Independent Rs Messageboard

Important game for us today in Blackburn. I hope the up rather than down Blackburn turn up
in their very mixed season.
It brings back memories of the Brentford game in the sixties where we needed them to beat their
opposition for us to get promotion. Despite a fair percentage of us Rs supporters being in the crowd it
wasn’t to be. Mind you the 657 trolley bus did good business that night!

Indy's Home Page from 2008.....

Yes folks (I kid you not) much gloom and doom from the multitude of QPR supporters at Griffin Park
during the end of the 1961/62 season when Brentford lost a midweek fixture 2-0 to Grimsby Town.

Strange but certainly true and here is an explanation of events seen through the eyes of a devout 13 year old
schoolboy Rangers fanI still get a twinge of sadness thinking about it forty six years later.

This was the second season running when the R’s were in at the death fighting for promotion from the old
Division 3. We just missed out previously in 1960/61 (behind Bury and Walsall) following a Spring ‘dip’ in form
after selling our star left winger Clive Clark to West Brom.talk about selling your promotion chances!!!

In 1961/62, Portsmouth were home and dry as Champions but the runners up spot was down to the wire contested
between Grimsby, QPR and Bournemouth. The Brentford versus Grimsby Town match was crucial.

Brentford HAD to win to keep Rangers hopes alive. A win for Grimsby would see them promoted on the night and
seal our fate. The omens were not good, Brentford were total garbage that year. They were already relegated
before kick-off. Furthermore, I remembered just how bad they were when we thrashed them 4-1 at Griffin Park #
earlier on in the season.

The Bees gates averaged around 7,000 but that night I think there were approximately 14,000 inside the ground
thousands of R’s fans swelling the attendance with plenty of ‘blue and white’ on display. There were virtually no
Grimsby supporters people tended not to travel away so much in those days, especially long distance and midweek.

Although roared on by the large R’s contingent, Brentford quite frankly, were pathetic, even George Francis the
ex-QPR centre forward proved hopeless in front of goal. Grimsby were smooth and clinical and of course had everything
to play for.

The writing was on the wall after half an hour and Grimsby easily won 2-0 and hence were promoted. Boos and jeers
rang out from our section of the ground at the final whistle. We were all stunned, guttedsick as a parrot etc.

This was the second consecutive season we had fallen at the final hurdle. When were we EVER going to get promoted
out of Division 3 ? Virtual silence punctuated by a few moans on the number 657 trolley bus was followed by total
grief at Ashchurch Park Villas, Shepherds Bush ! Oh well, there is always another season. Perhaps 1967 will be our year?

Bernard Lambert (Kerrins)

Portsmouth finished on 65 points, Grimsby were the runners-up on 62 followed by Bournemouth and despite scoring
an amazing 111 league goals, the R’s were in fourth place. A further 18 goals were scored in Cup matches which
included a 7-0 thrashing of Barry Town in a FA Cup replay and a 5-2 victory against Crystal Palace in the League Cup.

In fact there were an incredible 213 goals scored in all Rangers League and Cup matches that season!!

Brian Bedford was top scorer with 39 goals followed by Bernard Evans on 22. Apart from the departure of star-winger
Clive Clark to WBA, Mark Lazarus was sold to Wolves during the season. He returned five months later though and still
chipped in with 12 goals. Mike Keen was ever-present and Ray Drinkwater missed only one game.

The R’s fortunes were to dip in the next few years. Gates plummeted and there was another unsuccessful move to the
White City but it could have been even worse if John Bloom had taken control of the club. His well known washing
machine company was to go bust but in November 1964, Jim Gregory joined the Board..

Steve Russell

De javu strikes again or is it Groundhog Day! Or is it Groundhog day!
All in all that did not go to plan!

deja vu ain't what it used to be!!

.........I don't like to dwell in the past, but every time I reverse the car, it takes me back.....

Allow Mister doom and gloom to make a post

After Leeds have beaten us on Friday if all those other results on the Saturday go against us we are
in trouble

Afternoon Bernard....

Afternoon Steve.

I am not well. Suffering from a squeaky Bum

Does this make you feel any better Bernard?

A - Huddersfield v Birmingham

B - Millwall v Blackburn

C - Sheffield Wednesday v West Brom

D - Southampton v Stoke