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Dave Sexton, QPR legend - History
Thursday, 6th Apr 2017 22:29 by Simon Dorset

Dave Sexton, who played for Brighton and then managed QPR's best ever side, is the focus of the History column this week prior to the two teams meeting on Friday night.

Connections

Dave Sexton >>> Brighton 1957-58 >>> QPR (manager) 1974-1977

Dave Sexton has gone down as arguably the greatest manager in QPR’s history for putting together the superb 1975/76 side that came within a whisker of winning the club the league title for the first and only time. As a player he scored 26 goals in 49 appearances for Rangers’ opponents on Wednesday night Brighton. November will mark a year since Sexton passed on and with Brighton in town this week LFW is re-running Roller’s tribute to the great man from last year….

Those of us lucky enough to watch the finest ever QPR team will always have our own personal cherished memories of 1975/76 season, but I’m sure that we can all vividly recall the brilliant goal finished by Gerry Francis at Loftus Road against Liverpool in our opening match of that season’s campaign.

From the moment goal keeper Phil Parkes rolled the ball out no Liverpool player ever got close to it. The precise, one-touch move culminated with Francis collecting Stan Bowles’ clever back heel, executing an immaculate one — two with Don Givens which pierced the heart of Liverpool’s defence before planting his shot into the far corner of the goal. It was a move that was as ruthless as it was beautiful and it perfectly set the scene for the season ahead. The Loftus Road faithful in particular, along with the wider football viewing public in general, were served up treat after treat throughout the season.

Sadly the visionary behind this magnificent team died at the weekend. Dave Sexton was decades ahead of his time as a coach. At every possible opportunity he would go and watch matches in Europe returning with new ideas to put into practice with his ever willing players at QPR giving rise to a team that would have graced the Dutch league that he so admired. He managed to infuse the skill and technique that is a hallmark of the Dutch game into the work ethic and determination that typified the best English teams of those times. QPR’s passing and movement was unparalleled in the English league and wouldn’t been seen again until foreign coaches started to permeate into English football.

Despite having guided Chelsea to their first ever FA Cup victory and swiftly following that success up with European triumph in the Cup Winners’ Cup, Dave Sexton was sacked in early October 1974. The side had started to struggle and several major names had been sold after falling out with their manager. He very quickly walked into that role at QPR following the departure of Gordon Jago. Having only been promoted to the 1st Division at the end of the 1977/73 season, QPR were still trying to establish themselves in the top flight, a task had been made more difficult by the departure of their lynch pin Terry Venables. The midfield general had left to pursue his fledgling coaching career under Malcolm Allison at Crystal Palace. I can only wonder as to how good a coach Venables would have become had he stayed at QPR for a couple of seasons and gained more experience under Sexton.

Sexton was the first to admit that he inherited a very good team from Jago and he quickly surmised that this group of players were perfect for him to realise his vision of how football should be played. Every player was comfortable with the ball at his feet, every player had good technique, every player had a good attitude. Having identified the man he wanted to replace Venables and had no qualms in backing his judgment. He plucked Don Masson from the lower leagues even though he was already almost 29 years old and had no top flight experience. Far from letting him down, Masson provided Sexton with exactly what he expected as he prompted the team unveiling a magnificent range of passing and became the perfect foil to the dynamic attacking prowess of Francis.

Sexton patiently developed his plans throughout the remainder of the 1974/75 season, slowly introducing his ideas to the players. Their passing was sharpened, their movement enhanced and awareness of space heightened. New coaching drills and tactics from Sexton’s frequent trips to Europe were frequently added to the teams repertoire as Sexton’s interpretation of “total football” was developed; the players willingly embracing their coach’s philosophy. In the close season Sexton signed experienced utility midfielder John Hollins from relegated Chelsea where he was deemed to be too old at only 29.

The 1975/76 season will forever be remembered in QPR folklore as the greatest, but possibly most heartbreaking, season of them all. Rangers played the most entertaining style of football ever seen at Loftus Road. QPR’s free flowing style was at times breathtaking as the players revelled in roles that Sexton allotted them. Liverpool were swept aside on that season’s opening day, reigning champions Derby County humiliated on their own ground and Everton destroyed at Loftus Road. A tough winter on heavier pitches cost the team badly, but, just as they were being written off, they launched onto a magnificent run of 14 wins from 17 matches. Rangers sat proudly on top of the table after their last match of the season but had to wait 10 days for Liverpool to complete their fixtures. I’m sure that I wasn’t alone in crying myself to sleep as Liverpool recovered in the last 15 minutes of their final match to eventually beat Wolves 3 — 1 and steal our title.

Sexton’s side didn’t really ever recover from that shattering experience. Their league form was patchy and a promising U.E.F.A. cup campaign heartbreakingly ended in a penalty shootout defeat in Athens. Sexton was in demand at the end of the season and left to take over from Tommy Docherty at Manchester United having initially been linked with Arsenal. His assistant Frank Sibley took over but that time had gone. The team slowly broke up but left an indelible impression on anyone who witnessed them in full flow.

Dave Sexton is always included in any discussion between QPR supporters regarding our greatest ever manager, along with Alec Stock and Terry Venables. His philosophy about how football should be played was incomparable and his QPR side of the 1975/76 must be regarded as his crowning achievement. In that one season he elevated QPR into everybody’s second team, the one side that football lovers all around the country would rush home early from the pub on Saturday nights to watch if they were on Match of the Day. We’ve had some great side to watch at Loftus Road since those days, but none that truly stand comparison with that team. Dave Sexton’s vision, coaching and tactics gave us the greatest team we have ever had the privilege to support.

Thank you Dave, may you rest in peace.

Others >>> Bobby Zamora, QPR 2012-2015, Brighton 2015-present, 2000-2003 >>> Gary Borrowdale, QPR 2008-2012, Brighton (loan) 2009 >>> Danny Cullip, QPR 2007-2008, Brighton 1999-2004 >>> Zesh Rehman, Brighton (loan) 2009, (loan) 2003-2004, QPR 2006-2009 >>> Nick Ward, QPR 2006-2007, Brighton (loan) 2007 >>> Georges Santos, Brighton 2006-2007, QPR 2004-2006 >>> Kevin McLeod, Brighton 2008-2010, QPR 2003-2005 >>> Leon Knight, Brighton 2003-2006, QPR (loan) 2001 >>> Simon Royce, QPR 2005-2007, Brighton (loan) 2001-2002 >>> Christer Warren, QPR 2000-2002, Brighton (loan) 1996 >>> Juergen Sommer, QPR 1995-1998, Brighton 1991-1992 >>> Dean Wilkins, Brighton 1987-1996, 1983-1984, QPR 1980-1983 >>> John Gregory, QPR (manager) 2006-2007, 1981-1985, Brighton 1979-1981 >>> John Byrne, Brighton 1990-1991, QPR 1984-1988 >>> Alan Mullery QPR (manager) 1984, Brighton (manager) 1976-1981 >>> Clive Walker, Brighton 1990-1993, QPR 1986-1987 >>> Michael Robinson, QPR 1984-1986, Brighton 1980-1983 >>> Don Shanks, Brighton 1981-1983, QPR 1974-1981 >>> Gary Chivers, Brighton 1988-1993, QPR 1984-1987 >>> Steve Burtenshaw, QPR (manager) 1978-1979, Brighton 1952-1956 >>> Barry Bridges, Brighton 1972-1974, QPR 1968-1970 >>> Jim Langley, QPR 1965-1967, Brighton 1953-1957 >>> Harry Gilberg, Brighton 1952-1956, QPR 1951-1952 >>> Bert Addinall, Brighton 1953-1954, QPR 1943-1953

Recent Meetings

Brighton 3 QPR 0, Tuesday December 27, 2016, Championship

The second coming of Ian Holloway looked set for an unhappy ending when his team lost fairly pathetically at Brighton over Christmas — a sixth successive defeat and fourth game in succession without scoring. QPR started badly and fell away from there, conceding a goal within six seconds of having a throw in on the half way line when Sam Baldock ran round Nedum Onuoha and lashed in from long range. Massimo Luongo, chasing a first goal for the club, saw a shot saved by David Stockdale before half time, but then ended the game as a contest early in the second with a ludicrous lunging tackle on Dale Stephens which allowed Glenn Murray to smash in a second from the penalty spot. Onuoha was subsequently very unfortunate to be sent off but Anthony Knockaert’s third was embarrassingly easy.

Brighton: Stockdale 6; Bruno 7, Dunk 6, Duffy 6, Bong 6; Knockaert 7, Stephens 7, Norwood 8, March 8 (Murphy 68, 6); Murray 8 (Hamed 71, 6), Baldock 7 (Skalak 77, 6)

Subs not used: Mäenpää, Sidwell, Goldson, Hunt

Goals: Baldock 11 (assisted Stephens), Murray 53 (penalty won Stephens), Knockaert 69 (assisted Murray)

QPR: Smithies 5; Perch 2, Onuoha 3, Hall 5, Bidwell 5; Borysiuk 5 (Mackie 59, 5) Cousins 5 (Sandro 80, -), Luongo 4; Ngbakoto 4 (Kakay 81, -), Wzsolek 5, Sylla 5

Subs not used: Washington, Ingram, Shodipo, El Khayati

Red Cards: Onuoha 56 (professional foul)

Bookings: Sylla 80 (dissent)

Brighton 4 QPR 0, Tuesday April 19, 2016, Championship

QPR’s previous visit to Brighton’s impressive new stadium was even worse. An even first half gave way to a Brighton lead before half time when Anthony Knockaert whipped home a trademark free kick in first half injury time. The roof fell in thereafter with Skalak lashing home from long range, Goldson coming up from the back to head in a third and Knockaert adding his second and Brighton’s fourth with a little dribbler six minutes from time.

Brighton: Stockdale 7; Bruno 7, Goldson 7, Dunk 7, Rosenior 6; Knockaert 8, Stephens 7, Kayal 7, Skalak 8 (Murphy 70, 6); Hemed 7 (Sidwell 77, 6), Wilson 6 (Baldock 46, 6)

Subs not used: Mäenpää, Greer, Bong, Lua Lua

Goals: Knockaert 45+1 (free kick won Skalak), Skalak 51 (unassisted), Goldson 73 (assisted Knockaert), Knockaert 84 (assisted Sidwell)

Bookings: Skalak 22 (foul)

QPR: Smithies 6; Onuoha 5, Hall 5, Hill 6 (Chery 60, 6), Perch 6; Henry 6, Faurlin 5, Luongo 5, Hoilett 5 (Polter 54, 5); Phillips 6, Washington 6 (El Khayati 70, 5)

Subs not used: Gladwin, Ingram, Petrasso, Kpekawa

Bookings: Hall 72 (foul) Polter 90+1 (foul)

QPR 2 Brighton 2, Tuesday December 15, 2015, Championship

QPR roared back from two goals down to snatch a point from a pulsating encounter when these sides met for the first time last season back in December. Dale Stephens gave the visitors the lead straight after half time with an acrobatic finish during a scramble from a corner, and the latest in a string of horrendous errors from goalkeeper Rob Green allowed van La Parra to make it two from over by the old BBC Television Centre immediately afterwards. But Charlie Austin pulled one back with plenty of time left on the watch and, with Ale Faurlin pulling the strings in midfield, equalised from a corner two minutes from the end after Lewis Dunk had been sent off for a disgusting challenge on the Argentinean.

QPR: Green 5; Perch 6 (Angella 14, 6), Onuoha 6, Hall 7, Konchesky 7; Phillips 7, Sandro 6 (Henry 55, 6), Faurlin 8, Hoilett 7; Fer 6 (Polter 82, -), Austin 8

Subs not used: Smithies, Chery, Emmanuel-Thomas, Tozser

Goals: Austin 65 (assisted Phillips), 88 (assisted Faurlin)

Yellow Cards: Angella 38 (foul), Onuoha 53 (dissent), Faurlin 84 (retaliation)

Brighton: Stockdale 7; Bruno 7, Greer 6, Dunk 5, Calderon 8; van La Parra 7, Stephens 6, Kayal 6, Murphy 6 (Hünemeier 85, -); Wilson 7 (Zamora 78, 6) Hemed 6 (Crofts 79, 6)

Subs not used: Mäenpää, Forster Caskey, Manu, Chicksen

Goals: Stephens 53 (assisted Dunk), van La Parra 55 (assisted Green)

Red Cards: Dunk 84 (two yellows)

Yellow Cards: Dunk 75 (repetitive fouling), 84 (foul)

Brighton 2 QPR 0, Tuesday March 11, 2014, Championship

The collapse in form that saw QPR slip from the automatic promotion places into the play-offs during the spring of 2014 was best summed up by a 2-0 midweek loss at Brighton. Chances came and went, but without injured Charlie Austin in the team the R’s couldn’t make a heavy possession advantage count for anything. They were subsequently sucker punched twice late in the game, the first from Leonardo Ulloa from close range after Bruno had caught Benoit Assou-Ekotto pissing about and robbed him of the ball. Ward subsequently added a second thanks to slack marking from a late corner.

Brighton: Kuszczak 8; Bruno 7, Upson 7, Dunk 6, Ward 6; Andrews 7, Ince 7, Forster-Caskey 5 (Lua Lua 75, 6), Buckley 7 (Stephens 90, -); Ulloa 6, Lingard 5

Subs not used: Rodríguez Sánchez, Calderón, Ankergren, March, López

Goals: Ulloa 77 (assisted Bruno), Ward 86 (assisted Lua Lua)

Bookings: Lingard 79 (foul)

QPR: Green 6; Onuoha 6, Hill 6, Dunne 6, Assou-Ekotto 5 (Maiga 79, 5); Barton 6, Jenas 7; Traore 7, Morrison 7, Hoilett 5; Keane 5

Subs not used; Hughes, Kranjcar, Benayoun, Murphy, O’Neil, Henry

)

QPR 0 Brighton 0, Wednesday September 18, 2013, Championship

These sides shared the spoils from a drab goalless draw at Loftus Road in the first meeting this season back in September. Gary O’Neil missed a decent chance early on when Matt Upson played a wayward back pass in his direction, then in the second half Richard Dunne headed a corner towards goal only for Andrew Crofts to scoop it away to safety off the goal line and preserve a stalemate which Brighton came for and achieved with something to spare.

QPR: R Green 6; D Simpson 6, R Dunne 7, N Onuoha 7 (B Assou-Ekotto, 23, 6), C Hill 7; K Henry 7 (J Jenas, 74, 4), J Barton 7; S Wright-Phillips 6, M Phillips 7 (A Traore, 80, -), G O'Neil 7; C Austin 5

Subs not used: A Faurlin, B Murphy, T Carroll, T Hitchcock

Bookings: Barton 34 (repetitive fouling)

Brighton: T Kuszczak 7, G Greer 6, M Upson 6, I Calderon 7, S Ward 6 (Bruno 80, -); A Crofts 6, K Andrews 6; J Caskey 6 (R Ince 85, -), D Lopez 6 (W Buckley 67, 6), C Conway 6; A Barnes 6

Subs not used: P Brezovan, A El-Abd, K Lua Lua, S March

Bookings: Calderon 71 (foul), Bruno 89 (foul)

QPR 1 Brighton 1, Saturday March 18, 2006, Championship

QPR were, just for a change, in a degree of turmoil when Brighton last played at Loftus Road back in 2006. A power struggle between chairman Gianni Paladini and manager Ian Holloway had resulted in the popular Bristolian leaving Loftus Road following a bizarre January game at Leeds where seven, mostly awful, new signings were all given their debuts in a 2-0 defeat. Paladini replaced Holloway with former fans favourite Gary Waddock, assisted by club legend Alan McDonald, and with the pair promising to play a more attractive brand of football than Rangers had previously been using, there was an initial upturn in results. The R’s secured an impressive 3-2 win at Sheffield United and beat Millwall at home 1-0. But they didn’t win again after that — eleven matches through March and April without a success. Some of the ways they found not to win games was farcical at times — 2-0 up at Norwich with 15 to play and lost, a ludicrous sending off and late own goal in a 2-1 set back at home to Watford — and the draw at home to Brighton was another self destruct moment. Gareth Ainsworth gave QPR an early lead but Kevin Gallen was sent off for grabbing Paul McShane’s face and the relegation haunted visitors snatched a point when Gary Hart’s hopefuly shot was turned into his own net by Marcus Bignot.

QPR: Jones 7, Bignot 5, Shittu 7, Evatt 6, Milanese 7, Ainsworth 8*, Bircham 6, Lomas 6, Cook 7 (Baidoo 62, 7), Gallen 6, Nygaard 6 (Youssouf 62, 7).

Subs Not Used: Royce, Santos, Langley.

Sent Off: Gallen (50)

Booked: Baidoo.

Goals: Ainsworth 13

Brighton: Henderson, Hinshelwood, McShane, Butters, El-Abd (Dodd 55), Carole (Gatting 58), Hammond, Carpenter, Frutos (Loft 65), Hart, Kazim-Richards.

Subs Not Used: Martin, Reid.

Booked: El-Abd, Hart

Goals: Bignot 80 (og)

Attendance: 13,907

Brighton 1 QPR 0, Monday December 26, 2005, Championship

Things hadn’t been any better in the first meeting between the two sides that season, at the Withdean Stadium on Boxing Day. Rangers were on a dire run of one win from their previous nine games and had lost a typically awful televised Monday night match at home to Coventry 1-0 just before Christmas. Simon Royce was sent off late in that game for conceding the match winning penalty so sat out the Boxing Day fixture with youth team graduate Jake Cole making his full first team debut instead. He had a baptism of fire, not only having to face the Coventry penalty on his first ever appearance for the senior team, but also conceding in this match after just seven minutes to veteran defender Guy Butters. With Stefan Moore leading the line Rangers were never likely to get back into the game and duly slipped to a 1-0 defeat, boosting Mark McGhee’s side’s chances of avoiding relegation. The match proved to be a sour experience for Charlie Oatway — the man famously named after the entire QPR side of 1973 — who fractured his ankle badly in the first four minutes of the game and was never the same player again thereafter.

Brighton: Kuipers, Reid, Butters, El-Abd, McShane, Hart, Oatway (Carpenter 4), Hammond, Frutos (Mayo 62), Knight (McCammon 61), Kazim-Richards.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Sullivan.

Booked: Hammond, Kazim-Richards, Reid.

Goals: Butters 7

QPR: Cole 7, Bignot 5, Evatt 5, Shittu 6, Bean 6 (Cook 61, 7), Ainsworth 6 (Bircham 75, 7), Rowlands 6, Dyer 5, Langley 6, Moore 5 (Nygaard 60, 7*), Furlong 6.

Subs Not Used: Milanese, Rose.

Booked: Rowlands, Bean.

Previous Results

Head to Head >>> QPR wins 30 >>> Draws 17 >>> Brighton wins 31

2016/17 Brighton 3 QPR 0

2015/16 Brighton 4 QPR 0

2015/16 QPR 2 Brighton 2 (Austin 2)

2013/14 Brighton 2 QPR 0

2013/14 QPR 0 Brighton 0

2005/06 QPR 1 Brighton 1 (Ainsworth)

2005/06 Brighton 1 QPR 0

2004/05 QPR 0 Brighton 0

2004/05 Brighton 2 QPR 3 (Gallen, Furlong, Rose)

2003/04 QPR 2 Brighton 1 (Gallen, Rowlands)

2003/04 QPR 2 Brighton 1* (Palmer, Thorpe)

2003/04 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Padula)

2001/02 QPR 0 Brighton 0

2001/02 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Thomson)

1972/73 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Francis, Bowles)

1972/73 Brighton 1 QPR 2 (Givens 2)

1966/67 Brighton 2 QPR 2 (R Morgan, Wilks)

1966/67 QPR 3 Brighton 0 (Marsh, Sanderson, Lazarus)

1965/66 Brighton 0 QPR 2 (Allen 2)

1965/66 QPR 4 Brighton 1 (Keen, Collins, Allen, McAdams)

1962/63 Brighton 2 QPR 2 (Bedford, Lazarus)

1962/63 QPR 2 Brighton 2 (Bedford, Lazarus)

1957/58 Brighton 1 QPR 1 (Longbottom)

1957/58 QPR 0 Brighton 1

1956/57 QPR 0 Brighton 0

1956/57 Brighton 1 QPR 0

1955/56 QPR 2 Brighton 1 (Clark, Cameron)

1955/56 Brighton 1 QPR 1 (Clark)

1954/55 QPR 3 Brighton 2 (Clark 2, Shepherd)

1954/55 Brighton 4 QPR 1 (Shepherd)

1953/54 Brighton 3 QPR 1 (Pounder)

1953/54 QPR 1 Brighton 2 (Shepherd)

1952/53 QPR 3 Brighton 3 (Higgins, Hatton, Jennngs og)

1952/53 Brighton 2 QPR 0

1947/48 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Hatton, McEwen)

1947/48 Brighton 0 QPR 5 (Hatton 3, Durrant 2)

1946/47 Brighton 0 QPR 2 (McEwen 2)

1946/47 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Hatton 2)

1938/39 QPR 1 Brighton 2 (Cheetham)

1938/39 Brighton 3 QPR 1 (Bott)

1937/38 Brighton 3 QPR 1 (Bott)

1937/38 QPR 2 Brighton 1 (Cheetham, Fitzgerald)

1936/37 Brighton 4 QPR 1 (Barrie)

1936/37 QPR 2 Brighton 3 (Bott, Lowe)

1936/37 QPR 5 Brighton 1** (Fitzgerald 3, Cheetham, McMahon)

1935/36 QPR 3 Brighton 2 (Cheetham, Lowe)

1935/36 Brighton 1 QPR 1 (Hammond)

1934/35 Brighton 5 QPR 1 (Allen)

1934/35 QPR 1 Brighton 2** (Crawford)

1934/35 QPR 2 Brighton 1 (Blackman, Abel)

1933/34 Brighton 0 QPR 1 (Blackman)

1933/34 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Clarke 2)

1932/33 Brighton 4 QPR 1 (Brown)

1932/33 QPR 0 Brighton 1

1931/32 Brighton 1 QPR 0

1931/32 QPR 1 Brighton 1 (Goddard)

1930/31 Brighton 1 QPR 1 (Rounce)

1930/31 QPR 4 Brighton 1 (Rounce 2, Burns, Coward)

1929/30 Brighton 2 QPR 3 (Goddard 3)

1929/30 QPR 3 Brighton 1 (Goddard 2, Marsden og)

1928/29 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Pierce)

1928/29 QPR 3 Brighton 2 (Young, Rounce, Goddard)

1927/28 QPR 5 Brighton 0 (Johnson 2, Rounce, Lofthouse, Young)

1927/28 Brighton 1 QPR 3 (Goddard 2, Lofthouse)

1926/27 QPR 2 Brighton 2 (Mustard, Lofthouse)

1926/27 Brighton 4 QPR 1 (Goddard)

1925/26 QPR 0 Brighton 2

1925/26 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Middleton)

1924/25 Brighton 5 QPR 0

1924/25 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Johnson 2)

1923/24 Brighton 3 QPR 0

1923/24 QPR 1 Brighton 0 (Parker)

1922/23 Brighton 2 QPR 0

1922/23 QPR 0 Brighton 0

1921/22 QPR 3 Brighton 0 (Birch 2, O’Brien)

1921/22 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Faulkner)

1920/21 QPR 4 Brighton 0 (Smith 3, Birch)

1920/21 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Gregory)

* - Football League Trophy

** - FA Cup

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QPRski added 13:35 - Apr 7
Roller, a great article.

I will fondly remember Dave Sexton and the fabulous team he built forever.
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