Sean Francis (footballer)

Sean Robert Francis (born 1 August 1972) is a former footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham City and Northampton Town, and in the League of Ireland for Cobh Ramblers, Shamrock Rovers and Longford Town. He played as a forward.

Sean Francis
Personal information
Full name Sean Robert Francis[1]
Date of birth (1972-08-01) 1 August 1972
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Kildare Town AFC
Number 9
Youth career
1988–1990 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1992 Birmingham City 6 (0)
1991–1992 → Cobh Ramblers 12 (5)
1992–1993 Telford United 34 (7)
1993 → Worcester City ? (1)
1993 Northampton Town 1 (0)
1993–1995 Cobh Ramblers 60 (14)
1995–2002 Shamrock Rovers 144 (42)
1998–1999 → Cobh Ramblers 28 (9)
2002–2004 Longford Town 53 (14)
2004–2005 Kildare County 24 (7)
2012–present Kildare Town ? (?)
National team
1994 League of Ireland XI 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Francis was born in Birmingham. He began his football career as a trainee with Birmingham City in 1988, and turned professional with that club in 1990.[1] He made his Football League debut on 19 January 1991, as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat to Cambridge United in the Third Division, and made two more appearances from the bench that season.[2] He spent time on loan at League of Ireland club Cobh Ramblers,[1] for whom he made a scoring debut at home to UCD on 6 October 1991,[3] before returning to Birmingham to make three more substitute appearances without scoring.[2]

He joined Telford United of the Conference in July 1992,[4] and played on loan for Worcester City in the Southern League,[1] scoring once.[5] At the beginning of the 1993–94 season, he played once for fourth-tier club Northampton Town,[6] before moving to Ireland to rejoin Cobh Ramblers.[1]

Francis joined Shamrock Rovers in 1995 and made his debut in August against St James's Gate. He went on to spend eight seasons at Rovers, during which he played twice in the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup.[7] In October 1998 he went back to Cobh Ramblers on loan for the season.[8]

Francis joined Longford Town in November 2002 and scored in that season's FAI Cup Final at Lansdowne Road as Longford won the first senior title in their history.[9]

In August 2004 Francis moved to Kildare County F.C..[10] His last League of Ireland goal was scored at St Colman's Park on 21 May 2005. He retired at the end of the 2005 League of Ireland season.

He served as the assistant manager of Waterford United until May 2008.[11]

Francis is playing Saturday evening over-35s football with Kildare town AFC starting as their center forward, and has led them to double league and cup win during their 2013–2014 season.[12]

Honours
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References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  2. Matthews, Complete Record, pp. 226–27.
  3. "The Irish Times - Login Required". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. Harman, John, ed. (2005). Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 683, 694. ISBN 978-1-869833-52-7.
  5. "Worcester City All Time Player Statistics". Worcester City FC Archive. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  6. "Northampton Town : 1946/47 – 2010/11". UK A–Z Transfers. -Neil Brown. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  7. "Rovers pipped at post". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  8. George, Conor (5 October 1998). "Francis makes a dream debut as Ramblers topple leaders". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 14 May 2003.
  9. "Longford make history". eleven-a-side.com. 26 October 2003. Archived from the original on 24 April 2007.
  10. "Premier Division duo join Kildare". Breaking News. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  11. "Francis resigns from Waterford post". RTÉ Sport. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  12. "Sean Francis-Kildare Town-E074". adrianmeliaphoto.com. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
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