Trevor Francis

Lore & Background

Trevor John Francis was born on 19 April 1954 in Plymouth, Devon. His father, Roy, was a shift foreman with the local gas board and played football semi-professionally, his mother, Phyllis, did part-time sewing and tailoring, and he had two younger siblings. Francis was educated at Pennycross primary school and Plymouth's Public Secondary School for Boys. As a schoolboy, he was a prolific goalscorer; at 14, he attended a Football Association course at the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey, and he joined Birmingham City as a 15-year-old school-leaver.

He made his debut for Birmingham City's first team in 1970, aged just 16. Before his 17th birthday, he scored four goals in a match against Bolton Wanderers. He ended his first season with 15 goals from just 22 games. On 30 October 1976, he scored one of Birmingham's most famous goals, when he turned away from the touchline and cut inside two Queens Park Rangers defenders, constantly being forced backwards, before suddenly unleashing a 25 yard shot.

Francis negotiated a loan from Birmingham in 1978 to play for the Detroit Express in the North American Soccer League (NASL), where he scored 22 goals in 19 league matches and was named in the NASL first XI alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia before returning home to the Midlands. Nottingham Forest, the reigning First Division champions and League Cup holders managed by Brian Clough, put in a bid for Francis which totalled just over £1 million.

No player had ever been sold between English clubs for a seven-figure fee before (the erstwhile record was less than half), and the deal was sealed, with Francis famously being introduced to the media by a manager impatient to play squash; Clough was in his red gym kit and carrying a racquet as he addressed the press conference. While recognised as the first British million-pound player, the actual transfer fee for the player was £1,150,000, including 15% commission to the Football League.

Clough wrote in his autobiography that the fee was £999,999, as he wanted to ensure the million-pound milestone did not go to the player's head; although Francis says that was a tongue-in-cheek remark by Clough.

Did You Know?

• Francis scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa in September 1989 after returning from a knee injury.
• He was the first British £1 million player, though the actual fee including commission was £1,150,000.

The Million-Pound Breakthrough

Trevor Francis made history in 1979 when he became Britain's first-ever million-pound player, transferring from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest for a fee of £1,150,000 including commission. Manager Brian Clough famously introduced him while dressed in red gym kit and carrying a squash racquet. While Clough later claimed the fee was deliberately set at £999,999 to prevent the player's ego from swelling, Francis dismissed this as a joke. The transfer proved vital as Francis scored the winning header against Malmö in the 1979 European Cup final, helping Forest retain their title the following year despite missing the semi-finals due to eligibility rules.

A Career Defined by Injury and Movement

Francis's career was frequently interrupted by injuries. An Achilles tendon injury cost him the 1980 League Cup Final and Euro 1980. He moved to Manchester City in September 1981 for £1.2 million after a six-month layoff, but recurring issues limited him to 12 goals in 26 games. Financial troubles at City led to his sale to Sampdoria for £700,000, where he won the 1984–85 Coppa Italia with 9 goals in 11 games. He later played for Atalanta, Rangers, and Queens Park Rangers, where he served as player-manager before injuries ended his playing days.

International Service and Global Reach

Francis earned 52 caps for England between 1976 and 1986, scoring 12 goals. He played at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, scoring against Czechoslovakia and Kuwait. His global reach extended to the North American Soccer League (NASL), where he scored 36 goals in 33 regular-season matches for Detroit Express across two summers, earning a spot on the NASL First XI alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia.

Transition to Management

From 1988 to 2003, Francis managed Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, and Crystal Palace. At QPR, he took over as player-manager in December 1988 but was replaced by Don Howe in November 1989 after a knee injury ended his playing season. His tenure included controversial moments, such as fining Martin Allen two weeks' wages for missing team preparations to witness his son's birth.