Ex-Coventry City footballer becomes professional poet

Mar 29 2009 by Rebekah Oruye, Sunday Mercury

AS a teenage soccer star, Liam Francis looked to have the whole world at his feet.

The centre back was scouted by Coventry City Football Club while still at school and later signed up with their youth academy.

Two years ago Liam, then aged just 17, played his first full season for the Sky Blues. But after manager Iain Dowie was fired and Chris Coleman took over he was dropped from the squad and eventually released.

The former professional footballer has now swapped his skills on the pitch in favour of artistic prose – by becoming a professional poet.

He has applied to the Prince’s Trust for funding to set up a new business to publish his poems.

Liam, aged 19 and from Erdington, Birmingham, said he was crushed on hearing his contract would not be renewed by Coventry last February.

“I burst into tears and started crying. It was the lowest moment of my life,” he said.