On hearing that Worthington had high blood pressure, manager Bill Shankly sent him to Majorca for a week for health reasons. I'm heartbroken at the loss of a friend, and to such a devastating disease, but I cherish the times I had with him. - Advise management, executives, human resources, safety, and security professionals on a variety of employment law issues such as wage and hour, hiring and disciplinary decisions, harassment and . 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 question always lingered, though, how much of a star Frank would have been if hed reserved those skills for the football pitch. He was part of a group of half-a-dozen freaky footballers who looked like they had strayed off the set of Top of the Pops. Many England fans wondered why Frank, whose majestic skills were compared to Best, didnt play more for his country. Contrary to popular belief (perhaps nourished by the fact that his films often deal with . "It is with great sadness that Bolton Wanderers has today learned of the passing of club legendFrankWorthington. Worthington's wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, who died in hospital in . RIP Frank Worthington, one of the greats.Paddy McGuinness, One of the great entertainers, scorer of one of the greatest ever goals. Sky Sports Gary Taphouse, What a player, got fans off their seats, a great entertainer. TalkSports Ian Abrahams, He later confessed: In my Leicester days, it wasnt a night out unless you were in at six in the morning after a visit to the Playboy Club.. When Frank Worthington arrived at Heathrow Airport in June 1972, ready for an England Under-23 tour of Eastern Europe, he wore high-heeled cowboy boots, a red silk shirt, black slacks and a lime velvet jacket. 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. Worthington is perhaps best known for his most-famous goal, scored for Bolton againstIpswich at the old Burnden Park in 1979. 'Then I tried to explain that Dad died 40-odd years ago and Mum 25 years ago. 2 shares. [28], He was known for his charisma, flamboyance and his hair, clothes and fast cars. 'It is with great sadness that Bolton Wanderers has today learned of the passing of club legend Frank Worthington. FORMER England striker Frank Worthington was a legend for strutting his stuff at clubs across the land and satisfying adoring fans with his keepy-uppy. 'I had to remind him, as gently as I could, that he actually meant "our parents" because they were his mum and dad as well. So far everything is OK. Worthington was a supremely gifted player who scored one of the greatest juggling goals ever seen the 1979 volley for Bolton Wanderers against Ipswich Town, whichas you can see in the below YouTube clipbegan with four delicate keepy-uppy touches, outwitting the onrushing defensive line, before he buried the ball in the right-hand corner. I did all right for myself, thanks very much.. Despite failing that Liverpool medical Frank played until he was aged 43, running out for over 20 clubs here and in the US, before finally hanging up his boots in 1992. 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. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. I can't pay the mortgage so I have got to sell our home. 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Everyone recognizes Carol as the wife of Frank Worthington, which is pretty obvious to happen when you're married to someone very popular. Join Facebook to connect with Carol Worthington and others you may know. He had a terrific football brain, sharp as a knife. We all shared a common perspective: football was there to be enjoyed, both for the player and the fan. What have I f---ing done?. The football legend spoke extensively about his sexual exploits in his autobiography One Hump or Two? 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Carol Wyer is a USA Today bestselling author and winner of the People's Book Prize Award. A naturally gifted attacker, Frank was born to play the beautiful game. Her gloves are new. He'd be the last off the training pitch because he loved that environment. Carol Dwyer. While his England caps ended at just eight after manager Don Revie discovered Frank had ignored a strict curfew by going out drinking and gambling at a casino. Worthington's wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, who died in hospital in Huddersfield. Happily, I didn't have my moustache at the time.'. The only silverware he picked up during that long career was the old Division Two title with Huddersfield Town. I loved football and the ladies and I was not prepared to give up either. He described him as one of the best centre-forwards of all time. [13] He was described by former Huddersfield and Bolton manager, Ian Greaves as "the working mans George Best". His first wife, Brigitta, was a former Miss Sweden who came over after to Britain after she became pregnant during what he called a holiday romance. We are seeing more great names every day battling this disease and it is important we continue to take steps to change this, for their families' sakes, for Frank's sake. On the marriage front, Worthington was more frugal than one might have expected from such a fast liver. The Match of the Day host scored more headers for England than any other player and says that he and fellow presenters Alan Shearer and Ian Wright fear they could also fall ill. Lineker has also joined a talkSPORT to take part in a radio documentary on the brain condition. Huddersfield Town's Second Division champions 196970", "Where Are They Now? I just wanted every girl to go to bed with me. RIP Frank (Elvis). Jemma Carr The former Blackburn Rovers, Celtic and Norwich City striker pulled no punches when he met politicians, who are gathering evidence on the links between sport and brain injury. And we do not even know what has happened in the amateur game.'. [22], Late in 1988, Worthington had a brief spell with Chorley in the Football Conference, making his debut in a 00 draw with Weymouth at Victory Park on 5 November 1988. Carl Theodor Dreyer. Worthington was diagnosed with dementia in 2016, and is one of hundreds of former top players to suffer with the illness as evidence grows that there is a link between heading the ball and brain injuries. He only stopped wearing the medallions when his wife Carol told him 'it was beginning to look a bit naff', he earlier said. The comments below have not been moderated, By He was a hero to Gary Lineker when the pair overlapped for six months at Filbert Street, though not exactly a mentor. Worthington's wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, who died in hospital in Huddersfield on Monday. 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! and "Frank brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his private life . Frank Worthington has died following a long illness, aged 72, his family have announced. Why should I? 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. Best wants everyone to love him. Join Facebook to connect with Carol Dwyer and others you may know. Slipping out the hotel through a side door with a few other England players they visited a casino. 'Our thoughts are with his family and friends.'. Deteriorating before his familys eyes, Frank Worthingtons battle with Alzheimers The Athletic. They have ignored, shunned, turned their backs on a massive issue. Welcome Frank. Also known as Karren R Dwyer, K R Dwyer, Ruth Dwyer. Off the field, he dressed like a peacock; on it, he played to the gallery. While his England caps ended at just eight after manager Don Revie discovered Frank had ignored a strict curfew by going out drinking and gambling at a casino. Gary Lineker hailed the ex-England striker his 'boyhood hero' and described him as 'a beautiful footballer, a maverick and a wonderful character.'. Worthingtonwore Birmingham's colours from 1979 to 1982. You could talk to him about the game for hours. Huddersfield, Leicester and Bolton clubs also honoured their former star, who led an extraordinary 828-game career racking up 260 goals. The cause of his death is revealed to be Alzheimer from which he was struggling for years. Southampton hailed Worthington for the joy he took to the south coast in his one-year stint with the Saints. A record breaking deal to sign for Liverpool in 1972 fell through because two weeks of sex and partying left him with high blood pressure. Around that time he declared bankruptcy because he couldnt pay off tax bills of 36,000. Frank, who reckoned he was the first man in Britain to own a tank top, said: I suppose I have always been a bit of a peacock.. In later life, when asked who he had played for, he liked to reply I had 11 clubs or 12 if you count Stringfellows.. And when he was asked to name his previous clubs he answered: "The Playboy, Tramps and Sandpiper.". When Frank, Willie Morgan, Mike Walsh and I went to an Elvis convention in Blackpool, Frank was even more popular than the Elvis impersonator on stage, jumping up to sing Suspicious Minds. No I don't think so, but you can take heading out of training, or limit it massively. Once described by former Huddersfield and Bolton manager Ian Greaves as 'the working man's George Best', Worthington played in 22 consecutive Football League seasons from 1966/7, scoring 266 goals in 882 appearances in all competitions. 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. Worthington's wife Carol paid tribute to the much-loved football showman, who died in hospital in Huddersfield. 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Our thoughts are with his family and friends.". As we got older, we stayed in touch, though sadly dementia took a hold on him. In his book One Hump or Two he describes some of his greatest goals, including one against Chelsea which he celebrated at a London nightclub where he danced with American actress Raquel Welch who then tried to kiss him. Gordon Taylor has been fantastic and helped in so many ways but I desperately need help for the future, Carol Worthington added. Writer: The Passion of Joan of Arc. [5] His nephew Gary was also a professional footballer. Sir Alf Ramsey swore when he turned up to fly with the England team wearing cowboy boots, a velvet jacket and silk shirt. Carol Worthington, Frank Worthington's wife In a long career that began in 1966 he played in 22 consecutive Football League seasons. Everyone recognizes Carol as the wife of Frank Worthington, which is pretty obvious to happen when you're married to someone very popular. The FA and PFA are seeking applications from researchers to answer the question: what is the cause of the observed increased risk of death from neurodegenerative disorders in former professional footballers found in the FIELD study? The odds suggest that it probably will. . Gradually, though, he started to calm down and after he married second wife Carol in 1986 he was content to be in bed by 10pm. Worthington's former clubs Bolton and Birmingham added their tributes on social media. Frank also won the Golden Boot title in 1979 for the 24 goals he scored for Bolton Wanderers in the top division. And boy did Frank have fun. Peter Reid For The Daily Mail After Id retired and was living in Florida, he signed for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Frank said: Yeah, I was a bit of a rascal. Resides in El Cajon, CA. "Frank brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his. , updated 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Greaves said to me: "You'll enjoy playing with this fella," and he wasn't wrong. Discussing potential ways of limiting the impact of heading the ball, Lineker added: 'Do you want to take heading out of the game? 22:30 GMT 23 Mar 2021 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. Former England striker Frank Worthington died aged 72 on March 22 in hospital after dementia diagnosis Frank became famous as much for off-field exploits as rarefied talents on it including. Paul Mariner, who was playing for Arsenal at the time, idolised Frank as a Bolton fan and had come to watch him. This was classic Worthington, the mavericks maverick who has died at the age of 72 following a long illness. Best wants everyone to love him. 'I have regular health checks, including the brain. I used to go to a lot of pop concerts and got to meet a lot of the stars. 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. When we walked back the next day, there was the car balancing on the edge of a big drop.. I just wanted every girl to go to bed with me.. Sign Up. 'They have not been interested,'he added. Most relevant . Indeed, he admitted to hankering after a musical career himself. He was a scorer of great goals. The problem was, we were non-conformists at a time when the game was run at the top by those who valued conformity. After the game, guess who I got a strong connection with? Unfortunately, there was a problem at the medical: his blood pressure was too high. Frank Worthington died on Monday at the age of 72 after battling dementia. 'We have to recognise this and we cannot keep talking about it. His brother Bob told The Athleticin 2019thatWorthington's deterioration was so severe he would forget who he was. For other inquiries Contact Us. His daughter claimed in 2016 that he was suffering from Alzheimers due to heading the ball during his playing days. Frank, who played for 24 clubs including Leicester City and Leeds United, also confessed to taking cocaine and nearly drove a car off a cliff in Spain. Carol married #FrankWorthington." 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. And when he was asked to name his previous clubs he answered: "The Playboy, Tramps and Sandpiper.". By Worthingtons Football League career lasted from 1966 to 1987, featuring 266 goals from his 882 appearances. In one way Frank was lucky that he was born at a time when he could have fun, enjoy himself, relax away from the game. 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. 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. Author. The football legend spoke extensively about his sexual exploits in his autobiography One Hump or Two? Slipping out the hotel through a side door with a few other England players they visited a casino. Tough guy boss Revie wasnt so forgiving when Frank ignored his clear instructions not to go out. Within a few years, he had found his second wife Carole Dwyer, Page Three model and daughter of Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Noel Dwyer. 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. Frank also won the Golden Boot title in 1979 for the 24 goals he scored for Bolton Wanderers in the top division.

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