With Charlton visiting Loftus Road this Saturday, LFW looks back at the career of Bradley Allen who scored against the R’s for the Addicks after spending a decade with the Super Hoops.

Recent Meetings

Charlton 2 QPR 2, Friday December 26, 2008, Championship

Charlton hadn’t won in 14 matches and were rock bottom of the division when these sides last met at The Valley on Boxing Day in 2008. Rangers, under Paulo Sousa’s management, seemed to be on an upward trajectory with for improving and a thrilling 3-2 pre-Christmas win against Preston under their belts. But Sousa made nine changes to his side for the trip to South London, including leaving out Heidar Helguson despite two goals and a man of the match performance against PNE. The result was a poor performance which twice saw Rangers blow a lead — Lee Cook’s free kick cancelled out by Nicky Bailey, then Dexter Blackstock’s goal equalised by Bailey for a second time. They still could have won mind, with a late goal by Emmanuel Ledesma chalked off for offside.

Charlton: Elliot 7, Cranie 5, Fortune 6, Hudson 4, McEveley 5, Sam 8, Semedo 7 (Holland 89, -), Bailey 8, Bouazza 6 (Basey 80, 6),Waghorn 4 (Burton 71, 4), Gray 4

Subs Not Used: Weaver, Shelvey

Booked: McEveley (foul), Cranie (foul), Semedo (off the ball incident)

Goals: Bailey 49 (assisted Sam), 79 (assisted Cranie)

QPR: Cerny 4, Ramage 5, Hall 6, Gorkss 7, Connolly 5, Leigertwood 6, Alberti 6 (Ephraim 60, 7), Cook 7 (Ledesma 67, 7), Rowlands 6, Blackstock 6, Di Carmine 4 (Helguson 81, 7)

Subs Not Used: Mahon, Agyemang

Booked: Alberti (foul), Cook (off the ball incident), Connolly (kicking the ball away)

Goals: Cook 18 (freekick), Blackstock 68 (assisted Leigertwood)

QPR 2 Charlton 1, Tuesday November 25, 2008, Championship

QPR won 2-1 against the struggling Addicks the last time these sides met at Loftus Road on a midweek night in November 2008. It certainly was not a particularly good performance from Rangers in Paulo Sousa’s first match in charge but following on from the 3-0 defeat at Watford this was a welcome relief. Dexter Blackstock gave QPR a first half lead with a neat finish but Charlton swiftly drew level with a nicely worked goal of their own from Therry Racon. That looked to the end of it as the second half threatened to peter out but, really from nothing, Rangers won the game when a super cross from Hogan Ephraim found Blackstock at the back post and he planted a quite magnificent header beyond keeper Nicky Weaver for the winner.

QPR: Cerny 6, Ramage 6, Stewart 7, Gorkss 7, Delaney 5, Ephraim 6, Tommasi 5 (Mahon 62, 6) Leigertwood 6, Parejo 6 (Ledesma 73, 6), Di Carmine 5 (Agyemang 46, 7), Blackstock 7

Subs Not Used: Cole, Oastler

Booked: Leigertwood (foul), Delaney (foul), Ephraim (foul)

Goals: Blackstock 17 (assisted Tommasi), 80 (assisted Ephraim)

Charlton: Weaver 5, Cranie 5 (Sam 82, -), Primus 6, Hudson 6, Youga 5, Gillespie 6, Racon 7, Semedo 6, Bouazza 7, Waghorn 5 (Varney 62, 5), Gray 5

Subs Not Used: Elliot, Holland, Fortune

Booked: Hudson (foul)

Goals: Racon 30 (assisted Bouazza)

Previous Results

Head to Head >>> QPR wins 21 >>> Draws 21 >>> Charlton wins 22

2008/09 Charlton 2 QPR 2 (Cook, Blackstock)

2008/09 QPR 2 Charlton 1 (Blackstock 2)

2007/08 QPR 1 Charlton 0 (Blackstock)

2007/08 Charlton 0 QPR 1 (Bolder)

1999/00 Charlton 2 QPR 1 (Taylor)

1999/00 Charlton 1 QPR 0*

1999/00 QPR 0 Charlton 0

1998/99 Charlton 1 QPR 0

1998/99 QPR 0 Charlton 2

1997/98 Charlton 1 QPR 1 (Peacock pen)

1997/98 QPR 2 Charlton 4 (Sheron 2)

1996/97 Charlton 2 QPR 1 (Dichio)

1996/97 QPR 1 Charlton 2 (Sinclair)

1989/90 Charlton 1 QPR 0

1989/90 QPR 0 Charlton 1

1988/89 QPR 1 Charlton 0 (Sinton)

1988/89 Charlton 1 QPR 1 (T Francis)

1988/89 QPR 2 Charlton 1** (T Francis 2)

1987/88 QPR 2 Charlton 0 (Falco, Byrne)

1987/88 Charlton 0 QPR 1 (Coney)

1986/87 Charlton 2 QPR 1 (Rosenior)

1986/87 QPR 0 Charlton 0

1986/87 Charlton 1 QPR 0**

1982/83 QPR 5 Charlton 1 (Sealy 2, Hazell, Gregory, Stainrod)

1982/83 Charlton 1 QPR 3 (Micklewhite 2, Sealy)

1981/82 QPR 4 Charlton 0 (C Allen 3, Fenwick)

1981/82 Charlton 1 QPR 2 (Stainrod, Allen)

1979/80 Charlton 2 QPR 2 (C Allen 2)

1979/80 QPR 4 Charlton 0 (C Allen 2, Roeder, Bowles)

1975/76 Charlton 0 QPR 3** (Thomas, Masson, Bowles)

1975/76 QPR 1 Charlton 1** (Bowles)

1971/72 QPR 2 Charlton 0 (Francis, Leach)

1971/72 Charlton 2 QPR 1 (Clement)

1970/71 Charlton 0 QPR 3 (McCulloch 2, Marsh)

1970/71 QPR 1 Charlton 4 (Leach)

1969/70 Charlton 1 QPR 1 (Watson)

1969/70 Charlton 2 QPR 3* (Marsh 2, Clarke)

1969/70 QPR 1 Charlton 1 (Methick)

1967/68 Charlton 3 QPR 3 (R Morgan 2, Marsh)

1967/68 QPR 2 Charlton 1 (I Morgan, L Allen)

1934/35 Charlton 3 QPR 1 (J Allen)

1934/35 QPR 0 Charlton 3

1933/34 Charlton 1 QPR 2 (Emmerson, Blackman)

1933/34 QPR 2 Charlton 1 (Blackman, Clarke)

1929/30 QPR 0 Charlton 3*

1929/30 Charlton 1 QPR 1* (Goddard)

1928/29 Charlton 2 QPR 2 (Coward, Rounce)

1928/29 QPR 2 Charlton 2 (Goddard 2)

1927/28 QPR 3 Charlton 3 (Goddard 2, Burns)

1927/28 Charlton 1 QPR 0

1926/27 QPR 2 Charlton 1 (Goddard 2)

1926/27 Charlton 2 QPR 0

1925/26 Charlton 1 QPR 1 (Burgess)

1925/26 QPR 2 Charlton 2 (Burgess, Brown)

1925/26 Charlton 1 QPR 0*

1925/26 QPR 1 Charlton 1* (Hirst)

1924/25 QPR 0 Charlton 0

1924/25 Charlton 2 QPR 0

1923/24 Charlton 3 QPR 0

1923/24 QPR 0 Charlton 0

1922/23 Charlton 1 QPR 1 (Birch)

1922/23 QPR 1 Charlton 2 (Birch)

1921/22 QPR 3 Charlton 1 (Chandler, Smith, O’Brien)

1921/22 Charlton 1 QPR 1 (Chandler)

* - FA Cup

** - League Cup

Connections

Bradley Allen >>> QPR 1988-1995 >>> Charlton 1995-1999

There is certainly no shortage of goals from the famous Allen family as you glance down the list of past results between QPR and Charlton. Les scored against the Addicks in 1968 and his son Clive bagged seven in just four appearances between 1979 and 1981.
But Les’ other son, Clive’s younger brother, Bradley made a goal scoring contribution to this fixture in Charlton red, rather than blue and white hoops. Allen Jnr scored a late winner in a 2-1 Charlton win on this ground in November 1996, his first return to Loftus Road after being sold that summer for £400,000.

That was so typical of QPR in so many ways, especially as I never thought he should have been sold in the first place, and certainly not for as little as the paltry £400,000 Rangers received for him.

Allen had initially progressed through the youth ranks at Rangers in the late 1980s when Jim Smith, and later Trevor Francis, were in charge. Following in the footsteps of Les and Clive could have been a daunting prospect for the young forward, but he showed few signs of nerves when his first team chances came alone. Indeed a sharp turn and strike in a 202 draw at West ham during the 1991/92 campaign bore striking resemblance to a famous goal his brother had scored at the same end of the same ground during his time with Rangers.

That sharpness in front of goal shone through with another finish from an impossible angle at the Loft End against champions elect Leeds United and when the First Division gave way to the new Premier League Allen started to make real headlines. He followed Les Ferdinand and Andy Sinton in bagging a hat trick against Everton in a 3-0 win at Goodison Park in 1993/94 and scored twice in eight appearances for the England Under 21 squad.

Allen seemed like the perfect partner for Les Ferdinand — all craft with a nose for goal alongside the raw pace and power of QPR’s England international centre forward. Although you could point to the emergence of Kevin Gallen at Loftus Road as a reason for him becoming less involved, Gerry Francis had been leaving him out before that — a typically well executed goal as a substitute in a televised defeat at Nottingham Forest was met by co-commentator Andy Gray saying: “the best thing to do if you’re a striker unhappy at not playing is to get an important goal for your manager.”

It was even more of a mystery to me that Allen still didn’t always make the side — albeit while struggling for fitness — after Ferdinand had left and with QPR on the cusp of relegation in 1995/96. A crucial missed penalty at the Loft End against Chelsea in a 2-1 defeat didn’t do his cause much good, although he had scored the Rangers goal in open play that evening, but he seemed underused to me and the decision to sell him that summer blew up in the club’s face when Gallen ruptured his knee ligaments in the second game of the First Division season.

At Charlton Allen would eventually be usurped by the wonderful Clive Mendonca but he managed 11 goals in 48 appearances across three seasons as Alan Curbishley brought Premier League football to The Valley.

Mendonca moved to Charlton from Grimsby and with the Mariners struggling to replace him on their meagre budget, manager at the time Alan Buckley spotted an opportunity to bring Allen the opposite direction in 1999. Allen struggled with homesickness while living up north, but was popular at Blundell Park and scored 21 goals in 51 starts and 41 substitute appearances.

As his career wound down he spent brief spells with Bristol Rovers, Peterborough, and non-league Hornchurch when they were throwing money around. He has coached the junior teams at Tottenham and regularly commentates on QPR games for BBC Radio.

Always a player I’ve felt was underused by QPR, and one who should figure a lot more prominently in people’s thoughts when we’re talking about the stars of Rangers’ time in the Premier League.

Others >>> Luke Young, QPR 2011-present, Charlton 2001-2007 >>> Jay Bothroyd, QPR 2011-2013, Charlton 2005-2006 >>> Hogan Ephraim, QPR 2008-present, Charlton (loan) 2011 >>> Rob Hulse, Charlton (loan) 2012-2013, QPR 2010-2013 >>> Leon Clarke, Charlton 2012-2013, QPR 2010-2011, (loan) 2006 >>> Marcus Bent, QPR (loan) 2010, Charlton 2006-2008 >>> Scott Sinclair, Charlton (loan) 2008, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> Gary Borrowdale, Charlton (loan) 2010, QPR 2008-2013 >>> Martin Cranie, Charlton (loan) 2008-2009, (loan) 2007 >>> Lee Cook, Charlton (loan) 2012, (loan) 2008, QPR 2008-2012, 2004-2007, (loan) 2002-2003 >>> Simon Walton, QPR 2007-2008, Charlton 2006-2007 >>> Simon Royce, QPR 2005-2007, Charlton 2003-2005, 1998-1999 >>> Jerome Thomas, Charlton 2004-2008, QPR (loan) 2002 >>> Danny Shittu, QPR 2011-2012, 2001-2006, Charlton 1999-2002 >>> Carl Leaburn, QPR 2000-2001, Charlton 1987-1998 >>> Kevin Lisbie, Charlton 1996-2007, QPR (loan) 2000-2001 >>> Jermaine Darlington, QPR 1999-2001, Charlton 1992-1993 >>> QPR Nicky Johns, QPR 1988-1989, Charlton 1979-1988 >>> Alan McDonald, QPR 1981-1997, Charlton (loan) 1983 >>> Mick Flanagan, Charlton 1983-1986, 1971-1979, QPR 1980-1982 >>> Andy Pape, QPR 1979-1980, Charlton 1980-1981 >>> Stuart Leary, QPR 1962-1966, Charlton 1950-1962 >>> Alec Stock, QPR (manager) 1959-1968, 1938-1939, Charlton 1935-1936

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qprninja added 10:40 - Nov 21 I always liked Bradley Allen, and was also always disappointed that his QPR career never properly hit the heights it perhaps should have. He scored one of my favourite ever Loftus Road goals, can't remember who it was against but he was out tight to the left touchline by the Ellerslie Road stand, a good 25-30 yards out and hit a superb angled dipping half volley over the keeper into the far corner, fantastic.

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TacticalR added 11:10 - Nov 21 Clive Allen always used to do well against Charlton. I also liked Bradley Allen, but I had the feeling that he was seen as a dogged player rather than a skillful one. Perhaps he just suffered from being compared to his brother.
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Antti_Heinola added 11:15 - Nov 21 Nice article Clive. Always liked Brad and felt he never quite reached the heights he might've done. Was a deadly finisher, generally, too. That pen miss v Chelsea was heartbreaking.
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MrSheen added 15:45 - Nov 21 qprninja - I think it was Sheffield United in about 1993 - van Basten couldn't have done better. We still lost though. I remember him scoring a similar goal in a League Cup game at Bury about the same time...showing off because my brother lived around the corner from Gigg Lane.
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CiderwithRsie added 22:52 - Nov 21 Yeah, a good player was Bradley and I couldn't agree more about being underused. I never felt he was the automatic first choice, he always had Penrice or Gallen or someone breathing down his neck. Perhaps unsurprisingly given his pedigree, I reckon he had one of the best footballing brains in our side at the time - very often got himself in just the right place. And he could score cracking goals too, so he had the technical ability. But somehow it didn't translate into regular goalscoring - he'd score a few, then go though a fallow patch and get dropped. I always remember that in the youth team he had a striking partner called Kevin Kingsmore from N. Ireland and every match programme seemed to record a stack of goals for one or the other of them for the U21s. At the time we hadn't really replaced bannister and Byrne so I thought Allen and Kingsmore were going to be the future but Kingsmore never even made it into the 1st team. Funny old thing, life.

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