The first return fixture of the season sees table topping Birmingham visit managerless QPR on Tuesday night. Ash takes a look back at some of the players that have played for both clubs.

Not a bad start for a caretaker manager eh? Gareth Ainsworth took his QPR side to Reading on Saturday evening and become the first side to take points off the Royals on their own patch this season. Whether Gaz picked the team himself is another question but things don’t any easier for Wild Thing this week as table topping Birmingham, fresh off a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. are the visitors to Loftus Road.

Of course if was only 25 days ago that these two teams met at St Andrews, when the R’s created very little in a lacklustre display that was punished by a Kevin Phillips winner just before half-time. Who picks the team and what approach they will play tomorrow night remains to be seen but whoever it is should expect another tough game against one of the best teams in the league.

Birmingham first came to West London in February 1951, losing 2-0 to the R’s in the old Division Two. The last meeting at Loftus Road was two seasons ago as Birmingham run out 2-0 winners even after having Nicolas Bendtner sent off. And in truth our home record against City isn’t the best over the years, with Paul Furlong and Dele Adebola enjoying their share of goals against us in recent seasons. So let’s take a walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane once again.

The memories and connections column covered the game at St Andrews earlier in the month, you can check out those memories by clicking here.

Memorable Match
QPR 5-3 Birmingham
17th October 1970
Second Division
From Vital QPR
Rangers came into the game off the back of some unusual results, with three away defeats including a 6-2 set back at Middlesbrough and further reverses at Swindon Town and local rivals Fulham. Measure that against a thumping home win ahgainst Orient who sat a place above the Blues. Birmingham City, who had beaten the R`s at St. Andrews earlier in the campaign, came into the game in better form after a lacklustre start to the campaign, they lost at home to Sheffield United in the build up to the important fixture at Loftus Road.

On a sunny afternoon at Loftus Road, Les Allen`s men oozed class as they began to take the Blues to pieces in the early stages. Led by exuberant forward Rodney Marsh the R`s impressed in front of the London Weekend TV cameras. A Marsh hat-trick lit up the game as a spectacle as he was being hailed as one of the hottest players in the English game, not only did he bag three goals himself, he laid on a goal for Terry Venables, Rodney admitted: "We practice that move on the training ground every week."

There was also a goal for young debutante Andy McCulloch who was beginning to assert himself in the line-up. A double from Blues forward Bob Latchford took a back seat on the day, as Rodney Marsh stole the show.

QPR: Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Hunt, Watson, Hazell, Morgan, Venables, McCulloch, Marsh, Ferguson

Birmingham City: Kelly, Thomson, Martin, Beard, Hynd, Robinson (Vowden 66), Campbell, Hockey, Latchford, Vincent, Summerill.

Postscript: Birmingham City had the last laugh as they finished two places above Rangers in the league that season in ninth. Rangers managed to haul themselves to safety to finish a respectable 11th.

Connections
David Seaman
Birmingham 1984-86
QPR 1986-90
David ‘Safe Hands’ Seaman was one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation and arguably other then Peter Schmeichel the best goalie to play in the Premier League. Born and bred in Rotherham South Yorkshire Seaman attended Kimberworth Comprehensive school. He grew up supporting Leeds and started his footballing career at Elland Road as a teenager but failed to make the grade under one his heroes Eddie Gray and was sold to Peterborough without making an appearance for the club. Posh were a Fourth Division club at the time and though he may have been forgiven for doubting his footballing future, David Seaman actually improved dramatically at football’s grass-root. Given a weekly start in a hard, immensely physical league, Seaman built up his strength and his ability quickly, and became noted for his bravery and consistency.

Word had reached bigger clubs of the keeper’s potential and after two seasons at Peterborough Seaman moved up two leagues to join Birmingham City. He quickly established himself as Brum’s number one and helped the club gain promotion to the First Division in his first season at St Andrews. Unfortunately Birmingham ’s stay in the top-flight only lasted one season but Seaman’s didn’t and in the summer of 1986 signed for QPR in deal worth £225,000. However he didn’t get off to the best of starts conceding five goals on his debut to Southampton but he would soon cement his place as the R’s number one and adjust to Loftus Road ’s plastic pitch. He kept goal for Rangers for four seasons playing 141 games for the club and earning an international call-up for England in November 1988.

Rangers knew they had a star in their ranks and couldn’t keep the big clubs circulating W12 desperate to sign the big Yorkshire man. Arsenal tried to sign Seaman towards the end of the 89-90 but the deal broke down due to John Lukic’s refusal to go the opposite way on loan. But the North London club were determined to get their man and came back in the summer with a straight £1.3 million offer, a British record for goalkeeper, which was accepted by the R’s and Seaman joined George Graham’s men before setting off for the 1990 World Cup. It proved to be the making of him and he went on to star for the Gunners for over a decade picking up three league titles, four FA Cups, a League Cup and a Cup Winners Cup medal as well as 75 England Cups including playing in three World Cups. In June he was voted the club’s greatest ever goalkeeper and seventh best player over all. He later had a brief spell at Manchester City before retiring in 2004, and has since made several TV appearances on shows like Dancing on Ice, Family Fortunes and They Think Its All Over.
Magic R’s Moment: Keeping Man Utd at bay during a great performance in a 0-0 FA Cup draw in 1989.

Trevor Francis
Birmingham 1970-79, 1996/01
QPR 1988-1990
Trevor Francis was just 16 years old when he made his debut for Birmingham City against Cardiff City in September 1970. He was seen as a player with huge potential - a quick and agile forward who instantly looked at home in the first team. Just before his 17th birthday he became the first ever 16 year to score four goals in a league match and would go on to score 15 goals in just 22 appearances in his debut season. During his time at St Andrews he was instrumental in helping the club gain promotion from the Second Division, giving him the chance to parade his talent in England ’s top flight. The goals continued to flow in the First Division as Birmingham established themselves as a top-flight side with Francis scoring a career best of 25 leagues goals in 1978 and winning his first England cap from manager Don Revie. That summer he negotiated a secondment with City to play in America for NSL side Detroit Express, where he enjoyed a successful period finishing in the team of the season alongside Franz Beckenbauer. Back in the midlands, he was about to make football history when Nottingham Forest swooped for the striker in a deal that would make him Britain’s first £1 million footballer.

The monumental fee that was soon paid off when Francis scored the winner against Malmo to see Forest crowned Champions of Europe just months after signing. Forest retained the trophy the following campaign but Francis sat out due to injury and struggled to find his best form at Forest as Clough continued to play him as a right winger instead of upfront. After a bad ankle injury Francis left Forest for a fresh challenge at Manchester City . After just a season in Manchester , Francis moved to Italian side Sampdoria and played for England at the 1982 World Cup. He won the Copa Italia and became quite a hit with the fans before signing for first Atlanta then joined the English invasion at Glasgow Rangers. After another cup win North of the border, he returned to England and signed for QPR in March 1988.

His early performances were patchy and he failed to score for the R’s in what remained of that season. He made a better start to the following campaign and when Jim Smith left to manage Newcastle took over Rangers as player/manager. But Francis struggled in his new role and despite some flashes of the old magic on the pitch, off the pitch he taken Rangers from a decent mid-table side to relegation candidates. He was soon replaced by Don Howe and became manager of Sheffield Wednesday, leading the side to a League Cup win in 1991. Further managerial posts at Birmingham and Crystal Palace followed but is now a TV pundit for Al Jezeera Sports.
Magic R’s Moment: Easily his hat-trick away to Aston Villa in a rare highlight in his time at Loftus Road

Others:
Bill Finney Birmingham 1955-57, QPR 1957-58. Now unknown.
Mike Hellawell QPR 1955-57, Birmingham 1957-65. Now retired.
Barry Bridges Birmingham 1966-68, QPR 1968-70. Now retired
Mike Kelly QPR 1966-70, Birmingham 1966-70. Now Fulham goalkeeping coach.
Don Givens QPR 1972-78, Birmingham 1978-81. Now Ireland U21 coach.
Ian Muir QPR 1980-82, Birmingham 1982-83. Now lives in Hong Kong.
Dennis Bailey Birmingham 1989-91, QPR 1991-95. Now unknown.
Paul Furlong Birmingham 1996-2002, QPR 2002-07. Now at Southend Utd.
Richard Edghill Birmingham (loan) 2000, QPR 2003-05. Now at Macclesfield
Stephen Kelly QPR 2003 (loan), Birmingham 2006-present.
Tom ‘square it’ Williams Birmingham 2002-04, QPR 2002-03 (loan). Now at Peterborough
Rowan Vine Birmingham 2007-08, QPR 2008-present

Fans’ Memories
An endless list of goals being scored by Paul Furlong. In the end we had to buy him just to stop him scoring against us! -Northernr

Didn't we draw 2-2 at home with them once about 10 years ago? I think we let a 2 goal lead slip and Adebola scored. -BusheyRanger

I can't remember the last time we beat this lot, home or away. Pretty sure we haven't beat them since we got relegated and don't think we played them in our Prem/1st Division days, so that must be at least 25 years. Then again, I could be talking shite, my stats aren't as polished as some. Saying that though, I reckon we might do the biz tomorrow night. -THE CAT

28th September 1985 - beat them 3-1 at home Not won in the 14 games since. -WrittleR

I can't remember ever seeing us beat Brum. I think I read that the last victory was 1984 so it was possible I was there just so long ago. Wolves is pretty much the same, although I do remember a midweek victory when Sheron scored trouble is I wasn't there. -mattnme

The game in which Sheron scored finished 2-2 after we messed up a 2-0 lead. We seemed to be in complete control and I remember everyone singing 'Rangers are back, Rangers are back...' and then we were quickly back to normality as they scored 2 quick goals. -ActonMonstar

Back in 1971/1972 season, Birmingham in the League Cup at Loftus Road: It was billed before the game as the wonder boy Trevor Francis vs Rodney Marsh. It ended up in the reports as the battle of the two Francises as Gerry Francis dominated, I think scored and QPR beat Birmingham 2-0. Oh and add a Rodney Marsh Hat trick and an Andy Mculloch goal on his debut, I think the season before - 1970/1971 as QPR won 5-1 or 5-2 vs Birmingham. -QPRReport

7th Feb 1967. League Cup Semi Final 2nd leg. After going 1 down at Birmingham we put together a spectacular display to win 4-1.  Then came the 2nd leg at Loftus Road. 24,604 crammed into headquarters to see 3rd Division Rangers give high flying 2nd Division Birmingham another lesson in great football. Marsh 2, and Keen 1 were our scorers in a 3-1 victory. Putting us in the final with a 7-2 aggregate. What wonderful nights they were. -RonGould

To add your memories, although God only knows what you want to talk about with our recent record against this lot, then e-mail us at loftforwords@yahoo.co.uk, use the commenting facility below or post on the message board thread.

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