The season is
1975-76, and QPR are about to embark on their most remarkable season in their
93 year history (to that date).
Promoted to
the First Division in 1973 when they finished 2nd to Burnley, they
ended 8th in season 73-74, and 11th in 74-75.
They were
positive about their prospects under manager, Dave Sexton
After a
career that involved clubs like West Ham, Luton, Crystal Palace and Brighton,
Sexton embarked on a management career.
After a position as first team coach at Arsenal, he joined Chelsea as
manager in 1967. In 1970 he guided
Chelsea to the FA Cup and then the European Cup Winners Cup a year later. Sexton was sacked by Chelsea and then took
over at Loftus Road in 1974.
QPR had a
tough start to the season with a home fixture against Liverpool and also a trip
to Derby County in their first three matches.
Liverpool had
finished 2nd to Derby County in the previous season, and 2nd
to Leeds the year before that. In 72-73,
they were champions. Derby were
champions in 74-75 and 3rd in 73-74.
Sexton had
assembled a playing squad that was a mixture of youth and experience.
Phil Parkes (age 26), Goalkeeper
Parkes was
one of several keepers around in the 70’s who would’ve played many more
internationals had Shilton and Clemence not been around. After a couple of years as Walsall, he made
his debut for QPR at the start of the ’70-71 season. Parkes went onto make 344 appearances for QPR
and then went onto make a similar amount for West Ham, but only won 1 England
cap.
Dave Clement (age 27), Right Back
Clement made
his debut for QPR in ’67, he eventually moved on in ’79, having made 472
appearances.
Ian Gillard (age 25), Left Back
Gillard
started out in Spurs youth team before moving to QPR and making his debut in
’68.
John Hollins (age 29), Centre-Back, Midfield
Hollins, was
another player who’d spent time at Chelsea.
He’d made 436 appearances in 12 years, he’d joined QPR during the summer
of ’75.
Frank McLintock (age 36), Centre-Back
McLintock had
spent most of his career at Arsenal where he was captain when they won the
double in 1971. He played for Arsenal
for 9 years, he’d previously spent 7 years at Leicester before that. He joined Rangers at the start of the ’74-75
season
Dave Webb (age 29), Centre-Back
Where
McLintock had been a stalwart at Arsenal, Webb had been an integral part of
Chelsea’s defence for 6 years, before joining QPR at the same time as
McLintock. The two were to form an
important partnership at the back for The Hoops.
Dave Thomas (age 25), Left Winger
Thomas was a
typical 70’s winger. Every team seemed
to have one. He spent 6 years at Burnley
before joining QPR in ’72.
Gerry Francis (age 25), Midfield
QPR was
Francis’ first club, in an impressive career that saw him return to Loftus Road
in ’81 and then with 2 stints as manager in the ‘90’s
Don Masson (age 29), Midfield
Masson, a
Scot, had begun his career at Middlesbrough in ’64. He moved to Notts County in ’68 and then onto
QPR in December ‘74
Stan Bowles (age 27), Midfield, Forward
For many QPR
fans, Bowles is the finest player to have ever worn the blue & white
hoops. A mercurial talent, of which
there were plenty around in the ‘70’s, he started at Man City in ’67, before
brief stints at Bury, Crewe and Carlisle.
He joined QPR at the start of their promotion season in ’72 and was an
important part of their successful campaign that year.
Don Givens (age 26), Forward
Irish
international, Givens played just one season at Man Utd in ’69, before spending
a couple of seasons at Luton. It was QPR
where he made his name, though, joining at the same time as Bowles
Mick Leach (age 28), Midfield
Mick Leach
was QPR through and through. Making his debut in ’65, he eventually spent 13
years at Loftus Road
Ron Abbott (age 22), Centre-Back, Forward
Abbott never
advanced beyond a fringe-player after making his debut in 1973
Tony Tagg (age 17), Centre-Back
Youngster,
Tagg, only played 4 times for QPR before moving onto Millwall at the end of the
75-76 season
QPR opening
fixtures for ’75-76
Liverpool (H)
Aston Villa
(H)
Derby County
(a)
Wolves (a)
West Ham (H)
Date: 16th
August 1975
Venue: Loftus
Road
Visitors:
Liverpool
QPR had never
beaten Liverpool before. Liverpool finished 2nd in the
league in the past two seasons. They
were in their 2nd season under Bob Paisley, who’d taken over from
the legendary, Bill Shankly.
QPR were
embarking on their 3rd successive season in the top flight, after
promotion in 1973. Over 27,000 packed
into the West London ground, eager for the start of a new season.
QPR were
scintillating that day. They took the
lead through a wonderful goal from Gerry Francis
That goal was
later voted Match of the Day goal of the season.
Mick Leach, a
2nd half substitute for debutant John Hollins (Chris’s dad), then
doubled the lead and QPR ran out 2-0
winners. A cracking start and Rangers
fans were soon to get used to a free-flowing passing brand of football they
kept producing that year.
Newly
promoted, Aston Villa, were the visitors to Loftus Road, three days later, and
Gerry Francis was again on strike but the spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw.
The following
Saturday, Rangers were at the home of the champions, Derby County. Derby had
beaten West Ham to win the Charity Shield (now Community Shield), 2-0 at
Wembley just a fortnight earlier, but drawn their opening two league matches.
QPR were
forced to make changes as their 2 central defenders, McLintock and Webb, were
both out injured. With a combined age of
65, the two stalwarts were replaced by Ron Abbott and Tony Tagg who had a
combined age of just 39. They were up
against the formidable Kevin Hector and Francis Lee, as well as players like
Charlie George, Archie Gemmill and Bruce Rioch.
Derby also boasted one of the best defensive pairings the First Division
has ever seen in Roy McFarland and Colin Todd.
QPR exploded
out of the traps as talisman, Stan Bowles scored a first half hat-trick,
including one from the spot. Just before
the break, McFarland grabbed a goal back for the home side, but Rangers carried
on in the 2nd half with further goals from Dave Thomas and Dave
Clement and QPR celebrated a famous 5-1
win away to the champions.
These were
indeed, heady times.
QPR finished
off the month with a 2-2
draw at Wolves and a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham. Don Givens scored
all 3 goals for ‘The Hoops’.
5 games in
and QPR were sitting in 3rd place.
Into
September and a Dave Thomas goal saved a point away to Birmingham in a 1-1
draw. They then travelled to 3rd
Division, Shrewsbury in the 2nd
Round of the League Cup. 0-1 down at
half-time, QPR responded with goals from Webb, Masson, Thomas and Leach in the
2nd half, and went through 4-1 winners.
Back in the
league, and a season record crowd of over 29,000 witnessed the visit of Manchester United. United, promoted from the 2nd
Division the previous season, were sitting at the top of the table in their
first season back, but they too succumbed as Dave Webb scored the only goal of
the game, as QPR won 1-0.
This was the
start of a 4-game run where Phil Parkes was unbeaten in the Rangers goal. A 0-0
draw in Middlesbro was followed by
two 1-0 home wins against Leicester and Newcastle. Mick Leach scoring both goals.
At the end of
September, QPR had hit the top, and were still unbeaten.
October
October, and
QPR travelled to Elland Road to play 4th placed, Leeds United. A Stan Bowles penalty wasn’t enough to avoid
Rangers first defeat of the season as they went down, 1-2. QPR were then in action in the League Cup as Charlton were the visitors to Loftus Road, and they again had to
come from behind as Bowles equalised for a 1-1 draw.
October 11th
saw Everton visit Loftus Road. QPR again put together an impressive
performance as they thoroughly overran their more illustrious opponents. Givens put the home side in front and then a
pile-driver from Masson gave QPR a 2-0
lead at the break.
In the 2nd
half, 2 goals from Francis and another from Thomas saw QPR round off a fine 5-0 win.
Now top scorers in the division, they were also the only side whose
goals against was still in single figures.
The trip to Charlton for the League Cup replay, saw
QPR progress to the 4th Round as they won 3-0, with goals from Thomas, Masson and
Bowles.
When they
travelled to Burnley, QPR’s
progression this season was in comparison.
When they came up from the 2nd Division in 1973, Burnley
finished above them as champions. Now in
18th, Burnley were desperate for the points and won 1-0.
At the end of
October, they entertained bottom club Sheffield
United. Surprisingly, they proved
tougher opponents than was expected but a Don Givens goal in the end, made all
the difference as QPR won 1-0.
QPR went into
November, still top of the table, although only on goal average from Manchester
United and West Ham, with champions, Derby County, just 1pt behind.
November
November was
a busy month for the boys from Loftus Road.
6 games, including the 4th Round of the League Cup.
They started
with a trip to Coventry. A 1-1
draw saw them drop to 3rd in the table as Man Utd beat Norwich, 1-0
to go top. West Ham moved into 2nd
as they thumped Birmingham, 5-1 at St.Andrews.
The following weekend, their stuttering form continued as Tottenham came to visit and walked away
with a 0-0 draw.
It was the first time this season the Loftus Road faithful had not seen
their side score at home.
During the
week they entertained Newcastle at
home in the League Cup and went out losing 1-3. As they then
drew 1-1 at Ipswich, the early season ambitions looked a long way off. 1 win in 6 matches in all competitions, and
they’d yet to score more than once in a game during that period.
So when Stan
Bowles grabbed the only goal of the game at home to Burnley towards the end of November, the QPR fans were greatly
relieved. Despite recent form, they were
lying in 2nd, just 1pt behind leaders, Derby. In fact, just 1pt separated the top 4 and it
was clear the season would be close.
November
ended with QPR returning to their free-flowing attacking play as Stoke were the visitors and QPR won 3-2, with goals from Masson, Clement and
Webb. As Derby had beaten Middlesbro by
the same score, QPR remained 2nd going into the final month of 1975. It may have been a frustrating month, but
QPR’s only defeat was in the League Cup, and after the 2 league defeats in
October, this was vital.
December
December was
often a real test for sides during the ‘70’s.
Back then, Christmas and Easter were crucial periods as 3 games were
often squeezed into a few days. It
wasn’t that many years ago that some clubs played twice on the same day, and
playing games on consecutive days was not uncommon. A great viewing spectacle as there were
plenty of matches going on, but for small squads, it meant many players just
played through pain that would eventually catch up with them, come May.
A trip to
Maine Road to meet Man City was
first up in December, and another draw, 0-0. Then December 13
was the big one. That point against City
had propelled QPR back to the top of the table as Derby lost at Birmingham. Now 1pt separated 6 clubs, but QPR’s goal
average was worth a point at that stage.
Hot on their heels were Derby, Leeds, Man Utd, Liverpool and West Ham.
December 13,
QPR v Derby. 1st v 2nd. QPR were hopeful after their 5-1 demolition
of County back in August, but it was a tight encounter this time which ended 1-1 and was most memorable for the first
ever goal for Phil Nutt, who’d come on as a second half substitute for Rangers
and was making only his 2nd appearance for the club.
Into the
Christmas period and QPR had 3 games in a week, including a trip to Anfield on
the 20th, a home game with Norwich in Boxing Day and then a trip to
Arsenal a day later.
The trip to Liverpool was another 1st v
2nd, as the top 4 clubs were all on 28pts. Rangers couldn’t repeat their performance on
the opening day of the season and goals from John Toshack and Phil Neal gave
the home side a 2-0
win.
That ended an
8-game unbeaten run for QPR in the league, but they responded well as Masson
and Bowles gave them a 2-0
win over Norwich on Boxing Day. The Christmas spirit didn’t last onto the
next day as a trip to Highbury saw QPR beaten 0-2.
Liverpool’s
form over Christmas had seen them hit the top, above Man Utd on goal average.
Leeds and Derby were 1pt behind and now QPR were 3pts behind the leaders.
QPR were
still unbeaten at home, but had picked up just 1 win on the road. 1976 was going to be a crucial year.
January 1976
1976 was a
big year for Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club. They put their league aspirations aside to
compete in the FA Cup. The Third Round
is often the most anticipated date on the football calendar, and QPR looked
forward to entertaining Newcastle. Unfortunately the game was a tight affair
with no goals. Back then, replays were
held the following Wednesday. QPR
travelled up to St.James’s Park, but were beaten 1-2, and that would be the end of their cup dreams.
On the plus
side, it allowed them to fully concentrate on the league.
Following
their FA Cup exit they travelled to Old Trafford. Manchester
United went top of the table with a 2-1 win. Sammy McIlroy and Gordon Hill scoring either side
of Don Givens goal.
Since beating
Stoke, 3-2 at the end of November, QPR had won just 1 of the following 8
matches they’d played in all competitions.
That win had taken them to the top of the table, but now they were down
in 5th, 5pts behind the leaders, United.
They then
hosted Birmingham at Loftus Road and
seemed to get themselves back on track as two Don Masson goals gave them a 2-1 win.
They weren’t completely back in form as they went to West Ham and lost 0-1.
That was
their 6th defeat of the season and the 4th in their last
6 league matches. But that was the time
when it all changed for Rangers. They
wouldn’t lose again until mid-April. 12
games unbeaten with 7 clean sheets, 27 goals scored. Many who remember this season fondly, will
point to this period as being probably one of the best times to be a QPR fan.
January ended
with a 2-0 win away to Aston Villa. Second half
goals from John Hollins and Gerry Francis gave QPR, 2 valuable points, on the
same day that Man Utd, Liverpool and Derby all won. QPR were still 4pts behind Man Utd, and had
played a game more. More consistency
would be needed in February.
February
QPR were just
about to hit a rich vein of form. Wolves were the visitors on 7th
February and a 2-1 lead became a 4-2
win for the Hoops. Givens (2), Thomas
and Francis (pen) were the scorers.
QPR moved up
to 2nd with that win, as Leeds and Derby both lost. Liverpool hit the top with their win over
Leeds.
A week later
and they made the short journey to North London to take on Tottenham. A 3-0 win showed the gulf between the two
sides. Givens and Francis (2) again were
the scorers. Francis had now scored 4
goals in his last 3 games, Givens 3 in his last 2. Rangers were now 1pt behind Liverpool and Man
Utd, but had played 2 games more at that stage.
By the time Ipswich came to Loftus road in mid-Feb,
QPR were in full flow and saw them off 3-1. Here are the
goals from that game
Man Utd lost
to Villa, so QPR were back up to 2nd place, just 2pts behind
Liverpool and one of 3 teams on 40pts with Man Utd and Derby.
When Dave
Thomas scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Leicester,
QPR were now level with Liverpool who were beaten at Arsenal. This was now QPR’s 5th straight
win and they were the form side in the league.
They also only conceded in 2 of those games and their defence bore
comparison with Liverpool.
Their final
game of February was against the bottom club, Sheffield United. United
were in a dire situation. 10pts from
safety with just 10 games to go, and with only 2pts for a win, they seemed
doomed. They managed to galvanise themselves
to hold QPR to a 0-0
draw.
With
Liverpool suffering a surprise 0-2 defeat at home to Middlesbro, QPR ended the
month level on points with Liverpool and Man Utd, although they’d played a game
more.
March
If QPR fans
thought February was good, 5 wins and a draw, March was out of this world. 4 games, 4 wins, 8 goals scored and just 1
conceded.
Coventry scored the only goal against Phil
Parkes in March, but that was hardly any consolation as Thomas, Francis, Givens
and Masson gave QPR a 4-1
at Loftus Road on 6th March.
That win took
Rangers back to the top of the table, and by this time they were flying. They travelled to Merseyside next, to Everton, who were keen to avenge their
0-5 mauling at Loftus Road. It wasn’t to
be and Stan Bowles and Mick Leach scored in each half to give QPR a 2-0 win.
Liverpool, Man Utd and Derby all won too, and they were all on 45pts,
just 2 behind QPR who’d played a game more than Liverpool & Derby and two
more than United.
It was clear
Rangers would need to keep this run going, as United then drew at Norwich in
one of their games in hand, to move into 2nd just 1pt behind QPR
with a game in hand. On 20th,Man
Utd were involved in an exciting 4-3 win at Newcastle, Liverpool went to
Norwich and won 1-0 and Derby won 2-0 at Middlesbro. QPR were at Stoke and Dave Webb scored the only goal of the game to give QPR a 1-0 win, and a 3rd successive
win at that. Derby were then held at
home by Stoke, and moved into 3rd place, 1pt behind QPR but no
longer having a game in hand.
At the end of
March, the top 4 clubs were all at home, Derby beat Birmingham 4-2, Man Utd
beat Middlesbro 3-0, and Liverpool beat Burnley, 2-0. QPR entertained Man City and again Dave Webb scored the only goal of the game.
QPR ended
March having won every game they could, yet were still just 1pt ahead of Man
Utd and Derby and 2pts ahead of Liverpool.
Both Man Utd and Liverpool had a game in hand on Rangers too. As April approached, QPR, still unbeaten at
home, could look forward to 3 of their last 5 games at Loftus Road. They were now in pole position, 10 games
unbeaten and had only conceded goals in 3 of those 10 games.
Things were
finely poised
April
The final
month, and the final push. 4 clubs were
in with a chance of the title. QPR, Man
Utd, Liverpool and Derby. QPR lead by
1pt from Man Utd and Derby, with Liverpool a further point behind. QPR and Derby only had 5 games left, Man Utd
and Liverpool, 6.
Liverpool
still had the Merseyside derby at Anfield to come, Man Utd had the Manchester
derby at Old Trafford to look forward to.
Derby had both Man City and Everton to play, as well as an FA Cup
Semi-Final against Man Utd to go as well.
Liverpool were also heavily involved in the UEFA Cup (now the Europa
League) and had reached the Semi-Finals.
For QPR, only their final game against Leeds would see them meet an
opponent in the top 9. They were on a
run of 19pts from a possible 20 from their last 10 games.
Saturday, April
3 1976
QPR travelled
to Newcastle. Mick Leach had scored the only goal of the
game at Loftus Road last September, but Newcastle had put QPR out of both the
League and FA Cups. Newcastle scored
first but McLintock and Bowles gave Rangers a crucial 2-1 away win.
On the same
day, Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 with a late goal from supersub, David
Fairclough. Man Utd and Derby played in
the FA Cup Semi-Final, which Utd won 2-0.
Tuesday, April
6
Liverpool
beat Leicester 1-0 at Anfield with a goal from Kevin Keegan
QPR and
Liverpool were now equal on 53pts from 38 games.
Saturday,
April 10
Liverpool
travelled to Villa Park and were held 0-0.
Man Utd went to Portman Road and were beaten 0-3 by Ipswich. Derby were involved in a cracker with Man
City at Maine Road. City won 4-3.
QPR had a
crucial game at home to Middlesbro. No score at half-time and locals could be
forgiven for getting nervous. Their mood
wouldn’t have improved when Phil Boersma (fomer Liverpool player) gave the
visitors the lead early on in the second half.
But Don Givens, Stan Bowles and 2 from Gerry Francis (1 from the spot)
gave QPR a 4-2
win
Those results
probably put paid to the title hopes of Derby and Man Utd, so it would become a
two-horse race,
Saturday,
April 17
Man Utd
bounced back from their Ipswich defeat by beating Everton, 2-1. Derby drew 2-2 at home to Leicester and
Liverpool won a thriller when they beat Stoke, 5-3.
QPR were away
to Norwich. They were hopeful, after their 2-0 win on
Boxing Day, and were also in great form.
6 straight league wins, and unbeaten in 12, winning 11 of those. But this was just one game too far for a QPR
side who finally looked to be getting tired. Norwich took the lead, QPR equalised with a
good goal from Dave Thomas, but Norwich then scored twice, although Phil Boyer
looked offside. QPR managed a goal back
when Powell lobbed his own keeper, but the defeat hurt.
Liverpool were
now top by 1pt, and QPR needed them to slip up against either at Man City or at
Wolves.
Monday, April
19
The Easter
programme in the ‘70’s was a busy affair with 2 games in 3 days. QPR were back at home for the visit of Arsenal. Still unbeaten at home, Rangers were keen to
avenge their defeat at Highbury in late December. Goals from Frank McLintock and another
penalty from Gerry Francis, gave QPR a 2-1 win.
Liverpool had
to go to Maine Road and play Man City.
Heighway and 2 more from David Fairclough, sealed a 3-0 win for
Liverpool. Man Utd won 1-0 at Burnley
and were still in with a chance, although a slim one.
QPR had just
one game left, a home match against Leeds, who were 4th. Liverpool’s final match was away to Wolves,
who were battling relegation. Because of
UEFA Cup fixtures, there would be an anomaly to the schedule. These days the final matches are played all
on the last day. Back in 1976 QPR played
their final match on 24th April, and Liverpool wouldn’t go to Wolves
until 10 days later on the 4th May.
Before that,
Man Utd were at home to Stoke and saw their feint hopes of a title vanish in a
0-1 defeat.
Saturday 24th
April
QPR at home
to Leeds. A goalless first half was interrupted by Dave
Thomas opening the scoring midway through the second half. Suddenly, QPR seemed to play much more
confidence and less nervy. Then the
moment that every QPR fan had wanted, a breakaway saw Stan Bowles in acres of
space and he finished calmly and with
less than 10 minutes to go, QPR had confirmed victory with a 2-0 win.
Queue celebrations. QPR were
1pt ahead of Liverpool and needed Wolves
to win in their match in 10 days time.
Many QPR fans
will point to them being champions for the next 10 days.
Tuesday, May
4th
Liverpool had
just won the first leg of the UEFA Cup Final, 3-2 against Bruges. Southampton had beaten Man Utd in the FA Cup
Final, and now attention turned to the final match of the season. You’d never have it happen now, but the
championship decider was played the same night at the Manchester derby. United won 2-0.
Wolves v
Liverpool
Wolves were 3rd
from bottom and a win would see them safe.
Liverpool just needed a draw.
Steve Kindon
put the home side ahead in the first half.
15 minutes left and then Kevin Keegan put away a Toshack header. Then Toshack, himself made it 2-1, before the
best finish of the night as Ray Kennedy gave Liverpool a 3-1 victory.
2 years after
taking on the ‘impossible job’, Bob Paisley had won the League Championship for
Liverpool. He would go onto win more
trophies per season than any other manager in the English game (but that’s for
another story)
QPR were left
to dream about what might have been.
Their form in December and early January probably cost them the title,
as did the defeat to Norwich, with just 2 games left. After they lost to West Ham at the end of
January, they played 15 games, won 13, drew 1, lost 1, scored 31, conceded 11.
Several
players were capped by their countries, with Clement, Gillard, Thomas, Bowles
and Francis all playing for England. Don
Masson became a Scotland international.
Don Givens became a regular in the Republic of Ireland squad.
They have yet
to come anywhere near emulating this.
Maybe with the money they now have they could at least consider a
European place, but for now 1975-76 will go down as their greatest ever season.
