Trevor Francis - 1969 to 1979

Last updated : 06 February 2010 By Brian Cartlidge

Francis played in a very good Blues team which made two FA Cup semi-finals in the early seventies, and many fans say they have never seen a better player in a Blues shirt.

Born in Plymouth on April 19th 1954, Francis joined Blues as an apprentice in July 1969 and turned professional in April 1971.

He was a member of the Blues youth side that reached the quarter finals of the 1970-71 FA Youth Cup and he also played for England Youth in the Little World Cup that same season.

Francis made his full Blues debut against Cardiff at Ninian Park in September 1970, aged 16.

The highlight of his first season as a senior player came when on 20th February 1971 he scored all four goals in a win over Bolton at St.Andrew's, becoming the first ever 16-year-old to achieve this feat in League football.

He had already scored six goals in nine league games before his single handed destruction of Bolton!

With this he became the most talked about teenager in the country and the darling of the Blues fans.

There was never any doubt he would go onto become one of the greatest players to wear the royal blue shirt.

He had pace, skill, could score and create goals out of nothing, people talk of Beckham but TF was a brilliant crosser of the ball too.

He helped Blues gain promotion from division two in 1972 and was in the side for both FA Cup semi-finals in 1972 & 1975.

Francis made 328 appearances for Blues and scored 133 goals before being sold to Nottingham Forest by the then Blues manager Jim Smith in February 1979 becoming the first ever £1million pound player.

Thanks For The Memories Trev!