I suppose it was inevitable, but it was still sad to hear of
John’s unobtrusive departure. It was true that he never really recovered his form
after the Wembley injury. But was it necessary that he should have left incognito? Surely,
we could have been given the opportunity to say goodbye and thanks? Chris Pearce was
granted this in the last home game of the 1991/92 season. Perhaps John preferred to leave
quietly. I hope that was the reason. After all, he contributed so much to the club’s
renaissance.
When John joined from the Blades in January 1990, he was
partnered with ‘Rocket’ Ron Futcher. Talk about the hare and the tortoise!
Fortunately, John had enough pace for both of them. He knew how to finish, too, scoring
twice in his second game at Grimsby. Alas, these were consolations only as Burnley went
down 2-4 at Blundell Park.
John’s partnership with Ron Futcher didn’t bear
fruit immediately. Only sixteen goals, including three penalties and three own goals, were
scored in the final twenty games of that 1989/90 season, with John and Ron contributing
just six of these between them. Perhaps this was because midfielder Winston White spent
too much time running the ball around in circles. However, the following season was one of
fellow fruitfulness. ‘Rocket’ Ron became our leading scorer with eighteen league
goals, followed closely by John, who netted fifteen. Regrettably, their goals were not
enough as Burnley narrowly failed to gain an automatic promotion place from the old Fourth
Division in 1991. Ron’s dismissal at Maidstone (0-1) on April 27th, in one
of the worst Burnley performances I’ve ever seen, probably proved crucial. In any
event, the Clarets failed at the ‘last chance saloon’, with Torquay proving too
robust and well organised over the two play off legs. A youthful Matt Elliott was
outstanding in the heart of the Gulls’ defence, signally a bright future for the
shorn colossus.
The 1991/92 season saw a change of role for John. He was
moved from his previous position as central striker out to the right wing. Although his
strike rate fell (eight goals in thirty-six starts), his effectiveness remained
undiminished. He and fellow wide-man Steve Harper proceeded to tear opponents' flanks to
shreds, setting up copious chances for Mike Conroy, Roger Eli and ‘super sub’
Graham Lancashire. With Jimmy Mullen finally harnessing the Clarets’ individual and
collective talents, John helped power the most mobile strike force seen at Turf Moor for
almost a decade.
John’s speed earned him a place in the BBC’s sprint
challenge for professional footballers, won by John Williams, then of Swansea. Who can
forget the lightning break against promotion rivals Mansfield, which helped secure a
penalty goal for Mike Conroy? Who can forget his blistering goal at Carlisle? Who can
forget the humiliation he exacted upon the painfully pedestrian Northampton defenders in
February 1992? It’s true that Trevor Quow achieved monumental bollardry that night,
but let’s not slight John’s powers. Certainly, his cracking goal was the
crowning glory of a superb team performance (5-0).
There were times when John’s urgency exceeded even his
swiftness of movement. So, sometimes he left the ball behind as he sped away. Sometimes,
he tied himself in knots as his whirring action misfired. But when John did put it
altogether, as at Plymouth in May 1994, he was one of the most potent strikers in the
lower divisions. What’s more, he was the man for the big occasion. His last minute
goal at York in April 1992 indicated that. His brace at Plymouth in 1994 confirmed it. His
goal at Bootham Crescent was not a memorable finish. He simply bundled in Mike
Conroy’s sharp, low cross. But it meant that Burnley went up as champions. By
contrast, his two goals at Plymouth were memorable in themselves; two searing darts
between the hesitant Pilgrim defenders turning the game on its head. Here, John mustered
the perfect riposte to the Home Park racists. In order to emphasise the point; he
celebrated his first goal with a brief and uncertain display of ape-like gestures. That
is, until engulfed by his exultant teammates. But there were no half measures, no
recriminations after scoring his second, killing goal. His sinuous wiggle and bark of
delight simply lit up the away terraces. As for the home crowd, their premature partying
was over. But John, never mind the goals. You deserve to dine out forever on that wiggle
alone.
John, thank you for the pleasure you gave us. You’ll
always be remembered with warmth and appreciation. When you’re scuttling down the
wing at Whitby or wherever, battling with the spattering mud and stinging rain, try
holding onto the memory of that warm May evening when your name travelled all over the
national airwaves.
"And we’ve just heard news of another goal at
Plymouth, so we’re going over to Peter Slater to tell us about it."
"Yes, John, and I can tell you that it’s gone to
Burnley again. It’s that man, Francis, once more; his second inside two minutes. The
second was almost a carbon copy of the first. Picking the ball up just inside the Argyll
half, Francis left two Plymouth central defenders for dead with an explosive burst of
pace. This put him one-on-one with keeper Nicholls, but as Nicholls advanced, Francis
clipped the ball low past the keeper’s left hand. Plymouth 1, Burnley 2."
Goodbye John. Our very best wishes go with you.
John Andrew Francis, born Dewsbury, 21
November 1963.
Burnley career: January 1990 - August 1992, March 1993 - May 1996
Appearances / goals:
League appearances (sub) / goals: 143 (34) / 37
All Cup appearances (sub) /goals: 47 (12)/ 12
Tim Quelch
July 1996
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