FOLLOWING a barnstorming start of home soil, Queens Park Rangers hosted Doncaster Rovers in September 1966.
Teams: Queens Park Rangers v Doncaster Rovers
Date: Saturday 17th September, 1966.
Competition: Football League Division Three
Venue: Loftus Road, London.
The fixture against Doncaster Rovers had fans enquiring as to the whereabouts of physio Alec Farmer, leaving assistant manager Bill Dodgin with the task of wielding the sponge for injured players. Alec was infact swamped with work in his double role as controller of improvements, with facilities at a minimum due to the delayed building work on the new “Blue and White Club”.
With Rangers evidently struggling with lack of support, reduced season tickets prices were in effect, as the R`s needed all the vocal support they could get, being one of he favourites for promotion after narrowly missing out in 1965/66 finishing third.
On the pitch however, off the back of an opening day draw over Shrewsbury at Loftus Road, Rangers were proving formidable opposition on home soil, beating Swindon Town 3-1, and Middlesborough 4-0 before trouncing Colchester United 5-0 in the League Cup which as we know was the start of the R`s greatest triumph.
In Doncaster Rovers they faced a side without a win on the road in the early stages of the season. They had picked up two wins at home with one defeat, but two draws away from home against Peterborough United and Brighton & Hove Albion. However the 4-0 home defeat to Darlington sent Rover to W12 in need of a confidence booster.
Rangers secured the points courtesy of firstly a brace from skipper Mike Keen; with number 11 Roger Morgan also bagging two goals for the R`s. These were added to by Keith Sanderson and striker Rodney Marsh who picked up a goal a-piece for Rangers who fairly romped to victory.
A rampant Rangers were certainly not in a charitable mood as they did away with Doncaster with the minimal of fuss, to move within two points of leaders Oldham Athletic who had played a game more than the chasing pack, which included Workington and Bristol Rovers, with Rangers now situated in 4th.
Final Score: Queens Park Rangers 6-0 Doncaster Rovers
QPR: Springett, Hazell, Langley, Keen, Hunt, Sibley, Lazarus, Sanderson, Allen, Marsh, Morgan R.
TOP STORIES
Two Ex R`s Trialing At Luton.
Fans Eye View – Doncaster Rovers.
Ask Dennis Signy.
