Goodbye to Man City legend who made millions as a toilet paper tycoon: Tributes to ex-England striker Francis Lee who has died aged 79 after losing long battle with lung cancer

• Lee, affectionately known as ‘Franny’, scored 148 goals in 330 games for City
• He also played for Bolton and Derby and won 27 caps for England  

Former Manchester City and England striker Francis Lee has died after a long battle with lung cancer at the age of 79. 

His heartbroken family said that he would be ‘sorely missed’ after he passed away in the early hours of Monday morning. 

Affectionately known as ‘Franny’, Lee was also a highly-successful businessman and racehorse trainer. He became a multi-millionaire in his retirement thanks to the success of his toilet paper company which allowed him to take over as the majority shareholder at Man City in 1994, replacing Peter Swales as chairman.

It would be football that first brought Lee into the limelight though – including his unforgettable sending off after getting into a vicious brawl with Leeds United hardman Norman Hunter. 

Described as one of City’s all-time greats, Lee won the First Division, FA Cup, League Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup during eight years with the club. 

He scored 148 goals in 330 appearances for Man City before spending four troubled years as chairman of the club in 1994 which did, at the time, tarnish his reputation. He had aimed to transform his former club into a Premier League outfit, but they were on the brink of relegation when he left in 1998.

Former Manchester City and England striker Francis Lee has died after a long battle with lung cancer at the age of 79

Lee pictured after scoring the goal which won City the league championship in 1968

Lee received a CBE for services to football and charity in 2016

Francis Lee at home with his wife, Jean, and their son Gary, on December 28, 1963 in Bolton

Lee is pictured in his garden with his children. He is survived by his wife Gill and children Charlotte, Jonny and Nik.

The stocky forward also earned 27 England caps, scoring 10 goals in the process and he represented his country at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

‘Franny passed away in the early hours of this morning after a long battle with cancer,’ City said in a statement.

READ MORE: Former Man United, Leeds and Scotland footballer Gordon McQueen dies aged 70, after his ‘cruel battle’ with dementia  

‘His wife Gill and children Charlotte, Jonny and Nik say he will be sorely missed and would like to thank everyone for their kind words.

‘Everyone at Manchester City would like to send their condolences to the friends and family of Francis at this very difficult time. 

‘As a mark of respect, flags around the Etihad Stadium and City Football Academy are flying at half-mast.

‘More tributes will follow from the club in the coming days.’ 

Lee began his career at Bolton Wanderers before signing for City for a then record fee of of £60,000 in 1967. He was the club’s top goalscorer for five consecutive seasons from 1969/70 to 1973/74, helping City to a number of trophies.

After leaving City he won another league title with Derby in 1975 in a spell otherwise recalled for an on-pitch fight with Leeds’ Norman Hunter. Lee suffered a cut lip that needed four stitches, and on the way to the dressing room he attacked the Leeds man again, resulting in a four week suspension.

‘It’s a good job I didn’t get in the dressing room afterwards,’ he said later. ‘I might have just been coming out on parole now.’ 

Lee began his career at Bolton Wanderers before signing for City for a then record fee of of £60,000 in 1967. Here he is pictured watching Man City against Blackpool in the 1997/98 season

Lee (in 1970) was one of City’s most famous players, scoring 148 goals in 300 appearances for the club

City said they would pay further tributes to their former player and chairman over the coming days. Left is Lee playing for City in 1971 and right he is pictured for England a year later

Lee also won 27 caps for England during his career, scoring 10 goals in the process. Here he is pictured against Scotland in May 1971

Francis Lee turns with jubilation after scoring England’s equalising and only goal at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom, on April 29, 1972

Manchester City footballers (left-right) Mike Summerbee, Tony Book, Colin Bell and Francis Lee attending a charity event event in Manchester, circa December 1970. The trophies in the foreground are the Football League Cup (left) and the UEFA European Cup Winners Cup

New Manchester City manager Steve Coppell pictured shaking hands with chairman Francis Lee at his unveiling on October 7th, 1996 at Maine Road

After scoring 30 goals in two seasons for Derby, he retired in 1976 to focus on his business commitments.

Lee went on to become a businessman once he retired in 1976 and was also involved in training horses. He was later chairman of City from 1994 to 1998 before being succeeded by David Bernstein. 

Lee’s entrepreneurial spirit first manifested itself as a teenager when he used an old brewery lorry to collect waste paper.

It was this market he exploited, ploughing his football earnings into setting up FH Lee Ltd, a company which specialised in waste paper recycling and haulage before expanding into toilet roll, kitchen roll, foil and cling film.

He eventually sold the company for £8.35million in 1984, making £6m.

He later bought stables and had some success training racehorses before buying City from the unpopular Peter Swales in 1994.

He was hailed as a returning hero by City fans, but his early ambitious promises proved way off the mark.

‘If cups were awarded for cock-ups, you would not be able to move in City’s boardroom,’ Lee later admitted after a series of poor managerial appointments – Alan Ball, Steve Coppell, Frank Clark – set the club on a downward spiral.

City were relegated to the second tier and were on their way down to the third when Lee resigned in 1998.

Lee is pictured sitting on the bonnet of a Jaguar in December 1969. A year later he would be representing England in Mexico

Lee represented his country at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Here he is pictured playing against Brazil

Lee (left) signed for Derby Country for £110,000 after leaving Man City and also won the title there

Despite his departure, he retained shares until selling to Thaksin Shinawatra in 2007 and continued to attend City games regularly. He was made CBE for services to sport and charity in 2016.

Former Manchester City star Paul Dickov, who played at the club during Lee’s tenure as chairman, paid tribute writing: ‘Such sad news to hear of the passing Francis Lee A gentleman, proper football man with a great sense of humour. The main reason I signed for Man City with his sheer love for the club & will be forever grateful

‘Love & condolences to all his family & friends RIP Mr Chairman.’

Former British boxer and Manchester City fan Ricky Hatton said: ‘So saddened to hear of the passing of Francis Lee. What a legend of a footballer and a man in general.

‘Never did a man love our club more than this man. On the pitch as a player, off it as a chairman. He was blue through and through.

‘Had the pleasure of being in his company so many times. Something I will never forget. A genuine Manchester treasure. Love and condolences to the family, RIP Franny the King.’

Bolton said on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘All at Bolton Wanderers are saddened to learn of the passing of former forward, Francis Lee.’

‘The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Francis’ family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time.’

Derby also sent their condolences, with a post on X, which read: ‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of 1974/75 title-winner Francis Lee.

‘Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who knew him.’

Manchester United said: ‘Sending our sincere condolences to the loved ones of Francis and everyone connected with Manchester City at this terribly sad time.’ 

Tributes have poured in to Lee following the news of his death which was confirmed this afternoon

Lee securing hero status among the club’s supporters by scoring the winner in a 4-3 victory over Newcastle which sealed the championship in 1968.

He also played a key part in the Blues’ FA Cup success in 1969 plus the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup triumphs in 1970, scoring the decisive penalty in the final of the continental competition against Gornik Zabrze of Poland.

Lee, who was part of the England side which reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1970, won a second league title with Derby in 1975 after joining in the summer of the previous year for £110,000.

‘If you can play naturally it’s the easiest game in the world,’ Lee said in quotes reported by the Manchester Evening News in 2012.

‘I was lucky enough to play in an era when there was so much fun and laughter.’ 

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