Burnham-On-Sea author Larry Bennett has launched a new book featuring the history of a Bristol family who played with the city’s top football clubs.
The new book – called The footballing Morgan family of Bristol – is the latest publication from Larry.
Following his previous books concentrating on UK radio history, this is a written recollection of his maternal family line and the wider Morgan family, who lived in the Barton Hill and Redfield areas of Bristol.
The family included many quality sportsmen, with five family members playing footall at a high level; two of them, Frederick ‘Jerry’ Morgan and William James ‘Jimmy’ Morgan, made over 100 appearances each for Bristol Rovers in the 1920s and 1940s/1950s respectively.
Another family member, Johnny Morgan, played for Bristol City during World War 1 and later moved to Bristol Rovers.
Larry says: “Using the numerous written memoirs of my late grandmother, the book charts her life growing up in the suburbs of north-east Bristol in the early part of the 20th century, as well as her recollections of the Bristol Blitz during World War 2.”
“The hardships and trials of growing up in a large family are recorded in detail, with many memorable episodes recalled in depth.
“She refers to numerous Morgan family members within her manuscript, and these are covered in great detail with a comprehensive Morgan ‘family tree’, illustrated with family photographs and extracts from the local press.”
Larry’s own personal recollections of the family are also recorded.
“The family also ran their own football team, comprising exclusively of family members, who played charity matches in Bristol between 1919 and the mid-1960s. Details of all their fixtures are covered in depth, illustrated by photographs, press reports and scans of programmes and posters.”
Many family members ran public houses in the Bristol area, and details of these are included too. In addition, families who married into the early Morgan line are also covered, thereby providing a complete family background.
Larry adds: “The book will be of great interest not only to family members, but also for local and family historians, football enthusiasts, and anyone interested in social history.”
Running to 384 pages, The book can be purchased from Amazon and other on-line retailers at an RRP of £17.99.
This new book follows his previous successful history books on Portishead Radio and the UK’s Coast Radio Station network.
