Fran Tierney, once considered to be a player of great promise when at Crewe Alexandra, appeared briefly for Exeter City during the 2000/01 season. He later played for Doncaster Rovers as the Yorkshire club returned to the Football League.

Starting as a trainee with Crewe Alexandra, and representing England at youth level, Fran was all set to join Liverpool in a £750,000 deal in 1993 when he failed a medical. Sustaining an injury soon afterwards Fran’s career stalled and, after 87 league games for Alex - scoring ten goals - he moved to Notts County in July 1998. Subsequently, after little more than thirty league appearances spread over two seasons, Fran dropped into non-league with Witton Albion.

Exeter City then gave Fran another Football League opportunity when signing the midfielder in November 2000. Quickly making his debut - with a goal - against Scunthorpe United on 11 November, Fran featured for the Grecians through to the heavy New Year defeat at Cardiff City.  

He then returned briefly to Witton Albion before accepting a contract offer from Doncaster Rovers, then in the Conference. From his debut at the end of March 2001, Fran played in around half of the club’s games in 2001/02. Dogged by injury and inconsistency he was seen less-often during the following season but was on hand to score the extra-time play-off final winner when Doncaster returned to the Football League in May 2003.   

Fran moved back to Cheshire and appeared for Northwich Victoria before retiring at the end of 2005-06.