Mr Portsmouth Bill Francis dies

Bill Francis: Mr Portsmouth

  PICTURE: Steve Nash  

PORTSMOUTH’s closure at the end of March was given a sad postscript with the news of the death of Bill Francis, the track’s life and blood for so long until his retirement as general manager more than a decade earlier.

Clive Feltham, MD of the GRA, to who Francis ostensibly reported for several years, paid tribute yesterday: "Bill was 'Mr Portsmouth' and the inventor of Five Good Things For A Fiver (Six Pack as it became known later).

"He was a larger-than-life character, passionateabout greyhound racing and always happy to air his view.

Enormously popular at Portsmouth with both customers and staff, Bill treated Portsmouth Stadium like his own fiefdom. He was consummately professional and hard working - especially given the tools he had to work with.

"Bill had been part of the glory days of greyhound racing, but did not harp back, preferring instead to get on with things.

"Since his retirement he has offered advice to successive general managers and had often written to the Racing Post pointing out the tough realities facing greyhound racing .

"It is a sad loss, and our condolences go to Kimberly, his wife, and their two daughters."

Feltham's reference to the hard-working Franciswill be endorsed by the regular who once claimed the man must either have six identical brothers, or was the world’s first example of a successful cloning!

When you arrived at Pompey, he appeared to be in the car park welcoming you; on the gate, counting out the change; over in the bar serving drinks while also changing a barrel at the same time; at the restaurant facility directing diners to tables while also dealing with tote and other staffing problems, or even rushing out with a trophy to make a presentation.

Being described as ‘Mr Portsmouth’ is entirely fitting. He loved the old track, ran the place with a smile, but also a focus on cost control. His profit per customer pound spent was always reckoned as the highest of any track.

He was a man possessed but in love with the game. The term old school was also perfectly made for him.