With Brighton in town on Wednesday night, LFW looks back at the life of Dave Sexton who represented both clubs with such distinction.

Recent Meetings

QPR 1 Brighton 1, Saturday March 18, 2006, Championship

QPR were, just for a change, in a degree of turmoil when Brighton last played at Loftus Road back in 2006. A power struggle between chairman Gianni Paladini and manager Ian Holloway had resulted in the popular Bristolian leaving Loftus Road following a bizarre January game at Leeds where seven, mostly awful, new signings were all given their debuts in a 2-0 defeat. Paladini replaced Holloway with former fans favourite Gary Waddock, assisted by club legend Alan McDonald, and with the pair promising to play a more attractive brand of football than Rangers had previously been using, there was an initial upturn in results. The R’s secured an impressive 3-2 win at Sheffield United and beat Millwall at home 1-0. But they didn’t win again after that — eleven matches through March and April without a success. Some of the ways they found not to win games was farcical at times — 2-0 up at Norwich with 15 to play and lost, a ludicrous sending off and late own goal in a 2-1 set back at home to Watford — and the draw at home to Brighton was another self destruct moment. Gareth Ainsworth gave QPR an early lead but Kevin Gallen was sent off for grabbing Paul McShane’s face and the relegation haunted visitors snatched a point when Gary Hart’s hopefuly shot was turned into his own net by Marcus Bignot.

QPR: Jones 7, Bignot 5, Shittu 7, Evatt 6, Milanese 7, Ainsworth 8*, Bircham 6, Lomas 6, Cook 7 (Baidoo 62, 7), Gallen 6, Nygaard 6 (Youssouf 62, 7).

Subs Not Used: Royce, Santos, Langley.

Sent Off: Gallen (50)

Booked: Baidoo.

Goals: Ainsworth 13

Brighton: Henderson, Hinshelwood, McShane, Butters, El-Abd (Dodd 55), Carole (Gatting 58), Hammond, Carpenter, Frutos (Loft 65), Hart, Kazim-Richards.

Subs Not Used: Martin, Reid.

Booked: El-Abd, Hart

Goals: Bignot 80 (og)

Attendance: 13,907

Brighton 1 QPR 0, Monday December 26, 2005, Championship

Things hadn’t been any better in the first meeting between the two sides that season, at the Withdean Stadium on Boxing Day. Rangers were on a dire run of one win from their previous nine games and had lost a typically awful televised Monday night match at home to Coventry 1-0 just before Christmas. Simon Royce was sent off late in that game for conceding the match winning penalty so sat out the Boxing Day fixture with youth team graduate Jake Cole making his full first team debut instead. He had a baptism of fire, not only having to face the Coventry penalty on his first ever appearance for the senior team, but also conceding in this match after just seven minutes to veteran defender Guy Butters. With Stefan Moore leading the line Rangers were never likely to get back into the game and duly slipped to a 1-0 defeat, boosting Mark McGhee’s side’s chances of avoiding relegation. The match proved to be a sour experience for Charlie Oatway — the man famously named after the entire QPR side of 1973 — who fractured his ankle badly in the first four minutes of the game and was never the same player again thereafter.

Brighton: Kuipers, Reid, Butters, El-Abd, McShane, Hart, Oatway (Carpenter 4), Hammond, Frutos (Mayo 62), Knight (McCammon 61), Kazim-Richards.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Sullivan.

Booked: Hammond, Kazim-Richards, Reid.

Goals: Butters 7

QPR: Cole 7, Bignot 5, Evatt 5, Shittu 6, Bean 6 (Cook 61, 7), Ainsworth 6 (Bircham 75, 7), Rowlands 6, Dyer 5, Langley 6, Moore 5 (Nygaard 60, 7*), Furlong 6.

Subs Not Used: Milanese, Rose.

Booked: Rowlands, Bean.

Previous Results

Head to Head >>> QPR wins 30 >>> Draws 15 >>> Brighton wins 28

2005/06 QPR 1 Brighton 1 (Ainsworth)

2005/06 Brighton 1 QPR 0

2004/05 QPR 0 Brighton 0

2004/05 Brighton 2 QPR 3 (Gallen, Furlong, Rose)

2003/04 QPR 2 Brighton 1 (Gallen, Rowlands)

2003/04 QPR 2 Brighton 1* (Palmer, Thorpe)

2003/04 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Padula)

2001/02 QPR 0 Brighton 0

2001/02 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Thomson)

1972/73 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Francis, Bowles)

1972/73 Brighton 1 QPR 2 (Givens 2)

1966/67 Brighton 2 QPR 2 (R Morgan, Wilks)

1966/67 QPR 3 Brighton 0 (Marsh, Sanderson, Lazarus)

1965/66 Brighton 0 QPR 2 (Allen 2)

1965/66 QPR 4 Brighton 1 (Keen, Collins, Allen, McAdams)

1962/63 Brighton 2 QPR 2 (Bedford, Lazarus)

1962/63 QPR 2 Brighton 2 (Bedford, Lazarus)

1957/58 Brighton 1 QPR 1 (Longbottom)

1957/58 QPR 0 Brighton 1

1956/57 QPR 0 Brighton 0

1956/57 Brighton 1 QPR 0

1955/56 QPR 2 Brighton 1 (Clark, Cameron)

1955/56 Brighton 1 QPR 1 (Clark)

1954/55 QPR 3 Brighton 2 (Clark 2, Shepherd)

1954/55 Brighton 4 QPR 1 (Shepherd)

1953/54 Brighton 3 QPR 1 (Pounder)

1953/54 QPR 1 Brighton 2 (Shepherd)

1952/53 QPR 3 Brighton 3 (Higgins, Hatton, Jennngs og)

1952/53 Brighton 2 QPR 0

1947/48 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Hatton, McEwen)

1947/48 Brighton 0 QPR 5 (Hatton 3, Durrant 2)

1946/47 Brighton 0 QPR 2 (McEwen 2)

1946/47 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Hatton 2)

1938/39 QPR 1 Brighton 2 (Cheetham)

1938/39 Brighton 3 QPR 1 (Bott)

1937/38 Brighton 3 QPR 1 (Bott)

1937/38 QPR 2 Brighton 1 (Cheetham, Fitzgerald)

1936/37 Brighton 4 QPR 1 (Barrie)

1936/37 QPR 2 Brighton 3 (Bott, Lowe)

1936/37 QPR 5 Brighton 1** (Fitzgerald 3, Cheetham, McMahon)

1935/36 QPR 3 Brighton 2 (Cheetham, Lowe)

1935/36 Brighton 1 QPR 1 (Hammond)

1934/35 Brighton 5 QPR 1 (Allen)

1934/35 QPR 1 Brighton 2** (Crawford)

1934/35 QPR 2 Brighton 1 (Blackman, Abel)

1933/34 Brighton 0 QPR 1 (Blackman)

1933/34 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Clarke 2)

1932/33 Brighton 4 QPR 1 (Brown)

1932/33 QPR 0 Brighton 1

1931/32 Brighton 1 QPR 0

1931/32 QPR 1 Brighton 1 (Goddard)

1930/31 Brighton 1 QPR 1 (Rounce)

1930/31 QPR 4 Brighton 1 (Rounce 2, Burns, Coward)

1929/30 Brighton 2 QPR 3 (Goddard 3)

1929/30 QPR 3 Brighton 1 (Goddard 2, Marsden og)

1928/29 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Pierce)

1928/29 QPR 3 Brighton 2 (Young, Rounce, Goddard)

1927/28 QPR 5 Brighton 0 (Johnson 2, Rounce, Lofthouse, Young)

1927/28 Brighton 1 QPR 3 (Goddard 2, Lofthouse)

1926/27 QPR 2 Brighton 2 (Mustard, Lofthouse)

1926/27 Brighton 4 QPR 1 (Goddard)

1925/26 QPR 0 Brighton 2

1925/26 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Middleton)

1924/25 Brighton 5 QPR 0

1924/25 QPR 2 Brighton 0 (Johnson 2)

1923/24 Brighton 3 QPR 0

1923/24 QPR 1 Brighton 0 (Parker)

1922/23 Brighton 2 QPR 0

1922/23 QPR 0 Brighton 0

1921/22 QPR 3 Brighton 0 (Birch 2, O’Brien)

1921/22 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Faulkner)

1920/21 QPR 4 Brighton 0 (Smith 3, Birch)

1920/21 Brighton 2 QPR 1 (Gregory)

* - Football League Trophy

** - FA Cup

Connections

Dave Sexton >>> Brighton 1957-58 >>> QPR (manager) 1974-1977

Dave Sexton has gone down as arguably the greatest manager in QPR’s history for putting together the superb 1975/76 side that came within a whisker of winning the club the league title for the first and only time. As a player he scored 26 goals in 49 appearances for Rangers’ opponents on Wednesday night Brighton. November will mark a year since Sexton passed on and with Brighton in town this week LFW is re-running Roller’s tribute to the great man from last year….

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.

Visit the RollercoasterRanger blog by clicking here for more of Roller's thoughts on all things QPR.

Others >>> Bobby Zamora, QPR 2012-present, Brighton 2000-2003 >>> Gary Borrowdale, QPR 2008-2012, Brighton (loan) 2009 >>> Danny Cullip, QPR 2007-2008, Brighton 1999-2004 >>> Zesh Rehman, Brighton (loan) 2009, (loan) 2003-2004, QPR 2006-2009 >>> Nick Ward, QPR 2006-2007, Brighton (loan) 2007 >>> Georges Santos, Brighton 2006-2007, QPR 2004-2006 >>> Kevin McLeod, Brighton 2008-2010, QPR 2003-2005 >>> Leon Knight, Brighton 2003-2006, QPR (loan) 2001 >>> Simon Royce, QPR 2005-2007, Brighton (loan) 2001-2002 >>> Christer Warren, QPR 2000-2002, Brighton (loan) 1996 >>> Juergen Sommer, QPR 1995-1998, Brighton 1991-1992 >>> Dean Wilkins, Brighton 1987-1996, 1983-1984, QPR 1980-1983 >>> John Gregory, QPR (manager) 2006-2007, 1981-1985, Brighton 1979-1981 >>> John Byrne, Brighton 1990-1991, QPR 1984-1988 >>> Alan Mullery QPR (manager) 1984, Brighton (manager) 1976-1981 >>> Clive Walker, Brighton 1990-1993, QPR 1986-1987 >>> Michael Robinson, QPR 1984-1986, Brighton 1980-1983 >>> Don Shanks, Brighton 1981-1983, QPR 1974-1981 >>> Gary Chivers, Brighton 1988-1993, QPR 1984-1987 >>> Steve Burtenshaw, QPR (manager) 1978-1979, Brighton 1952-1956 >>> Barry Bridges, Brighton 1972-1974, QPR 1968-1970 >>> Jim Langley, QPR 1965-1967, Brighton 1953-1957 >>> Harry Gilberg, Brighton 1952-1956, QPR 1951-1952 >>> Bert Addinall, Brighton 1953-1954, QPR 1943-1953

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Photo: Action Images

18StoneOfHoop added 03:30 - Sep 17 Really enjoyed Roller's well-written appreciation and tribute to Dave Sexton the man behind our greatest-ever season. His comment 'I'm sure that I wasn't alone in crying myself to sleep..' as Wolves capitulated in the last 13 minutes v Liverpool in May '76. Me too; I was 10 years old and inconsolable,nothing my mum could do to stop the floods of tears as we listened to the terrible events from Molyneux on the radio. A lot of older R's fans have a bad feeling against Norwich dating back to April 17th 1976 when they were the only team to beat R's in the last 15,my lasting ire is for poxy Wolves - Derek Dougan,John Richards,Steve Kindon etcetera you utter weak b'staad old gold surrender monkeys. Bit surprised you picked the 2 bad for us games v Brighton of 2005/6 Clive, when if you go back a season there's the 3-2 win at Withdean in the middle of our record-equalling streak of seven straight wins with a rare - he scored 8 in 236 apps in his 10 years at the club - and very good Matty Rose goal. It can be seen in this vid at 1:19 min : Clive you have had your work cut out with previews and reports with these 3 games in 7 days but you still come up with superb,well researched,comprehensive excellent coverage.You hold down a full-time job & on top knock this stuff out in the wee small hours..prodigious stamina and dedication. You have mine,and I'm sure many others - especially the ex-pats - full thanks for your continued hard work and excellence. There. And to think I managed to write all that CW testimonial bit without mentioning 'brown nose' or 'is the cheque in the post?' once.

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QPRski added 08:05 - Sep 17 Dave Sexton at QPR. Happy memories. What a team. What a privilege to watch. Yet as you say, what heartache. I still feel the pain and tears of the Carrow Road loss as well as the suffering inflicted by AEK Athens after the joy of the 1st leg. However, there were so many true highs and ecstatic moment, that I wouldn't swap it for the world. Perhaps it was beacause I was very young and definitely quite naive, but football seemed so much simpler, genuine and emotional in those days. Guys, thanks for the great report and fantastic tribute to a great man.

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Northernr added 08:07 - Sep 17 The 2005.06 games were the last time we met mate, that bit at the top is always the last two meetings. We usually do a memorable match but time is not my friend this week as you've said. Probably do the 3-2 Matthew Rose game when we play them away.
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probbo added 13:03 - Sep 17 Such a good article that and I agree, it was the loss to Norwich that ultimately did for us. It was the first season my Dad took me to se the R's (I must have been 8) and we were in the Paddock for that season opener against Liverpool, cost £2 each for the tickets (which I still have at home); 27,000 in the crowd and with the (then) large loft terrace and the open away terrace both full. Someone may confirm it but i'm pretty sure Gerry Francis's goal won BBC goal of the month and goal of the season. In these days of squad rotation, our starting 11 remained virtually unchanged all season if I recall, with a combination of Leach, Busby and Abbot making the occasional appearance a sub. So we had Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Hollins, Mclintock, Webb, Thomas, Masson, Francis, Bowles and Givens, who pretty much stayed injury free all season.What a team. Rather like Venables in the early 80's one wonders what QPR might have achieved had Dave Sexton stayed on, although some of that 75/6 side were starting to get on a bit. Its all relative and the style of play when we won Div 2 in 1982/3 was right up there but that 75/6 season has yet to be surpassed imo.

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probbo added 13:15 - Sep 17 (Sorry I should have given more credit to Mickey Leach there, who actually made 31 appearances that season according to w'pedia. Abbot, Shanks, Tony Tagg (who I dont remember), Beck and Nutt were the other subs).
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GetMeRangers added 19:30 - Sep 18 18stone Hoop - classic quote from the first video. "As the cup final approached thousands of Manchester United fans flocked to London from all over the home counties"... wont bother with the necessary expletives
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