Francis Lee

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Francis Lee (footballer) (1944–2023), English professional footballer.

In Their Own Story

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, the referee adjudged that Hunter had fouled Lee in the Leeds penalty area, and awarded Derby a penalty. Charlie George, not Lee, took the penalty and scored. In the second half, Lee and Hunter were seen 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. 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. In 2003, the incident was named by The Observer as sport's most spectacular dismissal.

Reader's Guide

See also: Frank Lee (disambiguation), Frances Lee (1906–2000), American actress, Francis Leigh (disambiguation).

Did You Know?

• Francis Lee (director), English actor and film director of God's Own Country
• Francis Lee (physician) (1661–1719), English writer known for his connection with the Philadelphians
• Blair Lee I (Francis Preston Blair Lee, 1857–1944), Democratic member of the United States Senate
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• Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734–1797), signer of the United States Declaration of Independence

Early Career and Bolton Beginnings

As a 16-year-old amateur footballer, Lee made his debut for Bolton Wanderers in November 1960 against Manchester City at Burnden Park. 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 Glory and Controversy

Manchester City manager Joe Mercer signed him for a club record transfer fee of £60,000 in 1967. Mercer described the purchase of Lee for City as 'the final piece of the puzzle'. 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. 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. 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. The following season, Lee was part of the Manchester City team that won the 1969 FA Cup. 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)'. Some journalists, holding the opinion that Lee gained a number of penalties by diving, used the name 'Lee Won Pen' instead. 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'. 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. This record was later beaten by Wayne Rooney, who scored his 11th goal in the fixture on 22 September 2013.

International Duty and Derby Success

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Lee scored twelve league goals that season, Derby winning their second league title and Lee the second championship medal of his career.

Business Ventures and Legacy

In 1966, Lee founded F. H. Lee Ltd, a firm that recycled paper to manufacture products such as kitchen roll and toilet paper. It operated until 2003 and made him a millionaire. In 1994, Lee became the major shareholder and chairman of Manchester City, but stepped down four years later. 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. Lee was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to football and charity. On 2 October 2023, Lee died after a long illness with cancer. He was 79.