RANGERS IN LONDON
1960 - 1971
Matches, Memories & Talking
Points
From The Reds, Whites and Blues
RANGERS IN LONDON
1960 - 1971
Matches, Memories & Talking
Points
From The Reds, Whites and Blues
EXTRACTS FROM BACKGROUND
· EXTRACTS FROM RANGERS 1969
Getting It White? In fairness to Davie White, he addressed the weaknesses from the previous season. Bobby Watson who had joined the club as a youngster brought a combination of tackling and strong heading into midfield. The key signing was Centre Forward, Colin Stein for £100,000 from Hibs. (Then a record deal between Scottish clubs.) A superb proven goalscorer and Scotland international. Strong, brave and a tireless worker, able to carve out his own opportunities and very direct. In the process causing confusion in opposing defences. His only weakness was a tendency to allow his fiery temper to spill over. Rangers were still unsure about the goalkeeping position. In spring 1968 Rangers signed former German policeman, Gerhardt Neef. Slightly on the small side for a ‘Keeper, he was brave and agile.
Of QPR’s 13 man squad for this fixture, 8 players were Londoners and there was only one ‘northerner’ (north of Birmingham) Not a single player came from outside England. The Manager, Les Allen (The same Les Allen who scored twice against Rangers for Spurs in 1962) was also a Londoner. Fans and managers often yearn for a team of players born locally. At Loftus Road it was actually being practised! In 1964 and 1966 QPR reached the Semi Finals of the FA Youth Cup (despite being a 3rd Division Club) and a significant quota had gone on to make the first team. Former QPR and Spurs player, Roger Morgan said of QPR’s 1967 League Cup Triumph, “The young players would inspire each other. There were about five or six of us who had grown up together, and there was tremendous team spirit.” (Sunday Times, 6 April, 2003.). The youngsters in turn were supplemented by older and more experienced Londoners transferred into the club.
Another interesting feature of the youth policy was how they had seemingly gone out of their way to sign England Youth internationals as an investment for the future. Not an easy thing to do as they were competing for the youngsters signatures with not just every top club in London but nationwide. Nevertheless, still an interesting gamble as many young prodigy’s don’t actually go on to make it at the highest levels.
Blue and White Swapshop
In the 1960’s, a favourite summertime pastime of Spurs and QPR seemed to be trading players. The most recent to make the journey West was Terry Venables. (See Spurs 1968) He joined QPR in summer 1969 and was immediately appointed Captain.
Why Did Tel Join QPR? The Spurs fans spoilt with Dave Mackay and Danny Blanchflower felt that their 2 replacements, Alan Mullery (for Mackay) and Venables (for Blanchflower) never quite measured up to their heroes. A bit harsh as Mackay and Blanchflower at their peak were good enough to play for practically any international or club team in the world. (Lest Rangers and Scotland with Jim Baxter in his prime?!). The fans eventually grew to appreciate Mullery but continually ‘scapegoated’ Venables. He was a player for whom confidence was important and having the freedom to try something different without expecting a chorus of abuse if it did not come off was important to him. The technical explanation as to why Tel did not fit into Spurs was that his playing style was to take too much time on the ball before passing. Whilst Spurs played a faster, one touch game with the emphasis on movement. Fed up with the abuse he joined QPR. Seemingly a good move. QPR fans were and are more relaxed and less demanding than those he had left behind at Spurs. My own experience of QPR fans is that they boast an admirably higher ratio of comedians and humourists in their ranks than anywhere else. Perhaps because of all the ground moving, maybe the lack of success. Anyway, if Terry’s on the field cheek came off, fine if it didn’t well they liked the idea!
‘Tel’ would surely enjoy both the responsibility of captaincy and the ready Cockney wit of his new dressing room!
On the 1st August 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped on the moon. (and then discovered it was all ticket)
Planet Football Back on Planet Football, Ken Gallagher in the Daily Record was rightly concerned with far more important matters. Jim Baxter had rejoined Rangers! Ken was delighted that he would bring his unique brand of flair back to Scottish football. In an interesting sign of the times he bemoaned the lack of flair in the game, especially in the English game. In particular, he bemoaned the dull robotic style of Arsenal, Newcastle and Stoke.
Would Baxter Make His Debut at QPR? Unfortunately not, he injured a thigh muscle on Monday. Initially he had kept it quiet from boss Davie White, in the hope that he could make his debut at Loftus Road! Instead he would have treatment in Glasgow over the weekend and hopefully make his debut in the ‘Prestige’ friendly against Spurs at Ibrox.
QPR Shirts : Long sleeved heavyweight cotton shirts (just perfect for 28º of August sunshine?!) with red and black stripes. Black nylon shorts and their socks were black with a red top. (Pre Match Sock Swap?) This was QPR’s newly designed change strip and they wanted to show it off to the fans. I’m sure the players were delighted but would it make them hot under the collar?
Rangers (Special) Shirts : Short sleeved blue shirts with very short length sleeves and a groovy high neck feature. But these were no ordinary shirts... Peter Hendry of the Evening Times informed his readers that these “were special light weight blue jerseys with short sleeves to combat the heat.” The initialled GRFC crest on the left breast. I don’t know whether these did combat the heat, but I nominate this as the best ever Rangers shirt. Stylishly cut and the only logo is Rangers. The shirt was matched with short white nylon shorts and blue socks with a white top. (Definitely a Sock Swap)
QPR 1 Mike Kelly, 2 Ian Watson, 3 Allan Harris, 4 Terry Venables (Captain), 5 Ron Hunt, 6 Tony Hazell, 7 Barry Bridges, 8 Ian Morgan, 9 Frank Clarke, 10 Rodney Marsh, 11 Clive Clark Subs : Frank Sibley and Mick Leach
GLASGOW RANGERS (Davie White announced his Rangers team just prior to Kick Off.)
1 Gerhardt Neef, 2 Kai Johansen, 3 Billie Mathieson, 4 John Greig (Captain), 5 Ronnie MacKinnon, 6 David Smith, 7 Willie Henderson, 8 Bobby Watson, 9 Colin Stein, 10 Willie Johnston, 11 Orjan Persson. Sub : Andy Penman.
Referee : E Jennings (Worcestershire) Linesmen : A Hart (Red Flag), D Burlingham (Yellow Flag)
Conditions : Very Warm and Dry. Pitch : Bone Hard.
Match Played Under European Cup Rules
2 substitutions allowed from a pool of 3 subs (one of whom is goalkeeper).
Terry Venables gets off to a good start in his ‘Captain’s role’, winning the toss. Ever the thinker, he lets Rangers kick off and selects ends. Rangers kick towards the ‘Loft’. I daresay with the thought of the bright sun shining directly into the eyes of the Rangers defence…………..
Half Time : QPR 2 Rangers 2
The Fastest Man In The West (London) Willie Henderson was exceptionally quick. But the fastest man in the ground was Ron Jones, Olympic Sprinter and QPR’s Fitness Coach. Earlier in the afternoon, the 34 year old won the 3 A’s Amateur Athletic Title at nearby White City Stadium (QPR’s former home) and sprinted from the medal presentation to the game!
QPR Substitution : Mick Leach replaces an injured Clive Clark
47 Mins : Leach is quickly involved in things. Powerfully heading from the edge of the Penalty Box, his effort goes narrowly over the bar.
Willie Johnston rifles a low drive, well collected by Kelly.
53 Mins 47 Secs : 3-2 RANGERS : From deep in the Rangers half, John Greig starts an 8 pass Rangers move. Eventually Persson crosses/shoots over from wide. The ball seems destined to run wide but Ron Hunt sprinting back to defend, turns the ball past his own ‘keeper. Willie Johnston deserves credit for pressing Ron Hunt into making the error.
56 Mins : Andy Penman replaces Persson.
57 Mins 40 Secs 3-3 Leach delivers a high centre from the left. Bridges, too far from goal to score heads the ball into the path of Ian Morgan who lashes the ball from 25 yards out. His effort deflects off Smith and flies into the top right hand corner of the net past Neef.
· Henderson mazily dribbles through a crowd of players and shoots low, Kelly again does well to get to the shot.
· Venables centres to Leach in the penalty area. His glancing header effort flashes wide.
· Marsh glances a header, well saved by Neef.
· Bridges is deprived of a certain scoring chance by some last gasp defending.
75 Mins : Rodney Marsh Goes Berserk.
The first 75 minutes were most entertaining. The game up to that juncture played in a good spirit despite the fact that both teams were working hard and playing competitively. A thrilling finale is set. Then…. Kai Johansen attempts to slide tackle Marsh on the ‘Ellerslie Road’ touchline. Marsh’s dummy is too clever for him and he follows through. A poor challenge but with no malice intended. Both players tumble to the turf. Marsh then lashes out with his feet. He rises and continues his attack. Fed up with kicking him, he shakes him and throws a flurry of punches.
As the players rush to the incident, Bobby Watson of Rangers is first to reach the scene, Marsh turns his attentions away from the now prostrate Johansen and headbutts Bobby Watson in the face.
Eventually a fan, a photographer, 2 QPR officials plus a nervous looking linesman restrain the hysterical Marsh. The fan and the photographer deserve huge credit for intervening in a situation which was not their’s to deal with. The police and Referee perfectly happy to watch to watch from a distance.
You would think that with hundreds of good Metropolitan Constables specially drafted in for fear of violence, one of them may have just witnessed an ‘Assault’, ‘Breach of The Peace’ or ‘Incitement of a Riot’ Not one does. Actually, they seem rather more interested in the Rangers fans voicing their fury at the disgraceful double assault.
For the moment I’ll leave you with the thought that John Greig and Willie Henderson might with hindsight have signed their newly ‘unemployed’ chum Ken Buchanan for the day! –Mind you thank Goodness, Marsh did not attack Willie Johnston. They could have sold out Wembley if he had done!
Meanwhile the hapless Rangers physio has his work out as he simultaneously tries to treat 2 players.
Amazingly, once play restarts, Marsh bursts through powerfully and Gerhadt Neef dives bravely at his feet to save a certain goal.
To his credit, Les Allen then substitutes Marsh with Frank Sibley. Whether his motive was to punish Marsh or protect him from retribution (deserved) it was a very good decision. It goes some way to assuaging the anger of the Rangers fans who raise a large cheer at his departure.
The remainder of the game is played with a bitter taste in the mouth. QPR do not seem to want to cause further upset to their guests, and Rangers for their part do not seem to be interested in making an exciting game of it anymore. Perhaps both sides were under instructions to simply play out time.
Full Time QPR 3 (Venables [pen], Frank Clarke and Ian Morgan) RANGERS 3 (Henderson, Smith, Watson/Hunt)
Attendance : 16,752 well behaved supporters. But there’s always one mindless idiot who spoils it for everyone. This one was playing.
· TERRY ON HIS PENALTY KICK TECHNIQUE
“I suppose I volunteered largely because I’m Captain. I practised taking them and I’ve got my own method to get the goalkeeper off balance”. – Sorry Tel! but if you look at a photo of the penalty, Neef is still upright and stationary just after the kick is taken.”
· POST MATCH REACTION FROM BUSH TELEGRAPH (FROM THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY’S PROGRAMME. QPR V HULL CITY)
“There is no more unpopular type than the one who goes round saying “I told you so” but, after last Saturday’s match we can’t resist. Although assailed from all sides by warnings and grim forebodings of crowd trouble from Glasgow Rangers supporters, we went ahead and staged our match against them confident that nothing more than an afternoon’s first class football would take place. In the event we were proved perfectly correct and the quietness on our terraces has only been exceeded by the resulting silence of those who had implored us not to hold the match. We can only comment that we have extended our compliments and appreciation to the supporters to Glasgow Rangers Football Club and we would like to add on to this our congratulations to our own supporters who are building up an unequalled reputation for friendliness and hospitality.” (Shame about Rodney Marsh.)