England’s embarrassing defeat to Australia in 2003 is a game many home fans wish to forget. The game was most noted for being the debut of Wayne Rooney, but it was another debutant who scored England’s solitary goal on his one and only cap- Francis Jeffers, remember him? Whilst Rooney never looked back in his career, Jeffers has all but been forgotten.
After scoring an impressive 18 goals in 49 games for home-club Everton, Jeffers was a centre forward revelation. Scoring a record-equalling 13 goals for England under-21s, Jeffers signed for Arsenal for £8m in 2001, becoming one of Arsenal’s most expensive ever signings. Jeffers arrived at Arsenal with a reputation as a “fox in the box” and scored 2 goals early in the 2001-02 season.
However, a series of niggling injuries restricted Jeffers’ time at Arsenal- who went on to win the League and Cup double. With strikers such as Henry, Wiltord, Bergkamp and Kanu on their roster, Jeffers was deemed surplus to requirements, and appeared to completely drop of the radar. What happened next is a mystery for most football fans.
After troubled loan spells at Everton and Rangers, Jeffers was equally unimpressive for Blackburn and Charlton, scoring only 3 goals in 56 appearances for all 4 clubs combined.
After another loan spell with Ipswich, Jeffers signed for Sheffield Wednesday for around £700,000 in August 2007. His time with the Owls was blighted by injury, and many of his 54 appearances came as a substitute. Although Jeffers may be remembered fondly for a 25-yard strike against Hull, his reputation was dealt a further blow after being sent off for a head-butt against Port Vale in 2009, and was released in 2010 after Wednesday were relegated to League 1.
Spells at Newcastle Jets, where Emile ‘Heskey-cam’ Heskey is now playing his trade, Motherwell and Maltese side Floriana followed; before joining current club Accrington Stanley in January 2013. Jeffers has said he hopes to prove himself in his new colours, and prove doubters wrong. The number 9 got off to a great start, scoring two against AFC Wimbledon on his debut, as Accrington fight for League 2 survival.
Will Mata