QPR face Carlisle in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday, Ashleigh Rose uses the opportunity to talk about Stan Bowles for a bit. And why not?

Having got back to winning ways at the weekend with a comfortable 2-0 win over Doncaster, Rangers go into somewhat unknown territory this Tuesday - the League Cup second round. Their opponents are Carlisle United, coming back off a goalless draw with Leyton Orient at the weekend they are unbeaten so far this season. And after just missing out on promotion last year Carlisle will provide an even bigger threat then Swindon did in round one.

The sides first met in cup competition in 1964, Carlisle knocking out the R’s in the third round of the FA Cup. While the last time we met in this competition in 1995 Rangers came out 3-0 winners over two legs with Les Ferdinand, Bradley Allen and Clive Wilson getting the goals. But there are a few more cup memories to savour in between as we walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane.

Memorable Match
Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Carlisle United
7 December 1966
League Cup 5th round
Following on from the Doncaster memorable match, we stay in the same season for a League Cup tie between the two teams in December 1966. Rangers had started off their League Cup campaign in style disposing of Colchester United 5-0 in the first round then going on to knock out Aldershot, Swansea and Leicester to earn their place in round five against Carlisle. Carlisle were enjoying a good season themselves, looking down on the rest at the top of Division Two, so went into the game as favourites against their lower league opposition. Over 19,000 packed into Loftus Road to see if Rangers could upset the odds and they were not disappointed. In a season where giant killing would prove to be their speciality, it was the R’s star player Rodney Marsh who was the difference in a tight game against the Cumbrians. His two typical Marsh helped Rangers secure the win to secure their spot in the Semi-Finals. It wouldn’t be the last time Marsh and Rangers enjoyed a giant killing in the League Cup that season….

QPR: Springett, Watson, Langley, Keen, Hunt, Sibley, Lazarus, Sanderson, Allen, Marsh, R Morgan

Post script: Rangers went into the last four and demolished Birmingham 7-2 over two legs, before the greatest achievement in the clubs history. A month later at Wembley saw QPR defeat First Division West Brom 3-2 to win the League Cup. Carlisle however didn’t mange to stay top of Division 2 and failed to win promotion.

Player Connections
Stanley Bowles
Carlisle 1971-72
QPR 1972-79
Quite simple one if not the best player to ever don the blue and white hoops of Queens Park Rangers. I am unfortunately not old enough to have ever seen Stan in action but know enough from DVDs and family members or older R’s reminding me on a weekly basis that Bowles was something special. Stanley actually started his career at Manchester City but his maverick behaviour didn’t impress Malcolm Allison and was soon on the move to first Bury then fourth division Crewe. His goals and skill in just one season at Gresty Road caught the attention of the bigger clubs and was soon snapped up by Carlisle United. Now two leagues higher, United thought it would take time for Bowles to adapt to the league but he excelled and is still regarded as one of the best ever players to play for Carlisle.

Despite his displays, the team as a whole wasn’t impressive and Ian McFarlane, the man who bought Bowles to the club was replaced by Alan Ashman. Bowles saw this as opportunity to move on again and to a team in the top-flight where his talent belonged. So in September 1972, after scoring 13 goals in 36 games for the Cumbrians, Stan moved to Queens Park Rangers for £112,000, after manager Gordon Jago convinced Stan that his style of play would fit in perfect with the likes of Gerry Francis and Terry Venables. Rangers fans had just seen their star player Rodney Marsh move on and were desperate for someone to replace him and his number 10 shirt, in Stan they found the perfect fit.

Over the next seven years Bowles was part of the greatest ever Queens Park Rangers side and became the darling of Loftus Road. Helping the R’s to second place in 1976, their highest ever league position, only being piped to the title by Liverpool a week after the last day. The following season Stan led Rangers into the UEFA Cup and showcased his unbelievable talent to the whole of Europe. He netted two hat-tricks in the first round against Brann Bergan before helping the R’s get all the way to the quarter-finals and finish as the tournament’s top scorer with eleven goals. Of course much was made of Stan’s drinking and gambling but on the pitch he was a maverick and one to this my day my Dad says that for pure entertainment only Best was better. While at Loftus Road, Bowles gained international recognition and played in Alf Ramsey’s last game as England manager. Sadly despite his mercurial talent he only gained five caps for his country due to his off field problems, but it was an era that England really could have done with someone like him in the team. Stan left the Superhoops in 1979 to join Nottingham Forest. He enjoyed further spells at Leyton Orient and Brentford before retiring in 1984. Can now be found as a regular down at Loftus Road and as an after dinner speaker.
Did you know? He may have only won 5 caps for England but played under three different managers! Alf Ramsey, Joe Mercer and Don Revie.

Paul Murray
Carlisle 1994-96, 2006-07
QPR 1996-2001
Born and bred in Carlisle, Muzza made his debut for his hometown club as an 18 year old in 1994. The midfielder showed composure in the centre of the park way beyond his years and wasn’t long before scouts started to appear at Brunton Park. It was Ray Wilkins who spotted the young man first and after just over forty games for Carlisle Murray joined QPR for £300,000 just before the end of the 1995-96 season. It wasn’t the best time to join the club as the R’s were about to be relegated from the top flight for the first time since the mid-eighties but it didn’t deter Paul and he became a permanent part of the Rangers first team as they tried to bounce back to the Premier League. His displays in the R’s midfield earned him international recognition, gaining four England U21 caps and an England B cap against Chile in his time at Loftus Road.

But his career was interrupted by a series of injuries including a horrible leg break in a game against Norwich that helped lead to his Rangers exit. Although he moved on to Premier League side Southampton Murray only played one game for the Saints because of persistent injuries before joining Oldham. He spent three seasons at Oldham, and returned to Loftus Road with a goal for his new club, before a spell abroad at Portuguese side Beira-Mar. He re-joined Carlisle at the start of the 2006-07 season. But despite scoring on the opening day he enjoyed just one season at his old stomping ground and was released at the end of the campaign. Last season saw Paul turn out for Scottish side Gretna but after their financial problems over the summer he is now at League Two side Shrewsbury Town. One of my personal favourite players in the mid-nineties.
Did you know? Beira-Mar the Portuguese club Murray played for also boast Eusebio, Pavel Srnicek and Andy Marriott as former players.

Others:
Clive Allen QPR 1978-80, 1981-84, Carlisle 1995. Now on coaching staff at Tottenham.
Frank Clarke QPR 1968-70, Carlisle 1971-78
Ivor Powell QPR 1938-48, Carlisle (Manager) 1960-63

Fans’ Memories
Carlisle was the scene of a famous incident with my Grandad where, upon entering a very small pub with mirrors on opposite facing walls, he said "this place is a lot bigger than it looks from outside." - -Northernr

I still have the programme for the home game against Carlisle when Stan played for the away side, I think just before we bought him. - -Old Nick

My 1st ever game was against Carlisle in 1975,we won 2-1.I think it was their only season in the top flight. - Lawski

Our great League Cup season was all wonderful but for the 19,000 of us that were at Loftus Road that night that we beat Carlisle the magic moment of the whole season was seeing the one and only Mark Lazarus picking up the ball on the Elerslie side, just past the halfway line, heading towards The Loft. Where the great "CLAN" were making so much noise. He skipped past a Carlisle defender who despairingly, reached backwards, grabbed Lazarus' shorts and as Mark jinked down the wing, off came the shorts. No jockstap in sight, Mark grabbed the shorts, waved them round his head and continued on his merry way, with his marriage tackle in full view, put in a great cross, but the ref had already blown up for a foul. I think that he was on the verge of giving Laz a yellow, but thought better of it.

One of the great moments of QPR history. - Ron Gould


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