I’ve recently obtained the letter that my Uncle Alf received in April 1979, from R’s manager, Steve Burtenshaw:
‘Dear Mr Maddicks,
Many thanks for your recent letter and for your obvious interest in Queen’s Park Rangers FC.
I certainly take notice of your suggestions to encourage the team to continue fighting and try and get maximum points from our remaining fixtures, in case Derby County finish poorly.
It is, of course, still possible for that very thing to happen and obviously, a better result last Saturday against Manchester City would have helped.
But in all honesty, I don’t think the lads could have given us more Mr Maddicks.
They certainly deserved to come away from Maine Road with at least a point and in my view, if a very dubious penalty had not been given against us, we may well have come away with two, because until that penalty kick went in, we looked by far the most likely side to score.
Still, that’s all water under the bridge now and as you say, we must continue to give our very best in the remaining games and hope that Derby have a bad run in.
Once again, many thanks for your interest over such a long time, and also for taking the time to write such an encouraging letter.
It is always easy to support a winning side, so I really take heart from a loyal supporter such as yourself who continues to help us when things are not so good.
Still, believe me Mr Maddicks, we will get things right here at the Bush and when we do, it is supporters like yourself, who I am sure will get most pleasure when that time arrives.
Best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Steve Burtenshaw
Manager’
A few days later, Rangers beat Coventry City 5-1 at Loftus Road. But that resounding win was followed by three defeats, which meant that the R’s were relegated along with Chelsea and Birmingham City.
Jim Gregory had sacked Steve Burtenshaw before the final home game and re-appointed Tommy Docherty.
Uncle Alf sadly passed away in 2020, a loyal supporter to the end.
Thanks to my nephew Russ for giving me the letter.
Steve Russell