|
Neil
Franklin |
Stoke City FC
27 appearances, 0 goals
P 27 W 20 D 3 L 4 F
91:
A 27
80% successful
1946-50
captain: none
minutes played: 2430 |
 |
Profile |
Full name |
Cornelius Franklin |
Born |
24 January 1922 in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent [registered as Cornelius
F., in Stoke-on-Trent, March 1922]. |
Married |
twice, firstly to Vera Goodwin
[registered in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, September 1942], secondly to Beryl D.G. Adams
[registered in Braintree, Essex, September 1968]. |
Died |
9
February 1996 in Stone, aged
74 years 16 days
[registered in Stafford, Staffordhsire, February 1996]. |
Height/Weight |
5'
10 ",
11st.
4lbs [1950]. |
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & FindMyPast.com |
Club Career |
Club(s) |
Began playing football as
a schoolboy in the Potteries area. He joined his local league side, Stoke
City FC, and was playing with their junior side, Stoke Old Boys FC, while
being employed as groundstaff at Victoria Ground. He signed professional
forms with the club in January 1939, and before becoming one of the
leading centre-backs in the country, he guested for Gainsborough Trinity
FC during WWII, and three appearances
for Lincoln City FC. After 108 First Division
appearances, an offer of management with Chingford Town FC in the
summer of 1949 began what turned out to be a turbulent season for
Franklin, Chingford, being a non-league club, were not restricted to
paying the minimum wage. Hull City FC then waded in with a world record
transfer bid of £30,000. However, Franklin re-signed with
Stoke, but the seeds had been sown, and after
another 34 First Division appearances, and with the promise of
untold riches, Franklin, alongside clubmate George Mountford, joined
Bogota club side, Independiente Santa Fe, in Colombia, on 8 May 1950, for
a three-month coaching spell. However, the
country was expelled by FIFA for breaking regulations, and any
players joining were considered rebellious and were also banned. Despite a
£60 per week wage packet, and a £35 win bonus, Franklin
returned to England in August, having played
just six Primera A matches, scoring once, due to political tension
and homesickness, and after serving a four month suspension, he signed
with Hull City FC, who finally got their man for £22,500 in February
1951. Chingford Town FC at this point, had folded.
In September 1953, he was hotly tipped
to join Birmingham City FC or Arsenal FC, but he remained with Hull and
after 95 Second Division appearances, he
joined Crewe Alexandra FC in February 1956 for £1250
and he made 66 Third Division (North)
appearances, scoring four goals. Stockport County FC then paid the
exact same transfer fee for him in October 1957 and
he made a final twenty Third Division (North)
appearances. He was employed by Wellington Town FC as their
player-coach from July 1959. Joined Sankey's FC, a local side also in
Wellington, a year later, playing alongside Henry Cockburn once more, and was their player-manager for the 1961-62
season and until his retirement in December 1962. |
Club honours |
None |
Individual honours |
Football League (five appearances) |
Distinctions |
None |
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
Management Career |
Club(s) |
Began his
coaching career with Wellington Town FC from July 1959, where he also
remained as a player. He was then the player-manager of Sankey's FC for
the 1961-62 season until December 1962. Left for Cyprus in 1963, coaching
Nicosia side Appoel FC from February to November. Returned to become
manager at Colchester United from November 1963 until May 1968; |
Club honours |
None |
England Career |
Player number |
One
of nine who became the 655th
player (659) to appear for England. |
Position(s) |
Centre-half |
First match |
No. 227, 28 September 1946, Ireland 2 England
7, a British Championship match at Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, aged
24 years
247 days. |
Last match |
No. 253, 15 April 1950, Scotland 0 England 1,
a World Cup qualification match and British Championship match at Hampden
Park, Mount Florida, Glasgow, aged 28 years 81 days. |
Major tournaments |
British Championships 1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1949-50; |
Team honours |
British Championships winners 1946-47, 1947-48, 1949-50; |
Individual honours |
England B
(two appearances, 1947-48), England wartime (three appearances) |
Distinctions |
Suspended from
playing for England prior to the 1950 World Cup Finals |
Beyond England |
Ran a bar in Sandon, the Dog and
Doublet, in his latter days. A Stoke City FC shirt and his England
Caps adorned the bar. Also held the pumps at The Bluebell in Shelton, The
Wayfarer in Stone and a public house in Oswaldtwistle. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.101/102. |
Neil Franklin - Career Statistics |
Parties |
Apps |
comp. apps |
Starts |
Sub on |
Sub off |
Mins. |
Goals |
goals ave.min |
comp. goals |
Capt. |
Disc. |
27 |
27 |
12 |
27 |
0 |
0 |
2430 |
0 |
0
min |
0 |
none |
none |
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors. |
Neil Franklin
- Match Record - All Matches |
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts
% |
W/L |
Home |
12 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
40 |
14 |
+26 |
1 |
5 |
3.333 |
1.444 |
75.0 |
+6 |
Away |
15 |
12 |
1 |
2 |
51 |
13 |
+38 |
2 |
7 |
3.40 |
0.867 |
83.3 |
+10 |
All |
27 |
20 |
3 |
4 |
91 |
27 |
+64 |
3 |
12 |
3.37 |
1.00 |
79.6 |
+16 |
Neil Franklin
- Match Record - By Type of Match |
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
WCP
|
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
+11 |
0 |
1 |
4.667 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+3 |
WCF |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
=0 |
World Cup |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
+11 |
0 |
1 |
4.667 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+3 |
British Championship |
12 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
40 |
13 |
+27 |
0 |
5 |
3.333 |
1.083 |
83.3 |
+8 |
Note that the 1949-50
records of the World Cup Preliminaries and British Championships are
duplicated, and one set is therefore deducted from the grand total. |
Friendly |
15 |
11 |
1 |
3 |
51 |
14 |
+37 |
3 |
7 |
3.40 |
0.933 |
76.7 |
+8 |
All |
27 |
20 |
3 |
4 |
91 |
27 |
+64 |
3 |
12 |
3.37 |
1.00 |
79.6 |
+16 |
Neil Franklin
- Match Record - Tournament Matches |
World Cup Preliminary Competition |
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
WCP/BC
1949-50 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
+11 |
0 |
1 |
4.667 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+3 |
WCP All |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
+11 |
0 |
1 |
4.667 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+3 |
British Championship Competition |
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
BC 1946-47 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
3 |
+8 |
0 |
1 |
3.667 |
1.00 |
83.3 |
+2 |
BC
1947-48 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
+5 |
0 |
2 |
2.333 |
0.667 |
83.3 |
+2 |
BC
1948-49 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
5 |
+3 |
0 |
1 |
2.667 |
1.667 |
66.7 |
+1 |
BC/WCP 1949-50 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
+11 |
0 |
1 |
4.667 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+3 |
BC All |
12 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
40 |
13 |
+27 |
0 |
5 |
3.333 |
1.083 |
83.3 |
+8 |
All Competition |
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
WC |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
+11 |
0 |
1 |
4.667 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+3 |
BC |
12 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
40 |
13 |
+27 |
0 |
5 |
3.333 |
1.083 |
83.3 |
+8 |
Note that the 1949-50
records of the World Cup Preliminaries and British Championships are
duplicated, and one set is therefore deducted from the grand total. |
All |
12 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
40 |
13 |
+27 |
0 |
5 |
3.333 |
1.083 |
83.3 |
+8 |
Match History
Club: Stoke
City F.C. - 27 full appearances |
manager: Walter
Winterbottom - 27
full appearancesx
|
|
Age 25 |
5 |
231 |
12 April 1947 - England 1
Scotland 1,
Empire
Stadium, Wembley |
BC |
HD |
Start |
5 |
6 |
232 |
3 May 1947 - England 3
France 0,
Arsenal Stadium, Highbury |
Fr |
HW |
Start |
5 |
7 |
233 |
18 May 1947 - Switzerland
1 England 0,
Hardturm
Stadion, Zürich |
tour |
AL |
Start |
5 |
1 |
b |
21 May 1947 - Switzerland 0 England 0,
Genève |
AD |
Start |
5 |
8 |
234 |
25 May 1947 - Portugal 0
England 10,
Estádio Nacional, Lisboa |
AW |
Start |
5 |
9 |
235 |
21 September 1947
- Belgium 2 England 5,
Stade
du Centenaire, Bruxelles |
Fr |
AW |
Start |
5 |
10 |
236 |
18 October 1947 -
Wales 0 England 3,
Ninian Park, Cardiff |
BC |
AW |
Start |
5 |
11 |
237 |
5 November 1947 -
England 2 Ireland 2,
Goodison Park, Liverpool |
BC |
HD |
Start |
5 |
12 |
238 |
19 November 1947 -
England 4 Sweden 2,
Arsenal Stadium, Highbury |
Fr |
HW |
Start |
5 |
Age 26 |
13 |
239 |
10 April 1948 - Scotland 0
England 2,
Hampden Park,
Glasgow |
BC |
AW |
Start |
5 |
14 |
240 |
16 May 1948 - Italy 0
England 4,
Stadio Comunale di Torino, Torino |
tour |
AW |
Start |
5 |
2 |
b |
19 May 1948 - Switzerland 1 England 5,
Stadio Comunale, Bellinzona |
AW |
Start |
5 |
u/o b |
22
May 1948 -
FC Schaffhausen 0 England 6,
Schaffhausen |
AW |
Start |
5 |
15 |
241 |
26 September 1948 -
Denmark 0 England 0,
Idrætsparken, København |
Fr |
AD |
Start |
5 |
16 |
242 |
9 October 1948 -
Ireland
2 England 6,
Windsor Park, Belfast |
BC |
AW |
Start |
5 |
17 |
243 |
10 November 1948 -
England 1
Wales
0,
Villa Park, Birmingham |
BC |
HW |
Start |
5 |
18 |
244 |
2 December 1948 - England 6
Switzerland 0, Arsenal Stadium, Highbury |
Fr |
HW |
Start |
5 |
Age
27 |
19 |
245 |
9 April 1949 -
England 1
Scotland
3,
Empire
Stadium, Wembley |
BC |
HL |
Start |
5 |
20 |
246 |
13 May 1949 -
Sweden
3 England 1,
Råsunda Fotbollstadion, Solna |
tour |
AL |
Start |
5 |
b |
15 May 1949 - Finland A 0 England 4, Olympiastadion, Helsinki |
AW |
party member |
21 |
247 |
18 May 1949 -
Norway
1 England
4,
Ullevål Stadion, Oslo |
AW |
Start |
5 |
b |
18 May 1949 - Netherlands A 1 England 4,
Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam |
AW |
party member |
22 |
248 |
22 May 1949 -
France
1 England 3,
Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Paris |
AW |
Start |
5 |
23 |
249 |
21 September 1949 -
England 0
Republic of Ireland
2,
Goodison Park, Liverpool |
Fr |
HL |
Start |
5 |
24 |
250 |
15 October 1949 -
Wales
1
England
4,
Ninian Park, Cardiff |
BC/ WCP |
AW |
Start |
5 |
25 |
251 |
16 November 1949 -
England 9
Ireland
2,
Maine
Road, Manchester |
BC/ WCP |
HW |
Start |
5 |
26 |
252 |
30 November 1949 -
England 2
Italy
0,
White Hart Lane, Tottenham |
Fr |
HW |
Start |
5 |
Notes
Neil Franklin was
arguably the finest centre-half the England football team ever had. After
losing his early prime to the Second World War, he became an automatic
choice for his country, only to scupper an apparently gilded career by one
disastrous, if understandable, decision.
When he walked out on Stoke City, turned his back on
England's first World Cup campaign, and flew to Bogota in the summer of
1950, Franklin believed he was heading for a pot of gold and securing his
family's financial future. No more would he be a slave to the English
game's iniquitous system which made players little more than appallingly
paid slaves to their clubs.
But the hoped-for El Dorado in Colombia - then
acrimoniously outside the jurisdiction of the Federation of International
Football Associations - proved to be a sorry illusion, and in less than
two months he was back home in the Potteries, chastened, largely
ostracised and destined for virtual oblivion for the rest of his time as a
player.
Franklin's excellence was never in question from the
day in 1939 that he turned professional with the first division Stoke, his
home-town club. He didn't make his senior debut before the conflict but
was catapaulted to prominence by consistent magnificence in wartime
football, for City, for the RAF, and, eventually, in England's unofficial
victory matches.
When peacetime competition resumed in 1946,
Franklin's full international place was not in doubt, and he cemented it
with a then record 27 consecutive appearances over the next four years.
What made Neil Franklin different as a central
defender was his pure skill. Virtually all stoppers of his era were hunky
bustlers whose brawn and aggression were their paramount assets, but the
Stoke number five adopted a singularly subtle approach. Though firm in the
tackle and competitive in the air - indeed, impressively so for a man of
5ft 11in who weighed just 11 stone - he tended to master his adversaries
by shrewd positional sense and almost uncanny anticipation. Then, having
gained possession of the ball, he could stroke it with masterful accuracy
to which-ever colleague he chose. Invariably, Franklin appeared in command
of a situation, serenely composed, a born organiser, a delight to the eye.
When his decision to leave Stoke for Santa Fe of
Bogota to play in a so-called rebel league became public, bedlam broke out
across the soccer world. As he, together with his City team-mate George
Mountford, flew to South America to earn reportedly 10 times their English
wages, they were slated cruelly as "greedy traitors", some of their most
vociferous critics having a vested interest in the British game's
maintaining its unfair status quo.
Of course, there were sound football reasons why the
27-year-old Franklin should not place himself beyond the pale, and Walter
Winterbottom, the gentlemanly England manager, was among those who had
implored him not to go.
Sadly for the bold adventurer, his idyll did not last
long. Most of Santa Fe's other recruits were Argentinians, with whom the
Stoke pair found it difficult to play. There were also problems settling
in a strange country for Franklin's pregnant wife and his six-year-old son
and the pressure became too much for him to bear. Accordingly, he flew
home to England after less than two months, homesick and disillusioned,
leaving Bogota behind him for ever. Not surprisingly, he was not made
welcome. Suspended for four months by the football authorities and his
club, shunned by some of his erstwhile colleagues, the country's most
accomplished centre-half spent the winter of 1950-51 in a non-productive
limbo which was ended in February by a pounds 22,500 move to the second
division Hull City.
The extent of the widespread feeling against Franklin
could be judged by the fact that none of the major clubs tried to acquire
his proven talent, but that did not bother Hull's boss, Raich Carter. He
had long coveted his former England colleague and reckoned there was no
reason why the centre-half should not return to the international
reckoning at the same time as providing inspiration for the Tigers.
Unfortunately, neither ambition was achieved. Despite
obvious poverty in central defence England never picked Franklin again,
preferring to run through no less than a dozen inferior performers over
the next four years before shifting Billy Wright to fill the troublesome
position. As for his contribution to Hull, it was badly hampered by
injuries and promotion was not achieved.
Thereafter, Franklin's playing days petered out in
poignant anticlimax. There were brief lower-division interludes with Crewe
Alexandra and Stockport County before he moved into non-league circles,
serving the likes of Macclesfield and Wellington Town (whom he also
coached) before he retired in 1962.
However, Franklin was determined to remain in the
game and coached in Cyprus before accepting the manager's seat at the
third division Colchester United in November 1963. He could not prevent
their relegation the following season, but led them straight back up, only
for another demotion to bring about his dismissal in 1968.
In later years, Franklin ran a pub in Oswaldtwistle,
Lancaster. But for that one fateful decision to seek his fortune, there is
no telling what glorious tales of soccer achievement he might have had to
tell his regulars. - Ivan Ponting - The Independent Obituary
____________________
CG
|
|