Tony Ingham sadly passed away seven years ago today. Dennis Signy wrote the following tribute to the QPR legend for issue 13 of the Club newspaper, ‘Bush Ranger’ in 1989:
‘When Tony Ingham joined Leeds United in 1947, he was earning the princely sum of £6 a week.
And the original contract for the Yorkshireman is on display in the re-named Rangers restaurant – the Tony Ingham Suite – along with pictures of his record 514 league appearances for the club, 628 in all.
Tony, who celebrated his 64th Birthday by watching his beloved Superhoops in action against Arsenal, is like ‘The Man Who Came to Dinner’. He arrived at Rangers as a player 39 years ago…and has never left.
When the Top Club restaurant, which seats 110 people, was “done up”, chairman Richard Thompson decided that it should be named after the man who deserves the title: “Mister Queen’s Park Rangers.” He is a Top Man. A Top Ranger.
He was signed by Dave Mangnall and played under Jack Taylor and Alec Stock. He has seen managers come and go…Tommy Docherty, Les Allen, Gordon Jago, Dave Sexton, Frank Sibley, Steve Burtenshaw, Terry Venables, Alan Mullery, Jim Smith and now Trevor Francis.
Harrogate-born Tony joined Rangers for £6,000 in 1950. I think they have had their money’s worth!
He will perhaps best be remembered for his full-back partnership with Pat Woods. I remember writing “like Marks and Spencer, it was Woods and Ingham for the R’s for years.”
Not many players get a suite named after them. Considering he was ready to retire in 1962 – Alec Stock persuaded him to stay on as Commercial Manager – Tony Ingham deserves the honour.’
QPR Legend Tony Ingham: 1925 – 2010
Steve Russell
(The above pic is from my collection)
Yes a great servant for the Rs in many ways. A pleasure to watch on the field in the late 50’s and early 60’s.
If it ever gets built we need to name a stand after him.
Yep Woods and Ingham that rock like full back partnership from my early childhood days of supporting QPR in the late 1950’s.I remember it well.
Tony Ingham was a really good left back at Division 3 level. He could easily have played a higher grade of pro football but opted to stay loyal to the R’s.
Just looked his career up. He was signed by Leeds when playing with Harrogate Hotspurs. He played his first game for Leeds against West Brom on 4/10/1947 and at the age of 22 “had the crowd on their feet” when he came off.
His nickname at Harrogate was “Nobby”.
As someone who well remembers the Woods/Ingham partnership and agree with all that has been said. However I recall one match where Pat Wood’S did something,I can’t remember what, some wag in crowd shouted out ‘your past it Woods’. Pat was, as you may recall, bald. The thing is I was 23 at the time and as Pat and I were in the same class at school (Keble Memorial he would have been the same age.
Tony Ingham was not only a good player for QPR but also a great ambassador. I was lucky enough to meet him on several occasions when he took time to present footballs to our scout group in Queens Park and spent time answering our questions.He also presented awards at our swimming galas.