Willis Francis

Last updated

Willis Francis
Personal information
Full name Willis David Francis
Date of birth (1985-07-26) 26 July 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Basford United (manager)
Youth career
1999–2002 Notts County
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2002–2004 Notts County 12 (0)
2004 → Grantham Town (loan) 3 (0)
2004–2005 Grantham Town 61 (3)
2005–2007 Rugby Town 43 (3)
2007–2008 Glapwell
2008 Rugby Town 12 (0)
2008–2009 Carlton Town
2009 Hucknall Town
2009–2010 Rainworth Miners Welfare
2010–2012 Arnold Town
2012–2015 Basford United
Managerial career
2017–2018 Long Eaton United
2025– Basford United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:48, 28 August 2011 (UTC)

Willis David Francis (born 26 July 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League. He is currently manager of Basford United.

Contents

Career

Francis came through the youth team of Notts County and made his debut for the club whilst he was a third year apprentice, in a 1–1 draw with Blackpool on 30 November 2002. In February 2004 he joined Grantham Town on work experience. [1] He was released by County in March 2004 and rejoined Grantham for the remainder of the 2003–04 season, and was named Player of the Year in the following season for the club. [1] In November 2005 he joined Southern League Premier Division side Rugby Town on a free transfer and made his debut in the same month away at Northwood. [2] He missed part of the 2005–06 season due to a family illness. [2] His first goal for the club came in the 2006–07 season against Aylesbury United in December. [2] He left in September 2007 to join Northern Counties East League side Glapwell, but rejoined Rugby in January 2008 following Rod Brown's appointment. [2] However, in March 2008 he was released from the club having failing to nail down a regular spot in the team. [3]

After a spell as assistant manager at Basford United, in December 2017 Francis was appointed joint manager of Long Eaton United alongside Martin Clarke. [4] They left the club the following year. In January 2025 Francis was appointed manager of Basford. [5]

Related Research Articles

Nathan Tyson is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Clay Cross Town. He represented the England under-20 team in February 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saul Deeney</span> Irish footballer

Saul Deeney is an Irish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Basford United, where he is also assistant manager. He represented the Republic of Ireland at Youth and under-21 level. He had previously played at semi-professional level for Basford United. ref>"Saul Deeney - First Team - Basford United Football Club". Archived from the original on 4 March 2017.</ref> while also coaching at Notts County as of February 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Eustace</span> English football coach and player

John Mark Eustace is an English professional football coach and former player who is currently head coach of EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers.

Carlton Lloyd Palmer is an English football manager, former footballer and football television pundit whose last management role was as manager of Grantham Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Flynn (footballer)</span> Welsh association football player and manager

Michael John Samuel Flynn is a Welsh professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently the manager of EFL League Two side Cheltenham Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Murray</span> Professional footballer (born 1981)

Adam David Murray is an English football manager and former professional footballer who is the manager at National League South club Eastbourne Borough. A creative midfielder, he made over 500 appearances in a 17-year playing career in the Premier League, Football League and Football Conference.

Martin Wyllie McIntosh is a Scottish football manager and former professional football player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darron Gee</span> English football manager

Darron Gee is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He was most recently the assistant manager of York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Bastock</span> English association football player

Paul Anthony Bastock is an English professional football manager and former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently assistant manager at National League South club St Albans City.

Mark McKay Fotheringham is a Scottish football coach and former player, whose most recent job was as head coach of EFL Championship club Huddersfield Town.

David James Gilbert is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder from 1981 until 2009. He is currently employed as assistant manager at Lincoln United.

Gary Crosby is an English footballer who played as a midfielder.

Shaun Nicholas Harrad is an English footballer who plays as a forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Sheridan</span> English footballer

Jake Sheridan is an English football coach and former footballer.

Grant Ashley Brown is an English football coach and former professional player.

Terence Maurice Fleming is an English football manager, coach and former professional footballer.

Martin George Carruthers is an English former footballer who played as a forward for Aston Villa, Hull City, Stoke City, Peterborough United, York City, Darlington, Southend United, Scunthorpe United, Macclesfield Town, Boston United, Lincoln City and Cambridge United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Chapman</span> Northern Irish footballer (born 1989)

Adam Henry Chapman is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Retford United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Lindsey</span> English footballer

Scott Lindsey is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Gillingham. He is the manager of EFL League Two side Milton Keynes Dons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Platt</span> English association football player

Thomas Christopher Platt is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League North club Darlington.

References

  1. 1 2 "Willis Francis Player Profile". 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Willis Francis". 28 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  3. ↑ "One Midfielder In - One Out at Rugby". 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Duo are in it for the long haul". The Non-League Football Paper. 3 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "New management team announced". Basford United FC. 26 January 2025.

]

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.