Simon Francis (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Simon Francis
Personal information
Full name	Simon Charles Francis
Date of birth	February 16, 1985
Place of birth	Nottingham, England
Position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Southend United
Number	2
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
2002-2004 2004-2006 2005 2005-2006 2006-	Bradford City Sheffield United Grimsby Town (loan) Tranmere Rovers (loan) Southend United	55 (1) 12 (0) 5 (0) 17 (1) 10 (1)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01/10/2006.

Simon Charles Francis (Born February 16, 1985 in Nottingham, England) is a football player currently playing for Southend United. An England U21 international, he is a powerful player who can fill numerous defensive and midfield slots.

Released as a youngster by Notts County, Francis joined Bradford City as a trainee in November 2002 and made over 50 starts for the Bantams before being sold to Sheffield United in 2004 for £200,000 by the administrators.

Competition for places meant that Francis was never quite able to hold down a regular place at Bramall Lane, restricting him to just 15 appearances for the Blades during his two-year sojourn. He spent most of season 2005-06 on loan with Grimsby Town and then Tranmere Rovers. His final appearance in a Blades shirt was as a late substitute at Luton in the penultimate game of the season.

Despite featuring the League One's Team of the Season, Francis was made available for transfer in May 2006. Southend's manager Steve Tilson, who had worked with the young player at England U-21 level, secured the services of the talented defender. Francis signed for an undisclosed fee from the Blades on June 13, 2006, agreeing a three-year deal with the Shrimpers as they prepared for a return to the Football League Championship.

He made his Southend debut in a 1-0 victory over Chelmsford City has so far been an ever-present for the Shrimpers in the 2006-07 season.

Simon has bags of potential and quickly became a fan favourite bombing up and down the wings and, despite being a right back, played on the right wing (vs Burnley).

Season	Club	Apps (Sub)	Goals
2002–2003	Bradford City F.C.	25 (1)	1
2003–2004	Bradford City F.C.	26 (5)	0
2003–2004	Sheffield United F.C.	4 (1)	0
2004–2005	Sheffield United F.C.	2 (5)	0
2005–2006	Tranmere Rovers F.C.	16 (1)	1
2005–2006	Grimsby Town F.C.	5 (1)	0
2005–2006	Sheffield United F.C.	2 (1)	0

Southend United F.C. - Current Squad
1 Flahavan | 2 Francis | 3 Wilson | 4 Hunt | 5 Prior | 6 Barrett | 7 Gower | 8 Maher | 10 Eastwood | 11 Cole | 12 Bradbury | 13 Collis | 15 Clarke | 16 Sodje | 17 Campbell-Ryce | 18 Hammell | 19 Paynter | 20 Lawson | 21 Hooper | 24 Harrold | 25 Moussa | 26 McCormack | 27 Arnau | Manager: Tilson