Tributes have been paid to one of Manchester City’s greatest players after the former striker and chairman Francis Lee died at the age of 79.
Lee became a legend at Maine Road, where he spent eight years as a player, joining City from home town club Bolton Wanderers in 1967 for a club-record £60,000. During his time at City, he won the First Division title in 1968, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup, scoring 148 goals in 330 appearances.
After leaving City he won another league title with Derby in 1975, a spell which is also remembered for an on-pitch fight with the Leeds hard man Norman Hunter.
The footage, which was filmed by Match of the Day, is shared regularly across social media, with the video receiving hundreds of thousands of views. “It’s a good job I didn’t get in the dressing room afterwards,” said Lee. “I might have just been coming out on parole now. It wasn’t playacting you know. He had tapped me on the shoulder, hit me and split my lip with a gold ring.”
Lee was a barrel-chested striker known for his ruthless shot and precision from the penalty spot, once scoring 15 spot-kicks in a single season. A Lee penalty sealed City’s 1970 Cup Winners’ Cup triumph over the Polish side Gornik Zabrze.
In addition to club honours, Lee won 27 caps for England, all while a City player, scoring 10 goals in the process and represented his country at the Mexico World Cup in 1970.
Following retirement Lee moved into business, owning a toilet roll manufacturer. His success allowed him to become the majority shareholder at City in 1994, replacing Peter Swales as chairman.
Lee aimed to reinvigorate City and to make them a Premier League force but by the time he left in 1998, the club were on the brink of relegation to the third tier.
Lee spent time as a horse trainer and received a CBE in 2016 for his services to football and charity.
“A club legend in every sense, Francis made 330 appearances for City, scoring 148 goals,” read a City statement. “He won one First Division title, one FA Cup, one League Cup, a European Cup Winners’ Cup and two Charity Shields during a glittering eight-year spell as a player – a legacy that ensures his position among Manchester City’s all-time greats is secure. He would later return to City as club chairman in 1994, spending four years at the helm.
“Franny passed away in the early hours of this morning after a long battle with cancer. His wife Gill and children Charlotte, Jonny and Nik say he will be sorely missed and would like to thank everyone for their kind words.”
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Lee first came to public attention when he broke into the Bolton side at the age of 16. He was paid by Bolton only for his work on the ground, which included tasks such as painting and sweeping. That was destined to change after he made a goalscoring debut against City. However, it came in a period of decline for Bolton, who were relegated from the top flight in 1964.
Three years later he moved to City and made an immediate impression, being hailed by the manager Joe Mercer as “the final piece in the jigsaw”. Lee starred alongside Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell and Neil Young in the club’s first era of greatness.
Among his playing highlights were the decisive goal in the 4-3 last-day win over Newcastle that secured the title in his first season at Maine Road, the winning penalty against Gornik and a “perfect” hat-trick against Manchester United in 1970.
In 1971-72 he became the first City player to score more than 30 league goals in a season for 35 years by netting 35. He was the club’s leading marksman four times.
Lee was hailed as a returning hero by City fans in 1994 when he took over as chairman, but his early ambitious promises proved way off the mark.
“If cups were awarded for cock-ups, you would not be able to move in City’s boardroom,” Lee later admitted after a series of poor managerial appointments set the club on a downward spiral.
The former City striker Paul Dickov said: “Such sad news to hear of the passing of Francis Lee. A gentleman, proper football man with a great sense of humour. The main reason I signed for Man City with his sheer love for the club and will be forever grateful. Love and condolences to all his family and friends. RIP Mr Chairman.”
The City fan and former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton said: “So saddened to hear of the passing of Francis (Franny) Lee. What a legend of a footballer and a man in general. Never did a man love our club more than this man. On the pitch as a player, off it as a chairman. He was blue through and through.
“Had the pleasure of being in his company so many times. Something I will never forget. A genuine Manchester treasure. Love and condolences to the family RIP Franny the king.”
The former Manchester United keeper Alex Stepney added: “Sad news to hear that Franny Lee has passed away. Great guy, great company, wonderful player, enjoyed going up against Franny and a top City team many times ... RIP Franny.”
