please log in to view this image Alec Stock and Stan Bowles voted QPR's greatest manager and player as part of Football League's 125th anniversary celebrations ALEC Stock has been voted as QPRâs greatest manager by the clubâs fans in a poll conducted as part of The Football League's 125th Anniversary celebrations. Stockâs playing career with QPR was interrupted by the Second World War but by the time he took the Loftus Road managerâs job in 1959 he was already making a name for himself on the back of his spells in charge of Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient and Italian side AS Roma. He spent nine years in charge of QPR and in that time they became the first Third Division club to win the League Cup, beating First Division West Bromwich Albion in the Wembley final in 1967, before winning promotion that season then going up again a year later to reach the top flight for the first time in their history. Stock, who introduced the likes of Rodney Marsh and Frank Sibley to the team, edged a tight vote with 38% of the tally to Terry Venablesâ 33%, with Dave Sexton not far behind. Stock was also voted Yeovil Townâs greatest boss, one of only four managers to make the list for two different clubs. [video=youtube;G-WdclA3pk4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-WdclA3pk4[/video] The vote for the greatest QPR player went the way of Stan Bowles, who was with Rangers from 1972 to 1979 and played well over 300 times for the club. He was an integral part of the team that went up from the Second Division in 1975 then finished as runners-up in the top flight the following season, and as well as being a tremendously talented player he was a mercurial figure on and off the pitch. please log in to view this image Bowles, who replaced Marsh in the number ten shirt, polled 52% of the vote to finish ahead of his predecessor, with Gerry Francis in third. Francis did, however, win the vote as the clubâs greatest captain having led Rangers through their great years in the 1970s before returning for a second spell in the early 1980s. He picked up 55% of the votes, ahead of Alan McDonald and Mike Keen. The 1975/76 season was voted as the clubâs greatest after Rangers came desperately close to winning The League for the first time in their history. They completed their 42-game season at the top of the table and with a one-point advantage over Liverpool, who still had a match to play â which they won to clinch the title and deny QPR the glory. That season was voted top on 47% to see off 1966/67, 2010/11, 1982/83 and 1967/68. Stock and Bowles sit alongside legends of the game including Brian Clough, Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Tom Finney, Billy Wright, Sir Stanley Matthews, Trevor Francis, Billy Bremner and Herbert Chapman who have all been named in a list of the greatest contributors to clubsâ league history in a vote as part of The Football Leagueâs 125th Anniversary celebrations. The names feature in lists for each of the current 72 Football League clubsâ greatest in various categories including managers, players, captains, fan favourites, matches and seasons. The polls were run by The Football League to celebrate each clubâs own contribution to the last 125 years of league football. The results have been announced on the anniversary of The Football Leagueâs formation on 17th April 1888 to bring down the curtain on a year of activity celebrating the start of the worldâs original league football competition. Nearly 100,000 votes were cast in the polls after clubs were first invited to compile their own shortlist for each category based on fansâ nominations via social media. A list of the winners in each category can be seen at www.FL125.co.uk/vote, and a club-by-club breakdown for each vote with more detail on the winners can be seen at www.fl125.co.uk/queens-park-rangers. Supporters can find out more about The Football Leagueâs 125th Anniversary at www.FL125.co.uk. Fans also still have a chance to visit a special exhibition called âGame Changersâ at the National Football Museum in Manchester celebrating 125 years of The Football League, with contributions from every club. The exhibition is free to enter and open 7 days a week. http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/170414-alec-stock-and-stan-bowles-named-qprs-greatest-1493377.aspx
I was not born during these good times but Alec Stock and Stan Bowles voted QPR's greatest manager and player is hard to disagree with. Both my Granddad and Dad used to tell me the stories of this era!
Jolly good, but did this come from the club website? Bit disappointing that they claim we were promoted to Division One in 1975 and came second the next season, whereas in fact we went up in '73. No argument with the vote though.
I grew up watching Bowles, and Sexton is the greatest manager I've witnessed in my lifetime of following the R's. I can fully appreciate Stock and Bowles being the top two though.
QPR would not have taken that next step without Stock, and Stock couldn't have done it without Marsh. The team would not have gained two promotions and the League Cup without the signing of Marsh.
Alec Stock was before my starting to support the hoops, but like 'nines, Bowles was totally my era and would have been my top player, a mischievous footballer on and off the pitch, he had an amazing talent for turning players and scoring plenty of goals and the charisma that fans love to see.
http://www.fl125.co.uk/vote/greatest-managers Thanks for the link. Alec Stock was voted greatest manager for Yeovil Town as well. No other manager in that list achieved that as far as I can see. Personally I rated Bowles above Marsh if only for the disappointment Marsh's move to City and not very impressive England performances gave me. Bowles' personality was more amusing as well.
I was being the pedant that Stroller loves me to be. You used "borne" (as in carried) rather than "born" (as in popping out of the tumpkin of one's mother). Apologies.
Sorry about that, I rely on spell checker due to being dyslexic, you guys will just have to put up with my sometimes poor spelling I'm afraid!
I apologise; I would not wish it to appear that I was in some way seeking cheap laughs from your disability.
Hey no worries mate! Anyway back on topic, a great choice in Stock and Bowles! Having asked my Dad he prefers old Rodney!
