Extract 5: Horwich and Westhoughton Schools FA Team, 1958

A 'gam' lad. Francis Lee was born in Westhoughton on 29th April 1944, and went to Westhoughton Boys Secondary Modern, and later to Horwich Technical College. He played for his school team in the morning, and for Winrow's in the Bolton Boys Federation in the afternoon. Frank Tomlinson, and Bill Brookes, Federation Secretary and chairman, could tell straight away that this small blonde lad was 'more than a bit special'. He won a place in the Horwich and Westhoughton Schools team and was the star in the Mid-Lancashire Schools Cup Final on 10th May 1958. He is on the front row, second from the left. Chased by a number of clubs, he signed for Bolton Wanderers, and made a sensational debut, aged sixteen, against Manchester City on 5th November 1960. Veteran player Harry Nuttall's verdict, 'as a player he's what we always called 'gam', and that sort always has a chance.' He also played cricket for the Westhoughton third team, and in the same week that he made his debut for Wanderers, he received the batting, bowling and catching prizes. He continued to play cricket in the Bolton League, like many other footballing names, and on the day of the World Cup Final in 1966, was playing for Heaton against Bradshaw. Four years later he was playing for England in the World Cup in Mexico. He signed for Manchester City in 1967, and later played for Derby County, winning 27 caps for England. A very successful business man, he lived in Westhoughton until 1978, when he moved to Cheshire.