Francis Jeffers had so much potential in his early days. According to Transfermarkt, Arsenal bought Jeffers in 2001 for £13.77 million from Everton. By 2011, Jeffers was playing his football for Motherwell.
The striker burst onto the scene at Everton in his breakthrough season. He established himself as a key member of the Goodison Park squad and managed six goals in 28 appearances.
Jeffers was a promising Toffee youngster. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Whenever Jeffers played early on, he showed how much of a deadly striker he could be. The forward earned the nickname ‘fox in the box’ on the terraces.
Injuries blighted him though throughout his professional stint. Lack of sharpness and form caught up to him too, and before he knew it, Jeffers was tumbling down the football ladder.
Jeffers didn’t show his Everton potential at Motherwell
This guy had once been one of legendary manager Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal targets in his youth. To be at Motherwell with his career on its last legs 10 years later must have been utterly demoralising.
Jeffers suffered a sharp decline. (Mike Hewitt /Allsport)
Did he do much at Fir Park? Not really, but at least he was available for more games than he wasn’t.
Jeffers managed 14 Well appearances, although they were pretty uneventful. The forward scored twice and assisted once. He did play a part in some of the defining moments during Motherwell’s run to the 2011 Scottish Cup final.
He scored one of the goals against Dundee United in a 3-0 win which helped the Well into the semi-final, before he assisted John Sutton’s screamer against St Johnstone, the goal that sent the Steelmen to the final.
Jeffers contributed effectively to the Well’s cup final run. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Ex-Gunner Jeffers featured off the bench in the final against Celtic, a just reward for his contributions in the build-up to the big day. They were defeated 3-0 by the Hoops at Hampden.
Soon enough Jeffers left Fir Park for his next venture, Newcastle Jets in Australia. He finished up his career with Accrington Stanley.
Injuries robbed the world of seeing what the ‘fox in the box’ was really capable of. He made 234 appearances in his 14-year career and scored 40 goals. He’ll be forever remembered as what could have been in the football world.