Post by Macmoish on Jun 12, 2010 9:21:24 GMT
45 Years Ago Today - June 13, 1976: Gerry Francis Captain England for the last time as England won 4-1 in Finland..
This was Gerry Francis' 12th and final game for England, and his 8th as captain. Unfortunately, for himself, for England, and for QPR, Francis underwent bad back injuries which ended his internatioal career. Bump...At the time, he was only 24... (Had won his first cap in October 1974 at age 22)
So his theoretically peak years as a player - for QPR an England were theoretically still ahead of him
Remember him as a 17 year old substitute warming up on the sidelines in 1969/70...being a young goalscoring midfielder alongside Terry Venables and Martyn Busby...the free kicks: The run around the wall from a Venables or Bowles free kick to score...being "the other" Francis after Trevor Francis....Replacing Venables as captain of QPR..Playing for England...Captaining England...Almost joining Dave Sexton's Manchester United...oining Crystal Palace...Returning from Crystal Palace...Leaving for Coventry...Joining as Manager...Leaving for Spurs...Returning to Save us....Announcing Departing...Leaving.
The England Team for this final game, captained (and played in) by Francis vs Finland Game
1. Ray Clemence Liverpool
2. Colin Todd Derby County
3. Mick Mills Ipswich Town
4. Phil Thompson Liverpool
5. Paul Madeley Leeds United
6. Trevor Cherry Leeds United
7. Kevin Keegan Liverpool
8. Mick Channon Southampton
9. Stuart Pearson Manchester United
10. Trevor Brooking West Ham United
11. Gerry Francis Queens Park Rangers
(Video - NOT of his last game, but perhaps his best game - which cemented his England place and perhaps got him the England Captaincy)
This was Gerry Francis' 12th and final game for England, and his 8th as captain. Unfortunately, for himself, for England, and for QPR, Francis underwent bad back injuries which ended his internatioal career. Bump...At the time, he was only 24... (Had won his first cap in October 1974 at age 22)
So his theoretically peak years as a player - for QPR an England were theoretically still ahead of him
Remember him as a 17 year old substitute warming up on the sidelines in 1969/70...being a young goalscoring midfielder alongside Terry Venables and Martyn Busby...the free kicks: The run around the wall from a Venables or Bowles free kick to score...being "the other" Francis after Trevor Francis....Replacing Venables as captain of QPR..Playing for England...Captaining England...Almost joining Dave Sexton's Manchester United...oining Crystal Palace...Returning from Crystal Palace...Leaving for Coventry...Joining as Manager...Leaving for Spurs...Returning to Save us....Announcing Departing...Leaving.
The England Team for this final game, captained (and played in) by Francis vs Finland Game
1. Ray Clemence Liverpool
2. Colin Todd Derby County
3. Mick Mills Ipswich Town
4. Phil Thompson Liverpool
5. Paul Madeley Leeds United
6. Trevor Cherry Leeds United
7. Kevin Keegan Liverpool
8. Mick Channon Southampton
9. Stuart Pearson Manchester United
10. Trevor Brooking West Ham United
11. Gerry Francis Queens Park Rangers
(Video - NOT of his last game, but perhaps his best game - which cemented his England place and perhaps got him the England Captaincy)
