Book england’s greatest defender in history

Brilliant Alfie Potts Harmer THE GREATEST CENTRE HALF I EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PLAYING WITHTHE INCOMPARABLE NEIL FRANKLIN SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS THE BEST DEFENDER I EVER PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST YESTHAT GOOD SIR TOM FINNEY Stanley Matthews Tom Finney and Gordon Banks all named the same man as the greatest centre half they ever laid their eyes upon That man was Neil Franklin a footballing visionary whose career collapsed at its peak When Franklin donned his usual number five shirt in front of than 133000 spectators at Hampden Park for a 1 0 England victory over the Scots he set an all time record for consecutive England appearances as well as helping confirm England s place at the 1950 World Cup He would have been the first man on the plane and the first name on the team sheet for England as they made their World Cup bow but Franklin ruled himself out of his own volition In a flash the fate of Franklin s career and English football in its entirety was irrevocably damaged. England’s Greatest defenders marvel Written along with the help of Neil s son former England internationals club team mates club chairmen and numerous others who have generously provided a huge deal of valuable material this is the story of England s colourful unsung hero of football England s Greatest Defender The Untold Story of Neil Franklin.