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Trevor Francis opens up on pain of losing his wife, his relationship with Brian Clough and THAT goal

& # 39; When I sit in my garden and close my eyes, I see that goal still in Munich. A zero, give me the European Cup. Thank you very much . & # 39; – Brian Clough

The man who made his manager's dreams come true, that the night in Bavaria is sitting quietly at a table in Leicester. Nearly 40 years have passed since Trevor Francis, the pipe read cleaner and elusive as smoke, stretched to the distant post to meet John Robertson and led Nottingham Forest in football folklore.

He remembers how fast I had to run to meet that ball. He remembers what it felt like to fall and bounce from the rubber surface of the shotgun circle of the Olympic Stadium that was just next to the field, next to the goal. He remembers the pressure he felt as the first player of millions of pounds; remembers the elation and relief when his goal Forest yielded a 1-0 win over Malmo.

<img id = "i-fc8dc474d5c1469" src = "https://dailym.ai/2UhZYDD -0-image-a-6_1555097085145.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" The first million football player in England, Trevor Francis, sits down to talk to Sportsmail. "Trevor Francis sits down to talk with

Sportsmail

& # 39; It was a magical moment & # 39 ;, says Francis. & # 39; I used to write a column for the Roy of the Rovers comic and this was my own Roy of the Rovers moment. A European debut in a cup final and the winning goal. Nobody had ever done that, right? Maybe Roy Race did it, I don't know. "

Francis is now 64 and has the full heart of football memories after more than 30 years in the game. He also still bears the pain of the two toughest years of his life. His wife Helen was in lost to cancer in April 2017 and, in his own words, Francis did not fully adhere to it. & # 39; When you join the first team, you don't think football will ever stop, and I didn't think Helen and I would ever quit. She was my best friend and I could not have done anything I would have done without her. We have been married for 43 years. You know, every day is difficult. I get pretty lonely. I have to. & # 39;

The day Trevor Francis went from Birmingham to Nottingham Forest for £ 1m in February 1979, I arrived in a Jaguar on the City Ground. His wife was wearing a fur coat.

Author Duncan Hamilton has described it as the day that English football is the belu ids barrier broke. Brian Clough, the Forest Manager, arrived in shorts and was wearing a squash racket. He was the one who was the target. & # 39; That was not true & # 39 ;, Francis laughs. & # 39; It was £ 1,150,000. Cloughie tried to relieve me of the pressure.

<img id = "i-c581989c3f8ada78" src = "https://dailym.ai/2Z7NxOz -7_1555097104806.jpg "height =" 421 "width =" 634 "alt =" Francis is in the winning goal for Nottingham Forest in the final of the 1979 European Cup "class =" blkBorder img-share "

At the end of the European Championship, Francis leads the winning goal for Nottingham Forest in the European Cup Final of 1979

Francis came to Forest as an international English with a history of a quick start. I joined Birmingham when I was 16, hoping to form the youth team and went straight to the first XI.

Dubbed & # 39; Superboy & # 39 ;, the BBC Sports Report program has started broadcasting with the spirited observation. : & # 39; Trevor Francis did not score today & # 39; and yet the superstar who arrived at Forest eight years later was actually quite nervous.

& # 39; It was no different than when I first joined the English team & # 39 ;, he says. & # 39; You are trying to look and I did when I arrived to draw. It was a great opportunity.

& # 39; The other boys clearly looked at me. Is it a great time, Charlie? What is he like? But they didn't have to worry. Cloughie had already put Kenny Burns into shape. If I could do that, I wouldn't have any problems with me. Francis speaks with Ian Ladyman prior to the launch of his new book on Monday "class =" 0 "/> span> span> </

< img id = "i-698f8b9712b28aa5" src = "https://dailym.ai/2UhZZaF" height = "436" width = "634" alt = "<img id =" i-698f8b9712b28aa5 "src =" https://dailym.ai/2Z94iZK 18_1555101322816.jpg "height =" 436 "width =" 634 "alt =" [Francis]] Francis speaks with Ian Ladyman prior to the launch of his new book on Monday

The story of Francis & # 39; s first run-out in the Bos comic strip is known.With the postponement of Forest & # 39; s first team, Francis played that Saturday morning for the & # 39; A & # 39; team on a campsite by the river de Trent, his manager was just one of the 20 spectators, plus dogs.

& # 39; Don't say anything, but then it could be & # 39 ;, Francis laughs. & # 39; I just think nobody knew.

When Forest reached the European Cup Final, Clough left the team a squadron cut in white wine the night before and left Martin O'Neill to sign his record with his team.

Neill reminds him of this every time they meet, but he can't get the last word before eleven. & # 39; Robbo was the best player in Europe, but was probably never recognized as such because he was Scottish and not English, "he said. says Francis. & # 39; But we knew what his value was.

& # 39; The boss was his favorite, but we accepted it because we knew that Robbo would take us to where we all wanted to go.

& # 39; Clough would tell us to give Robbo the ball. Stan Bowles said, "Enough about Robbo. Give me the f ****** ball." Stan didn't last long in Forest. "

Clough had a photo of the Francis goal on his desk for a while. For everything the big man has achieved in the club – including two European Cups and the League title – that moment stands out.

Francis (second from left) celebrates with (LR) Viv Anderson, Frank Clark and Garry Birtles

<img id = "i-23b14e7c68e2cd18" src = "https: //i.dailymail. co.uk/1s/2019/04/12/20/12206816-0-image-a-10_1555097308411.jpg "height =" 442 "width =" 634 "alt =" second from left) celebrates with (LR) Viv Anderson , Frank Clark and Garry Birtles "

Francis (second from left) celebrates with (LR) Viv Anderson, Frank Clark and Garry Birtles

The scorer claims his side that he only really got to know Clough when they worked together on television eleven, his career had ended.

Not that Francis ever asked him about the strange way in which his career forest ended.

Wounded before Forest's appearance in the European Cup final the following season against Hamburg, Francis was not even asked during a short period in the hospital. He was then told by Clough's secretary that he would not be allowed to travel with the team before the game.

Instead, the attacker who scored twice in the quarterfinals at Dynamo Berlin and again against Ajax in the semifinals watched the final with Helen on a TV in the basement of a hotel in Cannes.

& # 39; I felt like an outsider, & # 39; Francis nods. & # 39; Whatever Brian Clough did, but looking back, it was just wrong. It was a classic contradiction. He was so great about the value of "the team". Let me get the tea for the players when I first arrived. Have Peter Shilton make the tea.

& # 39; But the ultimate contradiction comes when I never leave myself at the end. Yes, it was wrong of him. But did I ever ask him about it later? Of course not.

& # 39; He was still the boss. Years later I was at the swimming pool in Spain when Garry Birtles called me and said "The boss has died". He was in charge until the end. "

Francis left Forest in September 1981. Why Clough sold him to Manchester City was never explained. His time at City Ground was short but the brand was indelible. He does not have to photograph on his desk to take it to him A run, a stretch, a header, a tumble and then a simple celebration. Two hands in the air.

I had two celebrations, "he says." One arm up or two arms up Nowadays they rehearse parties in training. That's a bit embarrassing, don't you think? & # 39;

<img id = "i-3e7ebd0c9f875618" src = "https://dailym.ai/2UgCAqa" height = "453" width = "634" alt = "Star attacker Francis signs for Nottingham Clough & # 39; s Nottingham Forest in February 1979

<img id = "i-3e7ebd0c9f875618" src = "https://dailym.ai/2G1UBof 04/12/20 / 12206820-0-image-a-9_1555097 212686.jpg "height =" 453 "width =" 634 "alt =" Star attack In February 1979 Francis signs for the Nottingham Forest by Brian Clough

published on Monday, does not tell Francis how he met his wife.

In his excellent autobiography It is generally a football book. So this is the story in his own words. & # 39; I met her on vacation in Mallorca in 1972 when I was about 18, & # 39; he says. & # 39; I assumed there would be four or five in the city. & # 39;

& # 39; I assumed there would be four or five in the city. There were more than 30.

& # 39; In the preseason in Birmingham I went to a telephone kiosk and tucked in my 2p and called them all one by one. It was, "Excuse me, do you have a Helen working for you?" Then: "Sorry we don't know that name". Continue. Another. The same answer. Continue. Then, after 15 attempts, I found her.

& # 39; That was the beginning of our relationship. From that moment on we were inseparable, but it was not easy for her when we first went to Forest.

People were very jealous of her. The way she was dressed. Her appearance. The wife of the first footballer of a million pounds

& Then the begging letters from all over the country started asking for money. Then the fur coat she wore drew letters from the animal rights people. Then others would say that she spends her husband's money on clothing. She was young, only 25. It was difficult.

& # 39; But when she moved on to football, she solidified it. I've played. She used to get requests for interviews from fashion magazines and such, but she always said no. She just wanted to support me.

& # 39; She had great family values. Family always came first. Our two boys who worshiped them, but there was only one number 1 and that was me.

At the end of his book, Francis simply says about Helen's death: & # 39; Life without her is so difficult. & # 39; Asked if this is something of an understatement, he simply says:

<img id = "i-e14b9347e7a75df2" src = "https://i.dailymail.co. uk / 1s / 2019/04/12/20 / 12206778-0-image-a-8_1555097129488.jpg "height =" 956 "width =" 634 "alt =" Francis poses with his wife Helen after moving to Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City <img id = "i-e14b9347e7a75df2" src = "https://dailym.ai/2Zaj4iI" height = " 956 "width =" 634 "alt =" Francis poses with his wife Helen after moving to Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City "<img id =" i-e14b9347e7a75df2 "src =" https://dailym.ai/2WPmxkZ /2019/04/12/20/12206778-0-image-a-8_1555097129488.jpg "height =" 956 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-e14b9347e7a75df2" src = "https: // i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/12/20/12206778-0-image-a-8_1555097129488.jpg "height =" 956 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i- e14b9347e7a75df2 "src =" https://dailym.ai/2UgCBue age-a-8_1555097129488.jpg "height =" 956 "width =" 634 "alt =" Francis poses with his wife Helen after moving to Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City

This is an interview that more was requested 18 months ago. At the time, Francis did not feel ready or able to talk. After two decades of watching TV, I haven't been on our screens much either.

& # 39; I just didn't think I could do it and I don't find this conversation very easy right away, "he says. & # 39; But two years have passed. & # 39;

At Helen & # 39; s funeral, Graeme Souness – with whom Francis played in Italy – held onto his friend and told him: & # 39; Every man in that church would love Helen as his wife. "

Kenny Burns, a hard man in Forest, has been a regular caller.

& # 39; No phone call, no email & # 39 ;, he writes in the book. & # 39; It is absolutely disgusting & # 39; Francis does not tell too much of this school in his autobiography. He reveals that Clough had become drunk with his team for a competition in Hillsborough when Francis was the manager of Sheffield Wednesday and there was a board meeting in Birmingham at the Nightclub Stringfellows

The length that Brady reportedly entered to try to stop the sale of striker Paul Peschisolido is also Brady was accidentally married to the player at the time.

More importantly, the Trevor Francis who sits and talks for an hour is fascinating and energetic, TV work again and falling in love with the game.

<img id = "i-2392e14c62b2beb0" src = "https://dailym.ai/2Z79rBA" height = "539" width = " 634 "alt =" Francis is starting to get started with the game and is still in love with the game.

Francis starts picking up some TV work again and stays in love with the game

I don't like it when I wake up and nothing is planned have & # 39 ;, he says. & # 39; That's the worst part.

& # 39; It is so difficult because of the deep love I had for Helen and also because I am useless in the house. She did everything for me. I don't mind acknowledging that.

& # 39; Suddenly I live alone and I suppose I never thought this would ever happen.

Francis was a superstar football player, from boy to man.

However, nobody is immune to grief, he played in England, Italy, Scotland and the World Cup. Not even our heroes.

Brian Clough's Nigel once said that Francis was one of the few signing sessions that his father and assistant Peter Taylor once really agreed to.

TREVOR FRANCIS: One in a Million is out on Monday by Pitch Publishing. @pitch publication.

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#Trevor Francis opens up on pain of losing his wife #his relationship with Brian Clough and THAT goal

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