Following the passing of arguably QPR’s greatest ever manager, Dave Sexton, at the weekend, guest columnist Roller remembers the great man.
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.
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Pictures – Action Images