Frank was born in Leeds on 26th January 1940. Upon leaving school, his first job was as an apprentice fireman, tasked with starting up the fires on steam trains—a tough, physical role that perhaps laid the foundation for the strength and determination he’d later show on the pitch.

His football career began with Halifax Town Reserves, making his debut against Harrogate Railway in the West Riding League Division Two. Frank would later claim that Halifax Town provided him with a crate of Guinness each week to help build up his strength.

Interest in Frank’s talent grew quickly. Before he eventually signed for Queens Park Rangers, several clubs—Newcastle United, Everton, Blackpool, and Norwich City among them—had made enquiries about his services.

Frank found himself out of the QPR first team and was watching from the stands when Rangers played Northampton Town at White City. During the match, Northampton’s centre-forward Bert Llewellyn was carried off injured on his debut. Frank was promptly signed as his replacement. He went on to score two crucial goals against Carlisle United, goals that secured the Third Division title for the Cobblers.

Not all of Frank’s experiences on the pitch were straightforward. In a goalless draw at Orient, the only shot on target was, quite incredibly, a dart that struck Frank in the back—thrown from the crowd.

A move from Swindon to Carlisle came about in unique fashion. After the two clubs agreed terms over the phone, Frank was told the deal rested on personal terms. He drove the 250 miles from Swindon to Carlisle, agreed the deal, then drove straight back to deliver the news to his family.

History repeated itself at Carlisle, just as it had at Northampton two seasons earlier. Frank scored twice against Mansfield Town, sealing yet another Third Division title.

During his spell at Oldham Athletic, the club chairman was none other than Ken Bates—who would later go on to become the high-profile chairman of Chelsea.

Frank returned to Northampton and marked the occasion in style, scoring a hat-trick against Bristol Rovers—though, remarkably, the Cobblers still lost 5–4. In 1968, when Leicester City signed Allan Clarke from Fulham, the London club wanted Frank included in the deal. Initially reluctant due to Fulham’s impending tour of Zambia, Frank agreed to the transfer after the tour concluded.

He would go on to make history at Northampton, becoming the first player since Herbert Chapman in 1907 to play for the Cobblers in three separate spells. His deep ties to the town were reflected off the pitch as well—three of Frank and his wife Aileen’s children were born during his different stints at the club: Richard in 1963, David in 1967, and Vicky in 1970.

Frank wound down his playing days with Kettering Town. In one unforgettable match against Wimbledon, he endured relentless rough treatment from an opponent. Near the end of the match, he turned and landed a right hook that knocked the player out cold. Without waiting for the referee’s reaction, Frank walked off down the tunnel to the rapturous applause of the Kettering supporters.