March 4, 1967. A landmark in QPR history. Many stories have been told about the day Third Division QPR beat First Division West Bromwich Albion to lift the League Cup on the first occasion the final took place at Wembley - and the first time in seven finals that it was not played over two legs.
There are still a lot of people around who treasure the memory of that historic game.The first thing I recall is of my father and I being offered £25 each for our five bob (25p) tickets as we walked towards the twin towers
There had been a lot of criticism in the press and speculation that, especially with a lower division team involved, tickets would not sell but the stadium was filled. Indeed, so confident was I that I had bought two tickets before the second leg of the semi-final against Birmingham.
As to the match itself, we were of course a bit depressed at half-time. Clive Clark, whom Rangers had sold to Albion in 1961, gave us the complete runaround and scored both goals to give them a half time 2-0 lead.
Rodney Marsh had the ball in the net from a spectacular overhead kick early in the half but his effort was disallowed as a rather dubious offside. Always the defeatist, my father said “Come on, let’s go home.”I said “OK, you go home if you want to. I’ll see you after the game.” He stayed!
I don’t think anybody will ever know just what Alec Stock said at half-time but in the second half Rangers achieved the impossible. Albion continued to dominate for the first 15 minutes then a foul to Mark Lazarus on the wing led to a free-kick which was taken by Les Allen and headed home by Roger Morgan.
This changed the whole complexion of the game and, with 15 minutes to go, Rangers favourite Rodney Marsh went on a superb mazy run and saw his shot beat Albion keeper Dick Sheppard and go in off the post for the equaliser. Many argue that this was one of the best goals ever seen at Wembley.
The exhausted players on both teams gave their all in an attempt to score the winner. In those days only one substitute was allowed and nobody wanted to go into extra time. It was end to end stuff until, with nine minutes to go, Rangers centre half Ron Hunt made a run from his own half.
Following a one-two with Lazarus he continued into the Albion penalty area and collided with goalkeeper Sheppard who had come out to try to smother the ball, which ran loose to Lazarus who popped it into the net. Although Albion claimed a foul, the referee’s decision was that it was a 50-50 challenge and the goal stood.
It was then just a question of holding on, which Rangers managed to do. They had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and for the first time a club from the lower divisions had lifted the League Cup.
When the final whistle went Dad and I, along with many other Rangers supporters, were jumping up and down with tears rolling down our cheeks, while Rodney Marsh shed one or two himself. The impossible had happened! Third Division had defeated First Division in the most amazing style.
My daughter, who has no interest in football, was eight years old at the time and still remembers my father and I arriving home and cheering in the street outside my house.
The season ended well with QPR as runaway Third Division champions although, because of their lowly status, they were unfortunately not allowed to compete in Europe. We managed, however, to swallow this slightly bitter pill as it had been a glorious season.
Adapted from: “Queen’s Park Rangers – The Old Days” by John Clifford. Also available on Kindle. www.qprtheolddays.com
Memory added on August 22, 2012
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