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Swansea v QPR Connections and Memories
Swansea v QPR Connections and Memories
Tuesday, 21st Oct 2008 12:55

A look back on some of the players that have featured for both clubs, and a memorable match, as the R's prepare to travel to South Wales.

Well it feels good to be back to winning ways doesn’t it? Ok it wasn’t the most convincing performance but a win is a win and the sight of Akos Buzsacky getting back to his best is a delight to see. I nearly wet my pants when the Budapest Bullet (a nickname according to Monday’s Sun) trapped the ball between his knees the tried to lob the keeper - imagine if that had gone in, White Pele indeed. Akos’ form will be vital as we head into two tough away games this week and first up is Roberto Martinez’s Swansea City. Unlike Doncaster and Forest , the Swans have adapted much better to life in the Championship after last season’s promotion and currently sit nicely in eleventh place just a point behind the R’s. So it won’t be easy for Iain Dowie and his men who will bid to become the first team to beat Swansea at the Liberty Stadium this season.

The R’s first travelled to Wales to play the Swans for an FA Cup tie in January 1914, winning 2-1. On our last visit at the Vetch Field was one to forget for gaffer Ian Holloway and Rangers losing 4-0 in a FA Cup 1st round tie in 2001. So let’s take a walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane once again.

Memorable Match
Swansea 1-2 QPR
September 15, 1979
Second Division
From Vital QPR

Underachieving Rangers came into the game at the Vetch off the back of a confidence boosting victory over west-London rivals, Fulham. The thumping 3-0 win at Loftus Road would have certainly helped the confidence of an inexperienced, injury-stricken Rangers side. Swansea were performing quite well in the league, ignoring the one large blip prior to the game in W12. The swans 5-0 defeat at Luton would have hurt John Toshack`s side, who were previously undefeated.

The Swans found the R`s a tough nut to crack as they early league table proved to be an unfair reflection on the sides performances. Some early pressure from Swansea proved to stand for nothing as that man Stan Bowles provided the cutting edge. The Welsh outfit had the lead early on as some good work from Liverpool stalwart Ian Callaghan and Alan Waddle created a chance that Charles finally took after a host of wasteful efforts. Bowles was the catalyst in a whirlwind ten minutes that handed the R`s the game and vital points at the Vetch. His cleverly taken free kick initially found Steve Burke unmarked, and the winger did the rest, firing a rasping drive beyond the outstretched Geoff Crudgington.

It was Bowles again who crafted the second goal which Swansea finished off. A jinking run down the right gave him some space before firing a low cross which Welsh international Nigel Stevenson slid into his own net.

Swansea: Crudgington, Attley, Phillips, Stevenson, Bartley, Rushbury, Mahoney (Baker), Craig, Charles, Waddle, Callaghan.

QPR: Woods, Shanks, Gillard, McCreery, Hazell, Roeder, Bowles, Currie, Allen, Goddard, Burke.

Postscript: Rangers managed to finish the season on a high, finishing narrowly short of promotion in fifth place. Swansea went on to finish a respectable mid-table, as they finished 12th.

Connections
Robbie James
Swansea 1973-83 & 1988-90
QPR 1984-87

Swansea born and bred, Robert Mark James graduated from Swansea City’s schoolboys to play for his hometown club-making his debut in April 1973 aged just sixteen. Over the next decade, James would go on to play almost 500 times for the Swans and became known as ‘the darling of the North Bank’. He was a pivotal part of the side that rose from the fourth to first division in just three seasons, helping the club to sixth place in the first season back in the top flight. His utility was seen as a vital commodity and could play as effectively in defence or midfield. James earned international recognition whilst at the Vetch Field and would go on to win 47 caps for his country. In 1983 and after ten seasons with Swansea, James looked for a fresh challenge in England and signed for Stoke City and despite being an ever-present in his season there moved on a year later to Queens Park Rangers. He made his debut from the subs bench against Arsenal in November 1984 and went on to be an important part of the R’s squad over the next four seasons.

Mainly playing as full-back for Rangers, Robbie’s enthusiasm and pace led him to playing out from the back and prompting the attack. James played his part in the team that went all the way to the League Cup Final in 1986 and although he played in the final, he couldn’t prevent Rangers from a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Oxford. A year later James left Loftus Road and signed for Leicester before appearing once again for his beloved Swansea and winding down his career with Bradford and Cardiff. He then had a brief spell in the Welsh Leagues and managed both Merthyr and Llanelli before his untimely death from a heart disease in 1998. Still seen as a true Swansea legend and a bust of James has recently been erected by the ticket offices at the Liberty Stadium.

Magic R’s Moment: Scoring the winner in a rare home victory over Arsenal in April 1985.

Kevin McLeod
QPR 2003-05
Swansea 2005-06

As a product of the Everton youth team, Kevin McLeod was a room-mate of Wayne Rooney but unfortunately for McLeod their career paths have taken distinctly different directions since their days at Goodison Park. Finding his first-team chances limited with the Toffees Ian Holloway brought the left-winger on a three month loan deal at the end of the 2002-03 campaign. He made his debut in a 1-0 defeat to Wigan but was an instrumental part of the Rangers side that reached the play-off final that season. The final itself was a disappointment though as McLeod suffered a 1-0 defeat to see Cardiff City promoted.

Kevin had done enough in his short stint in West London to impress both the Rangers fans and Holloway who forked out £250,000 that summer to bring him to QPR on a permanent basis. He didn’t disappoint either, his pace and tricky on the left of midfield gave a great balance to a Rangers squad that would go on to win automatic promotion to the Championship with a last day win over Sheffield Wednesday. The following campaign McLeod couldn’t quite reach the same standards and struggled in a league above, despite scoring at Villa Park in a Carling Cup defeat.

That January former R’s assistant manager Kenny Jackett swooped for the winger and he signed for Swansea City. He enjoyed a better vein of form in Wales, including scoring a hat-trick during a 7-1 romp over Bristol City, but was almost ditched by the club after breaking club rules by going drinking whilst injured. Boss Jackett put him on the transfer list but a run of bad injuries gave Kevin his chance and his form towards the end of the campaign got him another chance to try his luck at the league above with Colchester United . Where is was a case of two very different seasons for the U‘s, enjoying the first as a surprise package of that campaign before slumping last season to finish bottom of the league. McLeod turned down a new contract with the Essex side this summer and signed for fellow League One side Brighton.
Magic R’s Moment: Scoring a brace for the Superhoops against Luton in April 2003.

Others:
Gerry Francis QPR 1968-79 & 1981-82, Swansea 1984. Now a coach at Stoke City
Jeremy Charles Swansea 1977-83, QPR 1983-85
Leighton James QPR 1977-78, Swansea 1980-83. Now a pundit on Real Radio
Gary Chivers Swansea 1983-84, QPR 1984-87. Now unknown
Marcus Bean QPR 2002-06, Swansea (loan) 2005-06. Now at Brentford
Dennis Oli QPR 2001-04, Swansea 2004. Now at Gillingham
Karl Connelly QPR 2000-03, Swansea 2003-04. Now unknown
Leon Knight QPR 2001 (loan), Swansea 2006-07. Now at Rushden and Diamonds
Daniel Nardiello Swansea 2003 (loan), QPR 2007-08. Now at Blackpool
Tommy Williams QPR 2002-03 (loan), Swansea 2006-07. Now at Peterborough
Fans’ Memories
The only time I've done Swansea away! 1980/1981 Swansea City 1-2 Queen's Park Rangers. I've decided to protect my 100% record, I haven’t seen us lose to them at home either! 2004/2005 Queen's Park Rangers 3-0 Swansea City, 1980/1981 Swansea City 1-2 Queen's Park Rangers, Queen's Park Rangers 0-0 Swansea City, 1979/1980 Queen's Park Rangers 3-2 Swansea City, 1978/1979 Queen's Park Rangers 2-0 Swansea City -zranger

The scene of one of Holloway's greatest cup nights! 4-0 and could have been twice that, all live on the television. -Northernr

I was there for the 2-1 win - my second QPR game. Got Gary Waddock's autograph too. I'll be there tomorrow. -DaiHoop

Robbie James R.I.P. -Harkouk

Mamday Sidibe on tv, not nice.... -ganjr

Barry Silkman sauntering about the Vetch in pre-match pitch walkabout wearing high-waisted bright yellow flared trousers. Can't remember anything else from the day though! -Mersey Hoop

Remember a 1-0 win down there (don't recall the year).Thing I remember most is the police escort we got out of town with the bricks bouncing off the coach windows. Nice place. -QPR1882

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