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[Steve Russell]

Watford (0) – QPR (3) – ‘Finally, almost in Injury Time, Clark Broke Away to Lob a
Surprise Third Past an Advancing Linton’

Team: Drinkwater, Woods, Ingham, Keen, Rutter, Angell, Lazarus, Bedford, Evans, Andrews, Clark
Attendance: 15,606

On 10th December 1960, Rangers travelled to Vicarage Road. The following match report later
appeared in the local press:

‘While Rotherham, Watford’s cup opponents, were finding their scoring boots in slamming Luton 5-2
on Saturday, the Hornets were making an awful mess of their “derby” with Queen’s Park Rangers.

It is now unhappily obvious that something has gone radically wrong, and it has gone wrong in the
department where Watford used to consider themselves strongest – in attack.

Against a hard but otherwise not very impressive Rangers side on Saturday, they had enough of the
game to have won by three or four goals.

The fault lay fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the inside trio. Tommy Harmer conjured up some
deft passes in midfield, but neither he nor a subdued Cliff Holton could stamp the game with their personality.

And for Jack Smith this was a successive flop. He certainly had Ray Drinkwater at full-stretch in the first
minute and was a shade unlucky when Tony Ingham came from out of the blue to kick another of his shots
off the line but for most of the game, he gave Keith Rutter few grounds for anxiety.

Cliff Holton’s quietness was equally disturbing. Both he and Smith shot tragically wide when Watford were
jolted into a sense of urgency by Rangers’ first goal, but Holton never managed the sort of “specials” that
used to thrill the crowds so consistently.

Watford’s attempts at a two-pronged attack, in fact, fell far, far short of the old Holton-Uphill era. This was
partly due to Rangers’ solid covering, but the major trouble was Watford’s tendency to be over fussy in their
#passing,

Freddy Bunce alone produced the pace to cut through and even he, after demonstrating his ability to outstrip
Pat Woods, fell into some of the errors of his colleagues.

The net result of all this was that Rangers, so long held in check by Watford’s half-backs, were able to pick up
a couple of precious promotion points.

In the 61st minute, when Andy Porter delayed a clearance, young Clive Clark whipped the ball almost from his
feet and steered it across the goal for Mark Lazarus to slam it into the net.

Eleven minutes later, referee Yates awarded a penalty when Vince McNeice brought down Lazarus and Woods
hit number two from the spot.

Finally, almost in injury time, Clark broke away to lob a surprise third past an advancing Linton.’

The match programme acknowledged the long service of the Rangers chairman: ‘It was announced this week
that the Rangers chairman, Mr Albert Hittinger, after 20 years of service – you have put much effort into the
game, we wish you many years of good health to enjoy it!’.

The R’s followed this up with a 3-1 home win over Bournemouth.

Steve Russell

[Kerrins]

My first ever QPR away game! Remember it well!

[Steve Russell]

Paul Harris from Facebook....

Hi Steve
Coincidentally, that Watford away match was my first ever away game too.

We lived in Marylebone High Street & the Bakerloo line went from Baker St to Watford High Street
in those days. I remember Lazarus scoring, he’d only just arrived a few weeks before from Leyton Orient.

Watford had had a revamp changing from their Blue & White strip to Gold & Black & we’d just reverted to
the hoops that season.

The Watford ground was even worse than ours with a dog track. I started going with my dad in 1958 but
that Watford game was the first away game. I think Dave Underwood our old goalkeeper played for them
in 1960.

I’m now 73 and actually live in Watford but still have my ST in South Africa Rd. Let’s hope we beat them on
Saturday at Vicarage Road.

Happy memories
Paul

[Kerrins]

Dave Underwood Ex QPR would have played for Watford that day but he was injured and
Pat Linton took his place in goal.

Great Comment there by Paul Harris. Those were the days.