Fresh from winning the AFF U18 Women’s Championship with the Junior Matildas, Silver Bell Morris has put pen to paper on a scholarship contract with Western United.
The 18-year-old centre-back started in four of the five matches at the tournament, including the semi-final and final, as the side conceded just one goal throughout.
Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Morris took up football at six years of age, learning from her grandfather who played professionally.
Morris has resided in the West of Victoria, with her first football club being Golden City in Bendigo, and within a short period of time she has risen through the ranks at Football Victoria.
In 2022, Morris played under United Assistant Coach Helen Winterburn at FV Emerging in NPLW Victoria, helping the team to the finals for the first time.
“It feels amazing and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to sign for Western United,” Morris said.
“It’s something I’ve been working hard towards since I was young and to have the opportunity to join Western United is amazing.”
Despite being so young, Morris has already built quite a CV in her burgeoning football career and can now add the Liberty A-League Women to the list as part of Western United’s inaugural squad.
“It’s very exciting to step up into the A-League Women environment. As a young player I know I still have so much to learn and I’m looking forward to growing and learning with the girls,” she said.
Western United Head Coach Mark Torcaso has had the task of coaching against Morris in NPLW Victoria and is now looking forward to having her on his side.
“Without doubt, Silver Bell has been one of the standout young players in NPLW. She has enormous potential, but I’m also really excited to see how she can help us immediately with her quality,” he said.
“Helen has done an incredible job with the Emerging team and Silver Bell has shone in that environment, so I’m really excited that they will continue to work together and that I get to be involved now as well.
“Added to that she has grown up, lived and developed in the West, so to have a player like that representing our country and now playing for the Club in the West is a big deal, and I’m really pleased.”
A powerful centre half, Morris excels in one-versus-one defensive situations and in aerial battles, while also possessing composure and quality in phases of possession building out of the back.
Morris’ signing continues to shape the team’s defensive options ahead of the beginning of the season, which will see the Green and Black take to the pitch in the A-League Women for the first time in mid-November.
