RIP Trevor Francis

[Sutekh]

Only 69, actually saw him play a two or three times for both England and QPR, great player.

[Winston Biscuit]

This made me quite sad today.

[Jack Celliers]

Me too. As soon as I heard his name announced at 6:25 on Radio 4, I felt a sinking feeling and said something like "Noooooo."

Anyway, what has surprised me in the potted bio they gave on the news was the claim that he was the first British million-pound player, so I googled and apparently, two Italians (Paolo Rossi and a nobody) were sold for a million pounds or more before he was.

This is bollocks isn't it? Wikipedia has rewritten history for some reason - maybe it is applying weird exchange rates. Francis was the first million-pound player in the whole world ever. If he hadn't been, I would have known. I was 12 at the time and capable of committing all sorts of things to memory like Latin verbs, singles chart positions and especially transfer fees. I wouldn't have failed to memorize who the most expensive player in the world was.

[genome]

Chris Bart-Williams now as well, blimey

[Sutekh]

Me too. As soon as I heard his name announced at 6:25 on Radio 4, I felt a sinking feeling and said something like "Noooooo."

Anyway, what has surprised me in the potted bio they gave on the news was the claim that he was the first British million-pound player, so I googled and apparently, two Italians (Paolo Rossi and a nobody) were sold for a million pounds or more before he was.

This is bollocks isn't it? Wikipedia has rewritten history for some reason - maybe it is applying weird exchange rates. Francis was the first million-pound player in the whole world ever. If he hadn't been, I would have known. I was 12 at the time and capable of committing all sorts of things to memory like Latin verbs, singles chart positions and especially transfer fees. I wouldn't have failed to memorize who the most expensive player in the world was.

The first million pound footballer was Guiseppe Savoldi who moved from Bologna to Napoli in the summer of 1975 breaking the then £922,000 transfer record paid by Barcelona for Ajax's Johann Cruyff. Bologna received 2 billion lire at the time which equated to around £1.2m in the mid 70s.

As I recall Trevor was always referred to as Britain's first million pound footballer even at the time (though Mr Clough said it was actually only £999,999 but this was to try and save Trevor from having that £1m price tag following him about) the actual fee after various taxes etc. was thought to be more in the region of £1.2m. Anyway that tag didn't last long as Man City bought Steve Daley, Wolves bought Andy Gray and Bryan Robson went to ManU each for around £1.5m in September 1979.

Just for the record Neymar holds the current world transfer record from 2017 when PSG paid Barcelona around £198m. That is likely to be smashed in a couple of weeks when Mbappe goes to the middle east for a season for a reported £300m or so. The last time a British transfer was the world record was back in 1996 when Shearer moved to Newcastle from Blackburn for £15m.

Prior to 1952 the world and British record were nearly always the same thing. Oddest holder of the most paid for a player record is probably Falkirk who spent £5k on a West Ham player in 1922 this is also the only time a Scottish club has held the record.

The current British record is the £106m Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez, while the most expensive British player is still Mr Bale at £86m, the most expensive English player remains Rio Ferdinand at £29.1m, though Harry might change that if he does go to Bayern this summer.

[Winston Biscuit]

the most expensive English player remains Rio Ferdinand at £29.1m

Grealish £100M
Rice £100M
Bellingham £88.5M
Maguire £80M
Sancho £73M
Ben White £50M
Wan-Bissaka £50M
Walker £50M
Sterling £47.5M
Stones £47.5M

[Sutekh]

the most expensive English player remains Rio Ferdinand at £29.1m

Grealish £100M
Rice £100M
Bellingham £88.5M
Maguire £80M
Sancho £73M
Ben White £50M
Wan-Bissaka £50M
Walker £50M
Sterling £47.5M
Stones £47.5M

Misinterpreted the list I was using, thought it was odd at the time of typing but just couldn't recall any of those above names! Think it's actually currently Declan Rice at £105m.

[Franchise FC]

the most expensive English player remains Rio Ferdinand at £29.1m

Grealish £100M
Rice £100M
Bellingham £88.5M
Maguire £80M
Sancho £73M
Ben White £50M
Wan-Bissaka £50M
Walker £50M
Sterling £47.5M
Stones £47.5M

Misinterpreted the list I was using, thought it was odd at the time of typing but just couldn't recall any of those above names! Think it's actually currently Declan Rice at £105m.

Ben White has slipped under the transfer value radar but has been worth it in a way that some of the others haven’t

[AthleticoSpizz]

Chris Bart-Williams now as well, blimey

Garry Birtles looks on nervously