Francis Lee: Tenacious, skilful and brave – the much-loved Manchester City legend who played with flair and steel

“He had a bustling style and dogged tenacity loved by supporters

He was a passionate centre-forward, a Manchester City legend and an outstanding England international. Joe Mercer said Francis Lee, who has died aged 79, was the final piece of the team that would achieve success at home and abroad with a combination of flair and steel.

Iconic photo of Lee with his hands raised in front of 20,000 traveling Man City fans at Newcastle United, after scoring the goal that won him the First Division title in 1968, captured him perfectly: dynamism, skill, awareness and exuberance.

His courage was as important to his game as his unquestionable ability to find the net. Another unforgettable image of Lee was when he was playing for Derby County, when he and Leeds United’s Norman Hunter got into a fight in midfield exchanging punches.

He scored 143 goals for Man City in all competitions in 320 matches, in which they won the championship in 1968, the FA Cup in 1969 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970 and the League Cup. He spent eight years as a player for the club before joining Derby, where he was part of the team that won the league.

Another iconic moment for Lee was when he returned to Maine Road as a Derby player and scored. His bright smile after scoring made commentator Barry Davies suddenly shout: “Look at his face, just look at his face.”

Lee is a central striker who came out of the difficult and chaotic English football of the 1960s and 1970s. He knew how to look after himself and was very brave in an era where you had to commit an Article 18 foul to get a red card.

He was a member of the England team that lost in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico in 1970. He later said that if Alf Ramsay had chosen him for England’s ill-fated match against Poland in 1973, he would he thought they would. qualified for the 1974 World Cup, rather than face the serious embarrassment of not being able to attend.

Lee was signed from Bolton Wanderers by the management team of Mercer and Malcolm Allison, at the same time as football historian and City pundit Dr Gary James notes that he whose “vibrant and unrelenting perseverance” was appreciated by his supporters. Joe Mercer said of Lee: “Once he gets into the box, he is probably the most dynamic and exciting player in the world.He is squat and strong, and so very, very brave.”

Lee’s confidence in taking penalties was another key part of his game. Lee’s last appearance for City was the notorious Manchester derby on the final day of the 1973-74 season after which he joined Derby. He retired in 1976 and concentrated on the paper manufacturing business he had set up in the 1960s. He also owned and trained race horses.

In a statement, City said: “Everyone at Manchester City sends their condolences to Francis’ friends and family at this extremely difficult time. As a mark of respect, the flags have been flying around the Etihad Stadium and the City Football Team.” Academy. at half mast. Further tributes from the club will follow in the coming days.”

Gary James said: “A World Cup international for England, Francis Lee remains one of Manchester City’s most famous former players and one of the Club’s greatest heroes. Of that famous City team in the late 1960s, Mike Summerbee was the entertainer; Colin Bell the complete dedicated professional; and Lee was the bustling centre forward that would never give up.”

Lee was born in Westhoughton, and sport played a big part in his early life. While training at Horwich Technical College an offer came from Bolton Wanderers: He later recalled: “I went to college in Horwich but left to sign for Bolton. The principal said I was stupid but my father, who had spent forty years working in a cotton mill doing something he didn’t like, said why not give it a crack. He said I could always go back to college if I didn’t make the grade, and the idea was to give myself a year. Within six months I thought I had a chance of making it.”

On Bonfire Night 1960, he made his debut at the age of 16 after only appearing in eight Central League matches. The game was, co-incidentally, against Manchester City and Bolton won 3-1 with Francis marking a superb debut with a goal: “I scored at exactly 3.15. I know because there was a photo of me the next day, heading past Bert Trautmann with the time on the stand clock in the background.”

At Bolton Lee made 210 League and Cup appearances scoring 106 goals. He left in October 1967 to join City. Bolton offered him £150 a week to stay – he was on £30 at the time. The Blues were not the only interested party. Stoke made an offer; Wolves, and Bill Shankly’s Liverpool had also been very interested. But Joe Mercer got his man.

At one point Mercer turned to the player and said: “I hope you will sign. We feel we’ve got the start of a good side. We are just one player short, and we think you are that player. The odd goal or two will turn us into a great team. Within seven months of his arrival the Blues were League Champions for the first time since 1937.

Lee’s last match was for Derby on April 24th 1976. He scored twice against Ipswich in the final few minutes.