The (Long and Winding) Road to Wembley

I suppose connections are everywhere if you look closely enough and, indeed, try to seek them out. As a Blues fan it was a genuine thrill to bump into Trevor Francis' signed European Cup winning shirt at Lutterworth Town's Kong Park - his Nottingham Forest shirt, that is.  I haven't yet bumped into his signed Birmingham City European Cup winners shirt. Francis was Blues' top scorer for 3 successive seasons in the late 70s. This was a period of relative glory for Blues with a decent showing in the top-flight through most of the 70s, an FA Cup semi-final, and ample coverage on ATV's Sunday afternoon Star Soccer with Gary Newbon and Hugh Johns. Glory days indeed.  Of course there is always a top-scorer. Since Trevor Francis there are some notable (for Blues fans anyway) names on the roll-call of top scorers. Keith Bertschin, Mick Harford (as in "don't mess with Mick Harford"), Wayne Clarke (twice), Steve Whitton (twice), Nigel Gleghorn, Paul ...

In October 1976, I saw one of the best goals EVER. I was only 10 and I saw it on Match of the Day, not at the ground. But it was one of the BEST GOALS EVER. Birmingham City's Trevor Francis beat about 100 QPR defenders from a throw in that he probably won himself and took himself, then from about 70 yards beat the QPR goalie with a shot that probably burst through the net, through the stand and out onto the Tilton Road. I can still hear Motty's commentary, "That is the best goal that will ever be scored, EVER" - or words to that effect. Then in February 1979, Trevor Francis signed for Cloughie's Nottingham Forest as the first million pound player. That season Blues beat the mighty Man Utd 5-1 in the First Division. It wasn't far off their only win, but after Francis departed Blues went on a run in which the team rose from 22nd to finish as high as 21st, a mere 9 points away from retaining top flight status. Arguably, Francis had a better end to the se...