Francis Lee

My dad worshipped him.

And he gave us the money to sign rocky rocastle and that fantastic bit of skill I remember seeing.

He loves the club and that probably clouded his judgement as chairman.
 
Academica said:
He was my favourite player when I started going to city. Think he would get into today's team if only for his penalty taking. The goalkeeper sometimes got an hand to them but the power still took them in. Did he not score 2 hat tricks at Old Trafford one season, only one against the rags I think. Someone will correct me if I am wrong.
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II remember reading years ago, maybe in Blueprint, that in that wonderful season, 1973/74, Frannie was the top scorer at the swamp, but the Lawman had the only City goal there.
 
Before my time as a player but my dad loved him and said he was a brilliant footballer.

His time as Chairman was obviously a disaster, but when he came in, it was the first time I’d felt optimistic about City for years.

The rot had clearly set in before he came on board and fuck knows what would have happened if Swales stayed on because we wouldn’t have had the money to sort the Kippax and we could well have fallen even harder than we did.

Franny clearly made huge mistakes with his managerial appointments but I always had the impression he was doing what he thought was best for the club, whereas I always thought Swales was just in it for his own ego trip.

Really hope Franny’s ok because he did look rather frail the other day and it wasn’t nice to see. Wish him all the best.
 
Vienna_70 said:
II remember reading years ago, maybe in Blueprint, that in that wonderful season, 1973/74, Frannie was the top scorer at the swamp, but the Lawman had the only City goal there.
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Yeah you are right Franny scored an hat trick at the swamp in a league cup replay against Walsall and Law got the only goal in a 1-0 win think it was a back heel, just before all hell broke loose.
 
I never saw Franny play for City live, but did see him play for Derby at Maine Road in only my 2nd ever game aged 7, I was very lucky as it was 4-3 to City and Mike Doyle was sent off,amazing game against a great Derby team, Two great teams tbh. I wrote a couple of letters to Franny when he was chairman, and his replies were really good, proper heartfelt stuff, no way a chairman would right a letter like those these days. Thankfully though, I ignored his advice to lump on City to win the league the year after the relegation with alan ball.
 
I watched the game on German TV and they showed a guy in the stands who I thought looked a little like Franny, but thin and gaunt. If it really was him, fair play to the guy. Still has us in his heart
 
stan bowles said:
If he turned up as overweight as he did for his second season with us then Pep would have nothing to do with him. Turning it on when he felt in the mood would not have cut the mustard for Pep. Great talent but not a team player.
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Different world then. Loads of players abused their bodies. 200k a week might have concentrated his mind.
Technically a very good player.
 
Berts Neck said:
Like many of you who saw the picture of Franny at the weekend, I was shocked. Reading many posts about him, he seems a marmite guy for Blues. Great as a player but not so cherished as a CEO.He never wanted to go to Derby.He scored almost a goal every other game for City. As far as his time as CEO, I actually take my hat off to him for trying to resolve the mess Swales created.I genuinely believe he thought he could bring the good times back.He tried, and I believe he loves the club. Yes he made mistakes especially by appointing Ball. Well the rags signed Mourinho.Shit happens.The hardest thing for me to comprehend is his falling out with the KING, and I guess sitting in the Etihad seeing those pictures of the KING in the stadium probably saddened him. He looked deflated.He was part of the greatest City triumvirate,Bell,Lee and Buzzer. Well I for one will always cherish Franny. Will always support any City player, but I feel he deserves more credit than he seems to get on this forum. Franny Lee Won Pen.
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The fall out was very sad. Met Franny a couple of times. A truly world class player. When he took over from Swales the club was a shambles - especially the finances. Swales had signed players our coaches didn't want at inflated prices - Steve Daley etc. We had no real commercial operation and Franny started sorting that out, albeit the new Kippax was more expensive than expected. He initiated us taking over the stadium - deal of the century. Yes, appointing Alan Ball was a mistake and cost us. What chairman hasn't hired the wrong coach ? As a player, after training he was going round in his lorry collecting and reprocessing waste paper. Way ahead of his time there.
 
Franny was about to renew his contract at City and during his wage negotiations some of the numpties in the boardroom said if he wants an increase he can get it by being paid by goals scored. Off to Derby then!!!!!
 
I'll admit I literally didn't recognise him. Not being a bit tubby doesn't suit him. There are people like that. My father was one. When he lost all his weight due to an extended illness he looked dreadful. Then put it all back on again and he looked like who he was.
Buzzer's aged really well, I think. He's put weight on but it's still Buzzer.
 
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