Fraser Franks

Fraser George Franks (born 22 November 1990) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender in the Football League for AFC Wimbledon, Luton Town, Stevenage and Newport County.

Fraser Franks
Franks captaining England C in 2014
Personal information
Full name Fraser George Franks[1]
Date of birth (1990-11-22) 22 November 1990[1]
Place of birth Hammersmith, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
1999–2007 Chelsea
2007–2009 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Brentford 0 (0)
2009–2010 → Basingstoke Town (loan) 13 (2)
2010–2012 AFC Wimbledon 28 (2)
2011 → Hayes & Yeading United (loan) 7 (0)
2012 → Newport County (loan) 1 (0)
2012–2014 Welling United 60 (4)
2014–2015 Luton Town 30 (0)
2015–2018 Stevenage 109 (7)
2018–2019 Newport County 25 (3)
Total 273 (18)
National team
2013–2014 England C 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Brentford

Born in Hammersmith, Greater London,[1] Franks began his career in the youth system at Chelsea.[3] He then joined Brentford as an apprentice in 2007,[4] and was named as a substitute against Swansea City in a League Cup fixture on 12 August 2008.[5] Franks was again an unused substitute for a 2–1 FA Cup defeat away to Barrow on 28 November.[6] He signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2009,[7] though he remained as an unused substitute for the majority of 2009–10 and failed to make an appearance.[8]

In September 2009, after struggling to feature for Brentford, Franks joined Conference South club Basingstoke Town on an initial one-month loan, which was later extended until January 2010.[9] He debuted on 19 September in a 2–1 victory away to Braintree Town and scored his first goal on 24 October in a 2–1 victory at home to Weymouth.[10] Franks' second goal came on 14 November in a 3–2 defeat away to Maidenhead United and completed the loan spell with two goals from 18 appearances.[10] He was not offered a new contract by Brentford and was released by the club in May 2010.[11]

AFC Wimbledon

On 29 July 2010, Franks signed a one-year contract with Conference Premier club AFC Wimbledon.[12] He debuted as an 81st-minute substitute in a 2–1 victory away to Kettering Town on 4 September and scored his first goals in a 3–0 victory at home to Cambridge United on 29 September.[13] Franks went on to make 28 appearances in 2010–11,[13] though he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in a 2–1 defeat away to Grimsby Town on 5 March 2011.[14] He required an operation that ruled him out of action for six months, causing him to miss the 2011 Conference Premier play-off Final victory over Luton Town,[15] and the beginning of AFC Wimbledon's first season in the Football League.[14] Despite this, Franks had made enough appearances to trigger a one-year extension clause in his contract, keeping him at the club until the end of 2011–12.[16]

In September 2011, Franks returned from injury and was loaned to Conference Premier club Hayes & Yeading United to gain match fitness.[17] He debuted on 24 September in a 3–2 defeat at home to Gateshead, finishing the loan spell with seven appearances, but turned down the offer to extend the loan for a further month.[13][18] Franks made his return to the AFC Wimbledon starting lineup away to Swindon Town on 8 November in a Football League Trophy tie, the match finishing 1–1 after extra time.[19] He scored the team's only penalty in the 3–1 penalty shoot-out defeat.[19] On 22 March 2012, Franks joined Conference Premier club Newport County on a one-month loan to play regular first-team football.[20] He made his debut and only appearance for the club two days later in a 2–0 defeat away to Lincoln City.[13] The remainder of his loan spell was hampered by injury.[21] After making only five appearances for AFC Wimbledon in 2011–12,[22] Franks was released by the club in May 2012.[23]

Welling United

On 19 June 2012, Franks signed for Conference South club Welling United.[24][25] After signing, Welling manager Jamie Day claimed Franks had turned down offers from higher leagues to be guaranteed regular first-team football.[24] He debuted on the opening day of 2012–13 in a 1–1 draw at home to Bath City and scored his first goal in the following match, a 3–2 victory over Chelmsford City.[26] Franks finished the season with 43 appearances and four goals,[26] as Welling won the Conference South title and therefore promotion into the Conference Premier.[27] He was named in the Conference South Team of the Year and signed a new one-year contract shortly afterwards.[28][29] Franks made his first appearance of 2013–14 on the opening day of the season in a 2–1 defeat away to Wrexham and went on to make 29 appearances for Welling during the first half of the season.[13]

Luton Town

On 17 January 2014, Franks signed for Conference Premier leaders Luton Town for an undisclosed fee after the club activated a release clause in his contract.[30] Due to bad weather postponing the club's matches throughout much of the rest of January, Franks did not make his debut until 11 February against Macclesfield Town, which finished as a 2–1 victory and was named as man of the match by The Luton News.[31] He made 18 appearances for Luton in the second half of 2013–14,[26] as the club won the Conference Premier title and therefore promotion into League Two.[32] Franks made his first appearance of 2014–15 on 12 August 2014 in a 2–1 defeat at home to Swindon Town in the League Cup first round.[33] He struggled to force his way into the first-team, making just 17 appearances,[33] as Luton finished eighth in League Two,[34] having missed an opportunity to make an impression in the first-team in the absence of first-choice central defenders Luke Wilkinson and Steve McNulty through suspension.[35] After the end of the season, Franks informed the club that he felt his future lay elsewhere and was transfer-listed by manager John Still,[36] before his contract was cancelled a year early by mutual consent on 15 July 2015.[37]

Stevenage

On 17 July 2015, Franks signed for Luton's near-neighbours Stevenage.[38] He debuted on the opening day of 2015–16 in a 2–0 defeat at home to Notts County and scored his first goal in a 2–0 victory at home to Hartlepool United on 22 August.[39] Franks finished the season with 42 appearances and three goals,[39] as Stevenage finished 18th in League Two.[40] He was named Season Ticket Holders Player of the Year, BoroChat Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season presentation night.[41] Franks spent three seasons at Stevenage, making 120 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals.[42]

Newport County

Franks re-signed for fellow League Two club Newport County on 18 June 2018 on a two-year contract.[43] He made his debut on the opening day of the 2018–19 season, starting in the club's 3–0 away defeat to Mansfield Town.[44] Franks scored his first goal for Newport in a 3–2 home win over Notts County on 21 August.[45] He captained Newport in a 2–1 victory at home to Premier League team Leicester City in the FA Cup third round on 6 January 2019.[46]

Franks retired from playing on 21 March 2019, as a result of a heart issue.[47] Franks had made 34 appearances and scored three goals for Newport up to that point in 2018–19.[48] Franks had heart palpitations and chest pains, and had to be taken to hospital by his pregnant wife.[49]

International career

In June 2013, Franks was selected for the England national C team and won his first cap in a 6–1 victory over Bermuda.[50] On 19 November 2013, Franks scored his first international goal in a 2–2 draw with Czech Republic U21, a match in which he also captained the team for the first time.[51] Franks went on to earn five caps for the England C team, captaining the side four times, before becoming ineligible due to Luton Town's promotion to the Football League.

Personal life

Franks is married to former S Club 8 singer Stacey McClean.[47]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford 2008–09[52] League Two 0000000000
2009–10[53] League One 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Basingstoke Town (loan) 2009–10[10] Conference South 13220—3[lower-alpha 1]0182
AFC Wimbledon 2010–11[13] Conference Premier 24220—2[lower-alpha 2]0282
2011–12[22] League Two 4000001[lower-alpha 3]050
Total 282200030332
Hayes & Yeading United (loan) 2011–12[13] Conference Premier 70———70
Newport County (loan) 2011–12[13] Conference Premier 10———10
Welling United 2012–13[26] Conference South 34450—4[lower-alpha 2]0434
2013–14[13] Conference Premier 26030—00290
Total 60480—40724
Luton Town 2013–14[26] Conference Premier 17000—1[lower-alpha 4]0180
2014–15[33] League Two 130301000170
Total 300301010350
Stevenage 2015–16[39] League Two 38320101[lower-alpha 3]0423
2016–17[54] League Two 41310202[lower-alpha 5]1464
2017–18[55] League Two 301101000321
Total 10974040311208
Newport County 2018–19[48] League Two 25350202[lower-alpha 5]0343
Career total 273182407016132019
  1. Two appearances in Hampshire Senior Cup, one in FA Trophy
  2. Appearances in FA Trophy
  3. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  4. Appearance in Bedfordshire Senior Cup
  5. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

AFC Wimbledon

Welling United

Luton Town

Individual

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References
  1. "Fraser Franks". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  2. "Fraser Franks". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  3. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/newport-county-players-wembley-dream-stolen-by-heart-condition-v88lm8cch
  4. "Case study: Fraser Franks" (PDF). League Football Education. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  5. "Swansea 2–0 Brentford". Sky Sports. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  6. "Barrow 2–1 Brentford". Sky Sports. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  7. "His story: Fraser Franks". League Football Education. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  8. "Fraser Franks: 2009/2010". ESPN FC. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  9. Murtagh, Jacob (18 September 2009). "Brentford FC defender goes out on loan". Get West London. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  10. "Fraser Franks appearances: 2009/10 appearances". Basingstoke Town F.C. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017.
  11. "Brentford release Mark Phillips and Steve Kabba". BBC Sport. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  12. Murtagh, Jacob (29 July 2010). "AFC Wimbledon snap up trio". Surrey Herald. Guildford. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
  13. "F. Franks: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  14. Lewis, Matt (6 June 2011). "Dons defender won't be ready for pre-season". Hounslow, Heston & Whitton Chronicle. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013.
  15. Marshall, Steve (21 May 2011). "AFC Wimbledon 0–0 Luton Town (4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  16. "AFC Wimbledon sign defender Mat Mitchell-King". BBC Sport. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  17. Whitney, Steve (23 September 2011). "Franks loaned to Hayes & Yeading". Pitchero Non-League. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  18. "A–Z of Hayes & Yeading United". Hayes & Yeading United F.C. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  19. "Swindon Town 1–1 AFC Wimbledon". Sky Sports. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  20. "Newport County sign defender Fraser Franks on loan". BBC Sport. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  21. "Newport County's top loan stars and the worst flops of the last 10 years". South Wales Argus. Newport. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  22. "Games played by Fraser Franks in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  23. Murtagh, Jacob (9 May 2012). "Brown lifts the lid on Dons cull". Get West London. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  24. "Fraser Franks now has a chance to kick-start his career, says Welling United boss Jamie Day". Kentish Football. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  25. Miles, Greg (20 June 2012). "Franks joins Welling". Kent News. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017.
  26. "Player profiles: Fraser Franks". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  27. "Welling United seal Blue Square Bet South title". BBC Sport. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  28. Doig, Mark (9 June 2013). "Six Kent players in Team of the Year". Kent Sports News. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  29. "Centre back signs new Wings contract". Welling United F.C. 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  30. Panting, Matthew (17 January 2014). "Former AFC Wimbledon and Brentford defender Fraser Franks leaves Welling United to join Skrill Premier title favourites Luton Town". KentOnline. KM Group. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  31. Wood, Mark (11 February 2014). "Lethal Gray sends Hatters six points clear". Luton Today. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  32. "Luton Town win Conference Premier and Football League spot". BBC Sport. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  33. "Games played by Fraser Franks in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  34. "League Two: 2014/15: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  35. Cunliffe, James (25 February 2015). "Luton Town: Luke Wilkinson poised to return to line-up after stand in defenders miss chance to impress". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
  36. Simmonds, Mike (8 May 2015). "Franks expecting to leave Kenilworth Road this summer". Luton Today. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  37. Simmonds, Mike (15 July 2015). "Franks leaves Luton". Luton Today. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  38. "Fraser Franks: Former Luton Town defender joins Stevenage". BBC Sport. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  39. "Games played by Fraser Franks in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  40. "League Two: 2015/16: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  41. Yousif, Layth (16 May 2018). "Stevenage fans' favourite Fraser Franks bows out in gracious style after bidding a fond farewell". The Comet. Stevenage. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  42. "Fraser Franks". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  43. "Fraser Franks joins Newport from Stevenage as Tom Owen-Evans joins Falkirk". BBC Sport. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  44. Penman, Andrew (4 August 2018). "Mansfield Town 3 Newport County 0". South Wales Argus. Newport. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  45. Penman, Andrew (21 August 2018). "Newport County 3 Notts County 2". South Wales Argus. Newport. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  46. Pearlman, Michael (6 January 2019). "Newport County 2–1 Leicester in FA Cup third round". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  47. "Fraser Franks: Newport defender retires because of heart problem". BBC Sport. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  48. "Games played by Fraser Franks in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  49. "'I played Man City on Saturday, by Wednesday I was in hospital' – Fraser Franks". BBC Sport. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  50. Simmonds, Mike (5 June 2013). "Gray skippers England C to huge win in Bermuda". Luton Today. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  51. Simmonds, Mike (20 November 2013). "Hatters duo help England C to Czech Republic draw". Luton Today. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  52. "Games played by Fraser Franks in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  53. "Games played by Fraser Franks in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  54. "Games played by Fraser Franks in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  55. "Games played by Fraser Franks in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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