QPR’s Unsung heroes from the past No. 2

Picking up 999’s unsung heroes baton, I’d like to put forward Ian Dawes. The stocky left back was a product of QPR’s youth academy who made his debut for the first team under Terry Venables in the 1981/82 season. Along with the more vaunted Terry Fenwick, Stevie Wicks and Warren Neill formed a very solid back four in front of Peter Hucker which was instrumental in achieving promotion to the First Division at the end of the 1983 season. Ian played every match of that season, and incredibly continued this unbroken sequence of appearances for the following three seasons appearing in 198 consecutive matches. He established himself as one of the top left backs in English football and would surely have played for the international team but for the admirable consistency of Kenny Sansom.

In my opinion his most important performance in his 229 matches for QPR was on 4th May 1985 against Leicester City. Rangers desperately need a victory to ensure their survival in the top flight of English football against a Leicester team containing both Gary Lineker and Alan Smith. I can’t remember the order the goals were scored in but I think that Leicester were in front quite early. Rangers eventually pulled it back and the score was 3 – 3 with the match approaching its final stages. Suddenly Dawes burst down the left wing, played a one – two and was into the Leicester penalty area. He calmly slotted the ball home to secure the victory and QPR survival in the First Division. Rangers finished only one point ahead of the relegation zone, but slowly kicked on from there to finish 5th in 1987/88 and had many years of mid table security before the Premiership was formed for the 1992/93 season.

Dawes was sold to Millwall in 1988 and went on to play over 250 matches for them. He also had two spells as manager of Redhill, also managing Dorking and Carshalton Athletic, all teams based around his home town of Croydon.

He was an incredibly consistent player who deserved far more recognition than he ever received.

 

Well written. We seemed to be pretty well with the youth players making their way into first, Dawes, Neill and Hucker and eventually Alan MacDonald. To play for three seasons consecutively is something that doesn't happen much these, but he was / is one of th best, and most reliable left backs we have had.

 

bump

 

Christ, when I glanced at it first I thought it said Ian Dowie!

Good article Roller.

 

I'd like to put a word in for two of our perennial substitutes from the 70's John Delve in midfield early 70's and Ron Abbott originally centre forward then centre back mid to late 70's. To be honest neither were good enough for the top level but they always stuck around and did a job. Ron must have played less than 50 games in about 6 or 7 seasons. Always enjoyed watching him - big, clumsy, shoulders so broad he looked like he had a coat hanger left in his shirt, all heart. John Delve just about the blondest player ever, no other distinguishing characteristics.