RIP: Frank Worthingtron

Sad to hear of the death of Frank Worthington. Some of my earliest memories of West Ham include the North Bank chanting: "Oh Wanky Wanky Wanky, Wanky Wanky Wanky Worthington!" at Frankie. It was a mark of respect, in a ribald way. In that 1974 game Worthington scored twice for Leicester in a 6-2 defeat. After going a goal down to Worthington's penalty, the Hammers went 6-1 up before Worthington scored a late consolation. Bobby Gould finally came good for the Irons scoring a brace, new signing Billy Jennings got two and Billy Bonds and Keith Robson also scored in a marvellous match. That West Ham side went on to win the FA Cup in 1975. 

Always thought Worthington was the sort of flair player who would have fitted in well at West Ham, and there was more than a hint of Frank McAvennie-style roguery about him. He famously failed a medical at Liverpool after apparently indulging in too much sexual healing in Marbella, resulting in high blood pressure. There's no disputing he loved the game though and he went on to play until he was 38. Another maverick gone from the Seventies generation that gave us the likes of Tony Currie, Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles, Charlie George, Alan Hudson, et al.