I may actually merge this with Norway's thread. I think it will work, otherwise this could get confusing.
From the first time I watched him on the big match I knew I was hooked Players with that amount of natural skill do it for me ... He was the master of just simply slowing the game when he wanted to We were blessed to have him and to me that team was a massive favourite throughout the UK We were the team that threatened the Giants of Liverpool The Ball goes wide to Dave Thomas in my ears forever and Stan was outstanding . I hope he enjoys his day and watches us win big time If the club could just understand why this era was so important then we would be back on track The hooped shirt with a number 10 is probably right up there with the all time greats ... Brazil shirt with a number 10 who do you think of? Very sad that the club hasn't remembered that and can't even do a hoop anymore ... They shouldn't be allowed to use Stan's name IMO as a marketing tool they don't understand the power of it Genius footballer who shaped us all not just in football but in life also He didn't conform to anything and I remember many QPR fans used to slag him back then ... Today that's forgotten and he deserves hero status.
How can that lot cock up a programme cover poor work IMO Last shot of Stan is everything QPR Good skills 9s
Think I read an interview with Frank McLintock on another thread, he said Stan had a bet with Macdonald over who would score. Guess who got the winner? Great stuff nines.
MacDonald had been slating Stan in the papers, Stan didn't rate the likes of him, and said so. We were in the middle of our push for the title, we won six and drew one of seven away games, winning all the home games during that time as well. I think Stan got the winner in the 90th minute and he just had to give it to MacDonald as the away faithful went mental! Those were the days.
At that time it was unheard of for a goal to be reported on television. You had to wait for the BBC printer to print the final scores. That is, until that day! David Coleman was standing by said printer & shockingly announced that he had just been told (in his earphones) that Stan had csored at Newcastle. I doubt that the away support at the game wetn more mental than many of us did at home! That is my favourite Stan photo!
I was at that game and Stan gave him a little slap. Went 1-0 down I think and won 2-1. And I seem to think it was Grand National day, but I was a bit *issed so could be totally wrong.
My memory of Stan is when he broke his leg at Ashton gate in the late seventies, i was living in Bristol at the time (moved there when me Dad got a job at WD & HO Wills tobacco), being a QPR fan living in Bristol at the game i had to leave early as back in those days wearing a blue and white scarf and walking home would have earned me a good and painful lumping so i decided to leave just after he broke his leg, and as i walked out the ground i came across Stan lying on a stretcher outside the ground where the St Johns ambulance men had left him to wait for the Ambulance, just outside the players entrance, and there he was, my Hero lying on a stretcher on the floor with a *** hanging out his mouth talking to some bod from the QPR backroom staff.Can you imagine that happening in this day and age of pampered, overpaid mummies boys, i cant. Stan Bowles, my hero then, my Hero now, one of the last all time great English born players to grace and light up a football pitch who did what he did because he enjoyed it, not because he got paid for it.STAN BOWLES..........................LEGEND.!!!!!!!!!
Very nice post Paul much more lucid than some of your ramblings. I agree 100% we the older fans were very fortunate to have seen the great side of the 70's and the modern QPR Inc. should really tap back into that era and also the era of Les and co. and exploit it commercially but not in a tacky way. Personally I like clean lines and simple design that catch the eye instantly and our great kit of the seventies of blue and white hoops, plain white shorts and plain white socks has to be my favourite. I was so proud wearing that every Sunday over the Little Scrubs, it never came back in that condition though much to my Mum's malaise. A few years ago my Dad through a mutual friend and co author of Stan's autobiography used to drink with Stan in Brentford not sure which pub though, I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during one of those sessions. Anyway I hope all that go today enjoy the match and raise a glass to Stan on my behalf. Urrrrrs!
Unfortunately I won't be there today as I'm working tonight, but I hope the day is a fitting tribute to Stan as he richly deserves it. I also see that his long time partner in crime Don Shanks will be attending.
Enjoy today lads, unfortunately I can't be there for the obvious reasons but will be following every minute
I was the same with my first hoops shirt ... Well I couldn't buy one to start with so my nan knitted me with a red number 8 on it ... I was laughed at wearing it but I didn't care He was better than George best IMO and although I had stylo matchmakers . I eventually got a hooped shirt and I got a red 7 put on it . Apologies for negativity re our current set up but the heritage of Stan Bowles and that side built QPR's image IMO ... It wasn't too long before i knew QPR were a lot more special as I was the only QPR fan in school . Kids liked the fact that this team were better or as good as Liverpool . Everyone at football practice was in red or white for Leeds and a few Chelsea The hoops were different and Bowles was also. I come a big farming family and am the only one not to go into the services. I was a rebel from a young age and QPR were the perfect fit for me. Hence my passion when a money bags comes along and ****s the club up. It's an insult to all our great players IMO and today I will not be going . I love Stan in my own way and find it crass that behind the genuine praise for our hero the idiots cannot see what our soul should be and continue to ruin it all Not having hoops is unforgivable white shorts white socks Dennis also ... Hoops red and black Third kit White My badge design is for Bowles and all our great players it's all I can do to recapture our soul Stan is a old man now and like many he has health problems He won't play again but we remember days none of us can get back ... There is no excuse for our club to lose our heritage . This is a one day event and I find it very crass
He deserves a lot more than one day But I sincerely hope everyone including our hero has a great day It's great to remember what QPR means ... Is Tony going ?
The most complete footballer ever to wear the hoops. If he was a cricketer, he would be an all rounder. Hail, hail Stan the Man.
Because it was true mate We are selective and only remember the good bits Fast forward to today or the last few years and we are still at it but with an increased arrogance brought about with big promises and money Stan's is a legend and remembered in myind as a genius but I bet you he would say then andaybe now he would never conform ... He simply didn't give a hoot about authority or rules and was critised a lot back then He said bollocks to England and was his own man ... The best tribute I can give is to recognise that honesty I believe men like that agree with that
