Former England footballer Trevor Francis, Britain's first 拢1m player, dies
The striker rose through the youth ranks at Birmingham City before signing for Nottingham Forest in 1979 - becoming Britain's first 拢1m football star.
Monday 24 July 2023 22:44, UK
Former England star Trevor Francis - Britain's first 拢1m football player - has died aged 69.
The striker, who rose through the youth ranks at Birmingham City, signed for Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest in 1979 for a then-record £1,150,000 fee.
He was instrumental in helping Clough's side to win the European Cup in Munich later that year, scoring the winning goal against Swedish side Malmo.
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Francis won a second European Cup with Forest the following year - though he was ruled out of the final against Hamburg through injury.
Close friend and former TV presenter Gary Newbon said Francis died of a heart attack at his flat in Spain on Monday.
"On behalf of the family, this has come as a huge shock to everybody," he said in a statement.
"We are all very upset. He was a legendary footballer, but he was also an extremely nice person."
Nottingham Forest paid tribute to Francis, describing him as a "true Forest legend who will never be forgotten".
Jude Bellingham, another Birmingham City youth graduate and Britain's current most expensive footballer after his £115m move to Real Madrid, described Francis as a "trailblazer and an icon of the game".
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"The only thing that could exceed his quality and accolades on the pitch was his class off it," he said in a post on social media, which included pictures of him as a youngster with Francis.
"Thank you for all the guidance and the benchmarks you set. Rest in peace, King Trevor."
England Football said it was "deeply saddened" by the news, while Gary Lineker was among the fellow professionals to pay tribute.
The former Leicester City and England striker turned Match of the Day host, wrote on social media: "Deeply saddened to hear that Trevor Francis has died.
"A wonderful footballer and lovely man. Was a pleasure to work alongside him both on the pitch and on the telly. RIP Trevor."
"All of our thoughts are with his family, friends and former clubs."
Birmingham City Former Players Association described the death of Francis as a "truly sad day for everyone connected with the club".
"For those of us who had the pleasure of seeing him play, we know we will never see the like again," the group said.
Francis, who was born in Plymouth, Devon, in 1954, signed for Birmingham City as a schoolboy.
A skilful and athletic striker, he impressed in the youth ranks at Birmingham, before making his debut with the first team, aged 16.
He scored 118 goals in 220 appearances for Birmingham City over the next nine years, before making a move that would etch his name into football folklore.
In February 1979, Nottingham Forest splashed out £1,150,000 for Francis - twice the previous British record fee at the time.
Clough claimed the club had paid a pound less than the reported £1m transfer fee.
However, Francis confirmed in a 2011 interview that he was the first £1m British player and that Clough was attempting to take the pressure off him by downplaying his fee.
Price tag pressure or not, Francis was an instant hit at Nottingham Forest.
In May 1979, scored the only goal as Nottingham Forest beat Swedish side Malmo in the European Cup, heading home a dipping cross from winger John Robertson.
Injuries and a switch of position to the right wing, instead of his favoured central position, meant Francis struggled to find his best form over the next two years for Forest, netting 28 goals in 70 appearances.
He was sold to Manchester City in 1981 for £1.2m, before spells with Italian sides Sampdoria and Atalanta, before returning to the UK to play for Rangers and Queens Park Rangers, before ending his career with Sheffield Wednesday.
Alongside a successful club career, Francis also represented England 55 times, scoring 12 goals.
He later swapped the pitch for the dugout, becoming manager of Sheffield Wednesday, before returning to his boyhood club, Birmingham City in 1996.
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His final managerial job was at Crystal Palace in 2001, where he spent two years before being sacked in 2003, at which point he moved into punditry.
Francis' wife Helen, who he married in 1974 and had two children with, died of cancer in 2017.
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He wrote in his autobiography that "life without her is so difficult" and later said in an interview: "It's so hard because of the deep love I had for Helen and also because I am useless in the house.
"She did everything for me. I don't mind admitting that.
"All of a sudden I am living by myself and I suppose I never contemplated this would ever happen. It is a tougher challenge than anything I ever faced on a football field."
A book of condolences will be set up at Nottingham Forest's The City Ground from Tuesday, with supporters able to sign the book from 8am to 9pm.
A dedicated area has also been set up in front of the stadium's Peter Taylor Stand for fans to lay tributes.