Pitch Publishing are pleased to announce the acquisition of Francis Lee’s autobiography Triumphs, Treachery and Toilet Rolls which will be published this autumn, after rights were secured from Rick Mayston at Agent Fox Media. 

Prior to his passing last October, Francis teamed up with journalist Bill Bradshaw to write his life story, covering not only his career at the very highest level of the game with Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Derby County and England, but also his incredible achievements after hanging up his boots. 

With searing candour, Francis reveals how he overcame treachery and betrayals to prevail; rising from the humblest of beginnings to become a top-class international footballer, a multi-millionaire businessman and entrepreneur, a successful racehorse trainer and then a reborn football man, returning as Manchester City's chairman to steer the club towards its glorious 21st-century renaissance at The Etihad.

From a childhood among the mills around Bolton, Lee faced up to authority and putdowns — at school, at Bolton Wanderers —  to fulfil his dreams at City, Derby and in selling toilet rolls to the masses.

Pitch Publishing director Jane Camillin said, “We are honoured to be publishing the story of such an iconic name in English football. It is an astonishing story of a man who crammed more into one life than anyone could aspire to — told for the first time, in his own words — with the final work completed with the help of Francis’s family.”

Triumphs, Treachery and Toilet Rolls: The Francis Lee Autobiography will publish on 9 September, ahead of the one-year anniversary of Francis’s passing.