Francis Jeffers is looking forward to helping one of his footballing idols lift Motherwell up the table.
‘Well’s new signing watched from the Wembley terracing as Stuart McCall fired home a brace in the 1989 FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool.
[onlymembers]Little did he know that some twenty years later that very same McCall would be presenting him to the media as Motherwell’s marquee signing.
“I was a young lad in the terraces when Stuart McCall scored two goals for Everton in the (English FA) Cup Final.” Jeffers recalled.
“He’s one of my heroes. I hold him in high regard as a part of team who were all my idols.”
The former Everton and Arsenal striker has joined the Steelmen on a five-month contract after the expiry of his deal with Newcastle Jets, and he insists that the move to North Lanarkshire was an exciting prospect from the moment he heard about it.
“I was really positive about coming to Motherwell. My agent got in touch with me and asked whether I would be interested in talking to the club and I was very keen so it went pretty quickly from there,” the 30-year-old said.
“I want to enjoy my game, win some football matches and, hopefully, help Motherwell climb the league.
“I think I’m a better footballer now than when I was a young lad. I wasn’t really involved in the game in the past; I would just be a poacher.”
Jeffers was also quick to allay and fears that the ‘Well fans may have regarding his hunger and desire.
The English international has been playing top level football since he was sixteen, but his passion for the game shows no sign of waning – especially after a recently productive spell Down Under.
“I’d say ‘wait and see’ to any Motherwell fans that might doubt my desire,” Jeffers challenged, defiantly. “I will prove that on the football field. People asked the same question when I went over to Australia and I was pretty successful there.
“Motherwell fans will see what hunger I have when I play my first match.”
The 30-year old insists that he has nothing to prove going back to Ibrox this Saturday, but he admits that he is looking forward to returning to his old stomping ground.
Jeffers played for the Ibrox club in a six-month loan spell in 2005, but struggled for form and fitness in a disappointing period for the front-man.
He continued: “Those are the grounds that you want to play at, and the Rangers fans were the most passionate fans I ever played in front of – I really enjoyed my time there.
“I didn’t have the best time at Rangers in terms of form. I really enjoyed the time at the club but I didn’t play my best football and I really suffered with injuries and didn’t get a run in the team. But I don’t think I have a point to prove; if I get the chance I will score goals.
“Whether or not I play I will certainly look forward to making the trip.”[/onlymembers]