Frank Worthington

martin_p · Post by **martin_p** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:58 am

RIP

One of the first non Burnley players I remember really liking (as a child in the 70s).

CleggHall · Post by **CleggHall** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:05 am

A bit of a maverick, skilful entertainer who was his own man. RIP

Targetman · Post by **Targetman** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:12 am

I read his book a lot of years ago, I seem to recall that in there he says that his dad used to take him to Turf Moor as a young boy.

martin_p · Post by **martin_p** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:14 am

Targetman wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:12 am
I read his book a lot of years ago, I seem to recall that in there he says that his dad used to take him to Turf Moor as a young boy.

Well he’s from Halifax so that’s entirely possible.

huw.Y.WattfromWare · Post by **huw.Y.WattfromWare** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:18 am

RIP, Frank. Wonderful footballer and scorer of many WOW!! goals.

Andingle · Post by **Andingle** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:23 am

I'll always remember him for the goal below in his Bolton day's.
RIP Frank

https://youtu.be/W0z_arXZ8nM

SussexDon1inIreland · Post by **SussexDon1inIreland** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:23 am

Loved Frank - he and Stan Bowles were my favourite non Burnley players
Apparently he had a girlfriend ready at each of his away matches.

RIP

COBBLE · Post by **COBBLE** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:25 am

There was a poster on the wall it said "Drink Canada dry," so I thought I would.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:30 am

Another for the ball juggling goal for Bolton. Was always shown at the start of Kick Off on a Friday evening with Gerald Sindstadt and later Elton Welsby. One of a number of maverick players from the 1970s who lived a colourful life and didn't achieve as much as their talent could have. Stan Bowles was another.

RIP Frank Worthington, scorer of one of the most memorable goals of my childhood.

chekhov · Post by **chekhov** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:34 am

Andingle wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:23 am
I'll always remember him for the goal below in his Bolton day's.
RIP Frank

https://youtu.be/W0z_arXZ8nM

Great goal. At the end of that clip you can see the referee applauding as he runs across the shot!

Dy1geo · Post by **Dy1geo** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:35 am

Players like Frank Worthington are a rare breed these days, one that played the game for fun and aimed to please the fans.

A mate dragged me along to watch Bolton at Stockport one Friday night and Worthington’s class stood out even though “his legs had gone”

RIP Frank

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:46 am

Andingle wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:23 am
I'll always remember him for the goal below in his Bolton day's.
RIP Frank

https://youtu.be/W0z_arXZ8nM

Still one of my favourite goals ever. Amazing piece of skill.

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:48 am

A highly talented player and a showman. One of the characters of football in the seventies along with Best and Bowles.
I remember his overhead flick at Bolton and this - one of his great one-liners...
While playing for England pre-kick-off, Ramsey said to him, "Frank, I'll probably pull you off at half-time," with Frank responding, "Cheers Boss, I usually only get half an orange."
Pure class. We won't see the likes of him again. RIP Frankie

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:50 am

RIP Frank W

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:51 am

One of my favourite ever non-Clarets. Tony Currie was another.
RIP Frank.

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:05 am

My wife recalls him dancing with her in a Halifax nightclub, although she then said he danced with most of the girls.
R.I.P. Frank. Superb in his day.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:13 am

Saw (heard) him at a Sportsman's Dinner a number of years back and he was really entertaining and admitted himself that he had all the talent in the world, but was from an era when players weren't looked after and definitely didn't look after themselves and if you were from a poorer background and you liked a good time, then suddenly you had the money to indulge yourself. And many did!!

ten bellies · Post by **ten bellies** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:00 am

The ref clapping as he runs back to the half way line. If you love football, that's why we go, to see something like that.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:07 am

R.I.P Frank.
Real character. Think he was in the Huddersfield side that turned us over in the Cup in '72, before going on to Leicester.
Back then he was the sort of player that got people through the turnstiles.

basil6345789 · Post by **basil6345789** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:11 am

Targetman wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:12 am
I read his book a lot of years ago, I seem to recall that in there he says that his dad used to take him to Turf Moor as a young boy.

The book, "One Hump Or Two," is now collectable - lent mine out, unfortunately. He was a big Jimmy Mac fan. Lived in Outlane for ages then moved to Hebden Bridge. Used to see him taking his grand kid to Tod Sports Centre. He'd give you a nod/smile - like The King coming in, he had such class. The receptionist, a lady about late 60 odd said she used to go weak at the knees.

RalphCoatesComb · Post by **RalphCoatesComb** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:14 am

I heard a story about Frank and the local Dibble. They used to turn up at Burnden Park 30 minutes before kick-off to collect his maintenance payments. They were always sure to catch him then. Apparently, Ian Greaves used to pay off the payments so that Frank could play. Certainly a character!

R.I.P. Frank

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:24 pm

He was due to sign for Liverpool for a then record £150,000 in the 1972 close season, but his medical revealed high blood pressure. Shankly was still keen and told Frank to take a week's holiday in Spain to relax, come home, and retake the medical ...
He was dating " Miss Great Britain " at the time, but went to Spain alone where, in the words of the Daily Telegraph obituary, " he used the break to pick up a series of international admirers, including a Swedish mother and daughter combination " . At his second medical, his blood pressure was even higher !!

That goal for Bolton would be instantly flashed around the world if it'd been scored today !!

Tribesmen · Post by **Tribesmen** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:48 pm

He palyed for Galway United as well , but before i was in the City

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:53 pm

Clarets4me wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:24 pm
He was due to sign for Liverpool for a then record £150,000 in the 1972 close season, but his medical revealed high blood pressure. Shankly was still keen and told Frank to take a week's holiday in Spain to relax, come home, and retake the medical ...
He was dating " Miss Great Britain " at the time, but went to Spain alone where, in the words of the Daily Telegraph obituary, " he used the break to pick up a series of international admirers, including a Swedish mother and daughter combination " . At his second medical, his blood pressure was even higher !!

That goal for Bolton would be instantly flashed around the world if it'd been scored today !!

This one!
https://youtu.be/W0z_arXZ8nM

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:59 pm

Handsome Frank, he used to be called.

RIP.

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 1:26 pm

Great player, one of the players I tried to emulate in my youth playing in the school yard.

RIP

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 1:58 pm

Such a sad loss. A real entertainer who probably should have been an England regular but so many in that era were largely ignored.

As has been said, the sort of player who got you through the turnstiles.

JohnDearyMe · Post by **JohnDearyMe** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 3:30 pm

Did he have any memorable appearances against Burnley?

FCBurnley · Post by **FCBurnley** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 4:06 pm

Huge character and loved by all. I knew his sister Julie very well. She was awesome as well. RIP Frank

daveyclaret · Post by **daveyclaret** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 5:08 pm

I seem to recall that Frank played at the Turf for Huddersfield Town during Claret's relegation season in the First Division in 1970-71. I was at the game where both Clarets and Town were in the relegation positions at the start of the game and it was played October/November 1970. Town won 3-2 and I can recall Trevor Cherry playing and that there was loads of Town fans on the Turf that day.

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 6:26 pm

R.I.P. Frank Worthington.

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:42 pm

A true legend.

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:48 pm

'Don Howe Question Time Meme, member in the audience, any comment?'

"No not you, the one at the back..."

"Maverick footballers go around the cross-country course of life in 6th with a beer bottle balanced on their head, what do you think?"

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:52 pm

And the reply from the panel is "He said the greatest opponent of his life was his wife, what do you think of Jack Charlton?"

Cirrus_Minor · Post by **Cirrus_Minor** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:09 pm

A great character and stylish footballer. Used to entertain the team bus doing Elvis impersonations. I also remember his goal at TM for Huddersfield. RIP

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:40 pm

We were once linked with him, think it was the season after the Orient game. I called at the Turf on my way home from work one day and as I got out of my car he walked out through the old ticket office door, walked across the road and went to the bookies. I was convinced we’d signed him but it never happened.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:02 pm

Terrific player.
Playboy and a great character.
R.I.P. Frank.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:09 pm

Great player, of we had international managers that appreciated genuine talent at the time instead of work horse engines the likes of Frank, Tony Currie, Stan Bowles etc would have got a lot more games.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:47 pm

He could play, that's for sure.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:01 pm

Sadly another one of the great characters leaves us.

RIP Frank

The Enclosure · Post by **The Enclosure** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:40 pm

Saw him play many times.A wonderful footballer and showman,they dont make em like Frank anymore.
RIP.

strayclaret · Post by **strayclaret** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:22 am

My wife’s claim to fame is that she sat next to his elder brother at Junior school and once chased Frank down the street for chucking stones at her.
Must dig out my signed copy of One Hump or Two.
RIP Frank one of the few opposition players I liked.

Stayingup · Post by **Stayingup** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:17 pm

Superb player and quite a character. Played for my mates team Town. The only team to have played in all four divisions of the Football League at two different grounds.

Used to pass Outlane on my way from Slaithwaite to Bowers mill and had a chuckle about when asked who was his toughest ever opponent. Frank said the ex wife.

Apologies Psotto. You have already mentioned this.
What would he have thought about that screaming b@gger the other week?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:26 pm

Stayingup wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:17 pm
Superb player and quite a character. Played for my mates team Town. The only team to have played in all four divisions of the Football League at two different grounds.

Used to pass Outlane on my way from Slaithwaite to Bowers mill and had a chuckle about when asked who was his toughest ever opponent. Frank said the ex wife.

Apologies Psotto. You have already mentioned this.
What would he have thought about that screaming b@gger the other week?

That's a fact I was never aware of - playing in all four divisions at two different grounds.

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:56 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:26 pm
That's a fact I was never aware of - playing in all four divisions at two different grounds.

Bolton have also played in all four Divisions at two different grounds ...

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:00 pm

Bowles - Worthington - Currie - Osgood - Hudson had 36 England caps between then and Currie had 17 of them. Something really not right there with that talent.

Stayingup · Post by **Stayingup** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:33 pm

Clarets4me wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:56 pm
Bolton have also played in all four Divisions at two different grounds ...

Thanks. I really ought to catch up. Bolton's 'achievement' of course is very recent. When were they in the fourth division at Burnden Park?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:43 pm

Stayingup wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:33 pm
Thanks. I really ought to catch up. Bolton's 'achievement' of course is very recent. When were they in the fourth division at Burnden Park?

Fourth division at Burnden in 1987/88

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 7:51 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:43 pm
Fourth division at Burnden in 1987/88

We played there on I think Easter Monday 1988. Trouble before,during and after the game and also at half time under the stand. Bit hairy on the way back to the car as I was on crutches with a broken foot and toes.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:30 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:00 pm
Bowles - Worthington - Currie - Osgood - Hudson had 36 England caps between then and Currie had 17 of them. Something really not right there with that talent.

And Rodney Marsh.....