Simon Francis (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Simon Francis


fullname = Simon Charles Francis
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|2|16|df=y
cityofbirth = Nottingham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Southend United
clubnumber = 2
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2002–2004
2004–2006
2005
2005–2006
2006–
clubs = Bradford City
Sheffield United
→ Grimsby Town (loan)
→ Tranmere Rovers (loan)
Southend United
caps(goals) = 55 (1)
12 (0)
05 (0)
17 (1)
70 (3)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 18:44, 7 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Simon Charles Francis (born 16 February 1985 in Nottingham, England) is a football player playing for Southend United. A former England Under-21 international,Fact|date=June 2008 he is a powerful player who can fill numerous defensive and midfield slots.

Playing career

Francis was rejected as a youngster by both hometown clubs Notts County [cite news
url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2005/02/10/sport_features_2005_02_footballers_that_got_away_feature.shtml
title=The ones that got away
publisher=BBC Nottingham
date=10 February 2005
accessdate=2008-01-24
first=Alex
last=Walker] and Nottingham Forest.cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2002/11/14/119528.html
title=Bantams hit 'crisis level'
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
date=14 November 2002
accessdate=2008-01-24] Instead he joined Bradford City as a trainee in 2002 after being spotted playing for South Nottingham College. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2002/11/15/119459.html
title=Francis in at the deep end
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
date=15 November 2002
accessdate=2008-01-24] He made his debut for City on 16 November 2002 against Nottingham Forest days after he came on as substitute for England under 18s against France. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2002/12/3/118716.html
title=Francis making a big impression
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
date=3 December 2002
accessdate=2008-01-24] He made more than 50 starts for the Bantams before he being sold for £200,000 by the administrators in 2004. City 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. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2004/3/13/102128.html
title=Simon says: I choose United
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
date=13 March 2004
accessdate=2008-01-24]

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 season 2005–06 on loan with Grimsby Town and then Tranmere Rovers. His final appearance in a Blades shirt was as a late substitute at Luton in the penultimate game of the season.

Despite featuring in the League One's Team of the Season, Francis was made available for transfer in May 2006. Southend's manager Steve Tilson, who had worked with the young player at England U-21 level, secured the services of the talented defender. Francis signed for an undisclosed fee from the Blades on 13 June 2006, agreeing a three-year deal with the Shrimpers as they prepared for a return to the Football League Championship.

He made his Southend debut in a 1–0 victory over Chelmsford City.

He scored his first goal for Southend in the 3-1 defeat to Ipswich at Roots Hall, controlling a pass, cutting inside the defender, and sliding the ball home with his left foot.

In June 2008, he was initially transfer listed by Southend United after he failed to agree a new contract, but two weeks later he signed for another two years with Southend. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/7458955.stm
title=Francis set to stay at Southend
date=2008-06-17
accessdate=2008-06-17
publisher=BBC Sport]

Career statistics

"Table includes all league and cup appearances"

References

External links

*soccerbase|33766|Simon Francis