Frank Wignall Explained

Frank Wignall
Fullname:Frank Wignall
Birth Date:21 August 1939
Birth Place:Blackrod, England
Position:Striker
Years1:1957–1958
Clubs1:Horwich R.M.I
Years2:1958–1963
Years3:1963–1968
Years4:1968–1969
Years5:1969–1971
Years6:1971–1973
Years7:1973–1974
Years8:1974
Clubs2:Everton
Clubs3:Nottingham Forest
Clubs4:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Clubs5:Derby County
Clubs6:Mansfield Town
Clubs7:King's Lynn
Clubs8:Burton Albion
Caps2:33
Caps3:157
Caps4:32
Caps5:45
Caps6:56
Totalcaps:323
Goals2:15
Goals3:47
Goals4:15
Goals5:15
Goals6:15
Totalgoals:107
Nationalyears1:1964
Nationalteam1:England
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:2
Manageryears1:1973–1974
Managerclubs1:King's Lynn (player-manager)
Manageryears2:1975–1976
Managerclubs2:Qatar
Manageryears3:1981–????
Managerclubs3:Shepshed Charterhouse

Frank Wignall (born 21 August 1939) is an English retired international footballer who played professionally for Everton, Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Derby County and Mansfield Town, as well as at international level with England. He later became player-manager of King's Lynn. After a spell with the Qatar national team, In July 1981 he was appointed manager of Shepshed Charterhouse.[1]

Club career

Wignall signed for Nottingham Forest from Everton in 1963 for, a then club record transfer of, about £20,000.[2] He made his debut on 24 August 1963 against Aston Villa and scored his first goal in his second game away to Liverpool on 29 August.[3] He was Forest's top scorer during his first two seasons there with 21 goals in the 1963–64 season and 16 goals in the 1964–65 season. His last competitive appearance was in the FA Cup at Leeds United on 17 February 1968.[3]

Wignall played for Derby County between 1969 and 1971, and began the 1971–72 season playing regularly, scoring 5 goals in 11 league appearances. However he was transferred to Mansfield Town late in 1971 and Derby went on to win the First Division title that season in his absence.[4]

International career

Wignall played twice for England as a centre forward. He scored his two international goals on his England debut against Wales at Wembley Stadium in a 2–1 victory on 18 November 1964. His second and final game for England was in a 1–1 draw away to the Netherlands.[5] Wignall believed that he might have made the England squad for the 1966 FIFA World Cup, had he not broken his leg, saying that "I was in the England team and Geoff Hurst took my position. All because I broke me leg".[5]

Notes and References

  1. Saints Review. Arnold F.C. programme. 27 October 1981.
  2. Book: Wright . Don . Forever Forest: The Official 150th Anniversary History of the Original Reds . 2015 . Amberley Publishing Limited . 9781445635170 .
  3. Book: Smales, Ken . 2006 . Nottingham Forest The Official Statistical History . Pineapple Books.
  4. News: Clough's messages, McFarland's radio agony, Durban's wise words - Derby County legends revisit the 71-72 title success. derbytelegraph.co.uk. 10 May 2022.
  5. Web site: Broken legs, pay rises, managing Qatar – The Nottingham Forest great who 'helped' England win World Cup . nottinghampost.com. 4 April 2021.