Lee, Francis: Fans loved fiery Frannie after trophy came home

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Mention the name Frannie Lee to anyone who was a Derby County fan in the 1970s and they will wax lyrical about the barrel-chested forward.

And yet, when Rams manager Dave Mackay persuaded the striker to join his team in 1974, everyone knew the player’s best years were behind him.

He had enjoyed a glittering career with Manchester City which included winning the League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup medals and 27 England caps but, by the time he agreed to come to Derby, it was all nearing its end.

There were fears from some that this was a desperate measure to give a leg-up to a “has-been”.

But Mackay knew there was still a lot of life left in the old dog.

So, with a short-term contract and £100,000 in his pocket, he was convinced Lee would jump at the opportunity to join a top team, score goals and put some aggression into the Derby team.

As Derby Evening Telegraph sports reporter Gerald Mortimer pointed out at the time – what Mackay really wanted was Lee’s attitude, just as much as his ability.

And, within one season, the League championship trophy was back at the Baseball Ground where Brian Clough had brought it earlier, thanks, in no small part, to the leadership, encouragement and downright fire in the belly of Frannie Lee.

It was the boost the player, and the team, needed and Lee, who was playing even better than when he had arrived, took up the option of another year’s contract.

Sadly, the next season did not bring quite the success everyone had hoped for.

A public brawl with Leeds United’s Norman Hunter, as the pair tangled on the way off the pitch, brought a four-week suspension for Lee. Then came two bouts of ’flu and a season of only 27 appearances suddenly came to an end with the glow of the blond-haired personality seeming to suddenly dim.

The ever-ambitious fans were disappointed, even though Derby had enjoyed good runs in the European Cup and FA Cup and, until the last month of the season, the League, too.

The problem, no doubt, was that after the years of success anything less than being the best was seen as failure.

But then came the final match of the 1975-76 season and the golden-headed leader was not going away without a fight.

He had been made captain for the day – a brilliant and inspired move by Mackay – was playing his 500th League match and almost certainly making his final appearance in top-class football. Derby were playing Ipswich Town away at Portman Road.

The match was an inspiration – five goals in the first 20 minutes. Lee played his heart out and, in the dying moments, brought cheers from the travelling Derby fans when he scored two goals within a minute. These, added to two each from Kevin Hector and Bruce Rioch, sent the Derby fans home happy with a 6-2 away win.

The team sheet had looked almost like the glory days – Graham Moseley, Ron Webster, Henry Newton, Bruce Rioch, Roy McFarland, Colin Todd, Steve Powell, Archie Gemmill, Frannie Lee, Kevin Hector and Jeff King. Sub was Roger Davies.

Leaving the Baseball Ground for the last time to head for retirement, Lee said: “I have had two fabulous years at Derby and everyone – fans, directors, management and players – has been wonderful to me. But the game is not getting any easier for me and I did not want to reach the stage when I felt I was having to cheat to stay afloat.”

And off he sailed into the sunset to concentrate on his extensive and successful business commitments and his horse-racing interests.

But football was in his blood, ever since he had signed on as a 16-year-old right-winger with his home town team, Bolton Wanderers, in 1960.

He had a wonderful career at Manchester City and Derby County gave him two more years of being the fans’ favourite, so it perhaps wasn’t surprising when, in 1993, he turned his energies back to his old Manchester club.

This time it was his ambition to join the board and, with the support of the fans, he managed to gain control and replace the chairman, Peter Swales.

He quickly transformed the club but it was a highly expensive venture because, then, Manchester City couldn’t afford to attract top players and soon had to sell off its best and most experienced people.

Inevitably, lack of money and good players sent them tumbling down the League and, when they had dropped down two divisions, Lee realised it was time to move on.

It left bitterness for some and yet Frannie Lee still has a place in the hearts of many City supporters – just as he has with Derby fans, even though it is 30 years since he left.

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