Steve Morison named manager of Isthmian League club weeks after being linked with Cardiff

Steve Morison has surprisingly been named manager of Isthmian League club Hornchurch just weeks after being linked with the Cardiff job.

The former Bluebirds boss was under consideration for the role just eight months after he had been sacked from the same club, however they instead opted for ex-Fenerbahce player Erol Bulut.

Despite managing in the second tier of English football, Morison’s next job will now be trying to get Hornchurch promoted from the Isthmian Premier League.

Hornchurch finished in second place last season, just four points behind the champions Bishop’s Stortford. They were then promoted to the National League North.

Morison will be looking to improve on last season’s performance.

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗩𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗡 𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡!

🚨 We are delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Morison as our First Team manager!

Full Story ➡️ https://t.co/Mr6cfiYdzr#WelcomeMorison pic.twitter.com/OB7tq6wmK0

— Hornchurch FC (@HornchurchFC) June 8, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

Hornchurch FC are delighted to announce the signing of Steve Morison as our next Manager. He will immediately take control of all 1st team matters.

Chairman Alex Sharp commented “from the first time I spoke with Steve I knew we had found our next Manager. I was drawn in by the Millwall connection, but then so impressed by his experience, professionalism and how driven he is. I have loved listening to his plans of how he intends to take the club forward and I love the fact that he thinks nothing of dropping down to non-league to create opportunities going forward. Everyone I’ve spoken to in the game from Rob Lee, to Shaun Derry, speaks highly of Steve and I really can’t wait to get going. Steve brings with him Anthony Fenton as his assistant, who is also very well thought of in football and I’m excited at the thought of the players that Steve and Anthony will have access to and can bring to Hornchurch FC.

“We have a great squad at the club and the players are very excited to meet Steve and to see how he will help develop their careers and to that end I’m delighted to announce that Jamie Southon will join Steve’s management team which will undoubtedly help maintain the stability that we have grown to expect. The Board are super excited to make these appointments, we can’t wait for our fans to meet Steve and Anthony and I’m personally counting down the days until we get pre-season underway, I really can’t wait!

“I hope you will all join me in offering Steve and Anthony a very special Urchins welcome, we are so very pleased you are here, we hope you’ll enjoy your time with us and we’ll be sure to have some fun along the way!”

Hornchurch Manager Steve Morison commented “I am thrilled and honoured to announce that I have taken on the role of First Team Manager of Hornchurch FC. Myself and Anthony Fenton are excited to take on this new challenge and to lead the team to new heights both on and off the football pitch.

As we embark on this new season, I want to assure you that I am committed to bringing success to Hornchurch FC. I will work tirelessly with our players, coaching staff and management to ensure that we perform at our best and achieve our goals.

“I am passionate about football and believe that together, we can build a strong and successful team. I am excited to work with the existing players and the wider Hornchurch FC community to create a culture of excellence both on and off the pitch.

“I would like to thank Alex, Colin and the Board for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you as we embark on this exciting new journey together.
Come on you Urchins!”

Steve started his career at Northampton Town, he played for Bishop’s Stortford before signing for Stevenage Borough with Mark Stimson, where he scored the winning goal in the 2007 FA Trophy Final, the first competitive cup final to be held at the new Wembley Stadium. He also helped the club win the FA Trophy again in May 2009.

Steve then moved to Millwall in 2009, helping the club to secure promotion to the Championship in his first season there. He signed for Premier League club Norwich City in June 2011. Scoring 12 goals for Norwich before a short spell at Leeds United he re-signied for Millwall where he scored the winning goal in the 2017 League One play-off final seeing Millwall promoted back into the Championship.

Playing over 300 games for Millwall during his two spells with the club, scoring 92 goals, which ranks him in third place in Millwall’s all-time record goal scorers. Steve announced his retirement in October 2019. Having gained his coaching badges, he was appointed Northampton Town’s under-18 coach, before later joining Cardiff City as the lead coach of the club’s under-23 team. He was appointed first-team manager of Cardiff City in the EFL Championship in November 2021.

Earning eight caps for the England C team, scoring three goals, he qualified to play for Wales, and made his senior international debut in August 2010. He went on to represent Wales 20 times, scoring one goal.

WELCOME TO HORNCHURCH FC STEVE AND ANTHONY WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU ARE HERE!

You can watch his full interview below…

Here’s how fans reacted as Steve Morison is named manager of Isthmian League club Hornchurch just weeks after being linked with Cardiff…

@OfficialBigDave: Gonna be a lot of Millwall rocking up at games next season… And good luck to them. They might finally see a team play some half decent football!

@BlokesClub: Millwall legend I will be down loads more this season!! Top bloke

@RichLew82: Well this has made me chuckle.

@anderson_cheng: Quite a big drop from the Championship

@SeagerRicky: How the hell did Hornchurch pull that one off!!! Incredible appointment. All the best Steve

@daggercraig82: Blooming hell that’s a great coup best wishes to all

@Orient_Ed: Now this is a HUGE appointment and MASSIVE coup for Hornchurch here. I have no idea how the club got him to be manager but fair play.

@SialiaSwainson: Much more of a thinker about the game than people give him credit for. Made some mistakes In player management which hopefully he’ll learn from but has a clear way he wants to play and demands a lot from himself and his team’s. Hope he does well for you

@scfc_callum_: swear he was favourite for the Cardiff job a few weeks ago 😭😭

@Z1ANF10: Don’t run on the pitch lads, he will be fuming with u

@Ryan_Lewis226: I have no idea how this has happened, he’s some appointment for an Isthmian league side but be prepared for him being incredibly moody, tactics will confuse you a lot as a fan, gives some pretty weird interviews but I do wish him well

@AFC_HX: This is fantastic, I see the Cardiff fans liked his style of play hopefully we will get to see it play out at the bridge. Fingers crossed for the new season this an exciting appointment for sure!

@BaileyH04019330: Welcome Steve!! , Unbelievable appointment for the Club !!! Can’t wait to cheer the boys on!!

@matthewjamesali: Jesus Christ. Whether you were a fan of his or not he can do a damn sight better than that level. Crazy.

@chrs1927: Hard done by at Cardiff. Hope this works out well for him.

@joe_elliott04: This doesn’t make sense, Championship to Step 3 in 2 years. What an appointment

@TomHumphrey93: Bit surprised by this, his last job was Cardiff. That’s quite a drop in levels!

@GAndrews18: Crikey, no disrespect to Hornchurch FC but to go from managing in the Championship to the Isthmian league in 6 months is pretty stark 😆 Not sure I’ve ever seen anyone drop 6 divisions

@chris2803: Good opportunity to build his stock here. He would have learned from his time at Cardiff. A progressive manager who wants his team to play football. Good luck

@BenMapp02: Cardiff to Hornchurch, must be a record for the most leagues dropped by a manager!

@ccfc_ruben: how’s steve morison fallen off so hard 😭😭😭