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[Steve Russell]

On this day: QPR (1) – Leicester City (0) –
‘Stan Bowles Sold a Beautiful Dummy by Jumping
Over the Ball & Mick Leach Blasted Home…’

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.