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Old 24th March 2016, 05.06:56   #133-0 (permalink)
eastsussexred
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Default Re: The sad case of a founding members and player of Wrexham Football Club

Whilst he did not play in the clubs first ever game, there can be few people, if any, who were more influential in the founding of Wrexham Football and Athletics Club, or The Football Association of Wales, or indeed the history of Wrexham itself.

Evan Morris

Evan Morris was born in Wrexham on July 25th 1842.
From humble beginnings, Evan rose to become a man of means, whose career and social endeavours were extraordinary.
After leaving school he trained as a solicitor, although he had many other business interests including chairmanships and directorships, and was the sole owner of a number of companies, as well as being a director of The Provincial Insurance Company. In addition, he played a major role in the expansion of the railway network in the region and he owned a considerable portfolio of properties and land, including land next to The Turf Tavern on The Racecourse.
In 1859, Evan joined The Denbighshire Rifle Volunteers, where he was later promoted to the rank of Captain, although he was also a Major in The Volunteer Brigade of The Royal Welch Fusiliers.
A member of The Denbighshire County Cricket Club Committee, Evan Morris was a founding member of The United Volunteer service Club, whose ideas gave rise to the birth of Wrexham Football and Athletics Club, a club which he played for and helped to fund. He was also elected as the clubs first President on its inception in 1864 and remained in the roll for most of his life.
Evan married Fannie Elizabeth Rowland, in Wrexham, on 17th September 1872, and the couple would have 6 daughters and one son: their family home was Rosenheath House on Rhosddu Road, which was later converted into The War Memorial Hospital.
He was elected a member of The Incorporated Law Society in 1875 and later served as a Magistrate. That same year, he was approached by Samuel Llewelyn Kenrick to help found The Football Association of Wales and subsequently, he would serve as Secretary and Vice President of the association for many years
A devout Christian who held a lifelong involvement with the church, Evan was passionate in his belief that athletics and football helped to improve moral behaviour, ease social tensions and bridge the void between the different social classes ‘football should be encouraged, for it brings men together; high and low, rich and poor, to contend on an equal platform, where one man is as good as another, and the best man wins’.
A County Counsellor for Holt, a Clerk to the Lieutenancy of the Borough, Secretary to The Denbighshire Ordnance Survey Association, Agent for local politicians and Chairman of The Finance Committee, he was also Chairman of the committee for The National Eisteddfod which was held in Wrexham in 1888. In November of the same year, Evan Morris was elected Lord Mayor of the Borough. Then, after Queen Victoria visited the town during a tour of the region, he was called to her residence at Pale Hall in Bala on 27th August 1889 and was bestowed with the honour of knighthood.
A man who was genuinely, highly regarded by the townsfolk of Wrexham, Evan Morris died at the age of 49 at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, while en route to France, on 18th April 1890.

Evan Morris
1842-1890

Last edited by eastsussexred; 24th March 2016 at 05.17:03..
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