QPR face West Brom on the final day of the season at Loftus Road, Ash Rose looks back at some memories and player connections between the two sides.

So here we are then the last game of what’s been a eventful season down at Loftus Road. How poignant it will be that the final opponents for the R’s this season will be West Bromwich Albion. As Tracy will no doubt touch on in her match preview, it was last October’s shambles in front of the Sky cameras at the Hawthorns that saw Gregory get the boot and the new regime was first put into motion. Six months on and Gigi Di Canio and a rush of new signings have breathed new life into the Superhoops and we head into the final day, safely in mid-table. With West Brom looking to wrap up the Championship title, it could make it quite the party atmosphere at Loftus Road this Sunday afternoon. Let’s just hope the Baggies leave the trophy behind, after all it might be needed this time next year.

WBA first came to Loftus Road in November 1948, with the Baggies nabbing a 2-0 victory. Last season also saw the Baggies victorious with Kevin Phillips and Zolton Gera netting either side of a Dexter Blackstock goal. Over the years West Brom have featured in some of Rangers’ most memorable moments as a football club, so it’s a nice way to finish off this column (which I hope you have enjoyed) for this season as we take the walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane.

Memorable Match
March 4, 1967
League Cup Final
QPR 3 West Bromwich Albion 2
Ok so this isn’t a technically a home game, but it was in London and how can I ignore arguably the greatest achievement in our clubs history? I only wish I was old enough to have witnessed it.

It had been decided at the start of the season that the two legged format of the League Cup final would be scrapped and replaced with one match at Wembley Stadium. Rangers, then a Third Division side, had surpassed all expectations that season and had somehow managed to get to the final, disposing of First Division Leicester and Birmingham on route to become the first team from the third tier to appear in a League Cup final. A record 97,592 crowd packed into Wembley to see QPR, playing in all white, take on their First Division opponents West Bromwich Albion. The R’s started nervously and made the worst possible start when nine minutes in a long pass from Brom midfielder Doug Fraser was met by ex-Rangers wideman Clive Clark who struck a left hand drive past Peter Springett. But QPR stay focussed and thought they had equalised when Rodney Marsh scored a spectacular bicycle kick only to see it ruled out for offside. Things went from bad to worse for Rangers as the Baggies and Clark doubled the lead ten minutes before the break.

The First Division side was clearly showing the gulf in class and could have made it three if it not for a splendid save by Springett from Jeff Astle. At 2-0 down how I’d love to have been a fly on the wall during Alec Stock’s half-time team talk, because whatever the man said it clearly had the desired effect. Rangers controlled the second half and were back in the game on the hour. A free kick taken by Les Allen was swung into the penalty area and was met by Roger Morgan who headed the ball past Dick Sheppard. Rangers had hope and the crowed were in full voice urging the Superhoops on. Then step forward Rodney Marsh - the R’s starman was now inspired by the situation and on 75 minutes collected the ball just over the halfway line, dribbled past two Albion defenders and placed a right footed shot into the bottom corner of the net. It was one of the greatest goals Wembley has ever seen and fitting for the stadium’s first League Cup final, but all Rangers knew it was just typical Rodney Marsh.

With the game evenly balanced and looking like it could go into extra-time, Rangers’ Ron Hunt started a darting run into his own half and played a one-two with Mark Lazarus. As Hunt continued into the penalty area, WBA keeper Sheppard come out to try and smother the ball only to run straight into Hunt. The ball ran loose and it was Lazarus who slotted the ball into the Baggies unguarded net. Rangers fan were delirious and prayed that the team could hang on for the last nine minutes. When the final whistle blew QPR had made history by becoming the first Third Division team to win the League Cup. The Lord Mayor of London Sir Robert Bellinger presented R’s skipper Mike Keen with the trophy and Rangers celebrated their finest hour.
QPR: Springett, Hazell, Langley, Keen, Hunt, Sibley, Lazarus, Sanderson, Allen, Marsh, Morgan
WBA: Sheppard, Cram, Collard, Foggo, Jones, Fraser, Brown, Astle, Kaye, Hope, Clark

Connections
Clive Clark
QPR 1958-61 & 1969-1970
WBA 1961-1969
As seen above Clive’s greatest achievement was scoring West Brom’s two goals in the 1967 League Cup final, possibly making him the biggest connection between the two sides. The son of a boxer, Clive was a fast, direct and courageous left winger with a keen eye for goal. He started his career with home town club Leeds United then moved onto Rangers in August 1958. Clark made nearly seventy appearances for the R’s in three seasons before moving to the Hawthorns. It was at West Brom that Clark really made a name for himself, forming formidable attacking partnerships with Tony Brown, Jeff Astle and Bobby Hope. Most fondly remembered for scoring in every round of the 1967 League Cup and he was an ever present for the Baggies netting almost 100 goals for the club. He briefly returned to Rangers in 1969 in a ten game spell before moving on to Preston and eventually spells in the US. Now 68, Clark lives in a Filey nursing home.
Did you know? - Clark was nicknamed ‘Chippy’ at West Brom.

Paul Barron
WBA 1982-1985
QPR 1985-1988
Starting off at non-league local team Welling United, Paul Barron went on to have a successful career at a number of top clubs. Plucked from Plymouth Argyle by Arsenal manager Terry Neil, he was signed as cover for Pat Jennings. Unfortunately for Barron he never forced his way into the first team, and only eight appearances in two seasons saw him move on to London neighbours Crystal Palace in the deal that also took Clive Allen to South London as well. It was at Selhurst Park Barron enjoyed his most fruitful of spells, as the Eagles number one. West Brom was his next destination again holding onto the number one jersey for two seasons in the Baggies goal. Paul never quite settled in the area and was soon back down south in £35,000 move to Queens Park Rangers. Jim Smith took him to Loftus Road and played 32 games for the R’s before David Seaman joined the club. He rejoined first club Welling and has since become one the most experience goalkeeping coaches around, serving at Aston Villa, Middlesborough and now Newcastle since November last year.
Did you know? - Barron is a qualified PE instructor.

Nigel Quashie
QPR 1995-1998
WBA 2006-2007
Nigel is one of the very few success stories to come out of our youth team in recent years, and one of my favourite past Rangers players. Making his debut for the Superhoops in August 1995 at Old Trafford of all places, Quashie was part of the squad that was relegated (something he’d get used to) from the Premier League a season later. When I think of Nige in out top flight days it’s always that screamer he hit against Chelsea in front of the Loft during a night game when Chelsea were wearing that god awful orange kit. As Rangers failed to bounce back after their relegation, Quashie returned to the Premier League with a £2.5 million move to Nottingham Forest. But it didn’t last long as Forest were relegated that season as Quashie was soon on the move again, down south to join Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth revolution. He played an important role as vice-captain in Pompeys promotion winning campaign. Two seasons later Quashie moved on to join Harry again at rivals Southampton but couldn’t stop the club from going down. So after three Premier League relegations you do wonder what NothernR’s favourite manager Bryan Robson was thinking when he splashed out £1.2 million to bring the midfielder to the Hawthorns in January 2006. Because unfortunately for the Baggies and Quashie the team were relegated and the only thing Nige really contributed in his short time there was a misconduct charge for abusive language in a match with Middlesbrough. Now one of the mega money injured stars at Upton Park.
Did you know? - Despite being born in London, Quashie is only the second black player to represent Scotland since 1881.

Others:
Alan Glover (QPR 1968-69, WBA 1969-76, now retired)
Peter Eastoe (QPR 1976-79, WBA 1982-83 now a lorry driver)
Andy King (QPR 1980-81, WBA, 1981-82 now retired)
Andrew McDermott (QPR 1995-97, WBA 1997-2000 last heard playing in A League)
Paul Peschisolido (WBA 1996-97, QPR 2000 (loan) now at Luton)
Brett Angell (WBA (loan) 1996, QPR 2002-03 now retired)
Lloyd Dyer (WBA 2000-05, QPR (loan) 2005 now at MK Dons)

Fans’ Memories
I sat next to daphne biggs at the semi at Highbury. When Clive Allen scored we were hugging and jumping up and down with excitement. At the final whistle well, we were kissing and hugging in a triumphant kind of way. God rest her soul. How she would love to see her beloved qpr now on the verge of greatness once more. Oh and another one - Leighton James on his home debut against West Brom. He dissappeared down the tunnel during the game cos his contact lenses fell out! Not sure if he scored. We won 1-0. WBA wore green and yellow stripes-revolting -Enfieldargh

I went to the semi final, and missed the goal! Went to both finals as well, and saw a Ford Cortina get its back window bricked in as it was sporting a team photo of Spuds from the newspaper. Got great sympathy support next day for it, but was sooooo disappointed. -Rangers69

The best thing about the '67 final was that the real fans got to go to a Wembley Final. The FA Cup was only accessible to the 'celebrity fans' etc. There must have been 70000 people supporting the Hoops that day. A day to remember especially as England had won the World Cup the previous year. McDermott is not playing A League, I think he was last heard of in Scotland. - QPRMick

Add your memories of West Brom meetings to the Message Board and we’ll add them to this article

Or Click here and e-mil us a comment to add

Photo: Action Images

Queens Park Rangers Polls