Morris joined Crewe Alexandra's youth system aged 12 as a midfielder in 1995 and was a contemporary of players including Dean Ashton, David Vaughan and Lee Bell.

Despite injury difficulties including a stress fracture of his shin, Morris was, alongside fellow Academy graduate Chris McCready, offered a one-year contract by manager Dario Gradi in 2004.

[2][3] He remained part of Gradi's first team squad until 2006, but injuries prevented him from making a first-team appearance for the club and forced his early retirement as a player.

He was manager of Crewe's under-18 side that reached the quarter-final of the 2015 FA Youth Cup,[1] beating Arsenal, Bolton and Fulham en route to defeat by eventual finalists Manchester City.

[6] After the club was relegated with four games still to play, Crewe parted company with Artell on 11 April 2022, and Morris was appointed interim manager to the end of the 2021–22 season, with Lee Bell as his assistant.