Gerry Francis (footballer, born 1933)
{{short description|English footballer (1933–2025)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gerry Francis
| image =
| caption =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1933|12|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|5|10|1933|12|6|df=y}}
| death_place = Ontario, Canada
| height =
| position = Right winger
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1957–1961
| clubs1 = Leeds United
| caps1 = 52
| goals1 = 9
| years2 = 1961–1962
| clubs2 = York City
| caps2 = 16
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 1962–1964
| clubs3 = Tonbridge
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
}}
Gerry Francis (6 December 1933 – 10 May 2025) was an English professional footballer who played as a right winger for Leeds United, York City and Tonbridge. He was the first black footballer to play for Leeds.
Career
Francis, who was a shoe-repairer from South Africa, began his footballing career in England as an amateur with Leeds United before being given a professional contract in July 1957. He made his debut in the 1959–60 season, becoming the first black footballer to play for Leeds. He joined a declining side that was relegated at the end of the 1959–60 season and despite a spectacular goal against Everton in October 1959 and a memorable performance in a 3–2 victory at Lincoln City in December 1960, he struggled to make an impression, and was released in October 1961 to join York City where he scored four goals in 16 appearances in the 1961–62 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/players_profiles/F/FrancisG.php|title=Leeds United F.C. History|website=Leeds United F.C. History|accessdate=16 January 2017}}
In three years at Tonbridge, he made 174 appearances and scored 61 goals.
Personal life
In 1962, Francis married Gloria, a Trinidadian-born bookkeeper. Together they had two children, born in 1968 and 1973. In 1971, Francis, his wife and his children migrated to Ontario, Canada, where he died on 10 May 2025, at the age of 91.{{cite web |title=Sad news of passing of an Angels legend |url= https://www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk/first-team-news/gerry-francis-rip/6185 |website=Tonbridge Angels |access-date=12 May 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Rest in peace: Gerry Francis - Leeds United |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/rest-in-peace-gerry-francis |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.leedsunited.com |language=en}}[https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/glenoaks/obituaries/gerald-francis/141711.html Gerald Francis]
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite book|last=Mourant|first=Andrew|title=Leeds United: Player by Player|publisher=Guinness Publishing Ltd|year=1992|page=17|isbn=0-85112-568-9}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Gerry}}
Category:South African emigrants to Canada
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Soccer players from Johannesburg
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:English Football League players
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:York City F.C. players
Category:Tonbridge Angels F.C. players
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