As QPR prepare to journey up to Ipswich for what is traditionally one of the more lively awaydays on the calendar Ash takes a look back at a memorable past meeting and players that have played for both clubs.

I think Tuesday night was possibly the coldest I’d ever been at Loftus Road but my cockles were warmed up by the sight of Sammy Di Carmine’s thunderbolt and a brilliant display from a ten man QPR team. Gareth Ainsworth couldn’t have made much more of a better start as caretaker boss then taking four points off two of the main promotion contenders and will be hoping the to keep that run of form going this weekend as the R’s visit Ipswich.

A few rumbles of discontent are starting to fester at Portman Road, the Tractor Boys currently sitting in the bottom half of the league dropped two home points against Charlton on Wednesday night and fans are beginning to question manager Jim Magilton. However it’s always a tough away day up there and even though their home form may not be as formidable as that of last season they haven’t lost a game on home soil since August. But Rangers buoyed by the game in mid-week will go into this full of confidence and believing that can get another credible result under Ainsworth.

Rangers first travelled to Suffolk in April 1939, for a Third Division South game that ended in a 1-0 defeat, while last season ended in a goalless draw. The memories and connections column made its debut by covering the game at Portman Road last season you can check out those memories here.

Memorable Match
Ipswich 1 QPR 1
February 9, 1993
Premier League
Apart from that famous 4-1 win at Portman Road covered in last seasons Memories and Connections, there really isn’t another game memorable enough between these two sides, but I’ve chosen this game from the 92-93 season because I got all nostalgic with a fellow R last night about Devon White (sounds like my kind of night – ed).

Rangers went into the game against Ipswich on a good vein of form and still hanging around the top eight, having lost only one game since the start of the year- and that was at Old Trafford. Ipswich were in the bottom half and still seeking points to guarantee survival. In what was a tight game with very few chances it was the home team that took the lead thanks to a horrendous mistake by R’s keeper Tony Roberts. The ball broke loose in midfield and Town’s Neil Thompson took a shot from fully forty yards out that somehow Roberts failed to gather and it squirmed under his body to give Ipswich the lead.

Rangers were beginning to run out of ideas and Ipswich looked to be on their way to three vital points, until late in the second half. QPR’s new signing Devon White came off the bench to bag his first goal for the club in only his second game for the club. Bardsley’s cross was met by the big man on the half-volley to the delight of the travelling faithful.

QPR: Roberts, Bardsley, Brevett, Doyle (Peacock), Maddix, McDonald, Wilson, Impey (White), Ferdinand, Allen, Sinton

Postscript: Rangers finished fifth as top London club in the first season of the Premier League while Ipswich survived in 16th place. Tony Roberts survived this blunder, and many others besides, to clock up more than a decade of service at QPR as player and coach – he still keeps goal professionally, currently playing for League Two side Dagenham and Redbridge.

Connections
Phil Parkes
QPR 1970-79
Ipswich 1990-91
A legend in both West and East London , Parkes is arguably the greatest player to play in between the sticks for the Superhoops and West Ham. Born in Sedley, West Midlands, Parkes started his career with Third Division side Wallsall. The 18 year old made eight appearances for the Saddlers in his debut season before being made number one for the following campaign. In the summer of 1970, seeing his potential as a top-class goalkeeper QPR signed Parkes for £15,000 and he made his debut for the R’s in an opening day defeat to Leicester City .For the next nine years we become an ever present for Rangers as the club’s first choice number one. He enjoyed being part of what is known as QPR’s greatest ever team, the side that narrowly missed out on the League title to Liverpool in 1976 and played for the R’s in the UEFA Cup run the following year.

In all Parkes made 406 appearances for Rangers and is held in great regard by the fans as one of if not the best goalie to have played for the club. While at Loftus Road , Parkes earned his one and only England cap in a game against Portugal in 1974. He should have gone to earn many more but fell out with manager Don Revie after he went back on his promise to give Parkes some playing time in a game against Wales . After that Ray Clemence and Peter Shilton were regularly picked ahead of him.

In 1979 West Ham shocked the football world by signing Phil in what was a world record fee for a goalie at the time, £500,000. Former Rangers gaffer Dave Sexton had tried with six bids to bring him to Manchester United but he could not match the Hammers offer and Parkes headed across London to sign for West Ham. Again he achieved cult status while at Upton Park, picking up a FA Cup winners medal and keeping goal for the club for a decade. He later had a brief spell at Ipswich making three league appearances before retiring in 1991. Since then has regular coached young goalkeepers including a stint back at Loftus Road in the mid nineties.
Magic R’s Moment: Being the unsung hero of the famous 1976 side the finished 2nd in the league.

Mark Stein
QPR 1988-89
Ipswich 1997
Mark and Brain Stein were brothers who were both prolific goal scorers in the late eighties and early nineties. Mark, the younger of the two, followed in his brothers footsteps at Luton Town where he spent four seasons at the club but struggled to become a automatic choice upfront - unlike his elder who went on to be one of Luton’s best strikers. Jim Smith signed him for QPR in the summer of 1988 hoping to beef his strike-force that already included Marc Falco and Trevor Francis. Stein made his debut for the R’s at Old Trafford of all places coming on as a sub in a 0-0 draw. Although he started to play regularly he never scored prolifically for Rangers and had only struck twice before Jim Smith left and was replaced by Trevor Francis in December of that season.

Francis gave Stein more chance to express himself but still the goals didn’t come and his stint at Rangers only lasted a season. He enjoyed better times later in his career with Stoke and with Chelsea in the Premier League where he formed a memorable partnership with Paul Furlong. His record of scoring in seven consecutive Premier League matches in 1993 was one that stood until Ruud Van Nistelrooy broke it a decade later. After Chelsea Stein had successful loan spells at Stoke and Ipswich, where he scored two goals in seven games for the Tractor Boys before playing for Bournemouth, Luton and Dagenham and Redbridge. He is now a fully qualified physio working in League Two with Barnet.
Magic R’s moment: His only winning goal in a R’s shirt against Derby in September 89.

Others:
Johnny Gibbons QPR 1947-49, Ipswich 1949-50. Now retired
Frank Clarke QPR 1968-70, QPR 1970-73. Now unknown
Alan Brazil Ipswich 1977-83, QPR 1986. Now pundit on Talksport
Chris Kiwomya Ipswich 1987-95, QPR 1998-01. Now a reserve team coach at Ipswich
David Kerslake QPR 1983-89, Ipswich 1997. Now unknown.
Steve Palmer Ipswich 1989-1995, QPR 2001-04. Now youth coach at Tottenham
Wayne Brown Ipswich 1995-2002, QPR (loan) 2001. Now at Preston on loan from Hull
Sieb Dijkstra QPR 1994-96, Ipswich 1999. Now goalkeeping coach at MVV
Adam Miller Ipswich 1999-00, QPR 2004-06. Now at Gillingham
Kevin Lisbie QPR (loan) 2000-01, Ipswich 2008-present
George Santos Ipswich 2003-04, QPR 2004-06. Now at Fleetwood Town
Simon Walton Ipswich (loan), 2006-07 QPR 2007-08. Now at Plymouth

Fans’ Memories
Having never missed an Ipswich vs QPR game at Portman Road in my lifetime I've got quite a few. The one that stands out is October 1999. It was right at the peak of getting ribbed at school here for supporting a team none of the other kids had heard of, many of them Ipswich fans. The game starts and we concede after three minutes with Danny Maddix passing it to feet of their forward inside the six yard box. Not a good start especially considering we were sitting with the locals. Peacock scores a good equaliser on half an hour, then Magilton is sent off for kicking him while on the floor and its 1-1 at half time. After a great second half Rangers win 4-1 and although I cant remember all the goals, but Steiner definitely scored at least one. Most of the Ipswich fans left when the fourth went in leaving empty seats all around us and those that were left had to listen to the raucous away end. Music to my ears. -SuffolkHoop

83/84, won 0 2, "Who's the poseur in the pink?" -Walnut

I remember going to a game in the mid eighties, not sure when exactly, and there was a massive tear up on the pitch, I was only young at the time but it was very entertaining. Think a few Scum were along for the trip. Also, a midweek game where Tony Roberts let one slip through his hands in the first half and "Bruno" got the equaliser quite late in the game. Everyone went nuts when that went in. -THE CAT

It was all Rangers in '85,there were loads of us, I mean them-Norfolt

Remember a game on the bank holiday Monday a few years ago & our box office sent the remaining tickets back on the Friday, said there would be plenty on the door.......... got up there & it was a sell out, that was a very long drive home. Was also there for the 4-1, Magilton; what a twat. Couple of other games that were less memorable as well. -WestBerksR

Caned it in the Drum and Monkey a few times-Charlie

I remember it last season where the pub across from station was severely under-manned. Was waiting for up to 20 minutes for a pint. There excuse was that other clubs go elsewhere for a drink. Maybe a phone call to let them know you're on the way down, so you don't get a repeat of last time. -Michael67

First game I ever saw at Portman Road was in 1952 (I think) Ipswich were playing Walthamstowe Avenue in the Cup. Avenue were from London, I was at boarding school near Ipswich, so a mate and I snuck away to see the game. We were convinced in our support of the amateurs by the fact that they played in the holy hoops. To everyone’s surprise Avenue were 2 up at half time. Ipswich rallied and drew the game 2-2. The last time I went to Portman Road was also a 2-2 draw. 27/4/68. Ipswich were top of the league we were 2nd or 3rd, with 3 games to go, including this one. Rodney scored from a penalty, Mick Leach got the second. Then with minutes to go Rodders chests the ball down and slams in the third. The ref a million miles behind the play, gives hand ball. If that had counted we would have won the league, wouldn't have needed the own goal at Villa Park to go up. So a 3-2 win on Sat would suit me fine, but I'll take another 2-2 draw. -RonGould

Can’t believe NOBODY has mentioned the mariner game so far. never in 35+ years of being an R have I heard so much abuse thrown at an opposing player, 90 mins of total abuse and that includes Incey is a wanker at Old Trafford , mariners interview the following day commented on how it affected his game that day. -Wombat

That was my first visit to Portman Road. Think it was the first time we ever wore the "Dennis the Menace" shirt. Lost 3-2 there in the League Cup later on that season and the poser was back in pink again. Don't remember seeing much of him the 2 years latet in the League Cup though, can't think why... -Kingshill

To add your memories to this story you can use the commenting facility below, e-mail us loftforwords@yahoo.co.uk or post on the message board thread.

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