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Steve Russell
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Remembering Jim Towers.....

Post by Steve Russell »

Edwin James Towers – Professional Footballer – 1954 to 1965 – R.I.P.

Jim Towers was a prolific goal scoring forward in the lower reaches of the Football League for
various clubs including Brentford, QPR and Aldershot, spanning the period from 1954 to 1965.

His main role was in the Centre Forward/Inside Forward slot but he sometimes operated on the left wing.

Although Jim was a supreme goal scoring icon for Brentford (club record of 153 goals in 262 league matches
for the Bees), he was born locally and in his one season at Loftus Road, 1961/62, he made his mark by scoring
16 goals in 32 league and Cup games, playing in the QPR team that scored an incredible 111 goals and just missed
out on promotion to Division 2.

He didn’t do “tap-ins” even when a few feet from the goal. Jim Towers had a thunderbolt of a shot and one
classic example of this was in a Rangers away league match at Watford on the 23rd September, 1961, when he
smashed in a goal and the ball hit the inside metal stanchion and rebounded nearly to the halfway line!

Alas, after being 2-0 up, Rangers let Watford score three times in the last 15 minutes and we lost 2-3.

At QPR FC when on the field of play, Jim was a very recognisable figure. He had a powerful build with a greased
short hairstyle, sometimes sporting an old fashioned centre parting that gave the appearance of a pro-footballer
from the 1930’s ! His attitude always seemed to me that of: “Let’s just get on with the game and score goals.

"There was never any angry reaction when he was on the receiving end of crunching, foul tackles, no arguing with
the ref and when he put the ball in the back of the net, there were no wild or outrageous celebrations.

I have often wondered why Jim’s goal scoring talents were not applied at a higher level of league football…but
perhaps if it were not for so many promotion near misses by both Brentford and QPR combined during the 1957/62
era, they may well of been.

God Bless you Jim Towers – R.I.P.

Bernard Lambert (Kerrins)

Jim Towers was born on 15th April, 1933. The son of a bus driver, he was brought up at 92, Rayleigh Road,
(which is now Lakeside Road I understand) London W14. He began his football career as a Youth player at Brentford
and went on to make his league debut in the 1954-55 Season.

He teamed up with George Francis and this deadly partnership became known as the ‘Terrible Twins’.

He was transferred with George Francis to QPR for £8,000 in May 1961. This decision by the Brentford Board
infuriated the fans and apparently, they tried to buy them back again, but the deal fell through. They had been Brentford’s
leading goal scorers for no less than seven seasons.

Jim was sold to Millwall in August 1962 where he scored eight goals in 21 appearances. The following January he
was on the move again, this time to Gillingham, where he scored six goals in eight appearances.

His final move in league football was in July 1963 to Aldershot and he went on to score 15 goals in 32 appearances
before joining Romford in the summer of 1964 and then finally Gravesend. At the end of his football career, he worked
at Heathrow Airport for British Airways as a baggage handler for 25 years.

Following a short illness, Jim sadly passed away on 16th September.

Rest In Peace Jim and God Bless.

Steve Russell
Steve Russell
Site Admin
Posts: 3339
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:25 am

Re: Remembering Jim Towers.....

Post by Steve Russell »

From our Facebook group...

Alan Slade
'George Francis ended up as a London taxi driver.His son is also a London taxi driver.

Talking to George years ago told me him & Jim Towers received a brown envelope each in a cafe
in the Goldhawk Rd to sign for Rangers. George didn't say how much they got!'
Kerrins
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Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:02 pm

Re: Remembering Jim Towers.....

Post by Kerrins »

Those were the days :)

Perhaps just enough money to pay for a short holiday in Southend during the close season :)
Steve Russell
Site Admin
Posts: 3339
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:25 am

Re: Remembering Jim Towers.....

Post by Steve Russell »

And this from Chris Ley...
'I was at that Watford game armed with a bell which I rang enthusiastically all match until the
final fairly disastrous 15 mins.

Third goal went in and I was "encouraged" by adjacent Watford supporters to ring my bell!'
Kerrins
Posts: 672
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:02 pm

Re: Remembering Jim Towers.....

Post by Kerrins »

Nice comment from Chris Ley

He may have rung his bell but the R's team dropped a clanger for sure :o
Steve Russell
Site Admin
Posts: 3339
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:25 am

Re: Remembering Jim Towers.....

Post by Steve Russell »

And one more from John Stevens....

'I remember him striking the ball so hard at Brentford that
it went straight through the net!'
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