A midweek trip to Villa Park rolls back the years to happier times as a QPR fan, a chance for Ash to reminisce about some quality top flight football.

A mid-week break from league action sees Rangers on their travels for the third time in a week to face Premier League Aston Villa in the Carling Cup third round. The third round of a cup competition is somewhat uncharted territory for the R’s and they will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s unlucky defeat to Coventry with a good showing against top-flight opposition. It will be a hard task for Rangers though, Aston Villa are currently in frightening form with three wins in a week and although we may see a slightly weekend Villa side it is a competition that the Midlands club will taking very seriously indeed.

The first time we ever travelled to Birmingham to play the Villa was for a cup match in 1920 with Villa running out 2-1 winners in the FA Cup third round tie and last time out at Villa Park in a second round League Cup match, Villa’s international starts proved too much for QPR, losing 3-1 with Kevin McLeod scoring our goal. But there have been quite a few meetings in between, so let’s take a walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane.

Memorable Match
Aston Villa 1-3 Queens Park Rangers
23rd September 1989
First Division
I’ve resisted the urge to cover a cup game for this week’s column as most cup meetings between the two sides don’t seem to end in Rangers favour, as seen in our last meeting four years ago. So instead I’ve gone back to a 1989 league meeting between the two teams that is best remembered for a star performance from the R’s player manager.

The R’s went into the 1989/90 season with Trevor Francis at the helm as player-manager looking forward to his first full season in charge. The season began with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace and a draw in the West London derby against Chelsea. Rangers were still missing Francis who was nursing an injury and it showed as the R’s failed to score for the next four consecutive games. He made his long awaited comeback for the match at Villa Park in September and what a difference the player-manager made. Villa went into the game having won only two games of the opening seven and could not handle Francis.

The first ever million pound man was brilliant and scored all three goals in a 3-1 victory for the Superhoops. One of them a right peach, a clever lobbed from the cornere box in a memorable afternoon at Villa Park.

Team: Seaman, Channing, Sansom, Parker, McDonald, Spackman, Bardsley, Reid (Maddix), Clarke, Francis (Wright), Sinton

Postscript: Despite that display, it was one of very few highlights for Francis who didn’t last the season as Don Howe came in as manager to help Rangers finish in 11th place. Francis never quite recovered his reputation at QPR after fining Martin Allen for leaving the team hotel to attend the birth of his child. Aston Villa had a much better season finishing nine points behind winners Liverpool as League runners-up.

Connections
Ivor Powell
QPR 1938-1948
Aston Villa 1948-51
Unlike the football stars of today when they are fast-tracked to stardom, Ivor Powell was a miner in his little Welsh Village. He was spotted by QPR as a 17 year old whilst playing for South Wales League side Bargoed and he signed a professional contract with the R’s in 1938. A year later the old-fashioned half-back made his debut for Rangers in a 3-0 win over Walsall and would become a permanent fixture in the team before World War Two broke out. During the War, Ivor was a PE instructor for the RAF stationed at Blackpool and actually played for the Seasiders to keep up his fitness.

When he returned to Rangers, he was one of the first post-war players to be capped internationally while at his club. Powell went on to make 110 appearances in a decade for the Superhoops before moving to Aston Villa for a record £17,500 fee for a half-back. He spell at Villa was another successful one and after three seasons at the Midlands club he started his coaching career as player-manager of Port Vale. Spells in Charge of Bradford and Carlisle followed before spending the remainder of his career at University side Bath City- a position he was still holding up to his 90th birthday. In February this year Powell was awarded with an MBE for his services to football, just two days short of turning 92 years old.
Did you know? Ivor was the best man for Stanley Matthews wedding in 1943

Stefan Moore
Aston Villa 2000-05
QPR 2005-08
Of all the dodgy signings Rangers have made over the years few were worse then striker Stefan Moore. Along with brother Luke, Stefan started his career at Aston Villa and was captain of the 2002 Villa side that won the FA Youth Cup. At this point Stefan was seen as the better prospect of the two brothers and had some believing he could be a future England international.

To gain first-team experience he was sent on loan to Chesterfield and despite not scoring in a six game spell he impressed enough to be included in the Villa squad for the following season. It was in an Intertoto Cup match that Moore made his first start for club in a 3-0 win over FC Zurich and his first goal followed a month later in a victory over Charlton. But over the next couple of seasons he found it difficult to break into the Villa team and when he did he failed to take advantage of it. He was farmed out on loan again firstly to Millwall, where he tasted UEFA Cup football and then onto Leicester but again he failed to get on the score sheet during both spells.

That summer Moore was out of contract and decided a fresh challenge was needed a joined QPR on a free transfer in July 2005. Ian Holloway was delighted with his capture and described his style as the type of player would run all day and chase a paper bag in the park if he could. Moore got off to a great start netting in Rangers’ early impressive win over Sheffield United but he again struggled to find the net as Holloway played him out of position and his effort and passion was soon questioned by many of the QPR faithful. Another loan spell this time at Port Vale followed but after it failed to turn into a permanent one he was back at Loftus Road looking at an uncertain future.

When John Gregory was made manager Moore found himself given another chance in the first team but once again struggled to make an effort mainly down to the severe lack of effort from the player. When Flavio and Co rolled into town and the squad took an overhaul, the writing was on the wall for Moore and was released from his contract. He has since has spells at Wallsall and a trial at Melbourne Victory but is currently without a club. One of the most lacklustre players I’ve seen in R’s shirt.
Did you know? Stefan’s middles names are Leroy and Bobby.

Others:
Jimmy Dugdagle Aston Villa 1956-62, QPR 1962-63. Passed away in February.
Mike Ferguson Aston Villa 1968-69, QPR 1969-73. Now an agent advisor.
Andy Gray Aston Villa 1987-89, QPR 1989. Now unknown
Simon Stainrod QPR 1980-84, Aston Villa 1985-87. Now a Football agent.
Gary Penrice Aston Villa 1991, QPR 1991-95. Now unemployed coach-until Ollie gets another job!
Steve Hodge Aston Villa 1985-86, QPR 1994-95. Now helps out at Chesterfield.
Peter Crouch QPR 2000-01, Aston Villa 2002-04. Now at Portsmouth

Fans’ Memories
Ginger tached copper who always stood at the away end, and always nicked whoever he could reach for trivial offences i.e. breathing in his direction , etc etc -Wombat

League Cup semi '77 :-( -ChrisPTenner

Hateley debut, but not for his performance. It was a midweek game and I think, a League Cup tie? Circa 94/95 I guess? Anyhow, few of us went up for the game. We were drinking early doors in Newbury and got a lift up. Parked up in the Witton Arms from 3ish I think and really hit the booze. It was around that time that alco pops had hit the pubs / streets. After being bloated on lager I decided to go onto something else. Remember Hooch?!!!! Anyhow, they didn't have any. The pub served Shark bite so caned a few bottles of that stuff. Was loopy juice!!! The pub was heaving with Rangers. We left around 7.30 - every QPR in there was $hit faced and having a good old sing song.

When we left the pub, your eyes struggled to adjust from going from artificial light to near darkness. Unless it was the shark bite. Anyhow, OB were everywhere. It seems the local were not best pleased at Rangers taking over their boozer!!!! Good old sing song walking towards the away end. Something very odd then happened. Everyone, and I mean everyone was singing. I get a tap on the shoulder from West Mids most finest tell me to be quiet or I'll get nicked As I wonder how / what to respond a different copper is saying something similar to my mate. But, he's asked him to produce his match ticket which he has. And he then gets nicked.

The rest of us get into the ground to watch the game which, we lose. Hateley warmed up but never got warm in his QPR career. My mate Pode, spent the match in the cells. After the game, we walked passed the hoards of Villa fans to the police station. It was full of nicked and drunken Rangers (we had quite a few up that night). Gave my mates details and the copper went to get him. We were told he was asleep in the cell. FFS! Wake the fooker up, we want to go home. Got home around half 3 in the morning. The things you do supporting QPR. Have never touched Shark bite since.

For the record, always enjoyed going to Villa park. I remember in our relegation season going in at half time one down. After half time, we got two quick goals (R's fans on the pitch!!!!) and went mental. The staying up dream was alive!!!! We went onto lose 4 2 and Wilkins said words like "super", "fab", "well played" etc after the game the twunt. -Charlie

Grandad Northern fell down the steps at Aston Villa once and got arrested at the bottom for being drunk and disorderly. they took his name and address from him and he spent the next six weeks getting up at 5am to intercept the mail before my Gran could get to it. -Northernr

I was at that one Charlie, when Hateley came on as a sub (the messiah!) ran down the touchline and behind the goal high fiving all the R's fans in the away end as he jogged by. He then eventually entered the pitch on the opposite side from where he should have come on. airly hanging myself and that dark bit on the left caught me out! -BazWot

Has to be Trevor Francis Hat Trick in 88, also the following year drawing 2-2 and that stick insect called Ormendroyd scoring a 30 yarder -Loftboy

The famous game 40 years ago.The train up from London was full of Asian illegals.Got into conversation with one of them who said in surprisingly good English..."Do you know my brother ?He lives in Hayes." Anyway,Villa played Cliff Richards' "congratulations" after the game.The only time I've been glad to hear "The Jaffa". -TheBlob

Jim Gregory and Doug Elliss cracking heads under the table as they tried to see who'd won the right to hold the replay. My mate got married just before it and we had about 30 people in the load of hay in northolt tossing coinds in the air then diving under the table and cracking heads to see the result.

Also, one bloke kept taking the lampshades off and doing tommy cooper impersonations, big hairy fekker he was!!!!
Mind you, the coin under the table was always a challenge due to the "Theafrow" baggage "handlers" trying to nick the coins as well. !!!! Happy Daze! - BazWot

There can only be one memory!
May 1968 and the best own goal ever!
Magic. -EssexUrs


To add your memories e-mail us loftforwords@yahoo.co.uk, contact us using the commenting facility below or post on the message board thread.

Discuss this story on the Message Board

Click here and be the first user to comment on this story

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls