Albert Franks

Albert Franks

Personal information
Full name	Albert John Franks
Date of birth	(1936-04-13)13 April 1936
Place of birth	Boldon Colliery,England
Date of death	18 June 2017(2017-06-18)(aged 81)
Position(s)	Wing half
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Boldon Colliery Welfare
1956–1960	Newcastle United	72	(4)
1959–1960	Rangers	3	(0)
1961–1962	Greenock Morton	13	(2)
1961–1963	Lincoln City	58	(5)
1963–1964	Queen of the South	10	(2)
1964–1965	Scarborough
Managerial career
1964–1965	Scarborough
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Albert John Franks(13 April 1936 – 18 June 2017) was an Englishfootballerwho played as awing half.He played in theFootball LeagueforNewcastle UnitedandLincoln Cityin theScottish Football LeagueforRangers,Greenock MortonandQueen of the South,and wasplayer-managerofScarborough.

Early life

Albert Franks was born in the mining village ofBoldon Colliery,County Durhamon 13 April 1936. His mother was a Methodist preacher. He represented the Durham county schools teams at football andcricket,and once scored acenturyin 25 minutes playing for Boldon Colliery in the Durham Coast Cricket League.He was a police cadet before becoming a professional footballer.

Playing career

Franks began his football career with Boldon Colliery Welfare, before signing forNewcastle Unitedin December 1953. Although his Newcastle career was interrupted by hisNational Service,during which he captained theRoyal Air Forcefootball team, he went on to make 75 first team appearances and score 4 goals after making his debut againstLuton Townin 1957.Having fallen out of favour onceCharlie Mittenbecame Newcastlemanager,Franks was sold toRangersin March 1960 for £6,500, where he was thought to be the first Englishman to join the Scottish club.

Franks was named man of the match on his debut, in a 2–0 home defeat againstMotherwellin April 1960, but made only two further first team appearances for Rangers. He joinedMortonin September 1961 before another transfer, toLincoln City,two months later. After a return to Scotland withQueen of the Southin 1964, he ended his career asplayer-managerofScarboroughin theMidland League.

After football

Franks retired from football aged 29, after a proposed move to become player-manager ofBradford Cityfell through. He returned to his police career, joining theDurham Constabulary.He served there for 22 years, principally with theCIDinChester-le-Street,earning 13 commendations.After retiring from the police force, he moved into retail security working internationally as a consultant and lived in Vigo, nearBirtley, Tyne and Wear.Franks died on 18 June 2017, aged 81.

External links

• Albert Franksat Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database