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One To Watch – Brian Stock

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Vital QPR – Breaking News
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Brian Stock has been selected by Vital QPR as the One to Watch as Rangers travel to the Keepmoat Stadium tomorrow night.

The Winchester born midfielder made his debut in November 2000 as an 18-year-old replacing Scott Mean with 15 minutes remaining as his side Bournemouth went on to lose 3-1 at Colchester United.

He did enough to impress boss Sean O`Driscoll who selected him to start in the subsequent 3-0 win at home to Oldham Athletic. He played three more times that season as the Cherries` season petered out in a bottom half finish.

Only three performances the following season – two coming in the LDV Vans Trophy – came as a disappointment to the midfielder but he was to feature more in 2001-02,

He bagged his first goal for the Cherries at a vital time, bagging a 90th minute winner in a 3-2 win over Bury at Dean Court. Only one further goal came for Stock that campaign as Bournemouth were relegated in disappointing fashion finishing 21st.

He was integral to the Cherries return to Division Two as he played 34 times in all competitions scoring another two goals and helping his side over the line in a 5-2 win over Lincoln in the playoff final. That came just a day before Rangers lost in the same ground against Cardiff City.

A positive season back in Division Two yielded fewer performances for the 5″11 midfielder, 21 in total scoring three goals. Stock was also given the first red card of his career after Trevor Kettle sent him off in a 0-0 draw at home to Grimsby.

Stock featured far heavier in a positive season for the Cherries making 49 appearances in total bagging eight goals. He was also sent off against his future club Doncaster Rovers in a 1-1 draw at Belle Vue.

He made 31 appearances for the Cherries that season and impressed immensely in the middle of the park, so much so that Championship outfit Preston North End came calling taking Stock initially on loan before signing a permanent deal reported to be in the region of £125,000.

He made seven appearances for the Lilywhites towards the end of the 2005/06 season, scoring a goal against Leeds United in a 2-0 win for Preston. Manager Billy Davies moved on to Derby County and Stock now had the chance to impress new boss Paul Simpson.

It didn`t work out that way as only two appearances in to the 2006/07 season Simpson farmed him out to Doncaster Rovers on loan where former boss Sean O`Driscoll had just taken over from David Penny. The deal was made permanent in January 2007 worth in the region of £150,000.

He had bagged six goals for Doncaster in their rise up the table, he also scored against former boss Billy Davies as Rovers defeated Derby on penalties in the League Cup.

A moment of real pride came for Stock as he helped Doncaster Rovers to an unlikely promotion through the League One playoffs. Rovers had thrown away the chance of automatic promotion to Nottingham Forest but six goals from Stock helped fire them to a playoff place.

He bagged one of those goals in the playoff semi-final 5-1 win over Southend United, before captaining the side to a 1-0 win over local rivals Leeds United at Wembley as he saw Rovers to promotion to the Championship.

So far this campaign Stock has made 37 appearances for Rovers scoring a career high of eight goals, this included the opening goal against relegation rivals Charlton Athletic.

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