West Ham Online

"Died, RIP Great memories as a footballer in the 70s"

Bloke on face ache yesterday posted RIP Sammy Lee.

The first player to dive in the English game.

"I noticed him on Saturday at Wolves, he was sitting front row upstairs and looked delighted when he saw Pep, who was on a touchline ban, jostle into the row, now he's gone. RIP."

Another childhood football character gone. He certainly didn’t take no prisoners. RIP Franny Lee.

He also saddled 181 winners as a racehorse trainer - he had a remarkably diverse carreer as well as being a successful business man. https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/tributes-paid-to-trainer-and-manchester-city-star-francis-lee-after-death-aged-79-aZpPX3b7RN1r/ RIP Mr Lee

Another of the old stalwarts leaves this world which reminds me that I'm so glad to have seen the best times following this great football era. RIP

"This is the winning punch, not in the first link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YinglsjO4Kw Lee then goes windmilling in without landing."

https://youtu.be/8W49Ljx3VMc?si=wplpE8StF_uNibEt Love this clip when he thought George Best was diving.

JUST LOOK AT HIS FACE One of the great commentary moments Reckon he won the punch up with the Leeds thug Hunter An inspiration to tubby footballers everywhere RIP

I thought he edged Hunter on points. RIP Franny.

I think I saw him miss a penalty for England v Portugal or maybe Italy at Wembley . I may be wrong .

"The first time I saw Franny Lee in the flesh was when he beat Mervyn Day with a looping header to put Man City 1-0 up in 1973. Thankfully, we came back and won 2-1. I believe he also had the record during the early 70’s for scoring the most penalties in a season. https://youtu.be/Q7AZxArD-Xo?si=LUZOGzz0skXxlOp7"

"Part of a very good City team and did ok at Derby as well. Glad I'm old enough to have seen plenty of games from that era, really was a different game back then, full of characters and nutters. RIP."

"A few clubs had a Holy Trinity, ours was Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, Man U had George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, Everton had Colin Harvey, Alan Ball and Howard Kendall, City had Franny Lee, Colin (Nijinsky) Bell and Mike Summerbee"

"Cough, no, the other one they had. I’ve just googled to try and find out what happened to it, whether it ended up on E-bay, maybe bought by a rich Arab for 20k or something, but all I can find are obituaries for Colin."

When he played for Bolton he broke Laurie Leslie’s leg and Greenwood bought Jim Standen as a replacement. Standen went on to become a double cup winning legend.

"That punch up with Hunter absolutely sums up 70s football for me, love it. RIP Francis Lee."

Colin Bell?

"When I first got into football, very young kid, you always remember certain standout things about other clubs. With Man City for me that was Francis Lee and that bell they used to ring at Maine Road. I bet someone’s still got that bell somewhere. They had one at Torquay Utd too."

"Guy could take it as well as hand it out. I recall times when he'd exchange quips with people on the West Stand, by the tunnel; some one would pipe up a slur and he'd bounce it right back. Proper footballer for proper football fans. RIP."

Met him a few times. Really nice bloke. RIP Franny.

Met him a few times. Really nice bloke. RIP Franny.

"Horrible little cսnt, invented the dive in the box. Having said that, RIP to an old school player"

Great player and would not be bullied by anyone. RIP

"A draw against Hunter, in my book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QALdVum0xEk"