Interesting article of Trevor Francis (4 Viewers)

[fernandopartridge]

‘A magical figure’: Trevor Francis on being the first £1m player, 40 years on

Didn't realise that Cov were the only other club willing to spend £1m on him when Forest bought him.

 

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[torchomatic]

‘A magical figure’: Trevor Francis on being the first £1m player, 40 years on

Didn't realise that Cov were the only other club willing to spend £1m on him when Forest bought him.

Yeah, I remember reading that before that we were willing to spend the million. If only, eh?

 

[peace ndlovu]

‘A magical figure’: Trevor Francis on being the first £1m player, 40 years on

Didn't realise that Cov were the only other club willing to spend £1m on him when Forest bought him.

"Only two clubs had pockets deep enough to match Birmingham’s asking price: Forest and Coventry City."
Now we don't have pockets. Or trousers

 

[Winny the Bish]

What's the opinion on Francis? Was he considered worth the £1m??

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

We only pay 'Undisclosed' !!!

 

[ccfchoi87]

What's the opinion on Francis? Was he considered worth the £1m??

He had a slow start and Clough often used him on the right wing regularly. He did however, score the winner in the European Cup final which I suppose justified the fee.

He suffered with injuries after that before moving on.

 

[clint van damme]

What's the opinion on Francis? Was he considered worth the £1m??

I was only young but remember him being a very good player.
Utter ballbag now.

 

[clint van damme]

He had a slow start and Clough often used him on the right wing regularly. He did however, score the winner in the European Cup final which I suppose justified the fee.

He suffered with injuries after that before moving on.

Clough seemed to have a big problem with expensive or high profile players, (might seem an obvious thing to say given what happened at Leeds).

 

[oucho]

Utter ballbag now.

Is he??? What's he done to deserve that ?

 

[Grendel]

Clough seemed to have a big problem with expensive or high profile players, (might seem an obvious thing to say given what happened at Leeds).

I once rammed into the back of Justin Fashanu

 

[Nick]

I once rammed into the back of Justin Fashanu

Men's toilets?

 

[Grendel]

Men's toilets?

I was in a car that drove into his BMW

 

[fernandopartridge]

I was in a car that drove into his BMW

BMW was a euphenism at my school

 

[Nick]

BMW was a euphenism at my school

I didn't want to say anything.

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

He was a great player. I Remember him at qpr at nearly 40 and still being quality.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

He is a legend at Blues. One of their best ever players and part of the excellent Latchford, Francis and Hatton forward line. Can see them now in the “penguin” kit. Hatton was a very clever player, Latchford played for us at the end of his career. He was well past his best by then.

 

[clint van damme]

I once rammed into the back of Justin Fashanu

I was in a car that drove into his BMW

Punchline needs a bit of work Grendel.

 

[clint van damme]

Is he??? What's he done to deserve that ?

Talks utter shite and was particularly biases against us when he used to be on Sky.
Someone suggested it was because he got the sack on at least one occasion after defeats to city but I've never checked and to be honest, I still wouldn't be able to tolerate him either way.

 

[Magwitch]

I remember the Trevor Francis transfer saga like it was yesterday. We were an okay above mid-table first division team. Blues put this million pound price tag on him and none of the then big boys were interested. The reason we became interested was our then chairman one Jimmy Hill, he had his hands in football in the USA and Washington Diplomats in particular and his plan was for Francis to play here and the US. So I don’t know if the fee was between us and them or not.
Forest with the influential Brian Clough were always the front runners to sign him though, It was an astronomical fee in those days I’m sure it was double the then transfer fee record and it changed fees at a stroke and the million pound player was born. To answer was Francis any good yes he was and from the young age of 16.

 

[no_loyalty]

Hadn't Francis agreed to join us, until Clough hijacked the deal, or am I thinking of somebody else?

 

[Magwitch]

Can’t remember it seemed to go on for an age. I think we bid something like £900000 but Blues stuck to wanting a million

 

[CanadianCCFC]

"Only two clubs had pockets deep enough to match Birmingham’s asking price: Forest and Coventry City."
Now we don't have pockets. Or trousers

Or a stadium

 

[oscillatewildly]

Hadn't Francis agreed to join us, until Clough hijacked the deal, or am I thinking of somebody else?

Clough (allegedly) agreed to join us from Derby as JH's replacement.
There was nothing legally binding just a spoken 'gentlemans agreement'.
T

 

[Sick Boy]

Clough (allegedly) agreed to join us from Derby as JH's replacement.
There was nothing legally binding just a spoken 'gentlemans agreement'.
T

He from what I’ve read he was using it to gain leverage at Derby and had no real intention of joining us

 

[Nick]

He from what I’ve read he was using it to gain leverage at Derby and had no real intention of joining us

Think I read that somewhere but can't remember where. It wasn't long ago that i read it either.

 

[tisza]

Clough (allegedly) agreed to join us from Derby as JH's replacement.
There was nothing legally binding just a spoken 'gentlemans agreement'.
T

It was before he joined Derby.
Supposedly a choice between us and Derby when he was at Hartlepool. Derby bottom of Div 2 we'd just been promoted to Div 1.
From what I know hill liked him as a replacement Derrick Robbins didn't like his personal style - mouthy, arrogant etc. Didn't think he was right for 1st season in Div 1.

 

[JimmyHillsbeard]

It was before he joined Derby.
Supposedly a choice between us and Derby when he was at Hartlepool. Derby bottom of Div 2 we'd just been promoted to Div 1.
From what I know hill liked him as a replacement Derrick Robbins didn't like his personal style - mouthy, arrogant etc. Didn't think he was right for 1st season in Div 1.

1972 while he was negotiating a new deal at Derby according to this....

The day Brian Clough agreed to manage Coventry City

 

[clint van damme]

He from what I’ve read he was using it to gain leverage at Derby and had no real intention of joining us

If I remember correctly, in either his biography or autobiography, it states he has turned us down but told Derby he was thinking of accepting our offer.

 

[Gazolba]

What's the opinion on Francis? Was he considered worth the £1m??

My father used to go to see Birmingham play quite often and he raved about Trevor Francis.
Said he was one of the best players he ever saw, and he saw all the greats like Best, Law and Charlton.
I don't think he ever quite reached his full potential though he did have a few outstanding games for England.

 

[DazzleTommyDazzle]

IIRC our bid for Francis was cash plus 3 players. I think that 2 of them were Harry Roberts and Jim Hagan, but that may be my memory playing tricks.

 

[Speedies_Chips]

Talks utter shite and was particularly biases against us when he used to be on Sky.
Someone suggested it was because he got the sack on at least one occasion after defeats to city but I've never checked and to be honest, I still wouldn't be able to tolerate him either way.

In other words , you just don't like him based on heresay. He hasn't actually done anything to be considered a ball bag.

 

[clint van damme]

In other words , you just don't like him based on heresay. He hasn't actually done anything to be considered a ball bag.

Which part of him being biased against us on Sky are you struggling with?!

 

[Speedies_Chips]

Which part of him being biased against us on Sky are you struggling with?!

To be honest I cant even remember him being on Sky in a game involving us. How long ago are we talking?

 

[clint van damme]

To be honest I cant even remember him being on Sky in a game involving us. How long ago are we talking?

years ago, when we were in the prem, I'd say mid 90s.

 

[Speedies_Chips]

years ago, when we were in the prem, I'd say mid 90s.

Blimey, that's a long time to hold a grudge. Are you sure you're not a Sunderland fan?