How James Morrison brought much-loved West Brom supporter John Homer in to inspire players

Boss James Morrison invited much-loved supporter and Black Country champion John Homer to inspire and educate his Albion players.

Head coach Morrison and off-field hero Homer, 71, have a close relationship over the former’s two decades at the club as player, coach and boss.

Last month, prior to the victory at Burnley at The Hawthorns, Morrison personally invited official supporters’ club chairman Homer to the club’s training base in Walsall to speak to players and staff.

The season ticket holder of 50 years held court in the ‘classroom’, where press conferences and team meetings are held, for 15 minutes and left his mark on players experienced and young. Many learned about the origins of the ‘Black Country’, how the club was formed by working class individuals, Albion’s proud trophy-winning history and how a hard-working community desire little more than honest graft.

Days afterwards, the Baggies produced a fine display to see off Burnley at The Hawthorns.

"It went down really well and I can't thank John enough for it,” said Morrison ahead of Sunday’s hotly-anticipated Black Country derby against Wolves at Molineux.

"Me knowing John I had to cut his time down - I had to give him a little nod! He's a great talker and he has such enthusiasm for this football club.

"I wanted that to rub off on to the lads and for players to understand the history of the club. I think it's so important.”

The head coach added: "It's what makes a football club, people like John.

"John gave me a programme from 1970 and my dad was in it - in a West Brom programme. He still had that. Me and John have a great relationship.

"He'll be watching nervously on Sunday."

Homer, from Gornal, is well-known for an encyclopaedic memory, particularly for all things Albion.

His time as a supporter spans six decades and as well as supporter club duties he hosts weekly Hawthorns Memories dementia classes for The Albion Foundation at The Hawthorns, and conducts regular tours of the stadium.

He is also a historian and host of tours at the Black Country Museum in Dudley and is a fiercely proud man of the region. Homer has also published poetry and has a stylish way with words.

Morrison added: "It was a positive exercise. John, who I've known for a long time, is a special human being and I wanted him to rub off on to the players.

"I wanted the players to understand the football club, certain aspects of the history of it, and the lads enjoyed it.

"You can listen to John all day. He can tell you what happened in 1975! I appreciated him coming in because it worked really well. He talked about what these games meant to him.

"It's anything to drop seeds for players going forward.”

Homer told American Baggies captain George Campbell it was his compatriot Elihu Burritt, a US consul to Birmingham, who coined the name ‘Black Country’ in 1862.

Campbell said: “What stood out to me was how John said he’d only missed eight to 10 games in all these years. The point is the fans like him show up every day in every year.

“Learning the history of the club was a cool thing and puts it in perspective. We’re here now but it’s not about us, it’s about the effort for this community and working class club. It resonates with players.”

Homer told the Express & Star of his experience: "I'm just a fan who loves my club. I was blown away by the respect that the club as a whole, Mozza and the players gave me. Nobody said a peep when I talked, everybody listened.

"They gave me that accord, to believe I could make a contribution and that's the biggest thing I'd took out of it."

"I’m so proud as a supporter and Black Countryman to go in and speak to these people from all over the world about why the foundations of this club are so important at nearly 150 years old.

"I’m blown away it was the subject of the press conference!”