Frank's wife says 'he brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his private life', Ally McCoist pays tribute Leicester legend Frank Worthington who has died at 72, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). He also upset Englands caretaker manager Joe Mercer by sneaking a girl up to his hotel room after a game. The flamboyant striker, who represented more than 20 clubs and scored more than 260 goals during his lengthy playing career, including for the national side, died last month at the age of 72 following a long illness. He was a beloved player, flamboyant both on and off the pitch and left an indelible mark on those who witnessed his. Displaying some eye-raising parental priorities he said he wanted to teach Frank Junior all the tricks so he could be the greatest Casanova of all time. [12] Worthington played into his 40s making 757 English League appearances and scoring 234 goals. 'The fact is the FA and PFA [Professional Footballers' Association] have not done anywhere near enough. I'll have my triannual test this summer and ask if there's anything they can establish around the brain, because I don't see how, given the circumstances any footballer wouldn't be worried about it.'. Join Facebook to connect with Carol Worthington and others you may know. RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAILexclusive@the-sun.co.uk, NFL player attacked by gunmen who ran off with pricey jewelry, Astrid Wett to make embarrassing name change if she loses to AJ Bunker, Veronika Rajek stuns in sports bra as Tom Brady admirer hits the town, Stephen A begs fans to 'relax' as they slam 'disrespectful' exchange with Qerim, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Ladies man Frank Worthington has died aged 72, The former striker, pictured with George Best and Alex Higgins, was known as 'the working man's Best', The cult hero passed away after a long battle with dementia, Frank played for 24 clubs including Leicester City and Leeds United, Frank was a notorious ladies man until he eventually settled down with his second wife Carol Dwyer, The Elvis fan, seen rocking out with TV's Grumbleweeds, tried to keep his 'nocturnal activities' secret, Frank boasted of sleeping with Miss World Mary Stavin, Miss Barbados Lindy Field, Profumo Affair model Mandy Rice-Davies and his first wife Birgitta, who won Miss Sweden (pictured), Frank was famed for his ability to juggle the ball on the pitch, He won the Golden Boot title in 1979 for the 24 goals he scored for Bolton Wanderers, He played until he was aged 43, running out for over 20 clubs here and in the US. I read that when he was a kid growing up in Halifax he played on the street with his two older brothers who used to kick lumps out of him. He said: 'Most of my goals weren't even caught on camera. Here, Peter Reid offers his memories of a dear friend. Worthington's former clubs Bolton and Birmingham added their tributes on social media. Bobby Charlton was diagnosed with the disease last year while former Leeds United defender Gordon McQueen announced he had it last week. [24], While a Leicester City player, Worthington won eight caps for England in 1974. Worthington's wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, who died in hospital in . 'The era of the 1966 players has made us really aware of this.'. 'Gordon Taylor has blood on his hands. We belonged to an exclusive little club, Frank and I - and I dont mean Stringfellows. Carol Dwyer. The only silverware he picked up during that long career was the old Division Two title with Huddersfield Town. There was an aura around Frank. [17][20] After his retirement from the game he turned to the after-dinner speaking circuit and also published his autobiography One Hump Or Two. He spent his early years in various foster homes before being adopted by the Dreyers at the age of two. Frank Worthington's widow has revealed she is being forced to sell the family home due to an uncertain financial future which she describes as 'terribly bleak'. By I kept a suitably awed distance, Lineker has admitted, in keeping with his status as a superstar and my status as, basically, the dressing-room floor cleaner.. (Image: Adam Gilchrist Photography/PA Wire). Very sad news. Tony Cottee, A great player, entertainer and character, even at 9 we had to go just to see him play. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends," Bolton tweeted. And boy did Frank have fun. Jemma Carr A flamboyant maverick, who sported flowing long hair, a manicured moustache, medallion and John Travolta flares, Franks passion for the high life cost him his chance to reach the very top. Carol Dwyer is the wife of former popular footballer Frank Worthington, who recently died at the age of 72. There were rumours that he had a sexually transmitted disease, but the player insisted it was blood pressure due to constant carousing. "Frank brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his private life . "Oh," he'd say, and then he wouldn't talk any more.'. See Photos. 'As I turned to acknowledge the fans I felt sorry for Butcher, but still I couldn't resist saying something. Today his wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, saying he 'brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his private life'. Worthington won eight England caps and represented over 20 clubs in a long playing career that began with Huddersfield in 1966. In 1994, his autobiographyOne Hump or Two?, detailing his various exploits. He was flamboyant, a cavalier and he played up to the playboy image. "Carol Dwyer wearing her fathers, #NoelDwyer, international jersey and cap. "Frank brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his. Alf Ramsey, Englands understated manager, turned white. They gave the time his flight was due in and encouraged all the fans to go and greet him. Sutton's professional footballer father, Mike, died on Boxing Day following a 10-year battle with dementia. . His wife CarolWorthington said:'Frank brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his private life. Premier League winner Chris Sutton has told MPs that the authorities have stood by while players have died as a result of dementia they developed through playing professional football. Log In. That wild behaviour went too far when Frank was playing for Birmingham City between 1979 and 1982. . Bang! There are things we can do and we can put in place.'. Frank Worthington Death He died peacefully in hospital in Huddersfield on 22 March 2021, at the age of 72 following a long illness, his family announced. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. View our online Press Pack. Frank Worthington was a former English footballer and striker. I once read an interview with him when he had just moved clubs - to Bolton I think - and he said he was knuckling down, getting self-disciplined; instead of going out seven nights a week, he said, he was going to cut it down to just the six. ", Worthington's first club Huddersfield tweeted: "Everyone at#htafcis devastated to hear of the passing of Town legendFrankWorthington. 'I had quite a lot of hair and was a lot younger then. How soccer ace Frank Worthington bedded a different woman every night Find your friends on Facebook. [13] He made his debut on 15 May against Northern Ireland in the 197374 British Home Championship, coming on as a substitute in a 10 victory at Wembley. Around 1978 the marriage broke down, giving Frank the freedom to play the field even more. Slipping out the hotel through a side door with a few other England players they visited a casino. Huddersfield were not exactly a glamour club, but that didnt stop Frank becoming a major attraction. Carol Wyer (@carolwyer) Instagram photos and videos Worthington's wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, who died in hospital in Huddersfield. 'A spokesman for his wife Carol said Frank died peacefully in hospital in Huddersfield following a long illness.'. Great pals with the late George Best he lived with Lindy, the sister of the Manchester United stars first wife Angie. Worthington's wife, Carol, paid tribute to one of the game's great entertainers. The Super League fixture had been a doubt due to safety concerns relating to the pitch. Because I tell you what, there werent many who, when they had a ball at their feet, could lift the soul like Frank Worthington. or. Never shy about discussing his pulling prowess, he also told a journalist what happened after bedding a teenager in Sweden. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. He also upset Englands caretaker manager Joe Mercer by sneaking a girl up to his hotel room after a game. A beautiful footballer, maverick and wonderful character who was so kind to this young apprentice. Gary Lineker, What a character, and one of the most talented footballers I played with. Ally McCoist, What a character & what a player! 'I have always known what I was about and where I was going.'. Ex-Leicester and England star Gary Lineker described him last night as my boyhood hero and a wonderful character. Describing meeting a Belgian brunette in Magaluf, he wrote: It was appropriate that she came from Knokke, because you should have seen her Knokke-ers when I got them out back at my villa.. Frank Worthington Wife Carol Dwyer: Do They Have Any Children? It was, he admitted, a mistake. He was my boyhood hero when he was at LCFC. They had a son and a daughter together: Frank Junior and Kim Malou. Frank thought it was because his unconventional approach upset the national sides bosses. On another occasion he was fined by Huddersfield Town for hiding exotic dancers in his hotel wardrobe before a big match. But Frank denied suffering from the brain disease. Around that time he declared bankruptcy because he couldnt pay off tax bills of 36,000. Lori Dwyer in Chandler, AZ - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages The organisation leading the fight to understand a link between football and brain disease revealed in November that they know of at least 500 former players who have been affected. During a lengthy playing career, the striker represented more than 20 clubs but the latter years of his life saw wife Carol became his full-time carer with benefits their only source of income. Carol Dwyer Profiles | Facebook [30], In May 2016, his daughter said that Worthington had Alzheimer's disease for several years. I'm applying for Universal Credit and hopefully I can get benefits to pay my rent somewhere but the future looks terribly bleak.. She had a blue tight-fitting leather suit on. He had a terrific football brain, sharp as a knife. and She was young and attractive, so what was a man supposed to do?. In later life, when asked who he had played for, he liked to reply I had 11 clubs or 12 if you count Stringfellows.. [21], In 1984, Worthington made three guest appearances for Manchester United against the Australian national team, Nottingham Forest and Juventus on their post-season tour of Australia. He only stopped wearing the medallions when his wife Carol told him 'it was beginning to look a bit naff', he earlier said. , updated 'Then I tried to explain that Dad died 40-odd years ago and Mum 25 years ago. 22:30 GMT 23 Mar 2021 The fact is, they were suspicious of flair. OldFootballPhotos on Twitter: "Carol Dwyer wearing her fathers, # 3,131 following. Worthington, who also played for Leeds United, battled dementia and prostate cancer after retirement and while he initially earned a living on the after-dinner speaking circuit, offers eventually stopped and the death of the former Terriers striker has left his widow in a precarious position. Lives in Eugene, Oregon. But Frank denied suffering from the brain disease. For this mercurial talent, who has died at the age of 72, was just as well known for his inexhaustible exploits in the bedroom and on the dancefloor as his prowess in front of goal. I did all right for myself, thanks very much.. But with all the evidence we have you can look on the balance of probability and say heading's the problem.'. There was Stan Bowles, Charlie George, Alan Hudson, Tony Currie, Frank, me and at the centre of it, George Best. Joe picked entertaining players, said Keegan at the time. Carol Dwyer DeFreitas - Lead Counsel - FedEx | LinkedIn I just said: "Wow, brilliant". [16][19] Worthington also had the reputation for enjoying the high life. However, his loved ones described how the disease took over his life - leaving him a shell of the charismatic great he once was. Franks cause of death has not been announced. Discussing potential ways of limiting the impact of heading the ball, Lineker added: 'Do you want to take heading out of the game? Frank Worthington died on Monday at the age of 72 after battling dementia. 'I pointed to the Main Stand and said: 'You could have got a better view of that from over there.' Carol Dwyer: Frank Worthington Wife 'The ball comes down and I hit it. The increased risk of dementia for footballers after years of heading the ball has only recently become known. Carol Dwyer Profiles | Facebook Why should I? Peter Reid For The Daily Mail Bob said: 'He asked me a couple of months back: "Do you ever see your parents at all?". carol dwyer frank worthington Call us today! The comments below have not been moderated, By I have four international defenders in tow - Terry Butcher and Russell Osman are right behind me - but I am juggling with it and juggling with it. Gambling was a major part of football back in those days and one marathon card game in 1974 went on until 9am in the morning after England beat Bulgaria. His brother Bob told The Athleticin 2019thatWorthington's deterioration was so severe he would forget who he was. He was always treated with such suspicion by England management. The illegitimate son of a Danish farmer and his Swedish housekeeper, Carl Theodor Dreyer was born in Copenhagen on the 3th of February, 1889. He also played in the United States (with NASL teams Philadelphia Fury and Tampa Bay Rowdies ), South Africa and Sweden as well as in English non-League football. The cause of his death is revealed to be Alzheimer from which he was struggling for years. He wants everyone to love him. Frank Worthington's wife Carol Dwyer is in deep shock since the death of the former footballer on March 22, 2021. he said 'no comment', A jury at Bradford Crown Court have heard details of police interviews given by Mohammed Taroos Khan, Yorkshire waterfall walks you have to try at least once in your life, We've compiled a list of the top 10 walking trails in Yorkshire. Gary Lineker hailed the ex-England striker his 'boyhood hero' and described him as 'a beautiful footballer, a maverick and a wonderful character.'. He said: This is where I differ from George Best. After his death his wife Carol said in a statement: Frank brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his private life. I never have regrets. Rest in peace, Elvis. Stan Collymore, A true showman and great footballer but even better bloke.John Fashanu, Absolute luxury. One such anecdotesees him fined one week's wages by Huddersfield after being caught hiding two female dancers in his hotel wardrobe before a game at Everton. 'They have not been interested,'he added. He could charm anyone. The MPs on the Department of Culture Media and Sport select committee heard from 10 experts at the hearing on Tuesday, including Dawn Astle, the daughter of West Bromwich Albion forward, Jeff. He said at the time: 'I have never been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or any other neurological disorder or illness. By the time he returned to Liverpool for a retest, his blood pressure was even higher. Frank Worthington's wife says 'the future looks terribly bleak' Paul Mariner, who was playing for Arsenal at the time, idolised Frank as a Bolton fan and had come to watch him. She was young and attractive, so what was a man supposed to do?. [31] Worthington denied her claims shortly afterwards. Bolton Wanderers 1977-78 Second Division Champions", "Frank Worthington dies aged 72: Tributes paid to former Huddersfield, Leicester and England striker", Frank Worthington management career statistics, Frank Worthington Bob's 7071 Footballers, 198586 Football League Fourth Division PFA Team of the Year, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Worthington&oldid=1138220748, England under-23 international footballers, North American Soccer League (19681984) players, English Football League representative players, First Division/Premier League top scorers, English expatriate sportspeople in Sweden, English expatriate sportspeople in the United States, Expatriate soccer players in the United States, Expatriate soccer players in South Africa, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 16:23. Never shy about discussing his pulling prowess, he also told a journalist what happened after bedding a teenager in Sweden. And he wouldnt go out with us that evening. The West Yorkshireman, from the village of Shelf near Bradford, was the son of two football players, with his dad Eric turning out for Halifax Town and mum Alice for the Womens Auxiliary Air Force. Having put pen to paper, Frank failed two medicals. According to research on dementia, ex-footballers are 3.5 times more likely to die from the illness than the general population. Worthington's wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, who died in hospital in Huddersfield on Monday. [5] His nephew Gary was also a professional footballer. Carol Dwyer. He made only eight international appearances, even though the Manchester City legend Mike Summerbee once called him the only player you could have taken from the league to Italy without him looking out of place. And when he was asked to name his previous clubs he answered: "The Playboy, Tramps and Sandpiper.". According to Worthingtons racy autobiography, One Hump Or Two, the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly was still keen and told him to head for Majorca for a holiday. Even the referee clapped. He described him as one of the best centre-forwards of all time. Frank Stewart Worthington (23 November 1948 22 March 2021) was an English footballer who played as a forward. Raquel Welch! Comment. An avid Elvis fan - once christened 'the cowboy' on an England Under 23 trip - he often donned medallion-man jewellery, paired with a shirt open at the chest, a fedora andbuckled leather boots with his hair slicked back withBrylcreem. I loved football and the ladies and I was not prepared to give up either. 'If only I had taken things a little easier early on, I would have gone to Liverpool and the sky would have been the limit, but I have never made excuses for anything because that is a weakness. So far everything is OK. After the money stopped coming in I was made bankrupt as well. The last time I saw him was about three years ago when I did an event with him and Gary Lineker. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. The legendarily flamboyant former Huddersfield Town and England centre forward died last month at the age of 72 and his funeral will be held in Halifax on Friday. Resides in El Cajon, CA. He was big, good in the air, a real presence. 10:12 EST 23 Mar 2021. All of our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time,' Birmingham posted on twitter. Frank loved life, he loved Elvis, but more than anything, he loved his football. He gave Kevin Ratcliffe and Derek Mountfield a tough afternoon that day even though he was getting on. The England star,who refused to wear shinpads during matches, was compared to George Best in terms of his footballing talent and love of women and nightclubs. Living close to the edge was what Frank was used to. It's an insult that my fellow seventies maverick won just eight England caps. View the profiles of people named Carol Worthington. 'This meeting should have happened 20 years ago,' said Sutton. [26], He was a big fan of Elvis Presley and while playing for Sunderland would often turn up at their training ground dressed as Presley. He kept a flat in Leeds so the club did not know about his nocturnal activities or that he was abusing my body by staying out late. Slipping out the hotel through a side door with a few other England players they visited a casino. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,' Bolton tweeted. I remember I was with him in one get together Revie organised. After the game, guess who I got a strong connection with? The time between the heading to outcome is often decades. Within a few years, he had found his second wife Carole Dwyer, Page Three model and daughter of Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Noel Dwyer. He'd be the last off the training pitch because he loved that environment. A beautiful footballer, maverick and wonderful character who was so kind to this young apprentice. Gary Lineker, What a character, and one of the most talented footballers I played with. Ally McCoist, What a character & what a player!