The career of Mark Lazarus, who played for both QPR and Brentford, comes into focus ahead of the two teams meeting at Loftus Road on Monday night.
Mark Lazarus >>> QPR 1960/61, 1962-64, 1966/67 >>> Brentford 1964-66
Born in Stepney in 1938, Lazarus was in the same Saturday side as Jimmy Greaves as a boy before he started playing non-league football with Barking where he was picked up by Leyton Orient, then managed by Alec Stock, in 1957. Lazarus, part of a large Jewish family, chose football over boxing despite some success in amateur bouts. One of his brothers, Lew, fought for the British title at welterweight and middleweight.
Stock left Brisbane Road for a brief stint in charge of Roma (imagine that) but when he returned to England with QPR he immediately signed Lazarus for the first time in September 1960. A year later he was off to Wolves for a club record fee of £27,500 in September 1961 only to return to Loftus Road in February 1962 after just nine games following a row with Molineux boss Stan Cullis.
In a recent interview with the Jewish Telegraph, Lazarus said: "I never, in my whole career, asked for a transfer and would have preferred to have stayed in London. Cullis was a sergeant major type who was never happy, even when we won. Nothing was good enough for him and we had a personality clash. Alec felt he had a responsibility to look after QPR financially too so I was seen as a saleable object."
He left for Brentford in April 1964 for £8,000 plus George McLeod but was back for a third, and most successful, stint in November 1965. He left for a third and final time, League Cup winner’s medal in pocket, to join Crystal Palace for £10,000 in November 1967 and just to really crown himself as the king of the comeback he finished up back at Orient again in 1969.
Lazarus was a fast, aggressive winger who scored 84 goals for the club in 235 appearances. The most important of those was the third Rangers goal at Wembley, crowning a comeback for the Third Division R’s from 2-0 down to defeat First Division West Brom 3-2. QPR were the first team from the third tier ever to compete for a major trophy at Wembley and any thought they may be overawed by going 2-0 down at half time were dispelled by goals from Roger Morgan, Rodney Marsh and finally Lazarus.
He said: "It was only a tap-in, it was not as though I beat three men and smashed the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the area. The lead-up to the final was tremendous, though. We had a great season. That final was the first game my mum and dad saw me play in. My dad had never been to a game in his life and he never went to any more after the final. My mum loved it though, and after that, she always came to see me play."
It was just rewards for the wide man, having scored three times in the earlier rounds of the competition that year including a 5-0 First Round win against Colchester where Marsh got the other four, the memorable Fourth Round home upset against top flight Leicester Citty when he got one in a 4-2 win with Les Allen and Roger Morgan bagging the other two, and finally one in a 4-1 home win against Birmingham in the first leg of the semi-final at Loftus Road. He also set up both goals in the 2-1 Fifth Round win against Carlisle.
Oddly, he’s probably equally well remembered for running down the wing at Loftus Road in just his y-fronts, shorts in hand, when the ball arrived at his feet at an inopportune moment during a kit change.
In retirement he worked in road haulage, and as a ‘minder’ for snooker players including Steve Davis.
By winning promotion from Division Three to Division Two with Orient in his final year as a professional it meant he’d finished his senior career with promotions in his last four seasons — two with QPR in 1967 and 1968, one from Second to the First with Palace in 1969 and then Orient in 1970 before he went back into the non-league game with Folkestone and later Wingate and Finchley.
Others >>> Jake Bidwell QPR 2016-present, Brentford 2011-2016 >>> DJ Campbell, QPR 2011-2013, Brentford 2005-2006 >>> Rowan Vine, Brentford (loan) 2010, (loan) 2002-2003, QPR 2007-2012 >>> Tommy Smith, Brentford 2014-2015, QPR 2010-2012 >>> Gavin Mahon, QPR 2008-2011, Brentford 1998-2002 >>> Martin Rowlands, QPR 2003-2012, Brentford 1998-2003 >>> Ian Holloway, QPR (manager) 2017-present, 2001-2006, 1991-1996, Brentford 1986-1987 >>> Ademola Bankole, Brentford 2005-2006, QPR 1998-2000 >>> Marcus Bean, Brentford 2008-2012, QPR 2002-2006 >>> Les Ferdinand, QPR 1987-1995, Brentford (loan) 1988 >>> Andy Sinton, QPR 1989-1993, Brentford 1985-1989 >>> Stan Bowles, QPR 1972-1979, Brentford 1981-1984 >>> Andy McCulloch Brentford 1976-1979, QPR 1970-1972 >>> George Goddard, Brentford 1933, QPR 1926-1933
Queens Park Rangers 1 Brentford 4, Tuesday August 22, 2017, Championship
QPR put out their usual nonsense starting 11, and suffered the standard humiliation as a result, as their catalogue of cup failures garnered another entry with a 4-1 thrashing by Brentford back in August. Steven Caulker, fresh from the pub, put in a wild tackle that allowed Romanie Sawyer to advance and force an own goal from Ariel Borysiuk in the tenth minute. Further goals from Egan and Maupay made it 3-0 before half time and although Darnell Furlong scored late in the first half and Rangers rallied after the break a fourth from Clarke added gloss to the scoreline late on.
QPR: Ingram 7; Furlong 7, Caulker 4 (Smith 75,6), Baptise 4, Robinson 5; Wszolek 5 (Mackie 69,6), Chair 6, Borysiuk 5, Manning 6 (Freeman 51, 6); Sylla 6, Ngbakoto 6
Subs not used: Lumley, Onuoha, Petrasso, Washington,
Goals: Furlong 43 (assisted Ngbakoto)
Brentford: Daniels, Clarke, Colin, Egan, Bjelland, Jozefzoon, Yennaris, Mokotjo (Woods 69), Sawyers, Chatzitheodoridis (Dalsgaard 77), Maupay (Shaibu 69).
Subs not used: Bentley, Watkins, Archibald, Mepham.
Goals: Borysiuk 10 (OG), Egan 19 (assisted Bjelland), Maupay 32 (assisted Sawyers), Clarke 83 (assisted Shaibu).
Brentford 3 Queens Park Rangers 1, Saturday April 28, 2017, Championship
QPR’s second run of six successive defeats last season was completed at Brentford at the end of April, with the hosts tearing Rangers apart from the off. Although Conor Washington volleyed wide early doors, the hosts deserved the lead handed them by Barbet’s header from a corner on the half hour. With Jota running riot against Jake Bidwell and Joel Lynch in atrocious form, it only got worse from there as the Spanish winger won a penalty from Lynch and converted it himself before humiliating Bidwell and scoring a third in open play. Lynch, somehow, got himself on the scoresheet, heading in from Freeman’s free kick, but the scoreline flattered the visitors and their bizarre team selection.
Brentford: Bentley 7; Colin 6 (Clarke 71, 6), Dean 7, Barbet 6, Henry 7; Woods 8, Yennaris 6; Jota 9, Sawyers 8, Canos 8 (Jozefzoon 71, 6); Vibe 8 (Shaibu 87, -)
Subs not used: Bonham, Hofmann, Egan, Kerschbaumer
Goals: Barbet 31 (assisted Jota), Jota 60 (penalty won Colin), 64 (assisted Yennaris)
Bookings: Jota 62 (over celebrating)
QPR: Smithies 6; Perch 4, Onuoha 5, Lynch 2, Bidwell 3; Mackie 5 (Sylla 67, 6), Goss 6 (Lua Lua 46, 6), Luongo 6, Freeman 6; Washington 6 (Ngbakoto 68, 5), Smith 6
Subs not used: Ingram, Wszolek, Manning, Furlong
Goals: Lynch 62 (assisted Freeman)
Bookings: Freeman 42 (foul), Perch 47 (foul), Lynch 60 (foul)
Queens Park Rangers 2 Brentford 0, Friday October 28, 2016, Championship
Brentford beat QPR with something to spare in the first meeting between the clubs this season. Alex Smithies had already saved from Sawyer and Hogan had curled a good chance wide when Josh Clarke opened the scoring before half time and although there was a suggestion of handball from Clarke in the build up to the second goal Sawyer’s finish was emphatic and the lead richly deserved. A late header from Idrissa Sylla, cleared off the line after dipping over keeper Bentley, was all QPR had to show for their meek efforts.
QPR: Smithies 6; Perch 5, Onuoha 5, Caulker 5, Robinson 5 (Wszolek 61, 6); Cousins 5, Borysiuk 5 (Gladwin 81, -), Luongo 5; Washington 5 (Polter 69, 4), Chery 4, Sylla 4
Subs not used: Hamalainen, Ingram, Hall, Henry
Bookings: Borysiuk 16 (foul), Chery 67 (dissent)
Brentford: Bentley 6; Colin 7, Dean 8, Egan 8, Bjellend 7; Woods 8; Yennaris 7, Clarke 8 (Kerschbaumerat 90+1), -, McEachran 7 (MacLeod 71, - (Kaikai 87, -)), Sawyers 7; Hogan 7
Subs not used: Hofmann, Bonham, Barbet, Onariase
Goals: Clarke 42 (assisted McEachran), Sawyers 74 (assisted Colin)
Bookings: Dean 6 (foul)
Queens Park Rangers 3 Brentford 0, Saturday March 12, 2016, Championship
QPR snapped a 16-match run of London derbies without a victory, and avenged a defeat at Brentford earlier in the season, by comprehensively beating the Bees 3-0 at Loftus Road in March last year. Junior Hoilett got things underway with the club's Goal of the Season from 25 yards and although the visitors threatened from range before half time, nerves were settled after the break when Chery played in Polter for a simple second. Chery iced the cake himself, taking the ball on the run from Ale Faurlin and finishing into the far corner 20 minutes from time.
QPR: Smithies 6; Onuoha 7, Angella 6, Hill 7, Perch 7; Faurlin 6, Henry 8 (El Khayati 82, -); Phillips 6, Chery 8 (Luongo 74, 6), Hoilett 8; Polter 8 (Mackie 85, -)
Subs not used: Washington, Tozser, Ingram, Kpekawa
Goals: Hoilett 38 (unassisted), Polter 66 (assisted Chery), Chery 71 (assisted Faurlin)
Bookings: Polter 45 (repetitive fouling), Henry 48 (foul), Hoilett 49 (foul), Luongo 90+1 (foul)
Brentford: Button 5; Yennaris 5, Dean 5, Barbet 5, Bidwell 5; McCormack 4; Canos 6 (Vibe 64, 5) McEachran 5 (Kerschbaumer 76, 5), Woods 7, Swift 5 (Saunders 76, 5), Judge 6
Subs not used: Djuricin, Bonham, O’Connell, Clarke
Bookings: Canos 32 (foul), Woods 48 (retaliation)
Brentford 1 Queens Park Rangers 0, Friday October 30, 2015, Championship
Brentford beat QPR in a competitive fixture for the first time in 50 years when these sides met at Griffin Park towards the end of Chris Ramsey's unhappy spell as Rangers boss. Massimo Luongo led a one-man mission to prevent the loss in the first half, heading against the bar with one effort and then curling another against the inside of the far post. But the game was won when Alan Judge raced in behind Nedum Onuoha and crossed for Djuricin to slam in from close range.
Brentford: Button 6; Yennaris 6, Dean 7, Tarkowski 6, Bidwell 6; McCormack 6 (Vibe 82, -), Diagouraga 7; Woods 6, Swift 6, Judge 7 (Kerschbaumer 77, 6); Djuricin 7 (Hoffman 90, -)
Subs not used: Bonham, O’Connell, Gogia, Canos
Goals: Djuricin 56 (assisted Judge)
Bookings: McCormack 20 (ungentlemanly), Djuricin 86 (time wasting)
QPR: Green 6; Onuoha 5, Hall 7, Hill 6 (Perch 76, 6), Konchesky 5; Henry 6, Tozser 5; Phillips 5, Luongo 6 (Hoilett 67, 5), Chery 5 (Austin 63, 5), Emmanuel Thomas 4
Subs not used: Doughty, Faurlin, Smithies, Polter
Booked: Hill 20 (ungentlemanly), Tozser 24 (foul), Phillips 80 (foul)
Head to Head >>> QPR wins 22 >>> Draws 23 >>> Brentford wins 25
2017/18 QPR 1 Brentford 4** (Furlong)
2016/17 Brentford 3 QPR 1 (Lynch)
2016/17 QPR 0 Brentford 2
2015/16 QPR 3 Brentford 0 (Hoilett, Chery, Polter)
2015/16 Brentford 1 QPR 0
2003/04 Brentford 1 QPR 1 (Furlong)
2003/04 QPR 1 Brentford 0 (Thorpe)
2002/03 Brentford 1 QPR 2 (Shittu, Bircham)
2002/03 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Bircham)
2001/02 Brentford 0 QPR 0
2001/02 QPR 0 Brentford 0
1965/66 QPR 1 Brentford 0 (R Morgan)
1965/66 Brentford 6 QPR 1 (R Morgan)
1964/65 Brentford 5 QPR 2 (I Morgan, Keen)
1964/65 QPR 1 Brentford 3 (Keen)
1963/64 QPR 2 Brentford 2 (Bedford 2)
1963/64 Brentford 2 QPR 2 (Bedford 2)
1961/62 Brentford 1 QPR 4 (Bedford 2, McCelland, Reeves og)
1961/62 QPR 3 Brentford 0 (Towers, Bedford, Evans)
1960/61 Brentford 2 QPR 0
1960/61 QPR 0 Brentford 0
1959/60 Brentford 1 QPR 1 (Golding)
1959/60 QPR 2 Brentford 4 (Bedford 2)
1958/59 Brentford 1 QPR 0
1958/59 QPR 1 Brentford 2 (Kerrins)
1957/58 Brentford 1 QPR 1 (Cameron)
1957/58 QPR 1 Brentford 0 (Petchey)
1956/57 QPR 2 Brentford 2 (Longbottom, Bargie og)
1956/57 Brentford 2 QPR 0
1955/56 Brentford 2 QPR 0
1955/56 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Cameron)
1954/55 Brentford 1 QPR 1 (Clark)
1954/55 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Clark)
1951/52 Brentford 0 QPR 0
1951/52 Brentford 3 QPR 1* (Shepherd)
1951/52 QPR 3 Brentford 1 (Gilberg, Shepherd, Smith)
1950/51 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Davies)
1950/51 Brentford 2 QPR 1 (Addinall)
1949/50 Brentford 0 QPR 2 (Hatton, Wardle)
1949/50 QPR 3 Brentford 3 (Pattison 2, Pointon)
1948/49 Brentford 0 QPR 3 (Hudson, Pointon, Duggan)
1948/49 QPR 2 Brentford 0 (Hartburn, Hudson)
1945/46 Brentford 0 QPR 0*
1945/46 QPR 1 Brentford 3* (Pattison)
1932/33 Brentford 2 QPR 0
1932/33 QPR 2 Brentford 3 (Goddard, Brown)
1931/32 QPR 1 Brentford 2 (Cribb)
1931/32 Brentford 1 QPR 0
1930/31 QPR 3 Brentford 1 (Goddard 2, Howe)
1930/31 Brentford 5 QPR 3 (Coward, Wiles, Nixon)
1929/30 Brentford 3 QPR 0
1929/30 QPR 2 Brentford 1 (Rounce, Goddard)
1928/29 QPR 2 Brentford 2 (Coward, Herod)
1928/29 Brentford 1 QPR 1 (Smith)
1927/28 Brentford 0 QPR 3 (Goddard 2, Burns)
1927/28 QPR 2 Brentford 3 (Lofthouse 2)
1926/27 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Hawley)
1926/27 Brentford 4 QPR 2 (Patterson, Goddard)
1925/26 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Burgess)
1925/26 Brentford 1 QPR 2 (Johnson, Birch)
1924/25 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Brown)
1924/25 Brentford 0 QPR 1 (Brown)
1923/24 Brentford 0 QPR 1 (Birch)
1923/24 QPR 1 Brentford 0 (Parker)
1922/23 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Marsden)
1922/23 Brentford 1 QPR 3 (Parker 2, Birch)
1921/22 QPR 1 Brentford 1 (Smith)
1921/22 Brentford 5 QPR 1 (Birch)
1920/21 QPR 1 Brentford 0 (Birch)
1920/21 Brentford 0 QPR 2 (Smith 2)
* - FA Cup
** - League Cup
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