by Peter Scherer
Morgan Wiliams is a true Mickleover success story. The defender came through the junior teams at the Don Amott Arena, before earning himself a regular first team place throughout the 2017/18 season.
He started in the Academy at 18,
I was playing at College and then for the Academy for about five months, and had about two reserve games, trained with the first team and made my debut the same year,
he said.
It was a big jump from junior to men’s football and in the first year I was on the bench to start with, but got more starts towards the end of the season, before becoming a regular in 2017/18,
His impressive performances earned him a place in the Northern Premier League team of the season that year and a trial at Coventry City.
I had played a couple of games already in the week I went for a trial, so wasn’t at my best and didn’t impress them. I didn’t hear from them, so John McGrath suggested I tried with Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy”
Both Morgan and team mate Andy Dales attended the sessions and it proved to be the turning point, as both players were signed for record fees.
At the end of it we played on the same team in an open match and there were loads of scouts there. I took it as my last chance as I had trials elsewhere, three at Exeter. That night Coventry called and signed me,
Having signed in August 2018 he made his first team debut in the EFL Trophy a month later and played his first League match towards the end of the season.
He made six first team appearances, but had been a regular in the under 23 side.
Last season Coventry were flying at the top of the league, so it was hard to break into the team. I needed to get more experience and games when the under 23’s finished, so went to National League Yeovil on loan in December 2019,
He played four games before the pandemic interruption.
It was different style of playing, especially for a defender, but good experience. My highlights at Mickleover though were winning the title and the help and encouragement given to me throughout by John McGrath.