League Division One
Team: Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Leach, McLintock, Webb, Thomas, Francis, Masson, Bowles, Givens
Attendance: 19,292
On Tuesday, 23rd September 1975, Rangers took on Leicester City at Loftus Road. Bob Driscoll wrote the following match report:
‘QPR scrambled a win last night to make life even tougher at the top. Rangers are now wedged between First Division leaders Manchester United and third-place London neighbours West Ham.
But if Rangers had hoped to go clear to the top by hammering a struggling Leicester, they soon came down to earth with a bump.
For Leicester, with their liberal sprinkling of ex-Londoners, asked all the questions. And, for a time, QPR didn’t have many answers. Yet Rangers almost took the lead on the half-hour when Wallington just managed to reach a shot by full-back Dave Clement.
Leicester came back only five minutes later when Chris Garland came close to heading them into the lead from a Frank Worthington centre.
And only four minutes later, Leicester almost broke through with a move that involved Keith Weller and Garland.
QPR manager Dave Sexton must have read a half-time riot act, because Rangers stepped up their pace and only six minutes into the second-half, Dave Thomas was put through by Don Masson and was unlucky not to score.
But a minute later, Jon Sammels caused Rangers more heartache with a neatly-flighted free kick that Steve Whitworth very nearly converted into a goal.
Suddenly Rangers sensed the urgency of the night and got the breakthrough that mattered.
Thomas sent in a low-cross, Stan Bowles sold a beautiful dummy by jumping over the ball, and Mick Leach blasted home after 57 minutes.
But try as they might, Rangers were never able to improve on that advantage and Leicester almost grabbed an equaliser when Garland headed over from a corner taken by Sammels in the 88th minute.
It had been an uncompromising duel and referee Walters booked Leicester’s Steve Simms after he brought down Dave Clement.’
The Supporters Club page of the match programme announced that the first issue of ‘The Superhoop’ was being dispatched to members along with an official sticker.
And for the forthcoming trip to Leeds, 200 seats were available on the ‘Rangers Superhoop Special’. Departure at Kings Cross was scheduled for 10.13 and the fare was £4.25.
There was supposed to be bus shuttle service from the station to Elland Road, but I remember many of us walking to the ground.
Rangers lost 1-2 and Stan Bowles scored the R’s goal from the penalty spot.
Steve Russell
I stopped supporting Chelsea in 1973 because the low life supporters were Urinating their 6 pints of Beer they drunk before the match, onto the backs of the person in front of them. I WALKED OUT NEVER WENT BACK.
I went to QPR and enjoyed my football for 50 years but the Financial constraints at the club finally turned my head and I stopped supporting a club with little money to spend on players.
The new Training ground will provide the cash flow QPR need but can’t you get this new Stadium done and dusted at Linford Christy up the road?? You lost out on White City and now Linford Christy.
Look what West Ham and Spurs have done, remove your finger please Owners. 50 years is long enough to wait
Come on Arsenal, you lost me, I waited long enough.