A former ball boy who was once booted by a Premier League player in a well-known footballing incident now runs a multimillion dollar vodka company that is supported by stars like Maya Jama and Floyd Mayweather.
When former Chelsea winger Eden Hazard booted Charlie Morgan during a heated Capital One Cup semifinal match against Swansea in 2013, it set up a football controversy.
The ball had left play for a goal kick when Morgan, a 17-year-old ball boy at Swansea’s stadium, seemed to postpone giving it over.
Hazard tried to take the ball from him as he attempted to kick it out from under him. The Belgium star, who is currently playing for Real Madrid, then tumbled to the ground.
Instead, he seemed to make contact with the ballboy’s midsection, and referee Chris Foy immediately issued him a red card.
For the incident, Hazard received a three-game suspension. Police were also engaged and looked into the event before opting not to do anything further.
Morgan’s life has taken an unexpected turn almost ten years after the tragedy.
He is a 26-year-old aspiring businessman who received recognition on this year’s Sunday Times Rich List for his £40 million investment in a vodka conglomerate.
Jackson Quinn, a 29-year-old buddy from high school, and Morgan operate the upscale vodka firm Au Vodka, which they founded together in 2016.
The gold-plated bottle of the vodka, which typically sells for approximately £30 per litre, has received endorsements from celebrities like Floyd Mayweather, a boxing superstar.
Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, a rising star in the UFC, and TV and radio celebrity Maya Jama have both endorsed the product, which is often marketed by its well-known investor, former BBC radio DJ Charlie Sloth.
But Morgan’s quick ascent is hardly a tale of poverty to riches. Morgan is the heir to the £65 million Morgans Hotel company that his father Martin built.
Swansea City F.C., the team where Morgan originally gained notoriety as a ballboy, also has Martin on its board of directors.
In December 2019, Charlie’s company started gradually growing its sales. It has a dazzling Instagram page with celebrities and a variety of gold-plated objects, including a gleaming Au van.
But when they started selling 10,000 bottles of black grape vodka in a single month last year, it really started to take off.
The business reported earnings of £10 million in its most recent filings, which are available on Companies House.
Since then, the business has stepped up their Instagram game with a number of eye-catching pictures, including footage of a pool party with a huge gold Au bottle water fountain.
Following Morgan’s assertion from the previous year that he had talked with the famed boxer about the industry, Floyd Mayweather is also mentioned in a number of postings.
In 2021, he claimed in a statement to WalesOnline, “We gained a contact with Floyd – via a common acquaintance of Frost the music producer – and we were informed that Floyd totally likes the brand and enjoyed the black grape flavour.”
“We were asked whether he may take a couple of bottles before going home.”
Floyd agreed to put a picture on Instagram if we included him when we did something significant in America, and we replied, “Sure, Floyd, sure.”
“It’s remarkable how it has materialised itself,” said Floyd. “Back years ago we asked ourselves who would be the finest ambassador we could have carrying the bottle.
“It’s weird to see the brand in the hands of someone you look up to.”
The Sun reports that Au Vodka now produces 35,000 bottles daily, some of which he claims have failed due to their bizarre flavours.
According to the newspaper, he called a banana-flavored vodka they made “especially awful.”
Due to the company’s current performance, Morgan is included in the Sunday Times Rich List for 2022.
He still behind his father in wealth and even his former rival Hazard, who is estimated to be worth over £85 million.
After the incident, Morgan claimed to have communicated with the winger, who had just transferred from Chelsea to Madrid for almost £100 million.
Crazy 24 hours, he wrote. I spoke with Hazard and decided not to file any accusations. Stay in touch.
His 100,000 followers—an increase from only 600 before he gained notoriety—received the message.
Even while Morgan had a great reaction, not everyone did; many people criticised his behaviour throughout the event.
At the time, Pat Nevin, a former Chelsea player turned analyst, called his actions “disgraceful.”
I was very, very unhappy by the ball boy’s behaviour, and I do mean behaviour, he said.
He must have been watching football players because of the way he rolled about and seemed more hurt than he really was.
He just has one task, which is to return the ball. What did he do instead? He holds onto the ball.
‘I have to admit, when I found out this morning that he is 17, not 12, not 13, I was completely astounded.
He should be aware of the proper course of action to take. His conduct was deplorable.
Others criticised Morgan and Hazard. At the time, Michael Owen, a former England striker, said: “I retain my view from last night.” It’s embarrassing how somebody can assert that Hazard attacked a child.
He shouldn’t have kicked the ball away from him, but contrary to what some people were saying, he didn’t really boot the kid.
“The young man’s behaviour was scandalous, which explains why he hasn’t taken any more action.”
Since his father is a Swansea director, I’m assuming that the matter will be handled properly.