JOE FRANCIS – TEN YEARS A CRAY WANDERER


Jerry Dowlen writes: Joe Francis was first seen as a Cray Wanderers player at Woodbridge Town in a pre-season friendly match before the start of season 2001-02. Joe played a few games for the Wands that season but the most significant development was his appointment as assistant manager and first team coach. That was the start of what has now become Joe’s very successful ten-year partnership with Cray manager Ian Jenkins. Ian is a Cray player since 1993 and manager since 1999.

Joe grew up in Sidcup. He showed great promise as a footballer, and after interest by Millwall he was taken on by Charlton Athletic as a youth player. Chelsea had become his favourite club, following the family tradition, but locally he enjoyed going to Oxford Road to see Cray Wanderers, in the 1980s.

Joe had been living and working in France before he linked up with Cray in the summer of 2001. He had enjoyed a distinguished playing career at the top levels of Non-League football, playing in the Conference and the Ryman Premier for Welling United, Bromley, Enfield, Hayes and Kingstonian.

Age 42, Joe is married to Sarah and their children are Louis, George and Lily.

Joe has just taken a new full-time job as Head of Education and Welfare at Charlton Athletic FC. So, in addition to congratulating Joe on his ten years with us at Cray Wanderers, we congratulate him on his new appointment.

Peter Goringe adds: I remember Joe’s first game, at Woodbridge. A “grand day out” to a lovely part of the country was made even more pleasant when we saw that Ian Jenkins had been able to make several impressive signings. After two years of gradual progress since taking over as manager when the club was at a very low ebb, Jenko with the support of club chairman Gary Hillman was planning a step-change in status for the Wands. The arrival of Joe was one of the first important pieces in the jigsaw.

For the first part of that 2001-02 season, Joe was a key member of the side that made an excellent start to the campaign. My recollection is that he was a calm presence in midfield or at right-back, often seeming to have that little bit of extra time that classy players are able to find, with the ability to play the simple pass or the searching ball when it was needed.

Frank Coles was listed as Cray’s assistant manager during Joe’s first two seasons at Cray. Frank certainly made a big contribution as the Wands won the Kent League title for the first time in 22 years in 2003, but Joe’s influence from the touchline was increasingly seen, as his playing appearances became fewer.

At the start of the 2003-04 season, Cray’s last in the Kent League, Joe was officially installed as Ian’s assistant and this established the partnership that has become almost legendary both locally and in Ryman League circles.

As we all know, the last few years have been the most successful in the history of Cray Wanderers. Joe Francis is a central figure throughout this period. He seems to me to have the attributes of a really astute footballing brain with a hunger and passion for success that never seems to diminish. He is not afraid of the occasional brushes with authority (remember the ref who sent off six players in one game!), but his sense of humour and fun always shines through. Sometimes Joe’s pre-match warm-up routines with the players are as entertaining as the game that follows!

I am sure Ian Jenkins would be the first to agree that Joe’s experience of football in the Ryman League (and beyond) and his coaching abilities are a key factor in the club becoming firmly established at this level – something we could never have imagined when we first clapped eyes on him in an amber shirt ten years ago in Suffolk.

(Photos used courtesy of Jerry Dowlen)