Francis Laurent; joining Tilly against at Sincil Bank
He wanted the stars, and now he's got the Blue Square Premier!
You've got to give it to the former Shrimper winger Francis Laurent, he travelled the country to prove his worth after walking out on the Shrimpers last summer.
He thought he was better than League Two and with a gallic shrug and a one fingered salute to Uncle Ron he left Roots Hall to find his fortune with....... Coventry, Sheffield United, a reserve game behind closed doors with Cardiff and a frigging hat-trick, but none of them followed up.
So with the Championship fading fast, it was on to League One Colchester United and a trial in their reserve side and an attempt to impress head Farmer John Ward.
Sadly for the Frenchman they lost 3-0, though the Col. U. official site said Francis; 'played a clever through ball behind the Stevenage back line', hurrah!
The answer from Ward; 'non'.
So he went back to his native country and signed for AFC Compiegne and that seemed it, until in comes then Northampton boss Ian Sampson last January and before you can say sacré bleu he's at the Sixfield Stadium until the end of the season and back in the bottom tier of league football where he was back in June, though he may get paid this time.
Sadly for the Thierry Henry of League One, we'll always have that Leeds game, Samson lost his job and new Cobblers boss Garry Johnson just didn't fancy him, he only made six appearances in total scoring bugger all, and to be honest he lookled pretty lost when he came on a sub in the 1-1 draw with Northampton last February.
So off he went again and with Sincil Bank speculation tying every player former boss Steve Tilson ever had at Roots Hall with a drop to the Conference, it's the out-of-work Frenchman who has actually put pen to paper for Tilly and Brush at the Imps of Lincoln City on a one-year deal.
Tills, I hear Christophe is wasting his time on trail at Inverness, get on the phone quick mate, so Francis has someone to talk to.
No word from Tilly yet, but Samson told www.ntfc.co.uk at the time of signing him: "I am pleased to bring Francis to the club. He is an attacking player who can play in a number of positions, and he is someone who has the pace and the ability to beat players. I have been looking to give us more natural pace and Francis is quick. We have had to move fast to beat other clubs to sign him. He is highly rated and was close to earning himself a deal at a couple of Championship clubs earlier in the season. He is different to what we have here and I think he will be a player the fans take to."
Good luck Franny, he could mesmorise and annoy, usually both oin the first fifteen minutes of a game, but if he hits form he could terrorise Conference defences, before they chop him down!
Videos for francis laurent
The Laurent Saga
Stockport away; the best of Francis: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Leeds home; the very best of Francis: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
With Colchester United:
www.cu-fc.com/page/News/0,,10424~2148189,00.html
With Sheffield United:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edy4/
former_blues_frenchman_francis_may_become_a_blade_552178/index.shtml
With Coventry City:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edy4/
sky_blues_say_non_to_former_shrimpers_frenchman_551320/index.shtml
With Cardiff City:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edy4/
exblue_grabs_a_hattrick_for_bluebirds_554737/index.shtml
The Laurent Files
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 2 January 1986 | ||
Place of birth | Paris, France | ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
Playing position | Striker / Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Lincoln City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
2005–2006 | FC Sochaux-Montbéliard B | 12 | (0) |
2006–2007 | SV Eintracht Trier 05 | 14 | (4) |
2007–2008 | FSV Mainz II | 25 | (7) |
2007–2008 | FSV Mainz | 6 | (0) |
2008–2010 | Southend United | 56 | (9) |
2010–2011 | AFC Compiègne | 3 | (0) |
2011 | Northampton Town | 6 | (0) |
2011– | Lincoln City | 0 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:06, 5 July 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
(Player information supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Laurent)