Frank Saul, Tottenham Manager Bill Nicholson, Joe Kinnean, Terry Venables and Pat Jennings
Frank Saul was a professional footballer who played for most of his career with Tottenham Hotspurs. Frank was born on Canvey Island, third son of Charles and Gladys Saul. He made his debut as a fifteen year old in the Spurs Reserve side, two years later in September 1960 he was in the first team playing at Highbury. His main claim to fame at Tottenham was scoring vital goals during the 1967 FA Cup run.
Frank Saul in his Southampton kit
In 1968 he was swapped for Martin Chivers and played for Southampton until he joined Queens Park Rangers in 1970 before finally moving on to Millwall in 1972. He was last heard of working as a builder in Essex.
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If anyone remembers him on Canvey and can add anything or if Frank is out there and wants to say hi please comment below we would love to know more.
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Frank lived just round the corner from us in The Avenue, so I can remember from being a toddler onwards. My main memory of him was of him walking about with an old leather football when he was about five years old and asking us older boys to have a game with him. The last time I spoke to him he had just left school and gone to Tottenham.
If you out there Frank all the best. John.
Frank & his familly lived a couple of houses from us in The avenue one year (60’s) during the close season his mother asked if we wanted a temporary gardener as Frank was in need of earning some money, he helped for a short time for what must about a pound. Things have changed in the footballing world.
Would love to say hello to Frank A relative (second cousin I think) that I have heard about for many years, but never met. Hi Frank!
I lived in Marine Approach then and Frank lived just round the corner in The Avenue. One of my earliest memories of Frank was sharing a ride together in the milkman’s three-wheeled hand cart. We must have been about 7 or 8 at the time. Later before leaving school, I remember Frank seemed to win just about every sporting event going. I also remember John Buckmaster who lived at the end of my road. We both spent time as pony boys for Billy Wells who gave pony rides next to the Peerless Paladium on the seafront.
I knew Frank.My mother was brought up (adopted) by an elderly lady and her crippled son Allen, who lived next door to mrs Saul in The Avenue. Years later Mrs Saul gave our family their old Piano. I remember watching Frank play in their back garden With someone who may have been his brother.Hello Frank.
The last time I saw Frank he was shopping in Basildon. Someone told me he lives in the Billericay area.
I used to go to Buttsbury school in Billericay with his daughter Denise in about 1976
I lived in Canvey for a couple of years. I know Frank form my time in Basildon. Frank’s in-laws lived opposite us. When Tottenham won the FA cup Frank got the whole team (minus Jimmy Greaves) to sign my autograph book. A very nice man.
My foster brother, Tony Williams, and Frank played football together. When they left school Sonny Hesketh, the local scout got them both a chance to go to Spurs, on the ground staff. Frank went, but Tony had a job in the city and turned it down. A couple of years later he developed a cartilage problem, so it turned out to be the right decision.
Hi Frank, I worked on a building site with you at Black Notley I was the guy driving the JCB, and I loved chatting to you about your Spurs days, you told me that you had never watched a film of the 67 FA cup final in witch you scored what was I think the first goal, I assume like me you are retired now, good luck Doug.
Hi I’m Frank Saul’s Niece .I last saw him at a family funeral with his wife Diane.He looked really well and very good for his age .He did live on The Avenue in a bungalow with his two other brothers and two sisters one of which was my Mum. We are all so proud of him especially when the whole of Wembley Stadium sang all things bright and beautiful and The Lord God made Frank Saul ,on scoring a goal for spurs in the F A cup final .It made my grand mother very emotional .J P
Love to know who franks 2 brothers and 2 sisters are and who J Parkin is. Frank scored the winning goal to make 2-1, I have a lot of my great uncle’s memorabilia that my great nan left me she followed Franks career all the way, the tottenham connection is still alive as my son plays for the under 15yrs and has a good future there, also a Canvey girl is married to the chairman, that helps
My Uncle was Johnny Hollowbread who was the goalkeeper for Spurs at the same time as Frank played for them. my son’s dad just happens to be Franks sister Sheila’s nephew.
I am Peter Bligh’s sis & was also brought up knowing “The Saul Family in The Avenue Canvey because our nan lived in the bungalow next door. I think Frank had a sister called Sheila and a brother called Derek. Their mum kept chickens and Mrs Osborne used to send me next door to ask for a couple of new laid eggs for breakfast. I am 60 now but remember them well so hi Derek if you’re out there, hope you are well x
Hi, i grew up in Billericay in the 60’s and 70’s. I am sure i can recall knocking on Frank’s door in Billericay for his autograph am i going senile or was it another footbaler?
i lived at the Driveway and i walked home with frank from the Monica pub on a Saturday night a few times,one time we had a race he was running backwards and he beat me hands down
by Vic Drury 7/7 2014
Hi other F Saul ,
Frank had brothers Colvin and Albert and sisters June and Sheila.
I am Junes daughter . What good news that the Tottenham connection is still going maybe we might see another great player like Frank.
Derek was one of Colvin’s sons and sadly both have now died as has my Mum June. Your great Nan was my Nanna, who are you ?
Jane Parkin
Hi Fr…r I have worked out who you are .We should get together some time and share our memories .Jane P
I used to live opposite the Saul family in The Avenue. My sister, Carolyn and I remember all the Saul’s very well. I too used to run over to mrs Saul’s chicken and rabbits, nice memories. I remember sitting with Mrs Saul and she was talking about Frank at Spurs and played me the record (45rpm) that he made with the players.
Carolyn can better me, she was given a lift by Frank in his ‘flashy’ car from the bus stop.
Diane used to cut our hair.
Our parents, Reg and Edna knew Frank better than us as mum and Mrs Saul were very neighbourly.
Glad we looked at the site this evening, it was nice looking back and remembering. We’ve fondly remembered the whole family, Mr (Wag) Saul, Albert, Colvin, Maureen, June and John and Alan and Derek. I had a nice conversation with June When my mum, Edna died
All the best to whoever reads this. Sorry I forgot Shelia and how she would deliver Sunday lunch to her mum.
Dad used to be heavily involved in Canvey football club so knew Frank the best, sadly he has gone now. Carolyn and I have tried remembering but really wished Reg and Edna were here to fill in the gaps.
All the best,
Judith maggs nee Holland
Hi Judith, your mum and my mum were very good friends. I can remember you and your sister but you might remember be a little bit more as i was younger than you both. My mum was dark and short and chubby. My name was Heather and i had a younger brother Peter. Ring any bells? x
Diane was my mother’s hairdresser when she worked in Basildon. Frank passed my autograph book round the dressing room at White Hart Lane and all the team signed it for me. I never met Frank but my thoughts were always what a nice guy to take the time for a kid (as I was then) he didn’t know, and what a lovely thing that Diane did for me. Glad to see they are still fit and healthy
Frank is a little older than me and I only have vague recollections of him, but recall his reputation as a Canvey footballer made good. I think my older brother knew him at school. I’ve had a little look on the net for news of Frank and as a life-long Hammers supporter, I gritted my teeth and found this article from 2011, on a Spurs site. It can be found at:
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/being-frank-in-hotspur/300311/
Hope it is of interest
Just tested the page code in my previous comment and while it is correct, it produces a 404 error message. If you are interested in seeing the article, put “Being Frank in Hotspur” in your search engine and it should produce the link.
I played for Canvey boys in 54-56 when Frank was on the senior side. Sonny Heskith managed the teams and had the connection to the Spurs. My dad Bert Shepherd helped Sonny out. I have a picture somewhere of Frank with the team. I will try to find it and add it to this site. I lived on Dovercliff Rd (no longer there) about 200 yards off the sea wall at the lighthouse. I played for SE Essex team for a year but we emmigrated to Canada in 57 and the only soccer in the Toronto area was semi-pro which paid me $10/game and a pair of boots.
I have been a Spurs supporter ever since – watched them thump Man U this weekend. It was great to read about Frank.
hi frank do you remember when we went to watch a boxing match at wembly arena–saw terry downs /and sugar ray Robinson -I remember when you became famouse’ you drove white consol convertable ….. and used to see you at the Mecca Basildon early 60s, Dave Clarke five played every Thursday night .
up the spurs ==
bob astell.
Frank was in my mums class at school
Hello Jane, do you remember coming to New Zealand with your mum and dad. Charles talked about Frank.
Does anyone have a contact for Frank pls ?
We are holding a book launch for Terry Naylor in Tottenham on August 7th and wondered if Frank would pop along .
RONNIE x
I remember Frank when I was a teenager. I was good friends with Micky Cripps who was also a good friend of Frank’s. I lived in Elm Road and went to furtherwick school. I moved from Canvey to Romford when I was about 16. I live in Australia and last visited Canvey in 2017.
I often wonder what happened to Frank, Micky and many others I knew
Kay Smith. 18/7/22
Frank was in my mums class at school furtherwick school Margaret rayne
Hi. I’m trying to trace my family tree. My nan’s maiden name is saul. I think from comments here that we are related .
I’d love to get in touch with someone to add to the family tree on both sides if possible..
This Frank Saul may be alive, still, at 80.
In 2018 he was given some award he should have got 58? years earlier. I cannot find any mention of death.
Someone from this site should see if they can talk to him, now, if you want information.
I came here looking for a Frank Saul who was in the Air Force in WW2 – I wondered if he might have been related to this chap. An uncle? I think he may have been a teacher at some point after the war. Somebody is looking for his details, as an ex pupil. They think he was in the air force, WW2.
Not sure if the Saul family lived on Canvey in the 1930s …
When my parents married in July of that year one of the junior bridesmaids was Irene Saul the other was Connie Greenfield.
The adult bridesmaids were Kath Sorrel and Lydia ?
Don’t know what I was thinking of…
My parents marriage was in July 1937.
Irene Saul was a schoolfriend of Connie Greenfield.
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