Forty Four years ago today, almost twenty one years before Sergio Aguero was born, Manchester City welcomed a record signing striker onto the pitch. The record fee was a mere 60 grand and the striker, was a 5ft 8 (just like Aguero) Francis 'Franny' Lee.
Francis Lee would become and icon for City fans for his playing days. In his first season at Maine Road he netted sixteen times in 31 games, including one in his first derby match. Held at Old Trafford City ran out 3-1 winners with Bell and Heslop getting the other two. He stayed at City until 'that' game at Old Trafford where a certain backheel sent United down in 1974 but would score 112 goals in 248 appearences in the league and adding another 36 goals in 80 of Citys cup games. He also has scored ten goals in Manchester derbies which, as well as endearing him to fans, got him equal to Joe Hayes record.
Part of the trio Bell, Lee and Summerbee he was instrumental in Citys dominance in the late 1960's and early 1970's. As such he played in, and scored in, important games including a goal in the European Cup Winners Cup final and netted five in the process of getting City to the final! As I mentioned earlier he scored 16 goals in his debut season and that helped push City above rivals United to earn the League title. He played in the FA Cup Final the following year and although he didn't get on the scoresheet his goals did help City get to the Final with two against Blackburn in Round 5 and the only goal in the Spurs game in the next.
Along with the ECWC in 1970, City also won the League Cup. In the Final they beat out West Brom and again Lee didn't score in the Final but did score important goals on the way there, including one against United in the Semi Final first leg.
His best season, goal wise, was ironically when Joe Mercer stepped down as Manager on October 7th 1971. With Malcolm Allison now at the helm Lee would go onto score 33, yes 33 League goals in 42 games. Twelve of these were from the spot though which helped Lee obtain the name of 'Lee One Pen' and then later 'Lee Won Pen'. This led to accusations of diving and led to an on pitch fight in one game involving Leeds United's Norman Hunter. This happened after Lee had moved on from City but it still is fun to write about. Both threw punches and then both found themselves walking to their respective changing rooms. However everything Lee touched on the football field turned to gold and even this event was given an award....eventually, The Observer named it 'sport's most spectacular dismissal'.
Off the field Lee wasn't to shabby either. He entered business and his paper recycling business made him a millionaire. Back then football players had to invest wisely, have a good business head or a very lucrative testimonial game in order to survive after their playing days had finished.
With Peter Swales ruining his beloved club Lee became front runner and the fans favorite to take over and al the blue stars aligned in 1994 when Lee bought out Swales for a mere 3million. His time of the field at City were not as fruitful as he claimed they would be when he returned but this was not his fault entirely. He stepped down in 2008 and David Bernstein took control with City on the verge of relegation into the third tier of English football. It should not be forgotton though that Lee wanted a strong youth set up at City and was a key person at the early stages of a move to the Commonwealth Stadium, at the time unbuilt and both of these would be crucial for the future of the Club.
Written By: PA Cityboy (www.facebook.com/pacityboy)
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