Trevor Francis pictured during the 4-1 win over Hungary at Wembley.
(Part 1) 1977 Jan 1979.
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Unlike many of his peers of the barren 1970s period for the England team, Trevor Francis was one of those mercurial, maverick talents that was successfully developed into an all-round team presence which purveyed maximum benefit to the team's cause. Though very much an individual - he could pass, sprint, finish and take on defenders with quick feet and quicker brain - Francis was quickly turned into the team player his dominance of an otherwise unremarkable Birmingham City side would never let him be. But with England, he was one of a number of fine youngsters brought into the team on a frequent basis to announce the arrival of a new generation of stars after the nation had spent the whole decade failing. Francis could have been in the England team on form by the time he was 18, in all honesty, but precocious gifts like his were not emblazoned across the media in the way they would later be, and his profile stayed relatively low until a stunning season with Birmingham in 1977 persuaded Don Revie, a known admirer from afar, to pitch him in for a friendly with Holland at Wembley. The Dutch played England off the park and won 2-0 but Francis put in a cool, level-headed and occasionally deft debut, emphasising his immaculate touch on the ball and eye for both a pass and a shot. He made his competitive debut in only his second appearance as England destroyed Luxembourg 5-0 at Wembley in a qualifier for the 1978 World Cup, with Trevor chipping in with the second goal of the night. The rest of the year saw Francis settle into life as an international with five more appearances, including run-outs during the summer tour of South America which was overshadowed by Revie's shock resignation, and roles in England's last two qualifiers, although no further goals came his way and the two victories were not ultimately enough to take England to the finals. Ron Greenwood took on the job and Francis settled down in the knowledge that he was an early favourite of the new coach. He played in five of the opening six internationals of 1978, scoring his second goal for his country in a 4-1 friendly win over Hungary at Wembley (see photo above, Steve Coppell giving Trevor a well deserved pat on the head), prior to the opening qualifiers for the 1980 European Championships. Injury ruled him out these two crucial games - a draw with the Irish following an insane 4-3 win in Denmark - and by the time Francis played for England again he had created history. (Matthew Rudd).
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(Part 2) Feb 1979 - June 1980.
| The move to Nottingham Forest in English football's first £1million deal in February 1979 made the name of Trevor Francis all over the world eventually, and instantly in Europe. Brian Clough's idiosyncratic ways meant that this hugely expensive and gifted player was in and out of the team on arrival and therefore he was not given another England opportunity as the domestic season wore on. Involvement in the European Cup final - in which Francis scored the only goal - ruled him out of the 1979 Home Internationals - and only when a crucial qualifier against Bulgaria for the European Championships came along in June did Trevor earn a recall to the team, coming on as a sub for Bob Latchford as England cantered to a 3-0 win in Sofia. Firmly back in the groove thereafter, Francis played England's two summer friendlies and then returned for another qualifier in October after an injury concern had curtailed his start to the new season, scoring twice in a 5-1 humbling of Northern Ireland at Wembley, which inched England closer to the finals in Italy. A host of young, enthusiastic and consistent new talents - Francis, Steve Coppell, Peter Barnes, Tony Woodcock - were giving England great hope for the new decade about to arrive, and the emergence of at least an equal to Francis in terms of pure skill, Glenn Hoddle, threw aside Bulgaria again in the last game of the 1970s, leaving England one victory from qualification. This arrived with a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland and the European Championships seemingly beckoned for Trevor. Forest progressed in Europe again but Francis began to struggle with both fitness and favour at club level, curtailing his international chances. He played just one run-up game in 1980 - scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win over Spain, with club partner Woodcock getting the other. Further glory at either level eluded him as he missed both the European Cup retention and the European Championship finals through injury, although Woodcock and fellow Forest centre forward Garry Birtles both made Greenwood's squad. (Matthew Rudd) |
Photograph George Herringshaw. ©
(Part 3) July 1980 -June 1982.
| The injury heartbreak for Trevor Francis was compounded by the knowledge that despite the fee and the skill, he was never going to be Clough's favourite, and he was fortunate that Greenwood rated him highly enough to maintain his contention for his country when games and consistency with Forest never really re-emerged. One day short of a year after his 18th cap, Francis won his 19th - and against the same opposition too, Spain - as England succumbed 2-1 in a Wembley friendly. England had won two and lost one of their qualifiers for the 1982 World Cup by this stage and Francis was called up for the next one, a 0-0 draw against Romania at Wembley which was as featureless as the scoreline suggested. Francis was in and out of the side for the rest of the calendar year, coming on as a sub in a 1-0 defeat by Scotland in the Home Internationals and starting the qualifier in Switzerland which England lost 2-1. Trevor played poorly and was replaced by Terry McDermott who promptly scored England's goal. His other start during the qualification campaign was a penultimate 2-1 defeat in Norway, and England scraped through the group thanks to a 1-0 win over Hungary at Wembley which did not feature Francis. Essentially, England qualified without him. Clearly a talent like that of Trevor needed a fresh start, and he got it when Forest got their £1million back and sold him to Manchester City. Francis returned to club form as a consequence, scoring freely in City's remaining games of the season and Greenwood kept his faith by installing him in the team for the opening brace of Home Internationals in 1982. Trevor started both games and earned standing ovations by the time Greenwood threw on sub Cyrille Regis as his late replacement on both occasions, earning the bonus of the only goal in a well-fought 1-0 win over Wales. Francis came on as a sub for Paul Mariner in the last game against the Scots, which England also won 1-0, and earned a 27th cap in the final warm-up game against Finland, prior to Greenwood confirming his 22 to travel to Spain for England's first World Cup in a dozen years. Francis, though not assured of a place in the team, was selected, and to his further joy, Greenwood started the tournament with him in the side, playing as the withdrawn striker behind target man Mariner. England won 3-1 against France (see photo above, Trevor celebrating with Ray Wilkins and Steve Coppell after Bryan Robson (left of photo) had headed England ahead after just 27 seconds) and then Trevor scored in the remaining two group matches as England beat Czechoslovakia 2-0 and the Kuwaitis by the odd goal. Francis stayed in the team for the second group phase which saw England go out after two goalless draws, but emerged from the tournament, finally, as an international proven on the world stage. Sampdoria immediately bought him, and the move to Italy rejuvenated his outlook on club football too. (Matthew Rudd) |
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Trevor Francis pictured on 1st June 1983 in the game against Scotland. The other player is
Gordon Stachan. Photograph George Herringshaw. ©
(Part 4) July 1982 - 1986.
| New England coach Bobby Robson had lots of time for Trevor as a player, just as Greenwood had, and Francis scored both goals in Robson's first game in charge, though Denmark also got two as England drew their opening qualifier for the 1984 European Championships in Copenhagen. Francis then suffered an injury which kept him out of the next two qualifiers, which England still won with ease, and returned in early 1983 for the visit of Greece to Wembley. The goalless draw was a shocker, but the Hungarians felt the brunt of England's disappointment a month later and Trevor scored the opener in a 2-0 win. Home Championship appearances against Northern Ireland and Scotland followed (the photo above shows Trevor battling for possession with Gordon Strachan during the 2-0 win against the Scots) and prior to the crucial visit of the Danes in September, Francis featured as one of the more experienced recruits on an otherwise green touring party which went on a summer jaunt to Australia. He played in all three games against the Australians, scoring the England goal - his 12th and what would prove to be his last - in his 40th appearance as England stuttered to a 1-1 draw against the hosts prior to the flight home. The Danes arrived for the real business and won 1-0, leaving Trevor with European Championship sadness for the second consecutive tournament. The rest of his England career was largely uneventful, as it was believed unlikely that Francis would be a part of the 1986 World Cup squad at the age of 32, assuming England got there. He started two of the qualifiers and came on as a sub in two more, but it seemed inevitable that if a new creator behind a main striker could be found then Robson would thank Trevor for his time and send him on his way. Francis was in the touring party for the summer trip to Mexico in 1985, earning his 50th cap in the process, but the emergence early in 1986 of Peter Beardsley seemed to dispense with his slim chances of making the World Cup squad after England's successful and relatively straightforward qualification. Francis earned his 52nd and final cap in a 2-1 win over Scotland in the inaugural Rous Cup tournament before bowing out. History says that he only occasionally fulfilled his potential as an England player, but when he did, it was on the biggest stage and earned him the many admirers his talent deserved. (Matthew Rudd). |