ON this day – February 9, 1979: Trevor Francis became British football’s first £1m transfer when Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest sign him from Birmingham City.
Soccer – Football League Division Two – Sheffield United v Birmingham City – Bramall Lane. 17/04/1971
Date: 17/04/1971
The final fee was £1,180, 000, including VAT and £45,000 (5%) for Francis and the League Provident Fund for ex-footballers.
Birmingham City footballer Trevor Francis emerges from the City Ground in Nottingham after a five-hour meeting with, from second left, Nottingham Forest assistant manager Peter Taylor, secretary Ken Smailes, and manager Brian Clough, to discuss his possible move to Forest. Date: 08/02/1979
Clough had been on the squash court when the deal was done. Well, so he said. His bright red jacket made sure he stood out. He was the real star of this show.
Francis was joining a winning team. How would he fit in? Well, before Francis’s debut, Clough instructed him to “just give the ball to John Robertson – he’s a better player than you.”
Francis was being out in his place – which was often out wide on the right, away from his preferred central position.
Soccer – Football League Division One – Nottingham Forest v Birmingham City
Nottingham Forest captain John McGovern lifts the League Championship trophy
Date: 29/04/1978
Forest were the Division One League Champions. Just one year before they had won the Second Division title.
Clough’s Forest were on a meteoric rise. They hadn’t finished yet.
To celebrate success in the league and the League Cup, Forest released We’ve Got The Whole World In Our Hands, in conjunction with local band Paper Lace. We need little excuse to play a football club’s song. Here it is:
Francis had played for England 11 times.
Soccer – Friendly – Brazil v England – Maracana Stadium
England team group line up before the kick off. (l-R) Brian Talbot, Emlyn Hughes, Brian Greenhoff, Phil Neal, Trevor Francis, Dave Watson , Ray Wilkins , Stuart Pearson, Trevor Cherry and Ray Clemence. Date: 08/06/1977
He was now wealthy young man. In addition to that signing-on fee, Francis received £80,000 from American club Detroit Express to play for them in the closed season as part of a £200,000 package over three years.
Francis had in 1978 cut a deal to play for the Express in the new North American Soccer League.
Detroit Express’ Trevor Francis (20) breaks past Ft. Lauderdale Strikers’ goalie Ian Turner (00), on the ground, with Strikers’ Colin Fowles chasing him in the first half of second round of the NASL playoff in Pontiac Silverdome, Aug. 16, 1978 in Pontiac. Francis was tripped up by Turner’s arm and lost control of the ball.
Date: 16/08/1978
The Express were co-owned by Coventry City manager Jimmy Hill. Coventry had offered Birmingham £900,000 for Francis. Hill was big deal in football.
Fashion – Tie Manufacturers Association Tiemen of 1975 – Playboy – London
Bunny Girl Carolyn Moore (r) with TV and sports personality Jimmy Hill who is one of the Tie Manufacturers Association Tiemen of 1975. Date: 23/04/1975
Assistant manager of Nottingham Forest Peter Taylor said: “We can afford to pay prices like this because of good management in the past.”
The previous record transfer fee of £500,000 was paid by West Bromwich Albion to Middlesbrough last December for David Mills. Remember him?
Francis’s new manager was Brian Clough. He had point to prove, having been sacked by Leeds United in 1974 after just weeks in change. Clough was on a mission to succeed. In this wonderful episode, Clough meets his nemesis, Don Revie. I urge you to read David Peace’s book The Damned United.
Clough was a driven man. Francis would be one part of his master plan.
Did it pay off? Well Francis was part of the Forest team that won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.
In 1979, Francis scored the winning goal v Malmo at Munich’s Olympic Stadium.
In 1981, Forest sold Francis to Manchester City for £1.2. He played bis last competitive match for Sheffield Wednesday in 1991.
Former Birmingham City footballer Trevor Francis with his wife, Helen, and Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough at the City Ground Nottingham after becoming Britain’s most expensive player.
Date: 09/02/1979
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.
