Youth Players Who Didn't Fulfil Their Potential

[Number_25]

I think a lot of Evertonians here don't actually know the story of Francis Jeffers.

He made his senior debut aged just 16 against Manchester United at Old Trafford, after coming on for the ageing Dave Watson. At the time, Everton were 2-0 down and amidst a fight against the drop. At the time, things were dire. Injuries and suspensions to Branch and Ferguson left us with only one first-team striker in Danny Cadamarteri.

We avoided the drop that season, but a lack of real investment from then chairman Peter Johnson left us with a squad as thin as Kate Moss' arms. With this in mind, we had no other option other than to turn toward our youth setup. Players like Richard Dunne, Michael Ball and Kevin McLeod broke through - and amongst this 'golden generation' of homegrown talent was Jeffers.

The 1998-99 season was considered by some as his breakthrough year. He would score 6 goals in 15 appearances for the toffees - which when you consider the squad around him at the time, was quite the feat. Talk of big moves to Manchester United, Arsenal and Blackburn was plastered around the media - but Everton stood firm.

For a long time, Jeffers was seen as a return to the roots of English football. A working-class boy working his way up through his boyhood team, a real Roy of the Rovers story; well until it went to his head. The 1999-00 season kicked off, and after an impressive goalscoring start with Kevin Campbell, Jeffers and his agent wanted to capitalise on this hype and demand for higher wages.

At the time, the club was in disarray financially. A tight wage structure was enforced, and Walter Smith refused to budge. A public dispute begun, which lead to his £10m move to Arsenal. Evertonians hearts were broke yet again, another star player gone. He did have a decent record for us, 20 goals in 60 appearances for a team that could barely string 4 passes together was quite the return from a 19 year old.

However, it all got to him. Accusations of diving, cheating and multiple injuries ruined his Arsenal career. Jeffers just seemed to die off as a footballer, returning for a brief loan spell in 2003-04; before again falling out with our manager and making himself look a bit like a meff in the public media with comments about Rooney needing to move away to better his career.

The magic just disappeared. A honest hard working lad from the Mersey had sold his soul, and his talent for the riches of London.

Genuine waste.

 

[Kankurette]

I remember Franny Jeffers well. He was great in his day and then he went to Arsenal and his career disappeared down the toilet.

 

[Gladystweet]

Has anyone mentioned Rob Wakenshaw? Remember him scoring a beauty against utd in a 1-1 draw (I think). Was another touted for big things but seemed to vanish just as quickly.

 

[Blue Cheese]

The one that always sticks out for me was Branch. Everyone thought this lad was going to be a goal scoring machine but couldn't do it at Senior level.

Rodwell and Vaughan just had too many injuries and it halted their progress somewhat.

 

[barneygumble]

Players like Nick Chadwick probably did fulfill their potential to be honest, he was never good really, just scored a few scrappy goals, was never a Premier League forward.

I think Vaughan and Wallace both had the ability to be storming players, just injury curtailed them, and subsequently they did not fulfill.

Cadamarteri basically had the same deal as Federico Macheda, scored in the Derby, and fans expected alot, he was a decent footballer, as shown by the fact he remained in the football league for another 10+ years after leaving us, but again, lack of regular playing time done him in.

Ball and Jeffers went chasing the money, and subsequently, i don't think Ball will care about that, apparently Jeffers is suffering a bit financially, so maybe he may, but both capped by England.

I remember that Kevin McLeod coming on as a sub a few times, and being quite pacy, was disappointed not to see him make it.