Before the emergence of Wayne Rooney, Everton produced another youngster under the name of Francis Jeffers. Born in Liverpool on the 25th January 1981 the young striker showed promise in both the under 16s and reserve teams and eventually was called up to the senior squad by then manager, Walter Smith. He made his debut against Manchester United on Boxing Day 1997, in a game which Everton lost. Although he was showing promise, Walter Smith thought that playing someone of such a young age would be risky so he wasn’t picked as a starter until Everton played Derby County in February 1999. This would be an important game for Everton as Derby was seen as a club Everton could and should beat. The youngsters performance that game showed his failing strike partner Bakayoko how you’re supposed to play as he set up Nick Barmby’s goal with a deft touch and pass. After this performance Walter Smith was keen to try Jeffers again and played him against Coventry in a FA Cup match. Upfront with him was Hutchinson, Walter Smith was determined to make something work as Everton’s usual strike force wasn’t performing as he desired. A goal from Jeffers as well as a good performance to match brought in the plaudits to this young mans talent.
By now Francis Jeffers was being touted as the next big thing in English football. His exceptional talent for moving into free space was something not seen at the club since Tony Cottee in the early 90s. Not only did he have the positioning aspect right, he was also capable of bringing the ball down with relative ease. Something important as Walter Smith’s tactics meant that Everton usually ignored the midfield and preferred a long ball game.
Everton were in real relegation trouble by the end of the 1998-99 season though, Walter Smith brought in Kevin Campbell and a strike partnership formed. This was to prove vital as Campbell and Jeffers scored 14 goals in 9 appearances together as Everton scaved relegation.
By the start of the 1999-2000 season, it was publicly known that Walter Smith and Francis Jeffers had a spat over wages. Francis Jeffers handed in a transfer request but Smith rejected it and moved Jeffers into the reserves. Questions were being raised to whether Jeffers’ attitude towards both the game and the club was right. Eventually any problems were solved and the transfer request withdrawn. This was the season that Jeffers was to perform, he had to! Everton fans wanted blood from the youngster, and not just goals would help ease the pain. Jeffers had to work hard now and the added work effort was showing as Jeffers leaded the top goal scorers charts at the starting 10 games of the season. He was forgiven by the Everton fans who now loved him dearly.
Now problems with injury started to occur as he suffered a suspected twisted ankle in a England Under 21s game against rivals Argentina. Unfortunately Jeffers didn’t just twist his ankle, it was massive ligament damage. This kept him out of first team action until the 2000-01 season and Everton started to fail because of his absence.
Jeffers returned as expected by the start of the 2000-01 season, and it looked that he came back fitter and stronger than ever. After a brilliant start of the season the big boys started sniffing around, both Manchester United and Leeds Untied made public their desire to sign the talented youngster. Everton wanted to keep him however and offered Jeffers a lucrative deal. This was made public as the largest contract Everton had ever offered. Nothing was said on it from the Jeffers camp except his desire to play for his boyhood club… Everton. Jeffers spent most of the season injured however as his ankle gave in time and time again, but he still managed 6 league goals in 12 appearances.
In June 2001 Francis Jeffers left Everton to join Arsenal after learning that new chairman Bill Kenwright was to keep with Walter Smith. Although Everton made £8m from the transfer, it was still seen as a low point in the clubs history. How could be let such an exciting player leave? I remember coming home from school and being told by my dad that my favorite player had left, I was in tears.
His time at Arsenal though was to be plagued by injury as the problematic ankle was to give in time and time again. By January 2002 his Arsenal career was practically over as the media started to question his credentials on and off the pitch. When fit though he was being pushed from the starting 11 by Sylvain Wiltord, this must of hit his confidence. Jeffers’ sub-par performances were ever growing and eventually he was transfer listed. But to make it worse for Arsenal fans, Jeffers’ last appearance in an Arsenal shirt was to be sour as he was sent off only 12 minutes after coming on in a community shield loss to rivals Manchester United.
Jeffers made his England debut whilst at Arsenal in a 1-3 loss to Australia in February 2003. He scored England’s only goal in the game though with a deftly struck header.
During his 3 years at Arsenal, Jeffers only scored a measly 4 goals in 22 appearances.
Jeffers was to return to Goodison Park under the rule of David Moyes, though he failed to score in the 18 league appearances he played for the toffees. He did score however, twice against a injury plagued Fulham in the FA Cup. Again Jeffers’ arrogance was to come into question as he fell out with the seemingly unflappable David Moyes and was returned to Arsenal.
Arsenal recuperated some of the £8m wasted on the injury prone striker as he was sold to Charlton Athletic at the start of the 2004-05 season for £2.6m. He occasionally looked like his old self as he managed 3 goals in 20 appearances for the Addicks. His overall performances though were poor to say the least and he was loaned off to SPL giants Rangers. Ironically Everton were to finish 4th this season and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Maybe playing in a league completely lacking of quality may help Jeffers gain confidence in him again. Sadly no as he managed no goals in 8 appearances, he looked awful. Alan Curbishley saw Jeffers as a liability to the club and he was released at the end of the 2005-06 season.
He then signed for Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2006, he scored on his debut against FC Basle in a UEFA Cup tie. No more goals were to come as Jeffers managed to throw away opportunities that years ago seemed impossible to the youngster to miss. Jeffers was then loaned to Championship outfit Ipswich Town in 2007 where he scored an impressive 4 goals in 9 appearances. Maybe he had found his level? At the end of the 2006-07 season he was sold to Sheffield Wednesday for £700k. A large sum to gamble on the troubled striker for a club with no money.
On his debut he got injured again in a 4-1 loss to Ipswich Town, Jeffers’ bad performances during the season raised more questions from fans and pundits. The next season looked to be better for the striker as his movement seemed to have freed up. He scored important goals against Hull and was picked to play against Stoke City.
Was he starting to show some of that potential he promised? Sadly, no as he suffered a broken ankle in the game against Stoke. In the game he performed exceptionally though before Ryan Shawcross’ nasty tackle was to ensure his season would be over. Jeffers suffered more ankle injuries in the last two seasons at Hillsborough. His frustration was to show after he headbutted Port Vale player Tommy Fraser in the a league cup encounter. He was to later be sacked from Sheffield Wednesday after the Owls were relegated to League One. An expensive mistake.
Jeffers was to return to Everton in 2010, but only to keep his fitness up as he looked for a new club.
Jeffers was to go down under as he signed for Australian outfit, Newcastle Jets. He was only given a 10 game contract and only made 9 appearances and scored 1 goal. His performance even at that level were poor and he was released one game before his contract was due to end.
Jeffers then had a spell at SPL outfit Motherwell and scored 1 goal in 10 appearances.
A player who showed some real talent has ended up without a club and with a reputation ruined. Some blame his agent, other blame his arrogance but one thing is true.
The boy was talented. Very very talented.
