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[Steve Russell]

George Petchey, the Queen’s Park Rangers iron man wing-half of the 1950’s sadly passed
away in December 2019.

George made 278 League and Cup appearances for the R’s and scored 24 goals during his
seven-season spell from 1953 to 1960.

He was tough tackling, fearless, dynamic and took no prisoners. That’s the way I remember
him from my early schooldays watching the Rangers play in that far off era of the late
1950’s/early 60’s.

In a brief period just for a few fixtures, George was put in the centre-forward position in an
attempt to add some punch to the attack, but alas the experiment proved to be a failure.
Never a good plan if you ask me.

George never let the side down and wore the QPR shirt with pride. He always gave his all and
no matter what the score-line was out on the pitch he never threw in the towel.

Following his departure from the R’s in 1960, George went on to play for Crystal Palace and in
the 1970’s he subsequently managed Leyton Orient for a while.

To paraphrase a very recent quote from Scottish comedian/actor and TV personality, Billy Connolly:
”Bits of my childhood keep dropping off!”

Rest in Peace George, you served Queen’s Park Rangers well.

Bernard Lambert (Kerrins)

George Petchey was born on 24th June 1931 in Whitechapel. He joined West Ham in 1948 and
moved on to Loftus Road in July1953.

George made his league debut at Bristol City the following month on 22nd August and scored
one of the goals in the 2-1 win.

The 1958 Sportsmen’s ‘Who’s Who’ book notes that George was living at South Down Road in
Portslade, Sussex.

After making 278 League and Cup appearances for the R’s, George was transferred to Crystal Palace
in June 1960.

He retired in 1965 and became a coach. George later managed Leyton Orient and Millwall.

For his Testimonial match in 1967, Palace played an International X1 who, according to the line-up in
the programme, included the likes of; Jim Standen, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Colin Bell and Martin Peters.

The Palace chairman, A. J. Wait, wrote in his tribute that: ‘George has many happy memories of the
enthusiasm of the Rangers supporters, whom he rates as a great bunch of people.’

George sadly passed away on 23rd December, aged 88.

May he Rest in Peace.