Francino Rousseu Francis (born 18 January 1987) is a Jamaican footballer who is currently player-manager for West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division side Wolverhampton Sporting, his position is defender. He currently plays cricket for Rugeley CC in the 3rd XI

Francino Francis
Personal information
Full name Francino Rousseu Francis[1]
Date of birth (1987-01-18) 18 January 1987 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Kingston, Jamaica
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender, Striker
Team information
Current team
Wolverhampton Sporting (player-manager)
Youth career
Tamworth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Stoke City 0 (0)
2005–2006 Watford 1 (0)
2006Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 6 (0)
2006Wealdstone (loan)
2006–2007 Redditch United
2007 Quorn
2007–2008 Halesowen Town
2008 Willenhall Town
2008–2011 Barwell
2011–2012 Tamworth 36 (1)
2012–2014 Hednesford Town 40 (7)
2014–2015 Barwell
2015–2016 Chasetown
2016 Hednesford Town
2016–2017[2] Sutton Coldfield Town
2016Hinckley AFC (loan)
2017 Leek Town
2017–2019 Hinckley AFC
2019 Heath Hayes
2019– Wolverhampton Sporting
Managerial career
2019 Heath Hayes (player-manager)
2019– Wolverhampton Sporting (player-manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Stoke City

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Born in Kingston, Francis began playing for Tamworth, in the club youth academy, before being spotted by Stoke City in 2004. He never really made the grade with the club, and after one season playing mostly in the youth and reserves, he was released.

Watford

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Francis joined Watford's Academy in July 2005. Whilst still an Academy scholar, he made his first team debut in a League Cup victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 20 September 2005,[3] and also made substitute appearances against Leeds United and Wigan Athletic.[3] He was an unused sub a further two times that season,[3] as Watford gained promotion to the Premier League by winning the Championship play-off final against Leeds United at the Millennium Stadium.

In February 2006, he was sent on work experience to Kidderminster Harriers.[4] While with The Harriers, Francis made six league appearances, including three starts, before returning to Vicarage Road.[5] Following the expiry of his contract he was released by Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd after failing to impress in his first season with the club.

Halesowen Town

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Francis went on to join Halesowen Town, but was released on 15 January 2008, by manager Morell Maison.[6]

Willenhall Town

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He then joined Southern Division One Midlands outfit Willenhall Town.

Barwell

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Francis joined Barwell in 2008, where he was initially employed as a striker. However, with the club facing a defensive crisis, manager Marcus Law asked Francis to play a centre half in a match, following an injury to their current centre half, Francis played the role. He continued to play in the position and spent three seasons with the club, making 151 appearances and scoring 30 goals.

Tamworth

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Francis re-joined his former Barwell manager Marcus Law at his new club Tamworth on 16 June 2011.[7]

Francis became the first casualty in Tamworth's rebuilding for the 2012–13 season, after being released on 9 May 2012.

Hednesford Town

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Francis started Hednesford's pre-season friendly against former club Tamworth on 28 July 2012, impressing enough to earn a contract.[8]

Barwell return

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In December 2014, Francis returned the club following his release from Hednesford Town.[9]

Wolverhampton Sporting

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Francino was confirmed as manager of West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division side Wolverhampton Sporting on 26 September 2019.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2006). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2006–07. Mainstream Publishing. p. 150. ISBN 978-1-84596-111-4.
  2. ^ Sutton transfer confirm
  3. ^ a b c "Watford 2005/2006 player statistics up to 9 April 2006 (subsequent links confirm Francis was not named in the matchday squad for any matches played after publication of this page)". Watford F.C. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014. "Wolves 1-1 Watford". BBC Sport. 14 April 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014. "Watford 2-1 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 14 April 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014. "QPR 1-2 Watford". BBC Sport. 22 April 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014. "Watford 0-0 Hull". BBC Sport. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014. "Crystal Palace 0-3 Watford". BBC Sport. 6 May 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014. "Watford 0-0 C Palace (agg 3-0)". BBC Sport. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014. "Leeds 0-3 Watford". BBC Sport. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Francis to spend time at Harriers". BBC Sport. 20 January 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2006.
  5. ^ "Francis returns to Vicarage Road". BBC Sport. 16 March 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2006.
  6. ^ "Yeltz sign Anya as Francis leaves". BBC Sport. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  7. ^ "St-Aimee and Francis sign". TheLambs.co.uk. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  8. ^ https://uk.soccerway.com/players/francino-rousseu-francis/94252/
  9. ^ "The Prodigal Fran Returns". Pitchero.com. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  10. ^ "NEW MANAGER APPOINTED". Pitchero.com. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
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