Willis Francis
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Willis David Francis | ||
| Date of birth | 26 July 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Nottingham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Basford United (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2002 | Notts County | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Notts County | 12 | (0) |
| 2004 | → Grantham Town (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | Grantham Town | 61 | (3) |
| 2005–2007 | Rugby Town | 43 | (3) |
| 2007–2008 | Glapwell | ||
| 2008 | Rugby Town | 12 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Carlton Town | ||
| 2009 | Hucknall Town | ||
| 2009–2010 | Rainworth Miners Welfare | ||
| 2010–2012 | Arnold Town | ||
| 2012–2015 | Basford United | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Long Eaton United | ||
| 2025– | Basford United | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:48, 28 August 2011 (UTC) | |||
Willis David Francis (born 26 July 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League. He is currently manager of Basford United.
Career
[edit]Francis came through the youth team of Notts County and made his debut for the club whilst he was a third year apprentice, in a 1–1 draw with Blackpool on 30 November 2002. In February 2004 he joined Grantham Town on work experience.[1] He was released by County in March 2004 and rejoined Grantham for the remainder of the 2003–04 season, and was named Player of the Year in the following season for the club.[1] In November 2005 he joined Southern League Premier Division side Rugby Town on a free transfer and made his debut in the same month away at Northwood.[2] He missed part of the 2005–06 season due to a family illness.[2] His first goal for the club came in the 2006–07 season against Aylesbury United in December.[2] He left in September 2007 to join Northern Counties East League side Glapwell, but rejoined Rugby in January 2008 following Rod Brown's appointment.[2] However, in March 2008 he was released from the club having failing to nail down a regular spot in the team.[3]
After a spell as assistant manager at Basford United, in December 2017 Francis was appointed joint manager of Long Eaton United alongside Martin Clarke.[4] They left the club the following year. In January 2025 Francis was appointed manager of Basford.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Willis Francis Player Profile". 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Willis Francis". 28 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "One Midfielder In - One Out at Rugby". 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Duo are in it for the long haul". The Non-League Football Paper. 3 December 2017.
- ^ "New management team announced". Basford United FC. 26 January 2025.
External links
[edit]- Willis Francis at Soccerbase ]
- 1985 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Nottingham
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Notts County F.C. players
- Grantham Town F.C. players
- Rugby Town F.C. players
- Glapwell F.C. players
- Carlton Town F.C. players
- Hucknall Town F.C. players
- Rainworth Miners Welfare F.C. players
- Arnold Town F.C. players
- Basford United F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Southern Football League players
- 21st-century English sportsmen
- English football managers
- Long Eaton United F.C. managers
- Basford United F.C. managers