It was Keith Davies who got me interested into researching former Rangers player Derrick Razzell.
I knew that he hadn’t played for the QPR first team, so I started asking around. Colin Woodley then alerted me to a newspaper cutting that he had spotted up on ebay.
‘Plumber turns soccer pro’ – A 23-year-old plumber from Bellamy Street, Clapham, this week began a new career – as a professional footballer with London Club Queen’s Park Rangers.
He is centre forward Derrick Razzell, who has resigned his plumbing job at London University to play full-time for the Third Division club.
Derrick, formerly of Zennor Road, Balham, started his career with Tooting and Mitcham as a junior. He then played for Surrey Senior Leaguers Croydon Amateurs and two seasons ago had a trial with Wimbledon, but was turned down.
Then he joined Athenian Leaguers Carshalton Athletic and his goalscoring feats caught the attention of several professional clubs. He plumped for QPR, and signed amateur forms for them.
This season he impressed in their public trial – and was offered professional terms. After talking it over with his wife, Doris, he accepted.
The love of soccer once cost Derrick his job. He was sacked by a Holborn firm because he refused to work on Saturday afternoons.’
Derrick was introduced to Rangers fans via the ‘Bush Telegraph’ section of the Coventry match programme on 12th September 1960, as follows:
‘Derrick Razzell Rangers’ new star-to-be centre forward. He began full-time training last Wednesday and tells me: “It’s up to me to make the grade now. Rangers have given me the chance.”
Razzell is 22 years old, and is best known as a marksman with Athenian League Carshalton Athletic. But he has had experience with Croydon Amateurs (as a junior), Wimbledon and Tooting & Mitcham. He was with Carshalton for a season.
Balham-born Razzell was a plumber at London University until he decided to make the plunge as a pro-footballer. He has been married one year.
I asked the question I put to Mike Barber: “What made you choose QPR?” His answer was almost identical. “It’s a nice friendly club”, he replied. “I had a few games as an amateur and the atmosphere at Loftus Road made me decide.”
Hobbies of this bright goalscoring prospect are swimming and fishing. And already he has had a few opposition goalies fishing – for the ball in the back of the net. Derrick has scored five in his first fortnight as a pro – including a really great one against Notts County last Monday.’
Derrick went on to score 19 goals in 33 Football Combination games that season and he also played in two London Challenge Cup matches. But surprisingly he was never given a run out in the first team?
I did come across an earlier mention of him that year in a testimonial match programme, dated 14th March. He was listed as the No.9 in the game against Middlesex Wanderers, which had been organised by the Supporters Club in aid of the Players’ Benefit Fund.
Gordon Macey advised me that Razzell had made one appearance for the Reserves, probably a week later on 21st March, against Mansfield.
He also informed me that Derrick made a number of appearances (and also the following season) for our junior (senior) side.
It was announced in August 1961 that he had moved on to Margate.
Steve Russell
(My thanks to Gordon Macey and Colin Woodley for their assistance)
Very Informative article Steve. By the 1960’s I had stopped going to reserve team games so I never saw him play. Amazingly though I don’t recall his name that well despite the fact that it must have appeared quite a lot in match day programme reports on QPR second team and junior fixtures.
Reading all of the above you have to wonder why he was not given a real chance with the first team.
Thanks for the article, Steve.
Razzell stayed with Margate for only two months, before moving to Kettering Town in Oct 1961, then Dartford in 1962/63, Hastings U for 1963/64 season, Crawley Town in Sep 1964 and Cray Wanderers in cs 1965 after which I have no further information.