation of players. It may be the end of a chapter, but the story of Elliott Morris and Glentoran goes on.”
League Champions in Elliott's first season.
Roy Coyle signed Elliott in 20112 and together they won 2 League Championships, an Irish Cup, 2 League Cups and the County Antrim Shield. Roy said of Elliott: “Before I signed Elliott from West Brom, I did my homework on him as I didn’t know much about him at the time. Apparently, they let him go because they reckoned he was too short. Glentoran can be very glad they thought that because he’s become an absolute legend at the club. He’s a model professional who even hates losing goal in training. I played with a great keeper at the Oval (Albert Finlay), and I signed a great one for Linfield (George Dunlop) and the highest praise I can give Elliott is to say he is at their level. In fact, I rank him among the best signings I ever made as a manager. We brought Elliott in as first choice as a very young player, which isn’t easy as goalkeeper is the position on the pitch that gets most attention and criticism, so it carries a lot of pressure. But Elliott had picked up very good habits at West Brom and he’s always maintained them at the Oval. That’s why from the very start he played a major role for us when we were winning championships and cups in his first few years here. In general, Elliott’s attitude around the club makes him a dream to manage and I am proud to have worked so closely with him.”
Elliott and Nicky with the Irish Cup in 2013
Club record appearance holder and teammate for Elliott’s first eleven years at Glentoran, Colin Nixon: “Elliott Morris service to Glentoran has been nothing short f outstanding. His consistency through the years has been exceptional and his talent unquestionable. His commitment to the club is something that I admire, he has stuck by the Glens through the good times and the bad and now the good again. He is an example to any young player starting out that drive and determination added with ability will take you to the very top. He has provided so many memories for me over the years, a great team mate and a great friend. Retirement is only the beginning of something new. Congratulations on a magnificent career my friend.”
Elliott and Leeper (back row) with Irish Cup winning team mates in 2004
Skipper for Elliott’s three league title wins Paul Leeman: “Elliott has been an exceptional servant to Glentoran Football Club not just on the pitch but also off it where he has always represented the club with great pride and class. Arguably the Club’s greatest ever Goalkeeper with a superb level of consistency and the trophy successes to match. One thing that I admire greatly about Elliott has been his work ethic within football which has seen him play at the very top here in this country for so long. This work ethic along with his undoubted talent, commitment and great humility should be great examples to any young players as to what it takes to achieve even part of what he has achieved.
Every great playing career must end but Glentoran are now benefiting hugely by involving him as a coach within the Club at both Senior and Junior level where I have no doubt he will be a huge success once again! Personally for me it was an absolute pleasure to be your team mate for more than a decade through some great moments and successes. Not only a great teammate but also a true friend whom I wish every success in the future.
Congratulations on an unbelievable career mate.”
Irish Cup wiining skipper in 2015 with Eddie Patterson's team
Eddie Patterson made Elliott captain of Glentoran in 2013. Together they won 2 Irish Cups. He said of his time with Elliott: “Announcing a retirement sometimes means an end to a working relationship with many current and former colleagues and with it brings a sense of sadness. But on this occasion it will be a relief to many people, staff and supporters that although retiring from playing Elliott will remain as part of Glentoran FC, his second family for more than 20 years, as part of the coaching staff, a great move by the football club as the club is part of his DNA and is in his blood. I learned this about Elliott in my first full season in charge 2012/13, probably the toughest of all seasons as the club faced massive financial difficulties. Elliott, as one of the senior pros at the club was a great example to those around him, wore his shirt with pride and was a no brainer when I made him captain. His professionalism and dedication to Glentoran FC is well respected and appreciated by all fellow players, staff and supporters of Glentoran FC. Another shrewd piece of business by Mick in keeping and wanting Elliott as part of his staff. What a Keeper! What a Glen man! What a person! Good luck in all you do in the future Ells, especially in your new role.”
Elliott and Robbie McDaid celebrate Elliott's goal at the Brandywell in 2019
Elliott Morris - Glentoran Legend!
