Young soccer players will have someone to look up to when Kevin Francis holds a coaching course in Bermuda next week.

Francis, at a towering six feet seven inches is England's tallest professional footballer.

And over the last three years he has also been one of the country's most prolific scorers, hitting a total of 104 goals, including 34 during the season that just ended.

The 25-year-old arrives today for a vacation with his family, but he has agreed to coach both juniors and any interested seniors at BAA. starting on Monday.

So far "Big Kev's'' goalscoring feats have failed to lift his team, Stockport County, out of the Second Division. They have failed in the playoffs for three years in succession, suffering another disappointing defeat by Burnley just last month.

But the lanky striker has certainly been noticed and has been the target of interest and offers from both Leeds and Wimbledon in the Premier League.

Former England striker Jimmy Greaves is also a big fan.

Born in the West Midlands, Francis's career began in dream fashion. He scored 56 goals in one season for his Sunday soccer team and attracted the attention of non-league Redditch before moving on to Mile Oak where he was spotted by scouts from Leicester City.

He failed a trial at Leicester but was taken on a short term contract by Derby County, soon breaking into the first team.

Stockport signed him from Derby for a fee of $60,000 three years ago. Since then he has appeared at Wembley four times, in the playoffs and the Autoglass Trophy.

Francis was also one of the goalscorers in the shock 2-1 victory over Premier League giants Queens Park Rangers in January. In March, he scored in the 2-1 win over Shawn Goater's Rotherham.

At Stockport, Francis plays in the same team as Joel Cantona brother of the Manchester United and France star Eric Cantona.

Francis's sister, Jacqui, works at the Coral Beach Club, but he is staying, with his wife Sharon and his six-year-old daughter Stacey, as a guest of BAA president David Kneisler.

The coaching course will take place between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and is open to all interested youngsters.

KEVIN FRANCIS -- The tallest player in the English Football League.