Frank Worthington Legend 8

[blufox13]

I named my dog at the time Wortho

i named my budgie Tommy after the original oooooooo tommy wright

[Ultra]

I imagine his antics make Walsh seem like a wet behind the ears fifteen year old chuff nut.

Yeah, but who won more medals for us?

[David O'Leary]

From The Fox Fanzine

By Richard Stanley & Gary Silke

(From The FOX - April 1990)

A young Yorkshireman called Frank Worthington first came to my attention in the 1969-70 season when City were away at Huddersfield. I was listening to the radio and the commentator was in raptures about the home side's centre forward. In those days Huddersfield were quite a successful team and even enjoyed a spell in the First Division. However they were still obliged to sell a talent as big as Worthington and he came to Leicester in August 1972.

He already had a reputation as something of a showman, turning up for an England under-23 tour in a sombrero, amazing the locals of some far off nation.

So we at Filbert Street found that we had a great footballer and an entertainer as well. During the pre-match kick-in he would exhibit his excellent ball control by keeping the ball up for a minute or two with either foot, then he would flick it over his head, catch it on the back of his neck, hold it there for a moment, then gradually stand up straight, rolling the ball down his spine, backheeling it back over his head to continue with his feet. The kids on the wall at the front of the Kop would stand agog, and many an hour must have been spent in the backyards of Leicester trying, just once, to emulate this trick. Everything about the man was flash - even when the Kopites sang his name he responded with an enthusiastic double handwave and while waiting for corners he would often use the time to assemble his hair.

A performance of Wortho's forever etched in my mind occurred in the winter of '72 when West Brom came down to Filbert Street. He scored a hat-trick and centre-backs John Wile and Ally Robertson were as good as any at that time. But Worthington was far too good for them and if he had been 'Big Daddy' he would have been banging their heads together. That was Worthington 'on his day' - The Best. Other times he could appear disinterested, but he was never less than entertaining.

Frank soon played for England under the caretaker managership of Joe Mercer. He looked perfectly at home in the white shirt and scored against Argentina with an incredible bicycle kick, which Shoot! magazine felt compelled to break down into a series of four photos under the title 'Frank's Cowboy Kick'. Unfortunately, the Don Revie era was just about to happen and there would be no room for someone with as much Flair as Wortho. Workmanlike ethics and dossiers (and failure) became the mid-seventies way, and Wortho's intemational career was over before it had begun. Which was a shame for England as well as the man himself because with a little more experience and pace at top level we could have had something approaching another Johan Cryuff. His skill could be compared to anyone.

Wortho's cavalier approach was not confined to the field, and rumours around Leicester were rife about his philanderings with other player's wives. Peter Shilton was to be haunted many years later, visiting with F****t, with a particularly unkind song about 'Franky' and his 'Missus'. A blond Swedish wife and an adoration of Elvis all added to the legend.

In the disastrous season of 77-78 relegation was nothing compared to the departure of Wortho. He left a big gap at Filbert Street which has not been properly filled since. He went back up North to Bolton Wanderers and took to wearing a red headband to add a l ittle panache, as if it were needed. At Bolton he scored 'that goal' which will be shown on football programmes until the end of time.

After that he took up a nomadic existence throughout the eighties popping up at a dozen, different clubs and Leicester fans, especially, would always like to know where he was, keeping tabs on him ready for the next time that someone would ask 'Where's Wortho these days?'

Prior to joining City Frank was all set to sign for Bill Shankly at Liverpool but failed the medical. Fact, or fiction, has it that in the summer prior to this he had been on holiday (sorry, wild escapade!) with George Best. Hand on heart it has to be said that playing for Liverpool may have been his rightful stage. However, to his credit Wortho did not outwardly dwell on this point and I feel he enjoyed his time at Leicester. Frank, wherever you are, thanks for the glorious memories and wonderful entertainment..

ED: Worthington of the late eighties provided us with a couple more memories. Birch's Geriatric Megastars v British Shoe - and there was Worthington, hair thinning, and one run in each half, but the passes and shots were still there and still League standard. He stood head and shoulders above Emlyn Hughes, John Robertson and all the rest. And a group of blokes, taking advantage of the bar, holding each other up found it necessary to sing: "Franky Wortho, Ello, Ello." Throughout the game. Paying homage to the legend and the man, singing a song from another time. Frank just grinned at them, he could remember that time as well.

And then Paul Ramsey's Testimonial gave Worthington the opportunity to grace Filbert Street once more. Tottenham Hotspur provided the opposition and there was a wonderful moment when Frank, making a run in midfield, was suddenly faced with Paul Gascoigne, his eighties counterpart. He looped the ball over the Geordies head and nipped round him continuing his run. Gazza obligingly fell on his backside.

Everyone in the crowd that night must have had some memory of Frank, and those too young will have been fully informed with a mixture of fact and legend.

He was Unforgettable!

too young to see him play but still a legend

[vegas]

I met Frank last October. I run a pub nr. Halifax and one of the regulars held his wedding reception at ours, with Frank being on of the guests. I've never been more informed about the nightclubs of 70s Leicester and the Leicester "mafia" - a true legend.

[davieG]

Tonight 7.30pm on LFC

not sure if this is on freeview but it's usually free on Sky.

He was one of the most flamboyant footballer's of the 1970s and tonight on LFC TV at 7.30pm this legendary figure reveals all about how he came close to joining Bill Shankly's Red Army.[/color]

In the latest episode of our Red Rivals series Peter McDowall meets Frank Worthington, the much-travelled and highly talented former Huddersfield, Leicester, Bolton, Birmingham, Leeds, Sunderland, Southampton, Tranmere Rovers and England star.

Worthington relfects on his colourful career in the game and talks about his deep respect for Liverpool Football Club, his memories of playing in front of the Kop and the redmen he'd have loved to have played alongside.

The Elvis Presley fan also loosens his vocal chords in tribute to a former Liverpool winger!

This not-to-be-missed interview airs for the first tonight at 7.30pm.

[davieG]

Bump - on now.

[haraven]

I recommend reading his biography, some proper funny stuff in there. He must be the biggest character we've had in this club, and the fact that the lingerie business was big in Leicester at the time he signed - he sure knew how to treat models coming to model lingerie from London...

[Webbo]

I recommend reading his biography, some proper funny stuff in there. He must be the biggest character we've had in this club, and the fact that the lingerie business was big in Leicester at the time he signed - he sure knew how to treat models coming to model lingerie from London...

It is a good read/laugh and it brought up memories of Leicester in the 70s and some of the players of that era too. A good 50% of it though is just bragging about the women he's had.

[Webbo]

An interview with Frank Worthington.

http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/sporting-life/blog/2012-03-05/my-sporting-life-frank-worthington?

It is an hour and a half though.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

"Cowboy" was a great personality as well as a fine player. He would be a Kop idol today.

[davieG]

OS

Posted: Wed 22 Aug 2012

Author: John Hutchinson

Frank WorthingtonImage by: PA Photos

In the latest of his ‘The Week in History’ blogs, Club Historian John Hutchinson recalls the 40th anniversary of a scoring debut by Frank Worthington, one of Leicester City’s all-time great players.

Forty years ago this week , on 23 August 1972, one of the most entertaining players ever to sign for the Foxes scored on his Leicester City debut at Old Trafford. His name was Frank Worthington.

Frank was signed from Huddersfield Town. He arrived in Leicester in the same week as full-back Denis Rofe from Orient who had been signed with a view to replacing David Nish, who was about to leave the Club.

Jimmy Bloomfield had been interested in signing 23-year-old Frank for some time. The matchday programme for Frank’s home debut against Coventry described new signing Worthington as ‘an aggressive powerful striker very much in the traditional centre-forward mould who has just completed a very successful close-season tour with the England Under-23 side’. As subsequent years were to show, this rather understated Frank’s ability as a flair player who entertained the crowd with sublime skill in his role as a rampaging striker.

The programme then alluded to the story behind Frank’s transfer to Leicester City by stating that ‘Now that he has been passed fully fit, he should be just the man to add that extra bite to the City attack’. What the programme did not say was that during the close season it had looked as though Frank would be signing for Bill Shankly at Liverpool. When Frank returned from the England Under-23 tour, Jimmy Bloomfield was waiting for him at Heathrow. So was Bill Shankly. Frank flew to Merseyside with the intention of signing for Liverpool. However, that deal fell through due to Frank’s high blood pressure. This was not unconnected to his good-living lifestyle. Jimmy Bloomfield came back in for Frank, and signed him for £80,000, only two thirds of the amount that Liverpool had been prepared to pay. It was to prove a great deal, both for the Club and the player.

A few days later, Frank had a dream debut for his new club. He scored at Old Trafford in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. After 25 minutes, following a throw-in from Weller, a ball from Birchenall into the box rattled the United defence. Worthington seized the chance by evading Dunne’s tackle, cracking in a left foot shot in at the near post, well away from Stepney in United’s goal. Just before half-time George Best equalised for United, his penalty just beating Peter Shilton.

In the years which followed, Frank’s performances epitomised the style of play that became associated with Jimmy Bloomfield’s time at Leicester. He took centre-stage in a Leicester City side which became one of the most attractive footballing sides in the country. It included such stars as Keith Weller, Lenny Glover, Jon Sammels and Alan Birchenall.

Despite the entertainment, and despite some top-ten finishes and an FA Cup semi -final, Bloomfield’s side never won any silverware. This did not stop Frank from being a great success at Leicester. He played in every match in his first three years at the Club, only missing a handful of games in his five years at Filbert Street during which he played in nearly 250 games, scoring 78 goals. He was top scorer in 1973/74 with 24 goals in the Cup and the League. This form earned him eight England caps between May and November 1974. He scored two goals for England, against Argentina and Bulgaria. For three of these games, his Leicester City team mates Keith Weller and Peter Shilton were in the same England side.

The Bloomfield era ended in disillusionment in 1977, even though Leicester finished 11th in the old First Division. Frank respected Jimmy enormously. Bloomfield’s resignation, combined with Frank’s own personal financial troubles, and the Club losing some of its best players through age and transfers, meant that, eight games into Frank McLintock’s spell as manager in 1977, Frank went to Bolton Wanderers. He later embarked on a footballing odyssey which took him to over a dozen other clubs in England. He also had spells in the USA and South Africa.

Without doubt, though, the most successful five years of Frank’s career were spent at Leicester City. His goal-scoring debut for the Foxes at Old Trafford 40 years ago this week heralded a glorious era of entertaining centre-forward play which will live forever in the minds of those fans lucky enough to have seen him.

[?????]

He is on 'Come Dine with me' today, channel 4 5pm for anyone who is interested.

[Guest]

my favourite player of all time.

 

If he played now he'd be on Suarez money - shame he didn't earn more as a player.

[TrentFox]

does anybody remember in the mid 70's itv had a sort of 'it's a knockout' type programme for all the midland football clubs, with games of skill for the players. wortho pissed it for leicester on his own. he was surounded by dolly birds as they presented him with the trophy. he didn't seem at all interested in the trophy just the women, typical wortho. http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/tongue.png

Possibly my all-time favourite City player. That "it's all in the game" series was made for him ! Seem to recall the trophy had been on show at ground for months before the series went to air !

[surrifox]

great player and enormously entertaining in a wonderful side. What genius decided to boot out a proper footy manager like Bloomfield and replace him with a goober like Mclintock who dismantled one of the best City sides in living memory

[Webbo]

Possibly my all-time favourite City player. That "it's all in the game" series was made for him ! Seem to recall the trophy had been on show at ground for months before the series went to air !

I'm glad someone else remembers it, I was beginning to wonder if I'd imagined it.

[TrentFox]

I'm glad someone else remembers it, I was beginning to wonder if I'd imagined it.

I think it was hosted at Ashton Gate ? Seem to recall it ran for a few series ?? Used to spend hours with mates trying to recreate all the various tests !! Needless to say, I WAS Frankie Wortho !!

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

He is on 'Come Dine with me' today, channel 4 5pm for anyone who is interested.

Thanks, I'm going to watch it then, "Cowboy" was great to see playing, and a true legend. 

[Lookatthebluesky]

Wortho should rightly be considered to be one of the club's greats - the man was a great talent both on and off the field (apparently). He used to live on Scraptoft Lane about a mile from my family home and when you consider the houses that some very average players own today, it's a crying shame that he probably never got paid the millions his talent deserved.

 

A great team to watch as I recall - think that these were all around in the same side - Wortho, Weller, Glover, Whitworth - good days and great memories of days at Filbert Street!

 

He had the left foot of a god!

[gregdj]

great player and enormously entertaining in a wonderful side. What genius decided to boot out a proper footy manager like Bloomfield and replace him with a goober like Mclintock who dismantled one of the best City sides in living memory

 

If my memory serves we correctly, the 'crowd' were calling for Jimmy's dismissal because we only finished 11th out of 22 in the old First Division, and they were particularly vocal after a 0-5 home defeat to WBA near the end of the season.

 

Agree with you entirely about the way JB was treated, should be a salutory lesson to ignor 'Knee-jerk' reactions from the 'experts' on the terraces

[BMR]

He's on come dine with me atm apparently

[Guest MattP]

I named my dog at the time Wortho

Class.

The original wortho the dog he'll leave you a log from WTMG.

[VLC86]

I have came to the conclusion that Bernie is Frank but from a parallel universe where football was banned.

Did anyone see Franks Brazil chant after table football? Defo Bernie

[Ron Combo]

great player and enormously entertaining in a wonderful side. What genius decided to boot out a proper footy manager like Bloomfield and replace him with a goober like Mclintock who dismantled one of the best City sides in living memory

Agree 100%. Jimmy Bloomfield was a real manager and a gentleman (a rare combination).

[1972 Fox]

Frankie Wortho pure genius. Along with Keith Weller in the early to mid/late 70's they were my idols. Happy days from a great nostalgic era. Love the old match of the seventies and star soccer reruns when shown. The sublime skill of players like Wortho on terrible pitches and proper hard tackles flying in.