As is the case with many young lads in this country, the dream is to one day play on the hallowed Wembley turf. Frank Sinclair was one of the very few boys fortunate to live the boyhood ambition, and on multiple occasions, too.
Sinclair, who played for Chelsea, Leicester, Lincoln, and Wycombe, to name a few, had a long and varied career. He appeared in the top flight, won trophies, and even went to the World Cup. One moment stands out for him, and it came against current Championship side Middlesbrough.
“Well, obviously, scoring at Wembley in the Cup final in my last game for Chelsea was massive for me,” he said when he sat down with Kyle Kennealey. “It was something you dreamed of as a child.”
Another dream for many aspiring young footballers is representing their country, and ultimately, Sinclair had a pick of two.
“One thing is to play for England, to play and to score at Wembley. Those are the things you try to recreate on your own, whether it be in your bedroom or outside with your mates. I was fortunate enough to do two of the three.”
On the back of a solid campaign for Chelsea in 1994/95, Terry Venables selected Sinclair in his England squad. But after failing to make an appearance, it left the door open for another international opportunity, which he duly took in November 1997.
“I didn’t quite play for England, getting close a couple of times. But I ended up deciding to represent Jamaica in the World Cup in 1998, which was unbelievable.
“I probably thought at the time if I wasn’t going to play for England now, then I probably was never going to get in an England World Cup squad.
“So I decided to take my allegiance, the heritage of my parents, and play for Jamaica in the World Cup.”
Jamaica lost their opening two games at France 98 but secured a first-ever World Cup win against Japan in their final game. It was still not enough to earn progression, but it followed a stellar season for Sinclair, where he won the League Cup.
Sadly, Sinclair did have some slight misfortune in his career when it came to the showpiece events. But when the chances did come, the former Leicester man made the most of the opportunities.
“At Chelsea, I won the FA Cup and the League Cup and was part of a squad that won the Cup Winners Cup at Chelsea. But I missed the final through injury. “
“Then at Leicester, I missed the final against Spurs the year before when we got beaten one nil. So it was great to go back and win it the next year against Tranmere.”
Sinclair is speaking to the Real EFL courtesy of Stocklytics.
