Morgan Morgan-Owen


Morgan Maddox Morgan-Owen DSO was a Welsh amateur footballer who played in the Football League for Glossop and Nottingham Forest as a wing half. He won 12 caps and scored two goals for Wales between 1897 and 1907 and had a long career with each of the tour leading amateur clubs of the period, Corinthian and Casuals.

Personal life

Morgan-Owen's brother Hugh was also a Welsh international footballer. He was educated at Colet School, Shrewsbury School and Oriel College, Oxford and gained an honours degree in Modern History from the latter institution. After the First World War, he continued his career as a schoolteacher at Repton School and also served as diplomatic private secretary. He married in 1925 and had three children.

First World War

Morgan-Owen enlisted in the Essex Regiment in 1905 and served as a major with the regiment during the First World War, seeing action at Gallipoli, Langemarck, Cambrai and the Spring Offensive. He also had two periods attached to the Rifle Brigade, the second as a temporary lieutenant colonel commanding the 10th Battalion. He was awarded the DSO in August 1918 for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the occasion of the enemy attack, when his battalion was in reserve, he moved it up to resist the attack and held on to the position for two days, though the troops on his flank were pressed back. His steadfast determination to hold his ground against repeated attacks and under heavy fire largely contributed to restoring and keeping in hand the critical situation which had arisen". Morgan-Owen was wounded and gassed during the war and an injury to him arm resulted in the end of his sporting career.

Honours

Corinthian
Casuals
Wales