Like all Brentford fans of a certain age and above I was devastated and shocked to learn about the tragic and premature death of Francis Joseph aged only 62.
After the heady and halcyon days of Sweetzer, McCullough and Phillips, Brentford struggled to find a halfway reliable striker. Bob Booker was a more than decent target man but far from clinical in front of goal, and the least said about the likes of Gary Johnson, Keith Bowen and the ineffable Lee Frost, the better.
Deep into the 1981/2 season we were highly impressed by the pace and incision of Wimbledon’s Francis Joseph, their first ever black player. He gave us a more than hard time at Plough Lane and then terrified us at Griffin Park when scoring two brilliantly taken goals which turned a two goal interval deficit into a staggering 3-2 win for Wimbledon which put the kibosh on Brentford’s fading promotion hopes.
The Brentford players and management were deeply impressed and if you can’t beat him then sign him, so Martin Lange authorised a hefty payment of £40,000 on a pacy and strong striker with an eye for goal who helped transform the club’s fortunes.
Wisely snubbing the potential fan reaction at Millwall Joseph teamed up with the resurrected outcast Tony Mahoney to form a fearsome twin spearhead which was far too much for Third Division defences to cope with.
We possessed easily the best front three in the division with Gary Roberts and a world class midfield in Hurlock, Kamara and Bowles but the tragic loss of Mahoney to a broken leg in an FA Cup replay against Swindon proved terminal, aided and abetted by a defence that leaked goals like a sieve and we failed to win the promotion we merited.
“Jo, Jo give us a goal” rang out the cry from the terraces and he obliged over 50 times until like a blazing meteor his burgeoning career was snuffed out by a broken leg in a fair challenge against Wigan that never properly healed. This cost him his pace – his greatest asset – and ultimately his career. He perhaps did not receive the optimum treatment and broke his leg again on his return. He tried his best under new boss Steve Perryman but he was never the same although he stayed long enough to play and even score alongside his cultured full back brother, Roger.
He had decent spells at Reading, Sheffield United, where he was reunited with former mentor and boss Dave Bassett, and Gillingham, but the magic had gone and a career that promised so much withered on the vine.
Ever popular with a trademark grin on his face despite being subjected to some cruel and appalling racist taunts, Jo will stay long in the hearts and memories of all Bees fans of a certain vintage on account of the joy he brought us through his effervescence, joie de vivre and sheer ability.
Francis Joseph – a true Brentford legend, taken far too soon.
RIP