Albert Franks

Albert John Franks (13 April 1936 18 June 2017) was an English footballer who played as a wing half. He played in the Football League for Newcastle United and Lincoln City in the Scottish Football League for Rangers, Greenock Morton and Queen of the South, and was player-manager of Scarborough.

Early life Albert Franks was born in the mining village of Boldon Colliery, County Durham on 13 April 1936. His mother was a Methodist preacher. He represented the Durham county schools teams at football and cricket, and once scored a century in 25 minutes playing for Boldon Colliery in the Durham Coast Cricket League. Having fallen out of favour once Charlie Mitten became Newcastle manager, Franks was sold to Rangers in March 1960 for £6,500, where he was thought to be the first Englishman to join the Scottish club.

After football Franks retired from football aged 29, after a proposed move to become player-manager of Bradford City fell through. He returned to his police career, joining the Durham Constabulary. He served there for 22 years, principally with the CID in Chester-le-Street, earning 13 commendations. After retiring from the police force, he moved into retail security working internationally as a consultant and lived in Vigo, near Birtley, Tyne and Wear. Franks died on 18 June 2017, aged 81.