RIP Frank Worthington

[bellwhiff]

Very sad. RIP

Stags related as Ian Greaves is quoted in the article

Frank Worthington: Former England striker dies aged 72 following long illness

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56495453

[Chris M]

Sad news. I recall that Frank played in Kevin Bird’s testimonial match against Aston Villa. I remember him taking a penalty kick at Quarry Lane end and almost ripping out the net with the power of the shot. I was stood behind the net and could not believe any goalkeeper could have saved it. RIP

[bellwhiff]

Sad news. I recall that Frank played in Kevin Bird’s testimonial match against Aston Villa. I remember him taking a penalty kick at Quarry Lane end and almost ripping out the net with the power of the shot. I was stood behind the net and could not believe any goalkeeper could have saved it. RIP

I remember him playing against us for Tranmere. We scored at the North Stand end. Ran back to the halfway line and ball was on the spot. Frank spoke to the Lino. He raised his flag and the ref disallowed the goal. I’m still outraged

[northern stag]

RIP Frank
An old school proper entertainer and a great footballer, in the Rodney Marsh, George Best, Tony Currie mould.

[Martin Shaw]

RIP

[Tippy Tappy Football]

Described by Ian Greaves as the working man's George Best.

I loved watching Frank playing for Leeds United at Elland Road in 1982. I even made a trip to Goodison Park where Leeds lost 1-0 to a Graeme Sharp goal. Frank was around 34 then but one of the most skillful players I had seen play live along with Eddie Gray. Unfortunately, he could not save Allan Clarke's Leeds from relegation that season despite scoring 9 goals in 17 appearances.

That Leeds team should never have been relegated as it included John Lukic, Trevor Cherry, Frank Gray, Kenny Burns, Paul Hart, Brian Flynn, Eddie Gray, Arthur Graham, Peter Barnes, Frank Worthington and Terry Connor.

[chip63]

Met him when we played Halifax away in the VIP lounge (a bar) think his son was playing for them.
Asked for his autograph and passed him my ticket to sign, I had a signature already on it from one of our injured players,
Frank asked whose it was and I told him its iffy anoura, so frank signs his name over the top of iffys.
It still makes me laugh til this day,

Regards and respect Frank. Thank you.

[oldweststander]

Sad loss, great player from a real footballing era.

[daddycool]

A class player RIP

[stagone1959]

Took something outstanding to beat Rod Arnold in arguably his best performance for Stags,away at Burnden Park Bolton,alas Worthington was up to the task.

RIP Frank

From an era when football was better

[Oldamber55]

Definitely one of the great characters of English football...very skilled and had a mind of his own..a working mans footballer unlike the stereotypes of today...RIP Frank

[DazMondo]

RIP

Proper 70s footballer. Bumped into him in a designer clothes shop in Manchester back in 1996. He was stood at the far end of the shop wearing a grey suit, long greying ponytail and had the most dishevelled look I'd seen for a long time.
I gave him the knowing nod, and he then asked me to shoot him, lol.

He was part of the era when players would beat the fans to the pub, after the match had finished.

[STAGS FOR LIFE]

When i was a young lad and when that wonder goal went in , makes us realize why we love this beautiful game .
We turn up hoping see some thing of brilliance we will never forget .

Thanks for the memories R.I.P Frank

[The One]

SFL who nicked your avatar

[STAGS FOR LIFE]

SFL who nicked your avatar

Thanks i look into it ,did not know it had gone missing

[Spiritater]

Beware the Dark side you must. Insidious ways they have of turning you away from the fred brotherhood

[garlic]

That man could play football, no wonder we all love the game when we had the likes of him to watch.

[SidneyOttewell]

A fantastic player....and the only reason my Mum would go to our match v Leicester City in 1975! Think he was the best player on the pitch that night, too.

[one f in mansfield]

RIP Frank
An old school proper entertainer and a great footballer, in the Rodney Marsh, George Best, Tony Currie mould.

Still speak to Tony Currie on a regular basis . Real down to earth bloke.

[STAGS FOR LIFE]

RIP Frank
An old school proper entertainer and a great footballer, in the Rodney Marsh, George Best, Tony Currie mould.

Still speak to Tony Currie on a regular basis . Real down to earth bloke.

He was another footballer who was a joy to watch

[iansmith]

Met him when we played Halifax away in the VIP lounge (a bar) think his son was playing for them.
Asked for his autograph and passed him my ticket to sign, I had a signature already on it from one of our injured players,
Frank asked whose it was and I told him its iffy anoura, so frank signs his name over the top of iffys.
It still makes me laugh til this day,

Regards and respect Frank. Thank you.

Good story. Frank was from a footballing dynasty in Halifax. Both his brothers Dave & Bob played at a professional level but Gary Worthington, who played for Halifax, was Dave's son, so Frank's nephew . Gary's career at Halifax was cut short through injury but he headed up Leeds Utd academy before being poached by Chelsea. The last I heard he was at Man City.

The BBC story (above) is about half right. By Frank's own admission, at the first medical Bill Shankly told him to have a week off as his blood pressure was high. To Frank Worthington a week off from football meant only one thing, an opportunity to pursue his second love in life. Women. So he booked himself into a hotel in Majorca. When he returned to Anfield a week later for the medical mentioned above, and having enjoyed/experienced most of the the night clubs on the island, his blood pressure was twice as high!

He had huge respect for Ian Greaves, who i think signed him twice for different clubs and always claimed he was the best manager he had played for. A family member told me he always followed Greavsie's managerial career closely including his time at Field Mill (One Call).

The last time I saw Frank was many, many years ago when he walked into a Hotel Restaurant with two attractive women, one on each arm. So some things never changed!

A great character both on and off the field and someone who never forgot his roots.

Condolences to the family.

RIP Frank.

[naanbread2]

I know a bloke who, up to recent kept in touch with him. He said, in the game he was called 'Elvis'. We'll never see the likes of him again, I'm sorry to say.