On 20th April 1964, QPR took on Walsall at Loftus Road. The match kicked off at 7.30pm but it was abandoned after just 26 minutes.
A fire at Battersea Power Station caused power failures throughout parts of London.
The BBC were due to launch BBC Two that night, but it had to be delayed until the following morning.
Included in the Rangers line-up that evening were the Brady brothers: Smith, Brady (P), Angell, Malcolm, Brady (R), Keen, Vafiadis, Bedford, Leary, Collins, McLeod
The match was re-arranged for Friday, 1st May, the eve of the FA Cup Final. This reminder appeared on the back page of the Luton programme:
‘Just a reminder to you all that the curtain comes down on another season at Loftus Road on Cup Final eve on Friday May 1, at 7.30, when Walsall are our visitors.
This fixture, you will no doubt recall, had to be abandoned on Monday, April 20, after 26 minutes because of the big Battersea Power Station fire which put most of West London in darkness.
In those 26 minutes, Walsall certainly belied their lowly position in the table. On a greasy pitch which made ball control difficult, they looked really dangerous at times, and we were glad that Frank Smith was in good form. Three times only his quick reaction saved us.’
The Walsall programme listed the lucky Jackpot winners, which included a Mr S. A. Matlock of 18, Ravensworth Road, NW10, who won a £1.00!
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley & Peter Trott for their assistance)
I was not at this abandoned game but did see the rearranged fixture on the first of May. The final QPR league game of the season. Rangers won 3-0 I think.
Frank Smith in goal saving us 3 times? Never saw that before! lol