Francis Lee (footballer)

As a 16-year-old amateur footballer, Lee made his debut for Bolton Wanderers in November 1960 against Manchester City at Burnden Park.{{Cite web |date=2 October 2023 |title=Francis Lee {{!}} 1944–2023 |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/francis-lee-1944-2023 |access-date=3 October 2023 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C.}} Playing in attack alongside club legend Nat Lofthouse, then 35-years old, both scored in a 3–1 win. He signed professionally in May 1961 and was Bolton's top scorer in the 1962–63 season in the First Division. The following season, Bolton were relegated to the Second Division and their second tier campaign, in the 1964–65 season, was Lee's most prolific for the club, scoring 23 league goals. He scored in seven consecutive games at the start of the 1967–68 season and in September 1967, he was transferred to Manchester City, having scored 106 goals in 210 appearances for Bolton.

Manchester City manager Joe Mercer signed him for a club record transfer fee of £60,000 in 1967.{{cite book |last=James |first=Gary |title=Manchester City – The Complete Record |publisher=Breedon |location=Derby |year=2006|isbn=1-85983-512-0}}, p178 Mercer described the purchase of Lee for City as "the final piece of the puzzle".{{cite web | last=Iles | first=Marc | title=Francis Lee | work=The Bolton News | date=2 October 2023 | url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/23829169.francis-lee-ex-bolton-man-city-derby-star-passes-away-79/ | access-date=3 October 2023}} He made his Manchester City debut in a 2–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Maine Road, and scored his first goal for City the following week at Fulham.{{Cite web |title=Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers |url=https://www.statcity.co.uk/Match/2739/Wolverhampton-Wanderers-14-10-1967 |access-date=2 October 2023 |publisher=StatCity}}{{Cite web |title=Fulham v Manchester City 1967–68 |url=https://www.citytilidie.com/latest/fulham-away-196768/ |access-date=2 October 2023 |publisher=City Til I Die}} In his first season at the club, he scored 16 League goals in 31 appearances, playing a crucial role in City's push for the league title; Mercer described him as "the final piece of the jigsaw". The title was decided on the final day of the season, City requiring a win at Newcastle United. City won the match 4–3, with Lee scoring one of the goals, and were crowned champions.{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Eric |date=14 May 2012 |title=From the Vault: Manchester City's 1968 league title triumph |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/14/guardian-report-manchester-city-1968 |access-date=2 October 2023 |work=The Guardian}} The following season, Lee was part of the Manchester City team that won the 1969 FA Cup.{{cite web |title=Francis Lee National Football Museum Hall Of Fame profile |publisher=National Football Museum |date=29 April 2016 |url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/francis-lee/ |access-date=2 October 2023}}

In the 1969–70 season, Lee was City's top scorer, an achievement he would subsequently match in each of the next four seasons. His tally that season included one of the most important goals of his career, a penalty in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup.

In the 1971–72 season, Lee set a British record for the number of penalties scored in a season, with 15 of his 35 goals scored from the penalty spot – seven of the penalties resulted from fouls on Lee, earning him the nickname "Lee 1 (Pen)".{{Cite web |title=Franny Lee |url=https://www.mancity.com/mancitylegends/lee-franny |access-date=2 October 2023 |publisher=Manchester City F.C.}} Some journalists, holding the opinion that Lee gained a number of penalties by diving, used the name "Lee Won Pen" instead.{{cite news | title= Are Palace set for a penalties record?|work=The Guardian| url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/theknowledge/story/0,13854,1428543,00.html| access-date=15 April 2007 | location=London | first=Mike | last=Adamson | date=2 March 2005}} Lee's name is often cited in debates about diving in football; referees' chief Keith Hackett described him as a player who "had a reputation of falling down easily".{{cite news |title= Duff works on happy landings|work=The Times|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article382822.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604094649/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article382822.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2010 |access-date=15 April 2007 |location=London |first1=Gary |last1=Jacob |first2=Russell |last2=Kempson |date=19 April 2005}}

Lee also held the record for the most goals in Manchester derbies, scoring ten goals in all against Manchester United, a tally that equalled Joe Hayes' record.{{cite book |title=Manchester City F.C. Official Handbook 1997–98 |publisher=Polar |year=1997 |editor-last=Baskcomb |editor-first=Julian |location=Leicester}} This record was later beaten by Wayne Rooney, who scored his 11th goal in the fixture on 22 September 2013.{{Cite web |date=2 October 2023 |title=Francis Lee hailed one of Man City's 'all-time greats' after his death, aged 79 |url=https://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/sport/national/23828580.francis-lee-hailed-one-man-citys-all-time-greats-death-aged-79/ |access-date=2 October 2023 |work=Bracknell News}}

Lee left Manchester City in 1974, joining Derby County. For the second time in his career, Lee joined a team viewed as contenders for that season's league title. He was upset at Manchester City's decision to sell him and marked his first match against his former club by scoring the winning goal for Derby.{{Citation |title=Francis Lee - Just look at his face Man City v Derby 1974 | date=24 April 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oydMFd40p7w |access-date=2023-10-21 |language=en}}{{cite book |last=Clayton |first=David |title=Everything under the blue moon: the complete book of Manchester City FC – and more! |publisher=Mainstream publishing |location=Edinburgh |year=2002|isbn=1-84018-687-9}} Lee scored twelve league goals that season, Derby winning their second league title and Lee the second championship medal of his career. On 1 November 1975, Lee had a confrontation with Leeds United defender Norman Hunter, which gained a level of infamy after it was screened on Match of the Day. In the first half of the game, the referee adjudged that Hunter had fouled Lee in the Leeds penalty area, and awarded Derby a penalty. Charlie George, and not Lee, took the penalty kick, and scored. In the second half, Lee and Hunter were seen to be exchanging punches in an off-the-ball incident. The referee stopped the game and took both players' names, but it was not immediately clear if he had sent off either or both of them. However, as the two men walked away they began fighting again. After intervention by both sets of players, Hunter left the pitch and Lee was restrained and ushered off the field by a club official. Lee suffered a cut lip following the fight which required four stitches and was subsequently banned for four weeks.{{Cite web |date=2 October 2023 |title=Francis Lee, striker for Manchester City, Derby County and England who became a successful businessman – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/10/02/francis-lee-striker-manchester-city-derby-football-england/ |access-date=2 October 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} In 2003, the incident was named by The Observer as sport's most spectacular dismissal.

Lee played two seasons at Derby, making 80 appearances and scoring 30 goals. On 24 April 1976, the final day of the 1975–76 season, he played his last game as a professional footballer in a 6–2 win at against Ipswich Town, in which he scored two goals.{{cite web | title=Francis Lee: 1944-2023 | publisher=Derby County F.C. | date=2 October 2023 | url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2023/10/francis-lee-1944-2023 | access-date=3 October 2023}}{{cite web | title=Ipswich Town v Derby County, 24 April 1976 | website=11v11.com | date=24 April 1976 | url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/ipswich-town-v-derby-county-24-april-1976-83469/ | access-date=3 October 2023}}

File:JackCharlton1969.jpg (left) and Jack Charlton (right) at Schiphol Airport, 1969]]

Lee made his debut for England, aged 24 on 11 December 1968 in a friendly game against Bulgaria at Wembley Stadium. His first goal came in his next game, a 5–0 win, again in a friendly, against France on 12 March 1969.{{cite web | title=Franny Lee | website=englandfootballonline.com | date=18 August 2020 | url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersL/BioLeeFH.html | access-date=2 October 2023}} The same year, Lee played on a "Rest of the UK" team in a match against Wales to mark the investiture of the Prince of Wales. Lee played the first half of the match and scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 33rd minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48201477|title=When Wales faced George Best, Billy Bremner and Jack Charlton for Rest of the UK|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 July 2019|access-date=15 March 2024}}

Lee represented England at the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico and was the first English player ever to receive a card in a World Cup, for kicking Brazil's goalkeeper, Félix.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Luke |date=2 October 2023 |title=Manchester City legend Francis Lee dies aged 79 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/francis-lee-death-cause-franny-man-city-b2422484.html |access-date=2 October 2023 |work=The Independent}}{{cite web | last=Macpherson | first=Hamish | title=Back in the sporting day: Brazil 1–0 England, 1970 | work=The Herald | date=6 June 2020 | url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18500807.back-sporting-day-brazil-1-0-england-1970/ | access-date=2 October 2023}} He played in the World Cup games against Romania, Brazil as well as the game in which England were eliminated, a 3–2 defeat by West Germany at the Estadio de Guanajuato in León.

File:Franny Lee (cropped).jpg

After his playing career, Lee moved into business. His toilet roll manufacturing business FH Lee Ltd once employed Peter Kay, later a famous comedian, who mentions his time there in his autobiography, The Sound of Laughter.{{Cite web |last=Thorp |first=Liam |date=16 February 2015 |title=Former Bolton Wanderers star Francis 'Franny' Lee on business and the beautiful game |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/11796150.former-bolton-wanderers-star-francis-franny-lee-on-business-and-the-beautiful-game/ |access-date=2 October 2023 |work=The Bolton News}}{{Cite web |date=2 October 2023 |title=Francis Lee: Former England, Manchester City, Derby County and Bolton striker dies aged 79 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/32461/12975125/francis-lee-former-england-manchester-city-derby-county-and-bolton-striker-dies-aged-79 |access-date=2 October 2023 |publisher=Sky Sports}}

In 1994, Lee became chairman of Manchester City, ousting Peter Swales from the position by purchasing £3 million of shares at a price of £13.35 per share.{{cite web| title=After all that... This| work=The Guardian| url=http://www.uit.no/mancity/mcivta/demise.html| access-date=15 April 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913164904/http://www.uit.no/mancity/mcivta/demise.html| archive-date=13 September 2012}} Lee was welcomed as a hero by City's supporters, who had formed a movement named Forward With Franny backing his attempt to gain control of the club.{{cite news | title= Maine line to nowhere for Lee|work=The Independent| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-maine-line-to-nowhere-for-lee-1150844.html | access-date=7 September 2013| location=London| first=Guy| last=Hodgson| date=17 March 1998}} Upon becoming chairman, Lee made a series of extravagant claims about his plans for the club, announcing that "This will be the happiest club in the land. The players will be the best paid and we'll drink plenty of champagne, celebrate and sing until we're hoarse". In 1995, he appointed his friend Alan Ball as manager, but the appointment proved unsuccessful and the club were relegated.{{cite web | last=Bailey | first=Ryan | title=All-Time Low: How Man City fell into England's third tier 20 years ago | work=The Athletic | date=11 October 2018 | url=https://theathletic.com/582166/2018/10/10/all-time-low-how-man-city-fell-into-englands-third-tier-20-years-ago/ | access-date=2 October 2023}} Lee stepped down in 1998, with the club on the brink of relegation to the third tier of English football, a fate that Lee had dismissed at the previous annual general meeting by saying that he would "jump off the Kippax" if the club were relegated.{{cite news | title= Fans fear Keegan's reign may spell glory or bust|work=The Independent| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1751157.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130907093840/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1751157.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 September 2013 |first=David |last=Conn |authorlink= David Conn | access-date=7 September 2013}} He was succeeded by David Bernstein. Lee retained a shareholding after leaving the board of directors but later sold all his shares to Thaksin Shinawatra in 2007.{{cite web | last=Flood | first=George | title=Man City icon Francis Lee dies aged 79 after long cancer battle | work=Evening Standard | date=2 October 2023 | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/francis-lee-dead-man-city-79-cancer-b1110844.html | access-date=2 October 2023}}

In addition to his business ventures, Lee also had a career as a racehorse trainer. Notable horses trained by Lee include Sir Harry Hardman,{{cite web| title=Sir Harry Hardman| work=Racing Post| url=http://www.racingpost.co.uk/darley/darley_horse_form.sd?horse_id=59505e| access-date=14 April 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200842/http://www.racingpost.co.uk/darley/darley_horse_form.sd?horse_id=59505e| archive-date=27 September 2007}} Allwight Then{{cite web| title=Ribble Maiden Stakes| work=Racing Post| url=http://www.racingpost.co.uk/darley/darley_result.sd?race_id=114409| access-date=14 April 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200735/http://www.racingpost.co.uk/darley/darley_result.sd?race_id=114409| archive-date=27 September 2007}} and Young Jason.{{cite web| title='encourage Young' Selling Handicap| work=Racing Post| url=http://www.racingpost.co.uk/darley/darley_horse_form.sd?horse_id=59505| access-date=14 April 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200720/http://www.racingpost.co.uk/darley/darley_horse_form.sd?horse_id=59505| archive-date=27 September 2007}} Lee gave the trade up in 1996 to pursue his business commitments. In a training career which ran from 1984 to 1996, he trained the winners of 181 races in Britain and Ireland. Jockey Willie Carson said ""He was quite a good trainer and had a proper team of horses at one point."{{cite web |last=Stevens |first=James |title=Tributes paid to trainer and Manchester City star Francis Lee after death aged 79 |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/tributes-paid-to-trainer-and-manchester-city-star-francis-lee-after-death-aged-79-aZpPX3b7RN1r/ |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002190314/https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/tributes-paid-to-trainer-and-manchester-city-star-francis-lee-after-death-aged-79-aZpPX3b7RN1r/ |archive-date=2 October 2023 |date=2 October 2023}}

Before becoming a professional footballer Lee showed promise at cricket, representing the Horwich and Westhoughton Schools FA Team in 1958.{{cite book |last=Beevers |first=Ken |title=Images of England: Westhoughton|publisher=NPI Media |year=1999|isbn=978-0-7524-1606-9}} When his football career came to an end, he briefly returned to cricket, playing for Westhoughton's first XI in 1977 as a medium-fast bowler and middle to lower order batsman.{{cite web| title=Westhoughton Cricket Club 150th Anniversary (1856 -2006)| work=Westhoughton CC| url=http://www.westhoughtoncricketclub.co.uk/westhoughtoncc/archive.html| access-date=14 April 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008153853/http://www.westhoughtoncricketclub.co.uk/westhoughtoncc/archive.html| archive-date=8 October 2007}}

Lee was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to football and charity.{{London Gazette|issue=61450 |supp=y|page=N9|date=30 December 2015}}

On 2 October 2023, Lee died after a long illness with cancer. He was 79.{{cite news |title=Francis Lee: Manchester City great dies aged 79 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66987328 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 October 2023 |access-date=2 October 2023 }}{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Pollard |title=Francis Lee: 1944–2023 |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/francis-lee-passing-63831855 |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |date=2 October 2023 |access-date=2 October 2023 }}

:Source:{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Francis Lee (Player) |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/19745/Francis_Lee.html |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=www.national-football-teams.com |language=en}}

:Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lee goal.

Manchester City

• Football League First Division: 1967–68
• FA Cup: 1968–69
• Football League Cup: 1969–70
• FA Charity Shield: 1968, 1972
• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1969–70

Derby County

• Football League First Division: 1974–75
• FA Charity Shield: 1975{{cite web | title=Snapshot In Time: Derby Lift The FA Charity Shield | publisher=Derby County F.C.| date=7 April 2020 | url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2020/04/snapshot-in-time-derby-lift-the-fa-charity-shield | access-date=2 October 2023}}

Individual

• Rothmans Golden Boots Awards: 1971, 1972{{cite web|url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/1969-70-british-team-of-the-season.1794502/ |website=BigSoccer |date=31 July 2011 |title=1969-1970 British Team of the Season |access-date=17 April 2024 }}
• Football League First Division Golden boot: 1971–72{{cite book | last1=Metcalf | first1=M. | last2=Matthews | first2=T. | title=The Golden Boot: Football's Top Scorers | publisher=Amberley Publishing | year=2012 | isbn=978-1-4456-1118-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J1-oAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT345 | access-date=2 October 2023 | page=345}}
• Manchester City Player of the Year: 1969–70{{cite web|url=https://www.myfootballfacts.com/premier-league/premier-league-clubs-2/manchester_city_player_of_the_year/|title=Manchester City FC Player of the Year 1967-2022|work=My Football Facts |access-date=15 March 2024}}
• English Football Hall of Fame
• 1969 Ballon d'Or: 13th{{cite web | title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1969 | publisher=RSSSF – The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | date=23 December 1969 | url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy69.html | access-date=2 October 2023}}
• Most penalties scored in First Division: 1972
• Manchester City top goalscorer: 1968–69, 1969–70 (shared), 1970–71 (shared), 1971–72, 1973–74
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire

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• {{Englandstats}}

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Category:1944 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:Sportspeople from Westhoughton

Category:Footballers from Greater Manchester

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