Football has lost one of its great mavericks in Frank Worthington.
The former Huddersfield, Leicester, Bolton and England striker died peacefully in hospital, aged 72, on Monday night.
Worthington’s wife, Carol, paid tribute to one of the game’s great entertainers.
“Frank brought joy to so many people throughout his career and in his private life,” she said.
“He will be greatly missed by everyone who loved him so much.”
Worthington lived life to the max and should have had more than his eight England caps.
“Make no mistake, Frank Worthington should have had 40 or 50 [England caps],” a devastated Ally McCoist told talkSPORT, as he recalled what it was like rooming with him and going on trips abroad with a man who enjoyed a pint or two, though added: “He was talented beyond belief.”
And Leicester were the beneficiaries of his partying ways – at the expense of Bill Shankly and Liverpool in 1972.
It is understood his transfer to Anfield was put on hold after having high blood pressure during the medical.
Anfield supremo Shankly, though, was unfazed. He wanted this hugely talented player and even instructed Worthington to take a holiday to Majorca and do the medical when he got back – bad idea.
According to the Huddersfield Examiner, Worthington’s holiday consisted of seven days of heavy drinking involving two blonde Swedish females, a night with Miss Great Britain and an ‘encounter’ with another woman at the airport.
Worthington then did his medical again and, unsurprisingly, his blood pressure was even higher – the move was off and Shankly sent some flowers to Worthington’s mum.
He joined Leicester City for £100,000 later that summer where he enjoyed a successful career, scoring 72 goals in five seasons.
And there were no regrets about missing out on a Liverpool move.
“There was no point in getting upset,” he said at the time. “I just told myself it was their loss.”
On his previous lifestyle, Worthington once said: “I used to be out ‘til all hours boozing it up, but these days, I touch nothing stronger than the odd glass of lager or wine. I like to be tucked up in bed by 10pm.”