Simon Francis (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Simon Charles Francis is an English
footballer who plays for Charlton Athletic
as a defender
.
, Nottinghamshire
, Francis was rejected as a youngster by both hometown clubs Notts County
and Nottingham Forest
. Instead he joined Bradford City
as a trainee in 2002 after being spotted playing for South Nottingham College
. He made his debut for Bradford on 16 November 2002 against Nottingham Forest days after he came on as substitute for England under 18s
against France. He made more than 50 starts for the Bantams before he being sold for £
200,000 by the administrators in 2004. Bradford received offers from Sunderland
and Sheffield United
, with Francis choosing the latter to be nearer his home in Nottingham and link up with manager Neil Warnock
.
Competition for places meant that Francis was never quite able to hold down a regular place at Bramall Lane, restricting him to just 15 appearances for the Blades during his two-year sojourn. He spent most of the 2005–06
season on loan with Grimsby Town
and then Tranmere Rovers
. His final appearance for Sheffield United was as a late substitute at Luton
in the penultimate game of the season.
On 13 June 2006, Francis transferred to League One
side Southend United
for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.
In June 2008, he was initially transfer listed by Southend United after failing to agree a new contract, but two weeks later he signed for another two years with Southend.
In January 2010 Southend reluctantly accepted an offer for Francis from Peterborough United
but he failed to agree personal terms. Following Southend's relegation in to League Two
, Francis stated that he had no desire to leave the relegated club. Three weeks later, Southend accepted a £150,000 offer for Francis from Brentford
.
On 8 July 2010 new Southend manager Paul Sturrock
agreed to cancel the defenders contract, allowing him to find a new club as a free agent. On 30 July Francis signed for Charlton Athletic
.
In July 2011 AFC Bournemouth agreed an undisclosed fee with Charlton Athletic for the signing of the defender, however personal terms could not be agreed.
On 7 November 2011, Francis signed on loan to AFC Bournemouth with a view to sign on a permanent basis in January 2012 having finally agreed on personal terms.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Career
Born in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, Francis was rejected as a youngster by both hometown clubs Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. Instead he joined Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
as a trainee in 2002 after being spotted playing for South Nottingham College
South Nottingham College
South Nottingham College is a further education college based over five sites in Nottinghamshire, England.South Nottingham College was founded in September 1970 on the site of the old Lutterell Comprehensive School on Greythorn Drive West Bridgford....
. He made his debut for Bradford on 16 November 2002 against Nottingham Forest days after he came on as substitute for England under 18s
England national youth football team
England national youth football team can refer to the following age group teams:* England national under-23 football team* England national under-22 football team* England national under-21 football team* England national under-20 football team...
against France. He made more than 50 starts for the Bantams before he being sold for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
200,000 by the administrators in 2004. Bradford received offers from Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, with Francis choosing the latter to be nearer his home in Nottingham and link up with manager Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
.
Competition for places meant that Francis was never quite able to hold down a regular place at Bramall Lane, restricting him to just 15 appearances for the Blades during his two-year sojourn. He spent most of the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season on loan with Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and then Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
. His final appearance for Sheffield United was as a late substitute at Luton
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in the penultimate game of the season.
On 13 June 2006, Francis transferred to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.
In June 2008, he was initially transfer listed by Southend United after failing to agree a new contract, but two weeks later he signed for another two years with Southend.
In January 2010 Southend reluctantly accepted an offer for Francis from Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
but he failed to agree personal terms. Following Southend's relegation in to League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, Francis stated that he had no desire to leave the relegated club. Three weeks later, Southend accepted a £150,000 offer for Francis from Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
.
On 8 July 2010 new Southend manager Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
agreed to cancel the defenders contract, allowing him to find a new club as a free agent. On 30 July Francis signed for Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
.
In July 2011 AFC Bournemouth agreed an undisclosed fee with Charlton Athletic for the signing of the defender, however personal terms could not be agreed.
On 7 November 2011, Francis signed on loan to AFC Bournemouth with a view to sign on a permanent basis in January 2012 having finally agreed on personal terms.
Career statistics
Table includes all league and cup appearances| Season | Club | League apps (Goals) | FA Cup apps (Goals) | League Cup apps (Goals) | Johnstone's Paint Trophy apps (Goals) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
25 (1) | 1 (0) | 0 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2003–04 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
30 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2003–04 | Sheffield United Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... |
5 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2004–05 | Sheffield United Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... |
6 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2005–06 | Sheffield United Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... |
1 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2005–06 | Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... (loan) |
5 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2005–06 | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... (loan) |
17 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2006–07 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
40 (1) | 0 (0) | 5 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2007–08 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
29 (2) | 4 (1) | 2 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2009–10 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
27 (1) | 1 (0) | 2 (0) | ? (?) |
| 2010–11 | Charlton Athletic Charlton Athletic F.C. Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,... |
34 (0) | 5 (0) | 1 (0) | 3 (0) |