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[Steve Russell]

Team: Allen, Powell (G), Jefferson, Powell (I), Smith (G), Smith (A), Hartburn, Hatton, Durrant, Mills, Pattison
Attendance: 25,495

Rangers travelled to Dean Court on Wednesday 14th April 1948, in a Third Division (South), top of the table clash.
Leyton Orient had beaten the R’s 1-2 at Loftus Road four days earlier.

The league table as shown in the match programme states that after 36 matches, Rangers were on 53 points whilst
Bournemouth were two points behind having played one game more. A match report appeared in the Western Daily
Press the following day:

‘A characteristic goal by centre-forward Fred Durrant 15 minutes from the end at Dean Court, Bournemouth, last night,
virtually assured Queen’s Park Rangers of promotion from the Third Division (South).

With five games left, Rangers are four points ahead of Bournemouth and with a match in hand. Only a remarkable loss
of form can prevent Rangers attaining Second Division status for the first time in their 50 years’ history as a professional
club.

Sometime before the start of the game the gates were closed with a record 26,000 inside and nearly 10,000 outside.

In order not to disappoint the thousands of would-be spectators, the Bournemouth secretary, Mr Tom Locks, hastily
organised a microphone to broadcast to those waiting outside. He, himself, gave the commentary.

The previous Bournemouth ground record was 23,782 at the FA Cup-tie with Wolverhampton on October 18th last year.

It was typical of football’s curiosities that Durrant should score the all-important goal. After trying seven other
centre-forwards, Rangers recalled the ex-Brentford leader because of the late withdrawal of the injured Stewart.

Another old Brentford player took a big part in the goal. Rangers’ captain and centre-half, George Smith, went up for
a corner, forced by Hartburn and lobbed the ball forward.

Durrant beat goalkeeper Bird to the bounce and headed over Bird’s head into the net.’

And from another report: ‘The game kicked off at 6pm, as was the norm in the days before floodlights, but it was so
tense that good football was at a premium.

The only clear-cut chance of the first-half fell to Bournemouth centre-forward Doug Milligan, whose header was
goal-bound when Reg Allen, playing just his second match after his injury at Derby, turned the ball round the post
with a miraculous save.

As Bournemouth pushed for the goal they desperately needed, they were forced to leave gaps at the back which Rangers
exploited with just 16 minutes left.

From a clearance following a Rangers corner, centre-half George Smith headed the ball back into the penalty area and
over the Bournemouth defence who were rushing out to try and catch Rangers players off-side.

Fred Durrant read the ball perfectly and was able to chip the Bournemouth goalkeeper and put his side into the lead.’

Rangers followed this up with a 2-1 win at Exeter three days later, but the week after that they suffered a 2-5 defeat
at Carrow Road!

But the R’s got back on track with a 1-0 win at Loftus Road against Newport County and then a goal-less draw in the
penultimate game of the season secured promotion for the very first time.