1972–73 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

The 1972–73 season was Queens Park Rangers F.C.'s 54th season[1] of football in the Football League First Division. It was also their second consecutive season in the top division after being promoted from the Football League Second Division in 1971.[2]

Queens Park Rangers
1972–73 season
ChairmanJimGregory
ManagerGordon Jago
Football League Second Division2nd
FA CupFifth round
FootballLeague CupSecond round
London Challenge CupQuarter-Finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Don Givens (23)
All: Don Givens (26)
Highest home attendance22,518 Vs Burnley (27 January 1973)
Lowest home attendance9,790 Vs Oxford United (2 December 1972)
Average home league attendance14, 714
Biggest win5-0 Vs Portsmouth (31 March 1973), Swindon Town (17 February 1973)
Biggest defeat1-4 Vs Hull City (26 September 1972)

League performance

QPR finished the season in 3rd place in the Football League First Division, their highest ever finish at the time.[3] They were level on points with champions Leeds United A.F.C. and runners-up Liverpool F.C., but had an inferior goal difference.[4] The season saw standout performances from forward Stan Bowles, who finished as the club's top scorer with 22 goals.[5]

FA Cup

QPR were eliminated from the FA Cup in the Third Round, losing 2-1 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C..[6]

Crest

QPR replaced their Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith’s arms badge that had been the clubs badge since 1953 with a blue and white hooped shield with the outline of a ball, depicting QPR in plain letters.

Results

Second Division

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPtsQualification or relegation
1Burnley (C, P)422414472352.05762Promotion to the First Division
2Queens Park Rangers (P)422413581372.18961
3Aston Villa4218141051471.08550
4Middlesbrough4217131246431.07047
5Bristol City4217121363511.23546Qualification for the Watney Cup
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

First Division

DateOpponentsH / AResult

F – A

ScorersAttendancePosition
12 August 1972Swindon TownA2-2Busby, Leach14,17014
19 August 1972Sheffield WednesdayH4-2Francis, O'Rourke, Givens, Leach12,9777
26 August 1972Preston North EndA1-1O'Rourke9,2427
2 September 1972MiddlesbroughH2-2Givens, O'Rourke10,60113
9 September 1972BurnleyA1-1Busby10,79811
16 September 1972Nottingham ForestH3-0Givens, Bowles, McCulloch12,52810
19 September 1972Bristol CityH1-1Francis11,58610
23 September 1972OrientA2-2Leach, Bowles9,49210
26 September 1972Hull CityA1-4Givens8,28912
30 September 1972Cardiff CityH3-0Givens 2, Bowles11,18210
7 October 1972Carlisle UnitedH4-0Francis, Leach, Evans, Busby11,7558
14 October 1972Aston VillaA1-0Francis34,0455
17 October 1972FulhamA2-0Bowles, Givens20,6142
21 October 1972SunderlandH3-2Givens, Bowles 217,3562
28 October 1972BlackpoolA0-214,1603
4 November 1972Hull CityH1-1Bowles13,6193
11 November 1972Bristol CityA2-1Givens 212,5701
18 November 1972MillwallH1-3Bowles15,8572
25 November 1972PortsmouthA1-0Givens8,4602
2 December 1972Oxford UnitedH0-09,7902
9 December 1972Luton TownA2-2Givens, Clement13,6703
23 December 1972Brighton And Hove AlbionA2-1Givens 213,7352
26 December 1972OrientH3-1Leach, Givens, Francis15,0622
30 December 1972Sheffield WednesdayA1-3Leach20,1852
6 January 1973Preston North EndH3-0Givens 2, Francis10,5192
20 January 1973MiddlesbroughA0-08,3982
27 January 1973BurnleyH2-0Givens, leach22,5182
6 February 1973Huddersfield TownH3-1Givens 2, Thomas13,5392
10 February 1973Nottingham ForestA0-011,6172
17 February 1973Swindon TownH5-0Givens, Francis, Bowles 313,4722
3 March 1973Carlisle UnitedA3-1Thomas, Bowles, Clement8,7292
6 March 1973Huddersfield TownA2-2Francis, Leach8,6272
10 March 1973Aston VillaH1-0Leach21,5781
24 March 1973BlackpoolH4-0Thomas, Bowles, Francis,Hatton OG15,7142
31 March 1973PortsmouthH5-0Thomas, Leach, Venables, Lewis OG14,0862
7 April 1973Oxford UnitedA0-212,1442
14 April 1973Luton TownH2-0Mancini, Givens16,4712
18 April 1973Cardiff CityA0-011,9582
21 April 1973MillwallA1-0Bowles16,1362
24 April 1973Brighton and Hove AlbionH2-0Bowles, Francis16,6252
28 April 1973FulhamH2-0Bowles, Clement22,1872
9 May 1973SunderlandA3-0Bowles 2, Thomas43,2652

London Challenge Cup[7]

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult

F – A

ScorersAttendance
25 September 1972First RoundCrystal PalaceA1-0
4 October 1972Quarter-FinalTottenhamA0-2

Football League Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult

F – A

ScorersAttendance
6 September 1972Second RoundWest Bromwich AlbionA1-2Givens8,282

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult

F – A

ScorersAttendance
13 January 1973Third RoundBarnetH0-013,627
16 January 1973Third Round ReplayBarnetA3-0Leach, Bowles, Mancini10.919
24 January 1973Fourth RoundOxford UnitedA2-0Givens, Clement16,057
24 February 1973Fifth RoundDerby CountyA2-4Leach, Givens38,100

Squad

PositionNationalityNameLeague Appearances (substitute)League GoalsCup AppearancesF.A.Cup GoalsLeague Cup GoalsTotal AppearancesTotal Goals
GK Phil Parkes41445
GK Alan Spratley112
DF Dave Clement40531454
DF Tony Hazell41546
DF Ian Gillard88
DF Ron Hunt2(1)14
DF Terry Mancini24421283
DF Ian Evans1811191
DF John Delve6(3)110
MF John Beck(1)1
MF Martyn Busby1313143
MF Mike Ferguson1(1)24
MF Gerry Francis4249469
MF Mick Leach35(1)51024112
MF Ian Watson35439
FW Terry Venables3721391
FW Stan Bowles3541713318
FW Andy McCulloch5(2)171
FW John O'Rourke7(1)1393
FW Don Givens41523214626
FW Dave Thomas2846326
FW Barry Salvage(3)14
FW Ian Morgan22

Transfers Out

NamefromDateFeeDateClubFee
Andrew McCullochWalton & HershamOctober 1970October 1972Cardiff City£45,000
Michael McGovernQueens Park Rangers JuniorsNovember 1968November 1972WatfordLoan
Ron HuntQueens Park Rangers JuniorsMarch 1963July 1973Retired (injury)
Alan SpratleyQueens Park Rangers JuniorsMay 1967July 1973Swindon TownFree
Mike FergusonAston VillaNovember 1969£15,000July 1973Cambridge UnitedFree
Barry SalvageMillwallMarch 1971February 1973Brentford

Transfers In

NamefromDateFee
Stan BowlesCarlisle UnitedSeptember 1972£112,000
Dave ThomasBurnleyOctober 1972£165,000
Frank McLintockArsenalJune 1973£25,000
Richard TealeWalton & HershamJuly 1973£9,000
Mike FergusonAston VillaNovember 1969£15,000
Keith PritchettDoncaster RoversJuly 1973

References