Most of us who braved the icy pavements of South Bermondsey on Saturday evening were rewarded with a performance that belied Millwall’s recent barren spell. And, as less hardy folk watching from centrally-heated living rooms will have noted, this was in no little part due to the persistence of Sky Sports’ man-of-the-match Steve Morison.

Interviewed on the turf after the 3-0 demolition of Scunthorpe, Morison admitted a desire to play top-flight football, and he has applied himself during the past 18 months like a man with clear ambition. Unlike an erstwhile rival for the `rags-to-riches’ cliche, though, time is not on his side in this respect. A first attempt at joining the League roster at Northampton Town clearly came too soon for Morison, and it took a two-year penance at Bishop’s Stortford for the striker to realise the opportunity that had past by. His subsequent goalscoring form brought him to the attention of Stevenage Borough (then of the Conference), where a total of 89 goals in three seasons earned him the overused accolade of legend, and a £130,000 second chance in south-east London.

An uncertain start to his first campaign at Millwall, taking in an FA Cup miss against Staines Town incredible even to those who witnessed it from behind the railings at Wheatsheaf Park, would have undermined a younger man. But, having already surpassed the halfway point of his twenties, Morison was able shut out the potty-mouthed doubters and his labour soon began to pay off. 23 goals later – marking a fourth consecutive 20+ goal campaign – a period of transition in the second tier seemed likely. Ten goals in the Championship season so far have dispelled those notions, while a grandmother from Tredegar brought a place alongside fellow Championship front-man Craig Bellamy in the Welsh national XI. Displays of strength, pace and, above all, his indefatigable running have drawn praise from both former and current managers, as well as his new international team-mate. With all these positives piling up behind him, Morison is hungry to make up for his time in the footballing wilderness. I’m not alone in hoping that he wears a Millwall shirt as he does it.

1 Comment

1. 

   Lanterne Rouge

   December 6, 2010

   As an opposing fan, one is always more comfortable when the opposition don't have a deadly striker and Morison, even if he's not in the first flush of youth is always going to be someone you'll fear facing.

   Reply