Frank Worthington was one of English football’s most gifted and flamboyant forwards, winning eight England caps and earning a reputation as a showman during a career that took in Huddersfield Town, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United.
But behind the tricks and personality was a player whose work ethic was often misunderstood — and whose brother Dave Worthington has recalled two extraordinary opportunities that might have taken his career in a different direction.
Dave, a former professional footballer and scout, believes Manchester United could have brought the best out of Frank. He also revealed that the family only learned years later that Brazilian giants Santos had wanted to sign him.
Dave told Football Presse, “It was just a family do, many years later when he said, you know, an agent came to me. He said, because I used to love Pelé, you know, my days were when Pelé was the top one in Brazil. I thought the strength and the pace and the power he had, you know, the skill and the touch and the goal scoring was unbelievable. So he was my idol then. And then there were others, Garrincha and people like that, you know, from Brazil.”
Frank wanted to emulate those Brazilian greats, Dave said, and the brothers were taught by their father to work on their skills away from team training.
“And Frank wanted to play like them. You know, he wanted to be like them, to have that skill. And he used to practice and practice and practice on his own, working on things as I did. Our dad taught us to do that, get that extra training.
“And, you know, if you get a ball, you know, just keep it, keep it up, keep it up, flick it up for a few, you know, even if it’s only 10 minutes after training, but do some extra. Frank always did the same.”
The work behind the showman
Dave believes the image of Frank as a playboy unfairly obscured his commitment on the training ground.
“People thought he was a playboy and he wouldn’t train hard and all that. He was in the top three at Huddersfield Town, best trainers. They had a list. And Ian Greaves surprised me when he told me that Frank was always in the top three, you know, fitness wise, you know, as well. And he had all that skill.”
It was only years later that Frank told his family about Santos’ interest. Dave was astonished that a club associated with Pelé and Brazil’s finest players had wanted his brother.
“But it was years later when he came and he just said, you know, Santos came for me. What, Santos? You know, they’ve got all those fantastic Brazilian players and they wanted you?
“And he says, yeah, they did. He says, and he was really willing to go. But he said, 'I was only young, you know, I was only young'.”
Why Dave advised Leeds over Manchester United
United’s interest was more immediate. Frank travelled to Australia on tour with Manchester United, who wanted to sign him but could not complete the move until a later window. Leeds United then made an offer.
“They were wanting to sign him. United wanted to sign him, but couldn’t sign him till the season after the upcoming summer. And in the meantime, Leeds United came in with a bid for him and Leeds United bought him.”
Dave’s advice was shaped by the risk of waiting. If Frank held out for United and suffered an injury before the deal could be completed, United might withdraw — leaving him without the move and potentially without the wages and security of a new contract. Leeds offered a firm opportunity at a club Dave regarded as a top side.
“So I told Frank to go take the offer from Leeds because if he got injured between or during that season, United might not buy him. So I said, at least Leeds are a top team. So go and play for them, which he did. And they were a top team at the time.”
While Frank took his brother’s advice, Dave still wonders what might have happened had Old Trafford become the stage for his talents.
“If they’d have put him on in front of 65,000, 70,000 at Old Trafford, he would have played to the crowd. He would have done his tricks, you know. He would have been another George Best. He would have been like that because he had the ability to do it. And the bigger the stage, the better it got for Frank.”
The showmanship was not limited to football.
“Even with his singing, you know, he’d go anywhere and sing on the stage and do his Elvis trick, you know. He liked the crowd. He loved the crowd, you know. So I think had he gone to Manchester United that time, then I think he would have been a massive hit, you know, with his class, without a doubt.”
Dave also believes Frank’s skills would have flourished on modern pitches, although he had already proved himself on the muddy surfaces of his own era.
“Today, you know, on the thick, beautiful surface that you’ve got today, he would have done anything. But on the bumpy, lumpy, muddy pitches of, you know, October, November, December, January, February, you know, when it’s muddy, he was doing his tricks on pitches then. So he would have loved it.”
For Dave, Frank was not simply a gifted entertainer. He was a technically exceptional footballer, a dedicated trainer and a player whose ability could have made him a star at Manchester United.
“Skill wise, he was ahead of most people in this country.”
Dave Worthington is author of "Worthy: The Scouting Adventures and Football Life of Dave Worthington" - which is available here.
