Morrison proud of years in green but felt ‘stabbed in back’ by Stan

Clinton Morrison may be in the twilight of his career, but he still boasts to his younger team-mates about when he played in big games for the Republic of Ireland.

Now 34, the London-born striker earned 36 caps — scoring nine goals — and even travelled to the 2002 World Cup. But those days are nothing more than golden memories now.

Still, Morrison, who is preparing for the new League One season with Colchester United, is proud of his experience representing Ireland despite insisting that it ended far too early.

Axed from the squad by manager Steve Staunton after a horror show against Cyprus in 2006, the much-travelled frontman believes he was “stabbed in the back” by his old team-mate.

“There is regret that I didn’t get as many caps as I should have, but that’s down to Steve Staunton. It was disappointing because… I can’t say I was stabbed in the back, well, I can because he said I would still be part of it and then he slowly eased me out,” said Morrison.

“A phone call would have been alright to say: ‘I’m going a different way’. I would have respected it, but I got nothing. Then Trapattoni came in and already had his squad. [But] I always tell all the lads, you’ll never play at Lansdowne Road against Brazil. They always say that’s why you’re buzzing and I’ll say ‘of course, I am’. But all of it is brilliant.

“I’ve even got a Man United Roy Keane shirt and when we played France, I got Thierry Henry’s one. I wanted to burn it after the Paris match because he definitely did us, but I respect him as a player. They are memories I’ll never forget.”

Celtic Horizon Tours brought Colchester United to Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield for pre-season and they will also cater for Bradford City and Port Vale this summer.