Goalkeeping coach Morris happy not to play for Crawley

The 32-year-old played the full 90 minutes of Crawley’s 2-1 win against Worthing on Tuesday night but wants to use his experience from a 16-year career to help bring on Reds’ two young custodians.

As well as coaching them, he will also be vying for a place in the team along with Chelsea loanee Mitch Beeney, 20, and 21-year-old former Millwall, Liverpool and Turkish Premier League keeper Yusuf Mersin.

Morris has gained plenty of experience along the way to notching up 220 appearances for Leyton Orient, Southend United, Aldershot Town, where he worked with Crawley’s assistant manager Matt Gray and most recently Gillingham.

He said: “I’m here if needed to play, I’ll play. If I’m not needed then that’s great, then the goallies are playing well, I’m coaching well, I can’t lose.

“If the boys are flying and playing well, then I’m happy, the manager’s happy, we are all happy.

“It’s slightly different here. No-one’s guaranteed a starting spot and whoever’s performing will play, so we’ll see what happens.”

Morris has picked up tips from a variety of goalkeeping coaches he has worked with at his previous clubs, including former Crawley Town favourite from 2007-08, Ashley Bayes.

He said: “I’ve had loads of goalkeeping coaches down the line, too many to name: Jimmy Walker, Ashley Bayes, Scott Barrett.

“You have got all different types, old school types, you’ve got those with a new way of thinking and I’m taking bits and bobs from all of them and obviously I’ve got my own beliefs as well.

“I’ve taken sessions thousands of times and have been put through loads of goalkeeping sessions.

“I haven’t taken any coaching badges but I am looking into doing them soon. If boys aren’t doing it right, I know which way to tell them, that’s not a problem.”

Morris is enjoying head coach Dermot Drummy’s short passing style of football, which is in stark contrast to long-ball tactics used by Mark Yates last season which drew criticism at the time from loanee stopper Darryl Flahavan.

He said: “I haven’t played in too many teams which look to work forward from the back.

“Most of the teams I’ve played for have been playing it forward as soon as possible.

“It’s new to me but I’m enjoying it, I like to play football that way.

“You never know, there may be times when it is (playing long balls from the back), but on the whole there will be more times when we are playing out.”

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