Sadness, friendship and a one-kick debut: Ron Atkinson remembers Sheffield Wednesday legend Trevor Francis

Atkinson was the man who brought the legendary figure to Hillsborough as a veteran player in 1990 - and later recommended he take over from him when he left for the Aston Villa job a year later.

Francis of course got the nod to step into the Hillsborough hotseat and achieved great things, leading Wednesday to Europe and to two domestic cup finals in the same 1992/93 season. It marked the end of an iconic playing career in which he became Britain’s first £1m player, winning two European Cups with Nottingham Forest, racking up 52 England caps and stepping out for the likes of Sampdoria, Rangers and Atalanta.

The pair shared a relationship much deeper and for far longer than most will realise - their first meeting coming when Francis was a wiry teenager lining up against Oxford United. The pair spent much of their lives living and working in the Midlands and would often find themselves sat next to one another at functions or watching cricket at Edgbaston, when they’d regale Wednesday tales of old.

Though clearly emotional on a day he says he has spent speaking about his old pal all day, Atkinson’s voice picks up a touch as he launches into after dinner mode to explain their first afternoon together.

“I actually marked him on his full debut for Birmingham,” he said. “He was a young lad making his way and I was asked to man mark him at St Andrews. He only had one kick all day.

“Mind you, it was the equaliser!

“He was a magnificent player who had such a wonderful career and I was proud that he ended it with us. The lad Bellingham may well end up taking him over but he’s still got some way to go - Trevor is the greatest player to ever play for Birmingham City.