Neil Franklin
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Cornelius Franklin[1] | ||
Date of birth | 24 January 1922[1] | ||
Place of birth | Shelton, Staffordshire, England[1] | ||
Date of death | 9 February 1996 | (aged 74)||
Place of death | Stoke-on-Trent, England | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1939–1950 | Stoke City | 142 | (0) |
1950 | Independiente Santa Fe | 6 | (1) |
1951–1956 | Hull City | 95 | (0) |
1956–1957 | Crewe Alexandra | 66 | (4) |
1957–1958 | Stockport County | 20 | (0) |
1960–1961 | Macclesfield Town | 13 | (1) |
Total | 342 | (6) | |
International career | |||
1946–1950 | England | 26 | (0) |
Managerial career | |||
1963–1964 |
APOEL | ||
1964–1968 | Colchester United | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Cornelius "Neil" Franklin (24 January 1922 – 9 February 1996) was an English footballer who played for Crewe Alexandra, Hull City, Stockport County and Stoke City as well as the England national team.[1][2]
Playing career
Stoke City
Franklin was born in
Stoke narrowly missed out on their first league title in 1946–47 losing their must win match against Sheffield United 2–1.[2] Stoke manager Bob McGrory was becoming frustrated with his side's best players, and after selling Stanley Matthews to Blackpool and his gripe soon turned to Franklin. McGrory wanted him to play the ball earlier rather than keep possession and be more physical in his defensive work which led him to handing the captaincy back to Mould. McGrory's campaign against him eventually led Franklin to announcing his intentions to leave Stoke in the summer of 1949.[2] A world record bid of £30,000 from Hull City was mooted but the Stoke directors rejected Franklin's request and he re-signed four games into the 1949–50 season. However, he won a large bet of £250 which gave him the confidence to make an astonishing announcement to the football world.[2] He declined a place in the England squad for the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, saying that his wife was due to give birth in the summer and he was to spend time playing in Colombia for Independiente Santa Fe.[2]
Move to Colombia
Santa Fe's president, Luis Robledo, had studied at Cambridge and believed that high quality football could put an end to the
Return to England
On his return to England Franklin faced the wrath of the Football Association and Stoke who suspended him indefinitely and then sold him to Hull City in February 1951 for £22,500.[2] Damaged knee ligaments restricted Franklin's movement and he failed to reach his former high standards. In February 1956 he joined Crewe Alexandra and then ended his career with Stockport County and finally non-league Macclesfield Town.[2]
Managerial career
In 1961 Franklin became player-manager at Wellington Town, Shropshire [renamed Telford United in 1969 after the new town Development], joining former England player, Johnny Hancocks. He returned to Europe in 1963 and managed
Recognition
- Neil was a superb stylist with an instinctive positional sense. His international career ended when he was suspended for becoming a mercenary in the outlawed Bogotá league. If Neil had been satisfied with the maximum £20 he was earning at Stoke City, he would have played for England for at least another four years, and I often wonder what difference that would have made to my career.
Stanley Matthews also rated Franklin:
- Neil won everything in the air, tackled with superb timing and when the ball was at his feet possessed the nous to pass it with all the guile and intelligence of the most cerebral of inside-forwards. An erect physique belied tremendous mobility and breathtaking speed over four or five yards.
Tom Finney also selected Neil Franklin for his Dream Team:
- (Neil Franklin was) the best centre-half I ever played with or against. Just before the 1950 World Cup, he went off to play in Colombia, thinking he was going to make a bit of money, but it didn't work out. When he came back, the FA were furious and clubs wouldn't touch him. He was still good enough to play for England, though. It was very sad.
Legacy
In August 2019, the story of Neil Franklin's life and career was published in a book entitled England's Greatest Defender: The Untold Story of Neil Franklin by author Alfie Potts Harmer; the creator of the YouTube channel HITC Sevens and a fan of
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Stoke City | 1945–46 | – | – | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
1946–47 | First Division | 37 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
1947–48 | First Division | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
1948–49 | First Division | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
1949–50 | First Division | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
Total | 142 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 162 | 0 | ||
Independiente Santa Fe
|
1950–51 | Categoría Primera A | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Hull City | 1950–51 | Second Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
1951–52 | Second Division | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
1952–53 | Second Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
1953–54 | Second Division | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
1954–55 | Second Division | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
1955–56 | Second Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Total | 95 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 96 | 0 | ||
Crewe Alexandra | 1955–56 | Third Division North | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
1956–57 | Third Division North | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
1957–58 | Third Division North | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
Total | 66 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 4 | ||
Stockport County | 1957–58 | Third Division North | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
Macclesfield Town | 1960–61[5] | Cheshire League | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
Career Total | 342 | 6 | 27 | 0 | 369 | 6 |
International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
England | 1946 | 4 | 0 |
1947 | 8 | 0 | |
1948 | 6 | 0 | |
1949 | 7 | 0 | |
1950 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 26 | 0 |
References
- ^ ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
- ^ ISBN 1-874287-55-4.
- ISBN 978-1910453797.
- ^ Neil Franklin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ "Cheshire League - 1960-61". Silkmen Archive.
- ^ Franklin, Neil at National-Football-Teams.com
External links
- Neil Franklin at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- Neil Franklin profile on Stoke City hall of fame
- profile at Spartacus Educational
- Neil Franklin: A Career Destroyed in Six Matches