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Just watched that game.

0-0 at half-time. Open School End. Packed house.

Were any of you gents there?

What are your memories of that day?

I was in the Loft that day Conor, remember it well mate.....

QPR (2) – Leeds United (0) – ‘Followed by Ten Days of Torment for the Rangers’

Team: Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Hollins, McLintock, Webb, Thomas, Francis, Masson,
Bowles, Givens
Sub: Leach

Attendance: 31,002

On this day in 1976, the R’s took on Leeds in their final game of an historic season.
Ron Phillips’ ‘Bush Telegraph’ programme notes included the following:

‘In any normal season Rangers’ superb winning run from January to April would have ensured
that the Football League Championship Trophy would come to this club for the first time in its
history.

A single slip in the final week at Norwich, however, means that we must overcome the formidable
opposition of Leeds United today and, if successful, must wait until Liverpool and Manchester United
play their final games in the first week of May before the Championship outcome is clear. (So much
for that Sunday newspaper columnist at the beginning of the season who quoted Rangers’ hopes of
winning the Championship with pigs’ chances of flying!)

Nevertheless the bookmakers’ odds now move against us and, while Liverpool cannot relish their
prospects at Molineux on May 4th when Wolves fight for First Division survival, we can ‘only’ celebrate
today Rangers’ triumphant entry into European football.

But who will agree with us that, taking into consideration the ups and downs of our history, this season
has witnessed the finest sustained effort in the eighty years of our existence?

The Rangers players of 1976 and their manager, Dave Sexton, will be remembered with gratitude for at
least the next eighty years.

Let’s give them all a big “Thank You” as they leave the pitch today – irrespective of the result of this
afternoon’s match and those others in the next fortnight!’

Ron goes on to pay tribute to R’s fans everywhere, the Loft Boys, Keith Friend and the Supporters Club
members,

Season Ticket holders and some of those working behind the scenes including; Chief Steward Peter Holness,
Tony Ingham, Jeff Meeson and Sheila Marson.

Alan Hoby’s match report appeared in the Sunday Express the following day:

‘Ten days of agonised waiting…that is Rangers’ lot now after this hair-raising victory over stubborn Leeds.

Tuesday May 4 – when Liverpool meet Wolves at Molineux – is the day the 1976 League Championship will be
decided. Then, the Merseysiders, one point behind the West Londoners, but with slightly superior goal average,
will need just one point to clinch the crown.

But should Liverpool draw 3-3 or more, Rangers will seize the title. It is, I fear, long odds against Liverpool losing
next week. I agree with Leeds manager, Jimmy Armfield, when he described Bob Paisley’s thoroughbreds last night
as “the hardest team to beat in the League.”

Yet, as long as there is even the slimmest chance – and Wolves, do not forget, will be fighting for their First Division
lives – Rangers will sweat out those ten days of simmering suspense.

They will be hoping and praying that, somehow, the mighty Liverpool machine can be stopped from winning the
championship for a record ninth time.

After all that, Rangers – the team with the educated feet and sophisticated approach – have given in skill and courage
this season, after the way they have trail-blazed refreshing new patterns of creative play, no-one will grudge them
their dream, however fragile, that the title can still land up at Shepherd’s Bush.

As their manager Dave Sexton – a man who believes passionately in quality football – said: “It has been a fantastic
run-in – 27 points out of the last 30. That is a wonderful effort.”

At the end of this tight but thrilling struggle, thousands from the 31,002 crowd massed in front of the grandstand
calling for Sexton and his stars.

On such an emotional afternoon when nerve-ends understandably, often jangled like fire alarms, it took Rangers
62 palpitating minutes before they could pierce the packed Leeds defence, cannily marshalled by Billy Bremner.

The were – rightly – refused a first-half penalty when Stan Bowles fell theatrically, and there was a humorous moment
when Norman Hunter “lost” his shorts after Bowles accidently ripped them at the seam.

Then with storming Gerry Francis, a lion of a captain, and left-back Ian Gillard turning in his best performance of
the year, Rangers at last grabbed the goal, which calmed their anxieties.

Fittingly, it was the 36-year-old Frank McLintock’s cross, flick-headed on by Don Givens, which enabled that bravest
of wingers, Dave Thomas, to nod home a hurtling header amidst a triumphant roar.

Then in the 82nd minute, Leeds’ fine ‘keeper, David Harvey, was utterly deceived by one of the finest pieces of solo
wizardry he will encounter for a long time.

Once again it was the cool McLintock who set up the move with a superb through ball out to Bowles, who had been
cleverly posted on the right-wing after the interval.

As the rip-roaring Francis steamed up in support, imperiously signalling for the ball, Bowles cut past Hunter as if he
were a ghost, but instead of passing, saucily curled a low left-foot shot round the frantically diving Harvey into the
corner of the net.’

The tension evaporated following Stan’s superb goal and at the final whistle we swarmed onto the pitch to wildly
celebrate in the moment. Eventually Dave Sexton and the players began to appear in the Director’s box.

Some R’s fans travelled to Molineux ten days later, I listened nervously to the match on the radio, whilst the Rangers
players followed the events at the BBC Studios.

Wolves gave us some real hope when they took the lead, but our dreams began to fade with around 15 minutes
remaining as Liverpool scored the first of their three goals!

So close!

Phil Parkes made some important saves in that game.

There must have been some atmosphere in those times with over 30,000 crowd capacity - particularly
when the game outcome was critical to top or bottom of the table position.

Amazing how some of these players had so few international appearances.