Just watching those fine QPR "Season 1975-76" and "Big Match" dvd's. What is wrong with Don Givens? He scored numerous important and spectacular goals during seventies for us and yet anybody, who was interwieved afterward, doesnt gave him much credit for it.Not anywhere near what they gave for Bowles, Francis, Thomas and the others anyway. Stan Bowles never seem to mention his name other than if he was bit of mocking him sort of. Does anybody remember why he was such of a unsung hero....? After all he scored lot of goals for us and Ireland....
That's a good question Igor. To my recollection he had 3 great seasons from 72/3 onwards, then really struggled. But even when he was scoring for fun we never seemed to love him quite as much as the others you mention. I don't have a good reason for it, and I was there for the whole time he played for us. He was a bit feeble sometimes, partial to a dive, but what we would give for someone who scored so many goals, and so many great goals, now.
I can understand why. Givens was a true professional. I couldn't imagine that he would have had much respect for Bowles' antics as good as he was.
For me, Don was an absolute hero. Mentioned in the same bracket as those listed in the OP. Not an unsung hero as far as I know.
A true goal scorer , as mentioned what would teams give for someone like Don , he is up there with the others. The team of 1975-76 was just "pure football" , there was some characters such as Don Shanks , Stan and Webby but that's what made that time in the football world so great
Bowles didnt get on with Masson either but you could never tell during the 90 mins. Givens was a good finisher and a legend like all the 75/76 team in my book, (apart from Hollins who was Chelski through and through, Webby loved his time at QPR and was different.) Anyone watching in Hennesseys would have seen DON scoring for fun.
Yes but if he would have played for us during 80's, 90's or nowadays he would have been absolutely legend. I would understand if peoples just like mavericks like Bowles and Marsh but Thomas, Francis and Masson were not anymoore colourful than Givens.
I don't think it's necessary for individual players to like one another, just for them to play as if they do on the pitch. Of course it would suit my romantic idyll for that wonderful team of the 70s to all live next door to each other like The Beatles in Help (?), but I guess that wasn't to be.
I'm not too sure about him not getting on with Masson. But going by this interview from ten years ago, he remained mates with McLintock, Thomas, Parkes and Masson after QPR. He also mentions that McLintock was the unsung hero of the team when he tried to introduce things which were practised at Arsenal which were far in advance of anything done at the Rangers. But in answer to the OP, the last paragraph is the most telling. He says his time at QPR was his best 'on the pitch.' He also never joined the rest of the squad to sit and watch the Wolves v Liverpool match, choosing instead to go and watch Man U who were playing a game at the same time. Seems like he was very much his own man. http://www.qprnet.com/index.php/interviews-2/int-players/60-interview-givens
I was there in person to see him score that hat-trick for Ireland against the Soviet Union in 1974. It was my first ever live football match and he is the reason I support QPR.
Like Finglas, I also started following the 'r's nearly 40 years ago as a boy growing up in Ireland. I recall that hat-trick vs the Soviet Union, but more memorably all four goals in an international vs Turkey. I decided that day that whatever team he played for (I genuinely did not know - he could have played for Northampton Town for all I knew), I was going to follow. If only he had gone on loan for that month to Barcelona! Regrets? Heck no!
Thanks Swords, thanks 999, I may not contribute often, but I hope to make it relevant - quality over quantity, a bit like the career of our Don G!
