Blues Legend Trevor Francis Leaves £1.9m Fortune in Will, Estranged Sons Excluded
The late Blues legend Trevor Francis, who left behind a fortune of £1.9m in his will, has sparked controversy by excluding his two estranged sons, James and Matthew, from inheriting any part of his substantial estate. The former England forward, who passed away last July at the age of 69, made it clear in his will that his children are to be excluded from his inheritance.
Details of the family rift came to light after the will was made public, revealing that Francis had bequeathed his entire estate to his siblings, Ian and Carolyn. In the will, penned in February 2019, Francis explicitly stated his desire to leave nothing to his offspring, citing family differences that led to estrangement in the last several months.
His spouse Helen, who tragically passed away two years prior due to breast cancer, was also not included in the will. Francis did not hold back in his declaration, stating that his children were not financially dependent on him and that the decision to exclude them was due to their estrangement.
The legal papers revealed that Francis’ UK assets will be split evenly between his brother Ian and sister Carolyn, both residents of Plymouth. His property in Spain, including an apartment near Marbella, will be handled separately. The news of the exclusion of his sons from his will comes after James was previously involved in a court case, accused of burgling the home of former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie in Warwickshire.
Despite the family rift, Francis had an illustrious playing career, making his debut at Birmingham City in 1970 before winning two European Cups at Nottingham Forest. He represented England 52 times and scored 12 goals. His record-breaking transfer fee move from Blues to Forest in 1979 made headlines, and he also played for clubs such as Manchester City, Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Sampdoria, and Atlanta.
In his autobiography, Francis opened up about the challenges he faced after losing his wife, expressing the deep love he had for her and the difficulty of adapting to life without her. The exclusion of his sons from his will adds another layer of complexity to the legacy of the football icon, whose career and personal life have been closely followed by fans and the public.
