QPR v Blackpool Connections and Memories
Tuesday, 30th Sep 2008 09:11

QPR are back in action at Loftus Road tonight as Blackpool come to town – plenty of connections between the two and good memories of this fixture in the past.

Well we should have expected that result shouldn’t we? Just as we were getting used to this new era of cup upsets, wins with ten men and talented teenagers, Rangers go on to lose a very winnable home game just three days after beating Premier League opposition.

To be fair to the players it looked like a game too far after three hard-fought away games and if it weren’t for a lick of paint it could have been a whole different game. Yet we head into Tuesday nights clash with Blackpool on the back of successive league defeats so a win is essential if we are to keep up with the early pace-setters.

Blackpool themselves will be relishing this game after Gorkss-gate during the summer and come into the game following a 1-1 draw with Coventry on Saturday. It looks like another winnable game for the R’s but Blackpool have already gone to Birmingham and won this season so we need to be on top of our game under the lights at Loftus Road .

The Tangerines first came to West London in March 1968 for a first division match that ended in a 2-0 win for the Superhoops. Last season Rangers were again victorious in a 3-2 win that included Akos Buzacky’s goal of the season. Time to walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane once again…

Memorable Match
QPR 5-0 Blackpool
9th August 2003
Second Division
Rangers kicked off the 2003-04 season as one of the pre-season favourites for promotion from the Second Division. Three months earlier they had been on the end of a heart-breaking play-off final defeat to Cardiff and were determined to bounce back and win promotion automatically.

Manager Ian Holloway had bought in some experienced faces during the summer, namely Martin Rowlands from Brentford, Gareth Ainsworth from Cardiff City and Eric Sabin from Swindon Town , all of whom were set to make their debuts on opening day against Steve McMahon’s Blackpool . On one of the hottest days ever recorded at Loftus Road Blackpool turned out in an all black away kit and it took just four minutes for Rangers and Ainsworth to make their mark on the new season. Gino Padula’s corner drifted over the Blackpool defence and the new Rangers number 11 was left unmarked at the back post to slot home the opener via a deflection. With both teams struggling with the heat, it was Rangers who effectively put the game to bed on the stroke of half time, when Richard Langley steered home a shot from Kevin Gallen’s cross after Paul Furlong had a shot well saved.

Rangers took full control after the break and ten minutes into the second half Gallen made it three bundling a rebound from a Furlong shot. Ainsworth then drove a close-range strike past Phil Barnes for his second before Steve Palmer wrapped up an emphatic 5-0 win in injury time with a back post header. Blackpool also had Richie Wellens dismissed late on for a second bookable offence after bringing down defender Clarke Carlisle. All the post-match talk was about Rangers new hero Gareth Ainsworth whose two goals saw Rangers top the table on the opening day of the Division Two season.

QPR: Day, Forbes, Padula, Carlisle, Shittu, Langley, Ainsworth (Rowlands) Palmer, Bircham, Gallen (Williams) Furlong (Sabin)

Blackpool: Barnes, Grayson (Richardson) Hilton, Flynn (Clarke) Davis, Coid (Douglas) Bullock, Wellens, Danns, Sheron, Taylor

Postscript: QPR used the Blackpool result as a spring-board to a memorable season which saw the R’s gain automatic promotion on the final day of the season. Blackpool finished in 15th position.

Connections
David Bardsley
Blackpool 1981-83 & 1998-2000
QPR 1989-1998
Arguably one the most underrated right-backs to ever play in the Premier League, the Bard started his career at Bloomfield Road . Playing as a midfielder he played for two seasons with the Tangerines before being snapped up by Watford for a £150,000. While with the Hornets, Bardsley got to play at Wembley as part of the 1987 cup final side that lost to Everton and helped the team get promoted to Division One. He was again on the move to Oxford for a then record fee before he joined Trevor Francis’ QPR weeks into the 1989/90 season. It didn’t start to well for Bardsley, he joined a team low on confidence and some early erratic displays saw him become the subject of some the fans frustration. Part of the reason was he was now being converted from a midfield player to a right-back and was taking time to adjust to the role.

Francis soon left and was replaced by the more experience Don Howe as manager and under Howe Bardsley’s football improved. His experience became vital along side Alan McDonald in helping young players like Darren Peacock and Andy Tilson slot into the Rangers defence. By the time Gerry Francis arrived at W12 he had established himself as the R’s first choice right-back and became one of the first names down on the Rangers team-sheet forming a successful partnership down the right flank with Andy Impey. His performances during the memorable first Premier League campaign were rewarded with international recognition and although he only won two full caps it should have been many more.

The likes of Arsenal and Tottenham were constantly linked with the full-back but Bardsley stayed at Rangers even after the relegation from the Premier League in 1996, vowing to help them bounce straight back. Sadly a terrible Achilles tendon injury kept him out the team for almost 18 months and although he came back to help Rangers steer off another relegation he didn’t look like the same player and was released in 1998, where he rejoined Blackpool. Once again injury restricted him from his best form and later moved on to Northwich Victoria then retiring. He now works as a director for one of Ajax ’s academy’s in Florida .
R’s Magic Moment The superb 30-yard free-kick at the start of the 1992-93 season against Southampton .

Trevor Sinclair
Blackpool 1989-1993
QPR 1993-1998
Although Tricky Trev was born in London he signed his first pro-contract with Blackpool and became the club’s youngster ever debutant when he made his first appearance for the team on 19 August 1989 aged just 16 years and five months. He became an instant hit with the Tangerines and three years later helped the team win promotion via the play-offs from the old division four after a Wembley victory against Scunthorpe. Soon scouts were circulating as the big boys began to take note of Blackpool ’s wing wizard, who wasn’t hard to miss with his distinctive dreadlocks.

It was QPR who swooped for the midfielder and he joined Gerry Francis team as a replacement for Andy Sinton who had moved on to Sheffield Wednesday. Sinclair’s explosive pace and tricky feet soon meant he was a permanent fixture in the R’s first-team during Francis reign and became one the clubs star attractions. When QPR were relegated in 1996 Sinclair stayed and tried to help the club bounce back but no avail and moved back to the big time two years later with West Ham. Of course Trev is best remembered for the amazing bicycle-kick volley against Barnsley that won the BBC goal of the season in 1997 beating David Beckham’s famous halfway line goal in the process (something you can relive from the Barnsley connections column earlier in the season link).

After West Ham Sinclair went on to play for Manchester City and won 12 England caps including four appearances in the 2002 World Cup. Up until last season he was at Cardiff where he helped them reach the FA Final this year but is now a free agent having been released this summer.
R’s Magic Moment Could only be that goal.

Others:
Mickey Walsh Blackpool 1973-78, QPR 1978-81. Now unknown.
Mike Sheron QPR 1997-1999, Blackpool 2003-04. Now youth team manager at Bury.
Marvin Bryan QPR 1992-95, Blackpool 1995-2000. Now free agent.
Clark Carlisle Blackpool 1997-2000, QPR 2000-04. Now at Burnley.
Ian Evatt QPR 2006-07, Blackpool 2007-present.
Marcus Bean QPR 2002-06, Blackpool 2006-08. Now at Brentford.
Daniel Nardiello QPR 2007-08, Blackpool 2008-present.
Zesh Rehman QPR 2006-present, Blackpool 2008 (loan)
Kaspars Gorkss Blackpool 2007-08, QPR 2008-present.

Fans’ Memories
FA Cup game last 80's I think, midweek. We had played them up there and got a draw. My mate got a slap. Anyhow, seem to remember a bit of payback being dished out in the School end at the replay. I was in my early teens I think! Very much vague memories.-Charlie

Awayday up there a few years ago, I think the same or season before Ain's Debut - Langley got a hatrick. Most of the away end singing "Were Not Going Home, Were Not going Home" Got absolutely battered that night and ended up in some club on the sea front. -Bacon

At home to Blackpool, March 1968 - one of my first QPR games, and the first league visit of Blackpool to Loftus Road...Marsh dominated...QPR won 2-0 (Frank Clarke and Ian Morgan)....QPR ended going up on goal aggregate over Blackpool. And a few years later: February 1972: QPR charging for promotion...Blackpool get shock 1-0 win at QPR...Venables goes off injured (out the rest of the season) and it turns out this is the last time Rodney Marsh played for QPR at Loftus Road. A couple more away games/losses and he was off to Manchester City. -QPRReport

Were we at home or away in the televised match a few years ago where Langley scored a 30 yarder from the right wing? -Jeff_V2.0

At home. I watched that in Fareham when I was in the Navy. There keeper made a right howler to allow us the win after they drew level. Back in the day when the R's couldn't win on the box!!! -Dixie

Tuesday night game 26/08/69 we hammered them 6-1, big on the pitch celebration by the loft at the final whistle. -Loft67

Last season freezing my bollocks off in the that golf stand, and then getting beat 1-0 by a Ben Burgess 91st minute goal. Never been so cold at a football match, although taking our tops off at the start of the second half didn't help. -RBlock_Ranger

The FA Cup 5th round in 1990. 2-2 up there,0-0 at home then 3-0 in the second replay.-Loftboy

5-1 home in FA cup...Allen scored four, the great Stainrod the other...we ended up at Wemberleeeee. Great team that one -TheModfather

Memories of slowly cooking in the West Paddocks for the 5-0 demolition first game of the promotion season...sun block 40..must have been 90 degrees. Steve McMahon was looking sore, ginger and gutted in that sun. -Valencia_R

The thing I remember most about the 5 - 0 season opener (2003'ish) was the weather. It was the hottest day in recorded history in the UK. I also thought it was quite amusing that Blackpool played in all black! - BobHoopClassic

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.