Fraser Franks

Brentford

Born in Hammersmith, Greater London, Franks began his career in the youth system at Chelsea, but was released as a 16-year-old. He then joined Brentford as an apprentice in 2007, and was named as a substitute against Swansea City in a League Cup fixture on 12 August 2008. Franks was again an unused substitute for a 2–1 FA Cup defeat away to Barrow on 28 November. He signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2009, though remained as an unused substitute for the majority of 2009–10 and failed to make an appearance.

In September 2009, after struggling to feature for Brentford, Franks joined Conference South club Basingstoke Town on an initial one-month loan, which was later extended until January 2010. He debuted on 19 September in a 2–1 victory away to Braintree Town and scored his first goal on 24 October in a 2–1 victory at home to Weymouth. Franks' second goal came on 14 November in a 3–2 defeat away to Maidenhead United and completed the loan spell with two goals from 18 appearances. He was not offered a new contract by Brentford and was released by the club in May 2010.

AFC Wimbledon

On 29 July 2010, Franks signed a one-year contract with Conference Premier club AFC Wimbledon. He debuted as an 81st-minute substitute in a 2–1 victory away to Kettering Town on 4 September and scored his first goals in a 3–0 victory at home to Cambridge United on 29 September. Franks went on to make 28 appearances in 2010–11, though he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in a 2–1 defeat away to Grimsby Town on 5 March 2011. He required an operation that ruled him out of action for six months, causing him to miss the 2011 Conference Premier play-off Final victory over Luton Town, and the beginning of AFC Wimbledon's first season in the Football League. Despite this, Franks had made enough appearances to trigger a one-year extension clause in his contract, keeping him at the club until the end of 2011–12.

In September 2011, Franks returned from injury and was loaned to Conference Premier club Hayes & Yeading United to gain match fitness. He debuted on 24 September in a 3–2 defeat at home to Gateshead, finishing the loan spell with seven appearances, but turned down the offer to extend the loan for a further month. Franks made his return to the AFC Wimbledon starting lineup away to Swindon Town on 8 November in a Football League Trophy tie, the match finishing 1–1 after extra time. He scored the team's only penalty in the 3–1 penalty shoot-out defeat. On 22 March 2012, Franks joined Conference Premier club Newport County on a one-month loan to play regular first-team football. He made his debut and only appearance for the club two days later in a 2–0 defeat away to Lincoln City. The remainder of his loan spell was hampered by injury. After making only five appearances for AFC Wimbledon in 2011–12, Franks was released by the club in May 2012.

Welling United

On 19 June 2012, Franks signed for Conference South club Welling United. After signing, Welling manager Jamie Day claimed Franks had turned down offers from higher leagues to be guaranteed regular first-team football. He debuted on the opening day of 2012–13 in a 1–1 draw at home to Bath City and scored his first goal in the following match, a 3–2 victory over Chelmsford City. Franks finished the season with 43 appearances and four goals, as Welling won the Conference South title and therefore promotion into the Conference Premier. He was named in the Conference South Team of the Year and signed a new one-year contract shortly afterwards. Franks made his first appearance of 2013–14 on the opening day of the season in a 2–1 defeat away to Wrexham and went on to make 29 appearances for Welling.

Luton Town

On 17 January 2014, Franks signed for Conference Premier leaders Luton Town for an undisclosed fee after the club activated a release clause in his contract. Due to bad weather postponing the club's matches throughout much of the rest of January, Franks did not make his debut until 11 February against Macclesfield Town, which finished as a 2–1 victory and was named as man of the match by The Luton News. He made 18 appearances for Luton in the second half of 2013–14, as the club won the Conference Premier title and therefore promotion into League Two. Franks made his first appearance of 2014–15 on 12 August 2014 in a 2–1 defeat at home to Swindon Town in the League Cup first round. He struggled to force his way into the first-team, making just 17 appearances, as Luton finished eighth in League Two, having missed an opportunity to make an impression in the first-team in the absence of first-choice central defenders Luke Wilkinson and Steve McNulty through suspension. After the end of the season, Franks was transfer-listed by manager John Still, before his contract was cancelled a year early by mutual consent on 15 July 2015.

Stevenage

On 17 July 2015, Franks signed for Luton's near-neighbours Stevenage. He debuted on the opening day of 2015–16 in a 2–0 defeat at home to Notts County and scored his first goal in a 2–0 victory at home to Hartlepool United on 22 August. Franks finished the season with 42 appearances and three goals, as Stevenage finished 18th in League Two. He was named Season Ticket Holders Player of the Year, BoroChat Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season presentation night.

International career

In June 2013, Franks was selected for the England national C team and won his first cap in a 6–1 victory over Bermuda. On 19 November 2013, Franks scored his first international goal in a 2–2 draw with Czech Republic U21, a match in which he also captained the team for the first time. Franks went on to earn five caps for the England C team, captaining the side four times, before becoming ineligible due to Luton Town's promotion to the Football League.

Career statistics

Club

AFC Wimbledon

Welling United

Luton Town

Individual