Francis Lee And The Fine Line Between Gamesmanship And Cheating

Very few figures are more woven into Manchester City’s proud history than Francis Lee. However, it was during the 1970s that Lee would become the scourge of rival fans. His antics on the pitch led to the unsavoury introduction of Lee Won Pen. Even now, Lee is still rightly revered as one of the finest strikers ever to grace the sky-blue shirt. This article explores Francis Lee and the fine line between gamesmanship and cheating.

City Spearhead

Spearheading City’s world-class threesome including Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee, Franny Lee’s career record of 148 goals from 330 appearances only tells half the story of his remarkable impact.

During his seven years at Maine Road, Lee also became known as both City’s – and the top flight’s – penalty king. Nevermore so than in what proved to be a remarkable 1971/72 campaign. Lee didn’t look like a footballer. Small and barrel-chested but with bravery in buckets he walked tall in an era when England was blessed with great forwards.

Having been transferred to City from Bolton for a then club-record £60,000 in 1967, Lee quickly repaid that fee and then some.

Club Top Scorer

He was the club’s top scorer, for four seasons in a row. His goals became a key component in City’s dramatic Division One title win in 1968. An achievement which heralded a golden era for City with Lee a pivotal presence.

FA Cup glory followed in 1969 with City beating Leicester City 1-0 at Wembley. Following that two more pieces of silverware were secured in 1970.

First came the League Cup – via a 2-1 extra-time win over West Brom. Just two months later City lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup. And it was Lee’s penalty that clinched a 2-1 triumph against Polish side Gornik Zabrze. A goal that ensured the trophy came back to Maine Road.

Penalty!

By then penalties and Lee had quickly become something of a synonymous theme. A combative, no-quarter-given presence on the pitch, Franny always gave as good as he got.

And in an era where no-nonsense, physical defenders didn’t think twice about dishing out the dirt, he, more than most, came in for some close attention.

Not surprisingly that saw Lee both awarded and, usually, successfully converting more than his fair share of penalties for the Club. It was a trend that reached its peak in the 1971/72 season. Lee netted 35 goals that season for City across all competitions, an incredible 15 came from the spot.

However, such a large number of spot-kicks inevitably brought Lee to the attention not just of opposition players and supporters. It also alerted the watching written press. The inference from his detractors was that, on occasions, Lee could be prone to going to ground a tad theatrically. It was the beginning of the media and fans’ scrutiny of Francis Lee and his gamesmanship.

As a result, the media dubbed him Lee Won Pen. A nickname and accusation that would haunt him his whole career.

Norman Hunter v Franny Lee

This accusation was never more evident in the infamous Derby v Leeds United fixture in 1975. Lee had a confrontation with Leeds United defender Norman Hunter. One which gained a level of infamy after it was screened on Match of the Day. In the first half of the game, the referee adjudged that Hunter had fouled Lee in the Leeds penalty area. Many at the time thought Lee had won the penalty with his theatrical dive – none more so than Norman Hunter. A classic case of Francis Lee gamesmanship it appeared. The referee however awarded Derby a penalty. Charlie George, and not Lee, took the penalty kick and scored.

In the second half, Lee and Hunter were seen to be exchanging punches in an off-the-ball incident. The referee stopped the game and took both players’ names. But it was not immediately clear if he had sent off either or both of them. However, as the two men walked away they began fighting again. After intervention by both sets of players, Hunter left the pitch. Lee was restrained and ushered off the field by a club official.

Francis Lee – Gamesmanship or Cheating

“The ‘diving’ accusation is something that tarnished my career in some respects,” Lee reflected in 2012.

“You have to remember I didn’t win all the penalties I scored; I just took them for the team.

“My argument on the diving front would be: it’s an easy excuse for defenders to say I (or any attacker) dived to win a penalty.

“How many defenders do you hear saying: ‘It was my fault’ or ‘it was a fair decision’ – very rarely do you hear that.”