Andy Morton
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Andrew Morton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1882 Manly, New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 18 October 1950 [St Leonards, New South Wales]] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre, Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Andy Morton (1882-1950) was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer of the 1900s and 1910s. An Australia national and New South Wales state representative backline player, he played club football for North Sydney and in England for Hull.
Morton played for the North Sydney club during the 1908 NSWRFL season, the first ever for rugby league in Australia. That season he played for New South Wales in the first ever interstate rugby league match.[1] His club lost his services just before the finals, along with Norths' teammates Sid Deane, Jim Devereaux, and Dinny Lutge as they had been selected to go on the 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.[2] Morton was the first Australian to score a try in Britain: in their victory over Welsh club Mid-Rhondda in the first match of the tour. He was also selected to play on the wing in the second Test match loss, becoming Kangaroo No. 26.[3] He scored 30pts (4t, 9g) in another 22 matches on tour. Morton and Norths' teammate Deveraux were signed by English club Hull, and remained in England to play.[4] During the 1909–10 Northern Rugby Football Union season Morton played for Hull in the first Challenge Cup final do be drawn and subsequently re-played. After two seasons with Hull, Morton returned to Australia and resumed his career with North Sydney.[5]
Andy Morton died at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital on 18 October 1950, age 68. His funeral was held the following afternoon at Northern Suburbs Crematorium.[6]
References
- ^ Whiticker, Alan. "Andy Morton". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
- ^ Haddan, Stephen (1991). History of the NSW Rugby League Finals. Australia: Powers Brewing. p. 11. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
- ^ "Australian Kangaroos Player Register" (PDF). nrl.com. Australian Rugby League Commission. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
- ^ "Hull's Australians". hullfc.com. Hull FC. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
- ^ "Andy Morton". nrlstats.com. Sports Data. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald - Death/Funeral Notice - 19/10/1950