The News Release shown below is dated 17th August 1983 and the photo caption reads:
‘A giant bottle of Guinness was signed by both Ernest Saunders (left) Chief Executive of Guinness, and Terry Venables, Manager of Queen’s Park Rangers, to celebrate the launch of their ¬£450,000 sponsorship deal at the club’s Loftus Road ground.’
In 1982 a sponsorship deal was struck between the Football League and the Milk Marketing Board. The League Cup then became known as the “Milk Cup”. The following year the Football League agreed to allow shirt sponsorship.
Three years later, Blue Star became the Club sponsors in 1986.
Ernest Saunders along with Jack Lyons, Anthony Parnes and Gerald Ronson were charged and convicted in August 1990 for fraud.
Later, after Richard Thompson had put the club up for sale, Saunders was to head a consortium, but he faced stiff competition from Chris Wright.
Steve Russell
I still got one of the guinnesss bottles