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[Steve Russell]

Rangers’ Return to the White City was a total Washout

The following article is dated 4th October 1962 and appeared in the local Gazette and Post:

‘The biggest night in the history of Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club ended in a big washout
at White City on Monday evening.

After torrential rain had flooded the pitch, the referee postponed the match against Hull City
half-an-hour before the kick-off.

This was probably the biggest anti-climax in the history of football. For their move to the White City –
which manager Alec Stock has said will put QPR forty years ahead of any other football club in the country –

Rangers had spared no expense and the national Press had given great publicity to this opening match – this
was a day to remember.

To mark this historic day the QPR Directors had laid on an expensive banquet in the White City restaurant.
The guests included the top men of the Football Association and Football League, stars of the radio and
television world and the foremost sporting journalists in the country.

After drinking cocktails in the bar with these numerous celebrities, I sat down to dinner eagerly awaiting
the moment when I would have to leave my coffee and rush down to the Press box for the big kick-off.

But at seven o’clock, when I had hardly taken my first mouthful of melon, the announcement came over
the loudspeaker system that the referee had inspected the pitch and decided play was impossible.

The disappointment echoed round the restaurant and groans of dismay could be heard from the terraces
where ardent fans were already seated in their positions to cheer the Rangers back to the top of Division
Three.

I and the hundred or so other guests, finished our dinners – the cost to Rangers was probably about ¬£400 –
but the edge was taken off our appetites as there was nothing left to do but have another drink and make
one’s way home.

Many of the Rangers’ guests were bitterly disappointed. Seated at my table was an American film director
who had never seen a football match in his life. His disappointment was equal to the most ardent fan on the
terraces.

But these people were impressed by the White City and said they would come again – without the attraction
of the free dinner – to see the Rangers play. Harold Berens of “Ignorance is Bliss” fame was one such enthusiast.

The life and soul of the party was Australian disc jockey Alan Freeman. His spirits were not dampened by the
weather but he too promised to come again. “Yes I’ll be here on Saturday”, he replied in answer to my question,
“but how does one get in?”

“Well you just pay your three bob at the gate along with everyone else” I retorted.

“I don’t mind paying three bob” said Alan, “See you on Saturday then!”

Even before the match was called off there were a large number of fans already in the ground and many
more outside. A White City official estimated that there would have been a 20,000 crowd if the game had
been played.

If the estimate was correct it would seem that while the game was a washout the White City itself was a
roaring success and will attract everyone, famous funny boys, football fanatics and us fans. See you on
Saturday then!’

The article also includes a pic of two R’s fans with the following caption: ‘Two charming Rangers supporters,
Mrs Maureen Atkins and Miss Brenda Giles, drink a toast to Alec Stock and his men at the White City on Monday
evening’.

The programme’s ‘Club Notes by Ranger’ begin as follows:

‘Tonight is our privilege and pleasure to welcome you to our “new home”, the White City Stadium.
This switching of first-team matches from Loftus Road is a milestone in the history of Queen’s Park Rangers FC.
It is a bold move by the directors of the club, aimed at providing spectators with the maximum comfort –
which is we believe, a vital consideration in this modern Soccer age.

Among our many guests tonight, we are particularly pleased to see Mr Graham Doggart, Chairman of the
Football Association; Mr Denis Follows, the new FA Secretary; Mr Alan Hardaker, Secretary of the Football
League; Miss Edith Woods, Mayor of Hammersmith; members and officials of the League Management
Committee; the players and officials of Hull City; and representatives of all London’s Football League clubs.’

Elsewhere in the programme it is noted that; ‘TV’s Judith Chalmers will be making the draw for the QPR
Sportsman’s Association Pool (prizes nightly, Monday to Saturday) at half-time this evening’.

I saw the R’s play at the White City that season and my memories are of being a long way from the pitch, a
small crowd and no atmosphere.

Rangers played two matches at the White City in April 1912 and later spent two seasons there between
1931 and 1933.

Attendances for our final two league games at the end of the 1932/33 season slumped dramatically to 2,837
and 3,079 respectively, although our record home attendance of 41,097 was against Leeds United for the FA Cup
3rd Round match there in 1932.

I also remember when the idea was mooted again at the end of the 1964/65 season, but the stadium was
demolished in 1985 to make way for a new BBC building complex.

[ESSEXURs]

Remember the evening well and did it rain!

Dad and I got the bus from Starch Green to corner of Goldhawk Rd and Bush Green to be met
by hundreds of fans coming back from the White City saying the game is off.

It became a soulless place to watch football with small crowds and only the odd pitch invasion
to relieve the monotony!

[ESSEXURs]

I seem to remember there was talk of buying White City and making it more suitable for football.
Yet another ‘what might have been’ in our nomadic history!

[Steve Russell]

I remember the cover of Peterborough programme dated 10th April 1965
had a drawing of the White City.

The 'Club Notes' by Ranger' stated:
With only two more Third Division matches at Loftus Rd this season,
after today's match, the time is almost ready for our move to the
White City Stadium during the next three months.

Information about the change over will be given during the months
ahead, but season ticket prices for next season have now been arranged.'

[Kerrins]

I remember that night. The Hull City team coach was late and stuck up in the
Shepherds Bush Traffic.

My self and other supporters were tapping on the windows and trying to tell the
players/Manager and Coaching staff that the game was off! They did not know!

Anyway when the game was rearranged not long afterwards the good thing was
we beat them 4-1