Damien Francis
Encyclopedia
Damien Jerome Francis is a retired Jamaican international
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
, and was a ball boy
at their ground. He started playing for the club aged 9, originally as a defender, before moving into midfield.
After several successful seasons with Wimbledon Francis moved to Norwich City
and made a good impression including helping them reach the Premiership by winning the Championship
in season 2003-2004
.
but remained in the Premiership by securing a transfer to promoted Wigan Athletic
.
Despite Wigan's success in finishing 10th in the Premiership and reaching the League Cup
final, it was a disappointing spell professionally for Francis, who did not feature as much as he would have liked to. He signed for newly promoted Watford
for a fee of £1.5 million at the start of the 2006-2007
season.
, he claimed a goal, only for it to be ruled an own goal by Alan Stubbs
by the Premier League's Goals Panel. Francis would go on to feature regularly for Watford that season, playing 39 times and scoring four goals. These included a goal in Watford's run to the FA Cup semi-finals, against Ipswich Town
in the fifth round. On 21 April 2007, in a game against Manchester City
Francis injured his cruciate knee ligaments, an injury that was expected to keep him out for around six months. As a consequence of the 1-1 draw in that game, Watford were relegated.
Francis injury actually kept him out for 18 months. He failed to fully recover from the injury and was forced to retire from football on 3 October 2008.
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Early career
As a child Francis followed WimbledonWimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, and was a ball boy
Ball Boy
Ball Boy is a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano and also the name of the main character. It first appeared in issue 1735, dated 18 October 1975. It features a five-a-side football team that includes:* Ball Boy - the captain of the team, Ball Boy bears resemblances to The Dandy's Owen Goal...
at their ground. He started playing for the club aged 9, originally as a defender, before moving into midfield.
After several successful seasons with Wimbledon Francis moved to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and made a good impression including helping them reach the Premiership by winning the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
in season 2003-2004
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
.
Wigan
After Norwich were relegated at the end of their first season in the Premiership after a disappointing campaign, Francis made the decision to end his two year stay at Carrow RoadCarrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
but remained in the Premiership by securing a transfer to promoted Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
.
Despite Wigan's success in finishing 10th in the Premiership and reaching the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final, it was a disappointing spell professionally for Francis, who did not feature as much as he would have liked to. He signed for newly promoted Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
for a fee of £1.5 million at the start of the 2006-2007
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season.
Watford
On debut against EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, he claimed a goal, only for it to be ruled an own goal by Alan Stubbs
Alan Stubbs
Alan Stubbs is a retired English footballer who played as a centre back. He was forced to retire from professional football due to a troublesome knee injury on the 20 August 2008. The final match of his career was against Doncaster Rovers on 9 August 2008...
by the Premier League's Goals Panel. Francis would go on to feature regularly for Watford that season, playing 39 times and scoring four goals. These included a goal in Watford's run to the FA Cup semi-finals, against Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in the fifth round. On 21 April 2007, in a game against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
Francis injured his cruciate knee ligaments, an injury that was expected to keep him out for around six months. As a consequence of the 1-1 draw in that game, Watford were relegated.
Francis injury actually kept him out for 18 months. He failed to fully recover from the injury and was forced to retire from football on 3 October 2008.
External links
- Damien Francis profile at watfordfc.co.uk
- Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk