Francis Lee has died

claptrappers_union · Post by **claptrappers_union** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:11 pm

Lee scored 148 goals in 330 appearances during eight years at Manchester City, helping the club win multiple honours, including the old First Division title in 1968.

Lee, who started his career at Bolton Wanderers, joined Derby County from City, helping the Rams win their second league title in 1975 and also earned 27 caps for England, scoring 10 goals

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:14 pm

One of, if not THE iconic legend of Manchester City Football Club. A true great in his side and era. I think he was inducted into the hall of Fame as well and rightly so. It’s a sad day for the fans of Manchester City whom experienced that generation of their history.

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:19 pm

Sad news

RIP Franny Lee

HahaYeah · Post by **HahaYeah** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:23 pm

RIP Francis Lee (Pen)

Great player, I remember him playing for Man City and Derby County and England.

Probably most famous for the infamous fight/ sending off with Norman Hunter.

ALP · Post by **ALP** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:26 pm

What a sad day, he was a superb player and a hard man too.

Rest in Peace Francis, you'll be forever remembered as a true great of the game

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:27 pm

Part of the great City side of Lee, Summerbee and Bell. Franny Lee a truly great player, I was surprised to see he'd only played 27 times for England. He could certainly buy a penalty. Didn't need football as he was a successful business but footbal needed his exciting talent. Francis Lee RIP and thanks for the memories.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:30 pm

The one thing I always remember was his buying of penalties but he was an outstanding player, no doubt about that. Only Buzzer left now of that Man City Holy Trinity.

The Hung Juror · Post by **The Hung Juror** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:42 pm

A true great and Man City legend, what a player and character.

The changing face of football means we will never see the likes of him and others again, grace our great game.

RIP Franny.

Carwin261 · Post by **Carwin261** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:48 pm

He also had a successful toilet roll business.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:52 pm

RIP Frannie Lee ... From wiping the smiles off opposing teams when scoring goals to wiping other parts with his bog roll business

Big Vinny K · Post by **Big Vinny K** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:57 pm

Met him a few times when Peter Swales was chairman. Man City were my customer for a few years and we had a box there too through work so I had to spend far too much time than I wanted to at City !!
There was a bitter boardroom battle going on and the fans were protesting against the board and trying to get Swales out pretty much every game. It often turned ugly after games.

It was a number of decades ago and I don’t really remember much about Franny Lee in terms of his character but Swales was a horrible little arrogant man.

Loved the bit when Lee lost the plot against Norman Hunter - Norman was in shock !

Also loved his 25 yard spanker into the top corner with the famous Barrie Davies commentary “Look at his face !!!”

Stayingup · Post by **Stayingup** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:00 pm

As Tony said - almost - Lee Won Pen.

I last saw him in a restaurant in Handforth Dean. I recall he sat facing the door. Significant.

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:03 pm

He scored 35 goals in the 1971-72 season, 15 of which were from the spot ... he always struck me as a player who made the most of his talent, through a massive work rate. He also had a physique you rarely see in the modern game, barrel chested, not tall but powerfully built ...

RIP Sir !

LeadBelly · Post by **LeadBelly** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:12 pm

I was domiciled in south Manchester 1969 June-Dec and watched a fair few times that side with him, Bell , Summerbee etc. A very entertaining team, Lee was very direct and aggressive (thus winning a lot of penalties).
His altercation with Norman Hunter is legendary of course and I believe he was a very successful (paper-related) businessman after his career ended.

RIP Francis Lee you leave behind some great memories for fans of the clubs you played for and many neutrals.

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:15 pm

I can remember he played in Alan Stevensons testimonial. He'd been retired for 6 years and looked like he'd never been away, apart from the extra weight, his talent was still obvious.

FCBurnley · Post by **FCBurnley** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:22 pm

Great player sadly tainted by his ability to con referees. Why do great players need to do that ? RIP

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:32 pm

FCBurnley wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:22 pm
Great player sadly tainted by his ability to con referees. Why do great players need to do that ? RIP

A certain Jimmy McIlroy openly admitted that he did the same too and he was a great player.

ecc · Post by **ecc** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:34 pm

They may be better players now, but I much preferred the City players of his era. The true City fans revere Colin Bell, Neil Young, Lee and Summerbee.

Francis Lee is one of the few players I know of who invested his money wisely.

RIP

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:40 pm

A proper old school great and absolute legend. Played the game hard and when skill wasn't enough to win, he'd resort to almost owt and loved to "mix it". As others have said he made a ton of money after football from making toilet rolls!!!

Stayingup · Post by **Stayingup** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:46 pm

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:40 pm
A proper old school great and absolute legend. Played the game hard and when skill wasn't enough to win, he'd resort to almost owt and loved to "mix it". As others have said he made a ton of money after football from making toilet rolls!!!

Yes he and his brother had a factory in Bolton, where he came from.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:50 pm

I THINK it was Lee who knocked a ball into the net with his hand whilst diving full length and the unsighted officials allowed the goal to stand amidst absolute mayhem from the crowd and the opposition team. Afterwards he was interviewed on MotD and described it with a wry smile as a "handy header"!!

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:00 pm

A great player in a wonderful City side.

tally · Post by **tally** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:10 pm

RIP Francis Lee
I saw him play a few times and he was always up for it.
A true legend for City.

Claretmisterg · Post by **Claretmisterg** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:14 pm

RIP Franny Lee. Loved watching him on match of the day when I was a youngster. Loved it when he gave Hunter what for.

claretgimmer · Post by **claretgimmer** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:18 pm

Not only a great player he was an entertainer and most of all he was what is sadly absent from the modern game a character, thanks for all the memories. RIP Franny Lee

CleggHall · Post by **CleggHall** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:19 pm

Have just dug out a programme Lancs v Yorks schoolboys, 13 March 1959, Gigg Lane, number 7 for Lancs was LEE (Horwich and
Westhoughton) - some career that!
RIP

redcloud203 · Post by **redcloud203** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:31 pm

Used to love watching the city team in which he starred when I was at uni in Manchester - great player and goal scorer .

RIP - A True Legend

CaptJohn · Post by **CaptJohn** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:32 pm

I bumped into him at Mottram Hall golf club a good few years back. I reminded him of the infamous scrap with Hunter. He chuckled and shook his head.
Had a blue Roller with personalised plate. Wealthy guy and a true City legend.
RIP.

Ptangyangkipperbang · Post by **Ptangyangkipperbang** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:46 pm

He also had a bit of success as a racehorse trainer in the 80s and 90s.Certainly one of those players everybody knew RIP

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:54 pm

A great player in his day. RIP Franny.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:57 pm

A pocket rocket!

Cirrus_Minor · Post by **Cirrus_Minor** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:00 pm

Fantastic player, incredibly powerful and quick with great skill. Yes, he could buy a penalty, but used to scare me to death. RIP

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:07 pm

He was almost a forerunner of Maradonna with that body shape and his runs into the box.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:24 pm

I loved the way he took on that dirty effer Hunter. R.I.P. Franny.

Juan Tanamera · Post by **Juan Tanamera** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:27 pm

Lee Won Pen.
RIP Franny Lee.
Many memories of him on the Turf when I was at school and college.

cricketfield73 · Post by **cricketfield73** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:27 pm

RIP Francis Lee - one of the great entertainers from the halcyon days of 1970s football.
Thanks for the memory of one of my favourite ever pieces of football commentary!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oydMFd40p7w

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:30 pm

Great player,great shot great life. RIP.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 8:09 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:24 pm
I loved the way he took on that dirty effer Hunter. R.I.P. Franny.

Hunter is the only one to land a punch in that exchange. Franny swings and misses a number of times. Slightly before my time but a great player and entertainer. Used to see the FH Lee paper products lorries around the North West back in the day carrying his bog roll. RIP Franny Lee.

Foreverly Claret · Post by **Foreverly Claret** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 8:30 pm

CleggHall wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 02, 2023 6:19 pm
Have just dug out a programme Lancs v Yorks schoolboys, 13 March 1959, Gigg Lane, number 7 for Lancs was LEE (Horwich and
Westhoughton) - some career that!
RIP

Loved the way he played.Which school did he go to ? I'm sure I played against him 1956/57

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 8:46 pm

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 02, 2023 8:09 pm
Hunter is the only one to land a punch in that exchange. Franny swings and misses a number of times. Slightly before my time but a great player and entertainer. Used to see the FH Lee paper products lorries around the North West back in the day carrying his bog roll. RIP Franny Lee.

Lee challenged Hunter to an off the pitch scrap, Hunter (apparently) declined.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 9:31 pm

R.I.P Franny
Watched him a good few times. Big mainstay in a pretty good City side when they were still a 'normal' footy club.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 10:24 pm

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 1:48 am

Carwin261 wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 02, 2023 4:48 pm
He also had a successful toilet roll business.

I remember that. Astute businessman - one of the few.

From Frannie Lee to Fanny Pee.

I saw that City side draw 1-1 armr Reading, in the FA Cup. They won at Maine Road. 7-0. Went on to win the league that season.

Suratclaret · Post by **Suratclaret** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 4:54 am

A great player in a team with several other great players. It might be more prevalent these days but “winning” penalties isn’t anything new as CT mentioned. Terry Paine of Southampton was another.
I think it was possibly David Coleman who described Lee as a pocket battleship.
RIP

beeholeclaret · Post by **beeholeclaret** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:17 am

RIP Francis Lee. Sad to see the passing of an icon from my schoolboy days. He first came to my attention when watching that great Man City team that won the League Championship, FA Cup and European Cup Winners cup. He played for England in that most memorable 1970 World Cup tournament.

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:31 am

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:50 pm
I THINK it was Lee who knocked a ball into the net with his hand whilst diving full length and the unsighted officials allowed the goal to stand amidst absolute mayhem from the crowd and the opposition team. Afterwards he was interviewed on MotD and described it with a wry smile as a "handy header"!!

He did this at Arsenal which was on TV. None of the officials saw it but the cameras did. Unfortunately that's all I can remember of him.

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 1:03 pm

The Ballad of Franny Lee

https://youtu.be/2MYXl0Q3k38?si=VGkebyYpNplkZD7f

BillyIngham'sShorts · Post by **BillyIngham'sShorts** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 6:52 pm

I remember him and Charlie George playing for derby at turf and George scored at least one poss both but I distinctly remember shitting it every time Lee got the ball cos he just ran at defence , great player

toooldtobegrumpy · Post by **toooldtobegrumpy** » Wed Oct 04, 2023 1:01 am

My Dad, a Bolton fan, took me to Burnden Park several times in the 1960s. There was one incident I recall fondly and with a smile. He was tackled outside the penalty area towards the corner flag just in front of us. It looked a fair tackle to me but Franny was rolling over apparently injured and in agony. He saw the ref speaking to the defender. He sprang to his feet, sprinted 10 yards into the penalty area and went down again looking pole-axed and much to the amusement of all who saw it. On that occasion he didn’t con the ref and was denied the famous Lee one pen in the classified results in the Sunday papers. Not many characters like him around today. RIP Franny.