QUEENS Park Rangers supporters voted for their best all-time eleven on the Vital QPR forums – here we reveal their choices.
Queens Park Rangers supporters voted for their best all-time eleven on the Vital QPR forums – here we reveal their choices.
The players below were chosen by members of the Vital QPR forum and in the event of a tie in voting the editor will arbitrate.
Manager: Alec Stock
While Gordon Jago and Dave Sexton undoubtedly did incredible jobs for Queens Park Rangers, Stock tips the balance having taken Rangers to their only major trophy – the League Cup in 1967.
Spells with Yeovil Town, Orient, Arsenal and Roma came before he signed for Rangers in August 1959 and bringing in players such as the talented Rodney Marsh and Mark Lazarus while overseeing Mike Keen, Frank Sibley, Tony Hazell, Roger Morgan, Ian Morgan and Mick Leach through the youth system.
He led Rangers to an unprecedented League and Cup double, while leading QPR to the first division in a stunning run through the leagues. He resigned never having picked a top-flight side with Rangers.
He had successful spells with Luton Town and Fulham, leading the latter to an FA Cup final before rejoining for a caretaker stint at Loftus Road in 1978 prior to the appointment of Steve Burtenshaw.
Stock passed away in 2001 after a long-illness at the age of 84.
Goalkeeper: Phil Parkes
Parkes moved to Loftus Road from Walsall for a fee of £15,000 in June 1970, making his debut in August of that year in the 3-1 home defeat to Leicester City.
His time at Loftus Road was one of the most successful in QPR`s history, gaining promotion under Gordon Jago, before Dave Sexton`s side finished slender runners-up to Liverpool in 1976.
He made one appearance for his country against Portugal in 1974 and was eventually sold to West Ham United after 406 appearances for QPR in all competitions.
A world record was broken in his £500,000 transfer, which was the highest fee paid in the world for a goalkeeper.
Right Back: Dave Clement
Despite coming in neck and neck with David Bardsley I have opted for Clement for 14 years of loyal service at QPR and his consistent performances throughout helping Rangers move forward.
He came up through the ranks at Loftus Road initially as a central defender making his debut against Scunthorpe United in 1966, a year after signing professional forms.
He helped the side to the Third Division title and their only major trophy – The League Cup during his time in W12 where he established himself as the first and only choice at full-back.
Clement made 472 appearances for QPR over 14 years, scoring 28 goals, during his time he also made five appearances for England while establishig himself under the three greatest managers in QPR history – Alec Stock, Gordon Jago and Dave Sexton.
He was sold to Bolton Wanderers for £170,000 before spells at Wimbledon and Fulham. He sadly passed away after suffering from depression, aged 34.
Centre Back: Alan McDonald
McDonald came up through the Rangers youth system but in his early days under Terry Venables he struggled to make a significant impact with Terry Fenwick and Bob Hazell the firm first choices.
He gained experience during a brief loan spell at Charlton Athletic and broke into the Rangers side following the sale of Hazell. He didn`t look back partnering the likes of Fenwick then Danny Maddix, as he also broke into the Northern Ireland set-up.
McDonald was a stalwart in the side that finished a lofty fifth place in the first season of the Premier League in 1993 but following relegation he was sold to Swindon Town. He made 476 appearances for Rangers over 18 years at Loftus Road while gaining 52 caps for his country.
Centre Back: Terry Fenwick
After making a successful start to his career at Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers made a move for the versatile player in 1980, and it proved to be a shrewd signing from boss Terry Venables who brought him from over from Selhurst Park.
He made his debut against Bolton Wanderers in December of that year following the £100,000 move, and established himself as both an adept central defender and midfielder.
Fenwick scored in the 1982 FA Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur, while skippering Rangers to the Second Division title in 1982-83. He lead the side out against Oxford United in the Milk Cup final before following Terry Venables to Tottenham Hotspur in 1987 for £550,000.
He was loaned out briefly to Leicester City before finishing his career at Swindon Town. He also made 20 appearances for England
Left Back: Ian Gillard
Gillard was another useful product from the QPR conveyor belt and formed a formidable partnership with Dave Clement who plied his trade on the other flank.
The left-back starred in the 1975-76 runners-up season as Rangers narrowly lost out to Liverpool and during his time at Loftus Road was an ever-present twice.
He featured in a staggering 479 games for QPR, which is the third highest in the clubs history and his final game for the club was the 1982 FA Cup final replay against Tottenham Hotspur.
He then joined Aldershot becoming a player/coach at the Recreation Ground.
Right Midfield: Dave Thomas
Moving from promotion rivals Burnley in October 1972 for a princely sum of £165,000, which was then a record fee for a second division club. Thomas immediately made an impact helping QPR to promotion.
They were runners-up to his former club Burnley causing them to chant Thomas, Thomas Runner Up on his return to Turf Moor.
He played an integral part of Rangers 1975-76 season where they finished runners-up to eventual winners Liverpool putting in a succession of outstanding displays on either flank. It was well known that when the socks were rolled down, Thomas meant business.
Thomas made 219 appearances for QPR scoring 34 goals and setting out countless others – in 1977 he left the club for Everton in a £200,000 move.
Further spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth brought an excellent career to a close. Thomas also earned eight international caps for England.
Central Midfield: Gerry Francis
Francis came up through the ranks at QPR and made his debut against Liverpool a full three months before turning professional in 1969.
He was an ever-present in Rangers 1972-73 promotion season back to the top flight under Gordon Jago and skippered the side to a slender runners-up spot in 1975-76.
He joined Crystal Palace in 1979 for £450,000 and was brought back by Terry Venables for £150,000 a year later, on his return to the managerial hot-seat at Loftus Road.
Francis made 310 appearances for QPR scoring 57 goals captaining England on eight occasions during his time with Rangers.
He moved to Coventry City for £150,000 before finishing his career with spells at Exeter City, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers.
Gerry managed Rangers on two occasions in 1991 and 1998, with the former a more successful spell in the top flight.
Central Midfield: Terry Venables
After an extended period at Chelsea he moved to Tottenham Hotspur where he won the FA Cup in 1967 before joining QPR in 1969 for £70,000.
Venables made 177 appearances in the league for QPR scoring 19 goals playing a key part in Gordon Jago`s side that achieved promotion back to the top-flight.
He left Rangers to join Crystal Palace for £70,000, but was later to return as manager in 1980 bringing with Gerry Francis and Terry Fenwick in tow. His brand of passing football wowed the crowd in W12 as he led them to the second division title in 1983.
Venables left the role at Loftus Road to take up the managerial role at Barcelona.
Left Midfield: Andy Sinton
Sinton signed for QPR from neighbours Brentford after a successful initial spell with Cambridge United. The fee for the winger was £300,000 and he was twice an ever-present as Rangers finished fifth in the first season of the Premier League.
During that season he scored Rangers goal in the first ever game on Sky Sports` ‘Monday Night Football` against Manchester City.
He scored 22 goals in 160 league appearances for QPR before moving to Sheffield Wednesday for £2,700,000 in August 1993. He helped Tottenham Hotspur lift the League Cup in 1999 before finishing his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burton Albion and Bromsgrove Rovers.
Striker: Stan Bowles
Bowles had previously had spells with Manchester City, Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United before being snapped up for £112,000 – being heavily billed as the man to replace the outgoing Rodney Marsh.
He is considered by many to have bettered his predecessor by firing 70 goals in 255 appearances for Rangers including the outstanding 1975-76 season where Rangers finished runners-up to Liverpool.
He was sold to Brian Clough`s Nottingham Forest in a somewhat surprising move where the two styles were vastly contrasting. He wasn`t available to play in the European Cup Final owing to a fear of flying.
Striker: Les Ferdinand
Ferdinand was signed from non-league Hayes for £30,000 and was sent out on loan to Brentford then Besiktas to hone his skills.
He return a different player to make himself a firm fans favourite and 80 goals in 163 league appearances helped Rangers to useful finishes in the Premier League including fifth in 1992-93.
Rangers` imminent relegation saw him sold to Newcastle United for £6,000,000, before playing further games in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers.
Many thanks to all who voted and contributed
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