Frank Worthington: Difference between revisions
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Worthington also displayed great flair on the pitch. On top of his great skill, he did not wear shin guards and his socks often fell to his ankles. By today's standards, he was practically naked. Speaking of naked, Worthington had the reputation for enjoying the high life. Following retirement from the game Frank turned to the after-dinner speaking circuit and also published his autobiography ''"One Hump Or Two".'' The front cover featured a smiling Frank contemplating putting lumps of sugar in his cup of tea with the book title also alluding to his interest in the ladies. |
Worthington also displayed great flair on the pitch. On top of his great skill, he did not wear shin guards and his socks often fell to his ankles. By today's standards, he was practically naked. Speaking of naked, Worthington had the reputation for enjoying the high life. Following retirement from the game Frank turned to the after-dinner speaking circuit and also published his autobiography ''"One Hump Or Two".'' The front cover featured a smiling Frank contemplating putting lumps of sugar in his cup of tea with the book title also alluding to his interest in the ladies. |
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Worthington is remembered for scoring one of the most remarkable goals in English football when playing for Bolton Wanderers v Ipswich Town on 21 April 1979. Having his back to goal at the edge of the 18 yard box, with the Ipswich Town defence moving out to play the offside-trap, he controlled the aerial ball with his knee, kept it up twice with his foot whilst moving away from goal before flicking it over his head, wrong-footing the defenders, to turn and volley it past the 'keeper. In 1979, while on loan to the Philadelphia Fury against the Cosmos at Franklin Field, Frank scored another memorable goal. Worthington lined up to take a free kick. He took it with his left foot. It swerved, it curled. The goalkeeper stood transfixed expecting it to go high and wide. The curl continued until the ball found its way into the extreme upper-left corner |
Worthington is remembered for scoring one of the most remarkable goals in English football when playing for Bolton Wanderers v Ipswich Town on 21 April 1979. Having his back to goal at the edge of the 18 yard box, with the Ipswich Town defence moving out to play the offside-trap, he controlled the aerial ball with his knee, kept it up twice with his foot whilst moving away from goal before flicking it over his head, wrong-footing the defenders, to turn and volley it past the 'keeper. In 1979, while on loan to the Philadelphia Fury against the Cosmos at Franklin Field, Frank scored another memorable goal. Worthington lined up to take a free kick. He took it with his left foot. It swerved, it curled. The goalkeeper stood transfixed expecting it to go high and wide. The curl continued until the ball found its way into the extreme upper-left corner of the near post. The goalie never moved. Both fans and players were equally stunned. The ball must have begun its flight 15 yards wide. Beckham could have learned a thing or two from that "banana ball." |
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In 1984, Worthington made three guest appearances for [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] against the [[Australia national football team|Australian national team]], [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] and [[Juventus F.C.|Juventus]] on their post-season tour of [[Australia]]. He then made a further guest appearance for the club in May 1985 against an [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] XI for [[Peter Foley]]'s testimonial. |
In 1984, Worthington made three guest appearances for [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] against the [[Australia national football team|Australian national team]], [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] and [[Juventus F.C.|Juventus]] on their post-season tour of [[Australia]]. He then made a further guest appearance for the club in May 1985 against an [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] XI for [[Peter Foley]]'s testimonial. |
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Revision as of 03:15, 17 July 2012
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frank Stewart Worthington | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1972 | Huddersfield Town | 171 | (41) |
| 1972–1977 | Leicester City | 210 | (72) |
| 1977–1979 | Bolton Wanderers | 84 | (35) |
| 1979 | → Philadelphia Fury (loan) | 21 | (10) |
| 1979–1982 | Birmingham City | 75 | (29) |
| 1980 | → Mjällby AIF (loan) | 12 | (4) |
| 1981 | → Tampa Bay Rowdies (loan) | 26 | (11) |
| 1982 | Leeds United | 32 | (14) |
| 1982–1983 | Sunderland | 19 | (2) |
| 1983–1984 | Southampton | 34 | (4) |
| 1984–1985 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 31 | (7) |
| 1985–1987 | Tranmere Rovers | 59 | (21) |
| 1987 | Preston North End | 23 | (3) |
| 1987–1988 | Stockport County | 19 | (6) |
| 1988 | Cape Town Spurs | ||
| 1988 | Chorley | 3 | (0) |
| 1988–1989 | Stalybridge Celtic | ||
| 1989 | Galway United | 2 | (0) |
| 1989 | Weymouth | 4 | (1) |
| 1989–1990 | Radcliffe Borough | ||
| 1990 | Guiseley | 2 | (0) |
| 1990–1991 | Hinckley Town | ||
| 1991 | Cemaes Bay | 1 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | Halifax Town (player-coach) | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1974 | England | 8 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1985–1987 | Tranmere Rovers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Frank Stewart Worthington (born 23 November 1948) is a former English footballer. Frank was born into a footballing family in Shelf near Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire. Both of his parents had played the game and his two older brothers, Dave and Bob, became professional footballers, both began their careers with Halifax Town. His nephew Gary was also a professional footballer.
Playing career
Worthington began his career as a forward for Huddersfield Town in 1966 before playing for Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City, Leeds United, Sunderland, Southampton, Brighton and Hove Albion, Tranmere Rovers, Preston North End, Stockport County and Galway United. Worthington played into his 40s making 757 English League appearances and scoring 234 goals. He also played in the United States (with NASL teams Philadelphia Fury and Tampa Bay Rowdies), South Africa, Sweden and in English non-League football.[1]
Worthington's spell at Tranmere Rovers was as player-manager and although he had some success he did not return to management.
Worthington also displayed great flair on the pitch. On top of his great skill, he did not wear shin guards and his socks often fell to his ankles. By today's standards, he was practically naked. Speaking of naked, Worthington had the reputation for enjoying the high life. Following retirement from the game Frank turned to the after-dinner speaking circuit and also published his autobiography "One Hump Or Two". The front cover featured a smiling Frank contemplating putting lumps of sugar in his cup of tea with the book title also alluding to his interest in the ladies.
Worthington is remembered for scoring one of the most remarkable goals in English football when playing for Bolton Wanderers v Ipswich Town on 21 April 1979. Having his back to goal at the edge of the 18 yard box, with the Ipswich Town defence moving out to play the offside-trap, he controlled the aerial ball with his knee, kept it up twice with his foot whilst moving away from goal before flicking it over his head, wrong-footing the defenders, to turn and volley it past the 'keeper. In 1979, while on loan to the Philadelphia Fury against the Cosmos at Franklin Field, Frank scored another memorable goal. Worthington lined up to take a free kick. He took it with his left foot. It swerved, it curled. The goalkeeper stood transfixed expecting it to go high and wide. The curl continued until the ball found its way into the extreme upper-left corner of the near post. The goalie never moved. Both fans and players were equally stunned. The ball must have begun its flight 15 yards wide. Beckham could have learned a thing or two from that "banana ball."
In 1984, Worthington made three guest appearances for Manchester United against the Australian national team, Nottingham Forest and Juventus on their post-season tour of Australia. He then made a further guest appearance for the club in May 1985 against an Oxford United XI for Peter Foley's testimonial.
He signed for Galway United in February 1989.[2]
International career
Worthington won eight caps for England in 1974, scoring two goals, during his time at Leicester City.
Worthington further represented England in the 1991 edition of the World Cup of Masters, scoring in the opening round against Uruguay.
Personal life
Frank is married to the daughter of Noel Dwyer.
Honours
- Football League Second Division Champions: 1969–70
- Football League First Division Runners-up: 1983–84
- Football League First Division Leading Goalscorer Season: 1978–79
Notes
- ^ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/1018904/the-mavericks:-frank-worthington?cc=5901
- ^ "Monday, February 13, 1989 - Page 004". The Irish Times. 1989-02-13. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
References
- Frank Worthington (1994). One Hump or Two?. Polar Print Group. ISBN 1-899538-00-3.
External links
- People from Halifax, West Yorkshire
- English footballers
- Association football forwards
- The Football League players
- First Division/Premier League topscorers
- England international footballers
- Huddersfield Town F.C. players
- Leicester City F.C. players
- Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
- Birmingham City F.C. players
- Leeds United A.F.C. players
- North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players
- Philadelphia Fury players
- Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) players
- Sunderland A.F.C. players
- Southampton F.C. players
- Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
- Tranmere Rovers F.C. players
- Preston North End F.C. players
- Stockport County F.C. players
- League of Ireland players
- Galway United F.C. players
- Mjällby AIF players
- Expatriate footballers in Sweden
- 1948 births
- Living people