Shrimpsvoices

o/t Trevor Francis first million pound player dies aged 69

BBC's George Alagiah has died today too, aged 67. Late 60's isn't that old

Some of you on here may well play local cricket and the sad news came in the last few days that Paul Antcliffe had died after a short illness.

"Ants" played cricket for Heysham CC for many years and was still playing last season and also still played rugby for the Vale of Lune Veterans.

Now, 49yr old, Chris Bart-Williams. He & Francis were both at Sheffield Wednesday at the same time.

The best goal I have ever seen in real life was scored by Trevor Francis. My dad - loyal Morecambe supporter but fair weather Man Utd fan - persuaded me to drive him to Old Trafford to watch Birmingham City play the Reds during the 1970s. It was a crap game memorable only for a bit of Francis magic when the teenager basically took on the entire United defence, turned them inside out and then found the back of the net with an impossibly long-range shot from an even more impossible angle. Even the seated United fans stood up and clapped - so it really must have been good, mustn't it? Sadly - and probably to the astonishment of our younger readers - I don't think there were any cameras in the ground to record this moment of genius. He was a truly fantastic player. Rest in Peace Trevor...

Some good Brian Clough stories about Trevor Francis - well actually, all Brian Clough stories are good; they don't make them like him anymore - and I don't think he'd last long at all in the modern game where at the top level everything is driven by money.

Seemingly Trevor was wrapped in cotton wool during his time at Brum, and was a bit 'mothered' which didn't sit well with old big 'ed - who wasn't one for egos, or people who wanted perceived preferential treatment.

Despite being the first £million player (though Clough argues it was £999k), Francis initially trained with the reserves until he earnt a spot with the first team. There is an interview when, upon winning the 1979 European Cup with Forest with the games only goal vs Malmo FF, Clough claimed that Francis was lucky to play in the final and only did so due to injuries - and that Trevor does not have enough titles or representative honours to his name for a player that was entering his prime.

There is also a story whereby on the way home from an away matchday Trevor had arranged a lift from a layby. When the lift wasn't there, Clough wouldn't let him back on the team coach as he didn't think he should be arranging lifts and departing the club bus anyway. In the middle of a team talk, Francis requested to go to the toilet - Clough accepted but sent him out of the dressing room and Trevor had to use the general public toilets, so incensed that somebody would have the audacity to disrupt him in full flow.

Francis would miss the 1981 final through injury, something that would plague him during a spell at Manchester City.

RedRedWine wrote:Some good Brian Clough stories about Trevor Francis - well actually, all Brian Clough stories are good; they don't make them like him anymore - and I don't think he'd last long at all in the modern game where at the top level everything is driven by money.

Seemingly Trevor was wrapped in cotton wool during his time at Brum, and was a bit 'mothered' which didn't sit well with old big 'ed - who wasn't one for egos, or people who wanted perceived preferential treatment.

Despite being the first £million player (though Clough argues it was £999k), Francis initially trained with the reserves until he earnt a spot with the first team. There is an interview when, upon winning the 1979 European Cup with Forest with the games only goal vs Malmo FF, Clough claimed that Francis was lucky to play in the final and only did so due to injuries - and that Trevor does not have enough titles or representative honours to his name for a player that was entering his prime.

There is also a story whereby on the way home from an away matchday Trevor had arranged a lift from a layby. When the lift wasn't there, Clough wouldn't let him back on the team coach as he didn't think he should be arranging lifts and departing the club bus anyway. In the middle of a team talk, Francis requested to go to the toilet - Clough accepted but sent him out of the dressing room and Trevor had to use the general public toilets, so incensed that somebody would have the audacity to disrupt him in full flow.

Francis would miss the 1981 final through injury, something that would plague him during a spell at Manchester City.

Except his own!