Jermaine Francis

**Last statistical update: 18:21, 8 September 2023 (UTC)**

**Jermaine Laman Jordan Francis** is a footballer who played for **Hashtag United** (men).

## Career

### Pre-HTU

Youth
Having also played in the academies of Queens Park Rangers and Reading, Francis signed with Chelsea in March 2019. He was assigned, along with fellow Uxbridge College football programme student Majid Niknezhad, to their under-19 college representative squad following a successful trial at Cobham.

DT FC
Around 2019, at the age of 17, Francis began featuring for Essex Alliance League team DT FC. On 14 June 2021, the midfielder departed the club amid contract offers from two National League clubs. However, after talks broke down, he rejoined DT FC on the succeeding 8 July.

Sunday League
Francis played Sunday League football for Hatch Lane.

Coggeshall Town
After a short stint back with DT FC, Francis soon signed up with Coggeshall Town of the Isthmian League - North Division for the 2021–22 campaign. He made his competitive debut for the *Seed Growers* on 15 August as the club drew 1–1 at the Len Salmon Stadium against HTU, as he came off the bench to replace Ernest Okoh after 66 minutes. After another sub showing in an FA Cup preliminary round home loss to Berkhamsted on 21 August, he made his first start for them in a home defeat to Romford in the Isthmian League on 27 August. Two appearances later, Francis scored his first goal during a victory at home to Felixstowe & Walton United on 11 September.

Francis was sent off in stoppage time of a home draw with Grays Athletic on 18 September, which preceded his second goal for the club arriving just over a month later in a 3–2 win over Barking. In the subsequent November, the midfielder notched a brace versus Aveley on 13 November and then a sole strike against AFC Sudbury on 23 November. Francis ended 2021 with a double over Romford on 18 December, prior to ending his time with Coggeshall Town on 8 February with a goal in a home draw in the Essex Senior Cup against Brentwood Town.

### HTU

2021–22
HTU signed, after a recommendation from Sam Bantick, Francis on 11 February 2022. He debuted for *The Tags* a day later in a 4–3 loss in the Isthmian League - North Division away to Heybridge Swifts. In his fourth appearance, on 5 March, the midfielder netted his first HTU goal in a home league win over Hullbridge Sports. After claiming his first assist next time out as they beat Bury Town away from home, Francis scored twice days later in a 3–1 win at the Brentwood Centre Arena versus Brentwood Town on 15 March; also notching an assist. He scored and assisted again on 8 April versus Aveley. Francis got his fourth and final assist in his penultimate match of the campaign versus Basildon United on 18 April.

2022–23
Francis notched a sixth HTU assist for HTU in a pre-season friendly against Walthamstow on 11 July, having already netted in a preceding friendly with Bowers & Pitsea two days prior. He scored another pre-season goal at the beginning of August versus Aveley. His first goal of his second season with *The Tags* came in a league victory on 15 October over Heybridge Swifts at the Len Salmon Stadium. Francis converted again on 7 January 2023 as they beat Bury Town 3-1, which preceded another two weeks later in a 4–0 win over Hullbridge Sports. Francis' 10th HTU goal arrived on 4 February as Grays Athletic were defeated 3–0. On 4 March, the midfielder netted a hat-trick during an 8–1 victory at Tilbury. In weeks following, Francis scored twice at Heybridge Swifts and once versus Felixstowe & Walton United and Stowmarket Town.

On 10 April, after scoring days prior at Gorleston, Francis netted his 19th HTU goal in a 4–1 victory over Witham Town on the antepenultimate day of the season. Next time out, the midfielder scored goal number 20 as *The Tags* secured the league title, and therefore promotion, with a 6–0 triumph at home to Great Wakering Rovers. On 13 June, Francis announced that he had departed HTU. The club later revealed that they had "offered a new contract" to him, which was rejected. However, Chelmsford City - his subsequent club - noted on 15 August that they had to reach "an agreement" with HTU for Francis.

### Post-HTU

Barnet (trial)
Over the summer of 2023, Francis had a trial with National League club Barnet. It was also revealed that HTU manager Jay Devereux and assistant manager Joe Keith had been in contact with numerous higher up clubs to try and help the player secure a move. After the talks with *The Bees* failed to go deeper, Devereux believed that Francis was very likely to be penning terms with a step 2 team.

Chelmsford City
On 15 August 2023, Francis was unveiled by National League South club Chelmsford City - who he had been trialling with, as he teamed up again with former HTU teammate Ben Brookes. *The Clarets* noted that they had reached "an agreement" for the player with *The Tags*. Having debuted on the same day of signing versus Welling United, he netted his 1st goal 3 appearances later in a 1–0 success at home to Eastbourne Borough on 28 August.

Grenada
On 5 September 2023, Francis received a call-up from Grenada ahead of their senior CONCACAF Nations League encounters with Suriname and Honduras. He debuted in the former fixture, replacing Darius Johnson after 76 minutes of the 1–1 draw at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearances (52)
* List of appearances of Jermaine Francis

Goals (20)
* List of goals of Jermaine Francis

## HTU Honours

* Isthmian League - North Division (1): 2022–23

## References

1. ↑ "Hatch Lane" .
2. ↑ "Touch you" , 15 March 2022.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Jermaine Francis" .
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Uxbridge College players picked for Chelsea college squad" , 15 March 2019.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Jermaine Fracis Leaves" , 14 June 2021.
6. ↑ "Same player, different number" , 8 July 2021.
7. ↑ "Ex-Sunday League footballer receives international call-up to complete remarkable rise" , 7 September 2023.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 "Coggeshall Town - Appearances - Jermaine Francis - 2021-2022" .
9. ↑ "JERMAINE FRANCIS SIGNS FOR HASHTAG!" , 11 February 2022.
10. ↑ "My times up @hashtagutd thank you everybody for the support shown!!💙💛 been a pleasure🫶🏾" , 13 June 2023.
11. ↑ "👋 THANK YOU @Jermaine\_f7 @E\_Okunja It’s that time of year where we have to say goodbye to friends with very special places in the club’s heart, and as you’ve seen, Eman and Jermaine are leaving for pastures new. They go with our best wishes and thanks for the memories 💙💛🧵" , 18 June 2023.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "FRANCIS JOINS THE CLARETS" , 15 August 2023.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "WHO LEFT, WHO SIGNED AND WHY? Hashtag United 23/24 Squad Update" , 10 August 2023.
14. ↑ "We are happy to release our 21-man squad for the eagerly anticipated opening match of the 2023-2024 Concacaf Nations League (CNL) against Suriname on Friday September 8 at 7pm (Kirani James Athletics Stadium). Goodluck boys!" , 5 September 2023.
15. ↑ "Jermaine Francis" .