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Trevor Francis
- Thread starter Blue Streak
- Start date
lancs blue
Well-Known Member
Another victim of Swales's unfulfilled promises. It always made me laugh (bitterly!) when the media said we couldn't afford his wages seeing as the average attendance slumped by 8,000 the season after he left and we got relegated. It strikes me we couldn't afford to be without him!
what really pissed me off was that city were advertising season tickets on the radio, with trevor telling city fans to renew and what a season we are all going to have, about the same time he was sold to sampdoria? that was when i became totally disillusioned with peter swales, when trevor signed from forest he was expecting a £1000 a week, then when he turned up he was offered £2000 a week, he said he was in complete shock at what was offered typical city? he was a fantastic player who could read a game better than most? but his comments on tv about city leave a david platt type taste in my mouth, very anti city, he should remember city made him a very rich man in the days of redundancies?
Dyed Petya
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 2 May 2007
- Messages
- 1,490
Yes, I remember TF being used to advertise the new season tickets then being sold not long before the start of the season. That was the first thing that really turned me against Swales.
I was 12 when Francis arrived and idolised him for that season. Went without any dinner at school so I could spend the quid I'd saved opening an account at the Cheshire Building Society, which had him present on their first day of business when they opened up in Chorlton. Anyone who opened an account could meet him and have their picture taken with him, so I did. Never put any more money in the account and never took it out either!
In answer to the question how good was he - absolutely superb. Between his day and the current spending spree by the Sheikh, we never had anyone as good as him for my money, and I'd include Kinkladze and Anelka in that.
He was never especially complimentary when commentating on us, true, but he genuinely appreciated the City fans and always thought we were a club with great potential who could achieve big things with the right backing. I know for a fact that he applied for the job at Maine Road twice when he was managing his 'first love' Brum because he thought we were a bigger club.
Not that I'm sorry we didn't get him, as I don't think he was that good a manager. But I think he disliked the people running City when he was here, not the club itself.
Ah, so great memories here, in particular.
The sending off in the Everton game came after a couple of minutes, I think. Neville Southall, before he became especially highly rated and was just a new signing from Bury, was in goal for them IIRC. The whole ground went mad, though I think Bond said afterwards that the red card was justified. It certainly made the atmosphere pretty tasty, and there were a couple of goals very early on too, both spectacular strikes from distance. Adrian Heath put them in front, and Kevin Bond levelled it up straight away.
The Wolves goal was probably in the top three I remember at MR. It was a Christmas game, a couple of days after we'd won at Liverpool for the first time since the fifties. Wolves went down that season and we were expected to beat them easily but it was 1-1 with not long left (a couple of minutes, maybe - can't remember for sure).
We were in the North Stand, and it happened at the far end from us. Corrigan, at our end, made a long clearance, Reeves flicked it on and Francis turned as the ball came to him and hit it first time on the half volley in one movement. Went into the net like a rocket. That win did take us top, albeit that other teams had games in hand that would have let them overtake us had they won them. Another false dawn!
I was 12 when Francis arrived and idolised him for that season. Went without any dinner at school so I could spend the quid I'd saved opening an account at the Cheshire Building Society, which had him present on their first day of business when they opened up in Chorlton. Anyone who opened an account could meet him and have their picture taken with him, so I did. Never put any more money in the account and never took it out either!
In answer to the question how good was he - absolutely superb. Between his day and the current spending spree by the Sheikh, we never had anyone as good as him for my money, and I'd include Kinkladze and Anelka in that.
He was never especially complimentary when commentating on us, true, but he genuinely appreciated the City fans and always thought we were a club with great potential who could achieve big things with the right backing. I know for a fact that he applied for the job at Maine Road twice when he was managing his 'first love' Brum because he thought we were a bigger club.
Not that I'm sorry we didn't get him, as I don't think he was that good a manager. But I think he disliked the people running City when he was here, not the club itself.
tolmie's hairdoo said:I grew up across the road from Maine Road and one of my earliest memories, must have only been about six.
He stood at the top of the steps with John Bond holding his arms aloft and must have been a couple of thousand blues going mental?
I used to have a Trevor Francis orange flyaway football, even then, I knew he must have been someone special.
Cried my eyes out one windy day when I was kicking it down Lloyd Street South and the wind blew it across the road and watched it roll for what seemed like miles.
All I can really remember of him in terms of playing for City.
I think I recall him headbutting someone at Maine Road and getting sent-off, my dad going mental.
The other time, again, my memory as an young kid might not be right. It was around Christmas time, we were playing Wolves and my dad and me started to walk to the back of the Main Stand with about a minute to go.
We turned to see the ball dropping in from outside the area and the place just went mental.
I was only a nipper but everyone was hugging me and my old man telling us it was a wonder goal from Francis. We went top that day?
It is sketchy memories like these which made me a blue.
Ah, so great memories here, in particular.
The sending off in the Everton game came after a couple of minutes, I think. Neville Southall, before he became especially highly rated and was just a new signing from Bury, was in goal for them IIRC. The whole ground went mad, though I think Bond said afterwards that the red card was justified. It certainly made the atmosphere pretty tasty, and there were a couple of goals very early on too, both spectacular strikes from distance. Adrian Heath put them in front, and Kevin Bond levelled it up straight away.
The Wolves goal was probably in the top three I remember at MR. It was a Christmas game, a couple of days after we'd won at Liverpool for the first time since the fifties. Wolves went down that season and we were expected to beat them easily but it was 1-1 with not long left (a couple of minutes, maybe - can't remember for sure).
We were in the North Stand, and it happened at the far end from us. Corrigan, at our end, made a long clearance, Reeves flicked it on and Francis turned as the ball came to him and hit it first time on the half volley in one movement. Went into the net like a rocket. That win did take us top, albeit that other teams had games in hand that would have let them overtake us had they won them. Another false dawn!
piffy on a rock bun
Well-Known Member
One of the best players I have seen in our shirt, me & a mate went to his first game at stoke, standing behind the goal, going mental when we scored, great days,
I always remember thousands of blues singing Birtles 0 francis 2 to that row the boat ashore tune? I think Gary Birtles had played quite a few games for the rags & not scored & francis had played 1 game & scored 2,
Swales said we could not afford to keep him but as a previous post says the gates dropped by around 6000 after he had gone.
I always remember thousands of blues singing Birtles 0 francis 2 to that row the boat ashore tune? I think Gary Birtles had played quite a few games for the rags & not scored & francis had played 1 game & scored 2,
Swales said we could not afford to keep him but as a previous post says the gates dropped by around 6000 after he had gone.
MCFCinUSA
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- Joined
- 14 Dec 2008
- Messages
- 5,299
- Team supported
- City since 1977
other than his groin he was exceptional, but I couldn't draw comparisons with any of our other players, my favourites over those years (who I've seen play - Kinky most sadly being absent from all my times at Maine Road) would include Kidd, Tueart and Stewart.
Bell being crocked before I started watching City, although I was present for his comeback. Bobby Mac, Gerry Gow were class back then too, and Nicky Reid was also irrepressible.
Bell being crocked before I started watching City, although I was present for his comeback. Bobby Mac, Gerry Gow were class back then too, and Nicky Reid was also irrepressible.
spacecadet
Well-Known Member
Fantastic footballer-
MIKEYP
Well-Known Member
Quite possibly the most boring pundit ever!
Quite possibly one of the best players ever to pull a blue shirt on.
Quite possibly one of the best players ever to pull a blue shirt on.
simonk
Well-Known Member
top class, quick mind and loads of pace. He did used to get lumps kicked out of him every week. Which is why he butted the everton captain - billy something? and got sent off