Spencer settles Pompey riot on the pitch – History Thursday, 17th Oct 2024 19:28 by Clive Whittingham With Portsmouth back in town for a first league meeting in more than ten years this Saturday, we’re looking back to another long overdue meeting from 1997 when absence most definitely had not created any great fondness between the two sets of supporters. Memorable MatchQueens Park Rangers 2 Portsmouth 1, Saturday March 22, 1997, First Division Given the players they had at their disposal, it still remains something of a sporting catastrophe that QPR’s class of 1996/97 didn’t even make the play-offs. Relegated from the Premier League the year before they kept hold of the likes of David Bardsley, Rufus Brevett, Andy Impey, Trevor Sinclair, Alan McDonald and Danny Maddix from a side that had finished fifth in the top flight as recently as 1993 and eighth just the year before it dropped down. An impressive collection of youngsters like Kevin Gallen, Danny Dichio and Nigel Quashie were in situ along with the shrewd addition of Paul Murray who would earn England B honours that season. Chris Wright’s new ownership brought an influx of cash that added, primarily, Gavin Peacock and the free scoring John Spencer to that pile. And for it all they finished… ninth. The decision to go with Stewart Houston as manager, over and above first choice Alan Curbishley from Charlton, and his subsequent call to add his own former boss Bruce Rioch as his assistant, proved disastrous for the Wright regime. It sapped valuable time, money and parachute payments by the end of which QPR were effectively bankrupt and staring down the barrel of 15 years away from the top division of English football. Inertia was also a problem of Houston’s early days. Matt Jackson was impressing on loan from Everton and keen to stay, a striker was required to replace Gallen who’d wrecked his knee in the first away game at Portsmouth and there was money available to do that. But Houston insisted he wanted to assess what he had first before making rash moves. A damaging run of two wins in 13 games through the autumn gave up valuable ground. Swindon, Port Vale, Stoke, Ipswich and Charlton all left Loftus Road with points. The team started to really click through the winter with five straight wins in December, eight wins and only one defeat from 12 matches through to February. Sadly, from the league point of view, a good few of those came in the FA Cup, but that memorable run would bring perhaps the club’s greatest goal of all time via Sinclair’s flying bicycle kick at home to Barnsley. Again, indecision plagued the Rangers regime. Paolo Wanchope, seven goals in two reserve games on trial, was released because Houston felt strikers like that were “ten a penny in non-league”. While he prepared to spend a club record £2.5m on Mike Sheron, Wanchope settled into Premier League life at Derby, and Rangers won none from eight with Mark Hateley lumbering about up front in a sequence that also brought the cup run to a close in front of 15,000 travelling R’s at Selhurst Park. What a colossal wasted opportunity this was shone through starkly when the team won seven of its last ten matches. Man City were wiped out 3-0 at Maine Road. Spencer finished the season with 18 goals from 28 appearances – what if he’d been signed even a month sooner? Two tempestuous games at Loftus Road stand out from that run. A 2-2 draw with Wolves on Easter Monday, but before that a first league meeting with Portsmouth in W12 since 1987. Pompey had enjoyed some considerable success in the early 1990s with former QPR owner Jim Gregory as chairman and former Rangers boss Jim Smith in charge. They took Liverpool all the way to penalties in an FA Cup semi-final replay, and missed out on promotion to the new Premier League on goal difference. Unable to hang onto the likes of Guy Whittingham and Darren Anderton, however, they slipped away. Smith was fired in 1995 and the team escaped relegation on goal difference along from Millwall in May 96 – that the famous season where Wawll had topped the division just before Christmas only to end up relegated. There was another ex-QPR duo waiting around the corner at Fratton Park. Terry Venables consulted, and then became chairman after Gregory stepped down on health grounds – buying the club for £1. He appointed Rangers’ FA Cup final hero Terry Fenwick as manager and, after that near relegation scrape, they would eventually miss the First Division play-offs by a place and a point in 1996/97. That made the March meeting at Loftus Road something of a key clash between two sides competing to break into the six, and the visiting team had won eight of their previous 11 games promoting a big crowd to head up from the South Coast and pack not only the School End but also the Ellerslie Road stand which throughout these years would often get overrun by away fans as a 'mixed' enclosure.
That combination bubbled along for 20 minutes or so until Lee Bradbury slid in the opening goal from close range at which point plenty of visiting fans right around the ground erupted into celebration. This meant when Paul Murray strode confidently forward down the middle of the pitch and bent in a beautiful equaliser, there were plenty ready to have a go back. At the start of the second half violence broke out in sporadic pockets around the ground – but particularly on the boundary of the P/Q and R blocks in the Upper Loft and Ellerslie Road. As parents with kids spilled out onto the pitch to escape the melee behind them referee Kevin Lynch was forced to suspend the game for 15 minutes while riot police restored order. Even Peter Sissons got involved look… What you really want then is a QPR winner. Spencer was the man who provided it. A typical finish from an acute angle after rounding Alan Knight, 13 minutes from time, at the Loft End. Bringing the house down. All in vain for both clubs on the league ladder in the end, and something of a dark day off the field which the sport perhaps thought/hoped it had left behind by 1997. QPR: J Sommer, D Maddix, A McDonald, K Ready, R Brevett, S Barker, G Peacock, A Impey, T Sinclair (P Murray, 25) ; J Spencer, D Dichio Subs not used: Slade, McDermott Goals: Murray 45, Spencer 77 Yellow Cards: Brevett (shock) Pompey: A Knight, R Pethick, A Thomson (F Simpson, 15), S Igoe, R Perrett, A Whitbread, P Hall, A Cook (M Allen, 80), L Bradbury, D Burton (A McLoughlin, 89), D Hillier Goals: Bradbury 18 Red Cards: Pethick 69 Yellow Cards: Perrett Attendance: 15,746 Classic encountersLFW regular and AKUTR’s columnist Dave Barton has set up a QPR Memories YouTube channel, with a mixture of clips, classic games, and old highlights packages. His Pompey packages are embedded below, give him a subscribe on YouTube or follow @QPR_Memories on Twitter. Recent MeetingsQPR 0 Portsmouth 2, Wednesday August 28, 2019, League Cup Second Round Mark Warburton’s reign at QPR started in fine style at Stoke City on the opening day of the season with Ebere Eze in sparkling form, but it had only been followed up with defeats to Bristol City and Swansea and a last gasp draw at home to Huddersfield. Cup progress came to an abrupt halt at home to League One Portsmouth too, with late goals from John Marquis with a penalty he won himself and a sealer from Marcuss Harness. After beating Bristol City on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first round this felt like something of a let down, but the team was about to kick into gear with three straight wins against Sheff Wed, Millwall and Luton, and five wins from the next seven as Ebere Eze really announced his arrival as the division’s best player. QPR: Kelly 6; Kane 6, Leistner 4, Barbet 4, Manning 6; Owens 6, Smith 5; Pugh 7 (Ball 75, 4), Chair 7 (Wells 60, 5), Osayi-Samuel 6 (Eze 60, 6); Mlakar 5 Subs not used: Hugill, Scowen, Masterson, Barnes Bookings: Manning 40 (foul), Wells 64 (foul), Kelly 77 (unsporting), Kane 90+5 (foul) Portsmouth: MacGillivray 7; Burgess 7, Downing 7, Naylor 7, Haunstrup 6; Evans 7 (cannon 60, 6), McCrorie 7; Harness 8, Close 7 (Walkes 90+4, -), Curtis 6; Marquis 7 Subs not used: Pitman, Raggett, Harrison, Maloney, Bass Goals: Marquis 77 (penalty, won Marquis), Harness 85 (assisted McCrorie) Bookings: Cannon 90+4 (foul) QPR 2 Portsmouth 0, Tuesday February 5, 2018, FA Cup Fourth Round Replay A cup run! Well, relatively. Steve McClaren didn’t do much good, or achieve anything much at all, during his dire year in charge at Loftus Road, but there was some joy to be found in the FA Cup. A home win against Leeds in round three was Rangers’ first without the aid of a replay since Trevor Sinclair’s bicycle kick in 1997. It set up a tough fourth round tie away at a packed Fratton Park (on which more shortly) and Nahki Wells’ bundled equaliser did well to bring the R’s back to Loftus Road for a replay. A tense night and tight game were settled late when Matt Smith and Wells again struck to seal a 2-0 win and set up a fifth round tie at home to Premier League Watford. QPR: Lumley 6; Furlong 7, Hall 7, Lynch 7, Bidwell 7; Osayi-Samuel 7 (Eze 72, 6), Scowen 6, Luongo 7, Freeman 8; Wells 7 (Manning 82, -), Smith 8 (Hemed 90, -) Subs not used: Ingram, Wszolek, Kakay, Leistner Goals: Wells 70 (assisted Lynch), Smith 77 (assisted Freeman) Bookings: Scowen 52 (foul) Pompey: MacGillivray 6; Walkes 6, Burgess 6, Clarke 7, Brown 6; Naylor 6, May 6 (Morris 59, 6), Close 6 (Pitman 74, 5), Dennis 6 (Evans 60, 6) Lowe 8; Hawkins 5 Subs not used: Thompson, Bass, Haunstrup Bookings: Burgess 76 (foul) Portsmouth 1 QPR 1, Saturday January 26, 2019, FA Cup Fourth Round QPR overcame a hostile home crowd, their own appalling FA Cup record, and a typically erratic Gavin Ward refereeing performance, to survive a trip to a packed Fratton Park in January 2019. A typically dyspraxic own goal by Joel Lynch looked to be following the script QPR usually stick closely to on such occasions. But a goal mouth scramble from a late corner, finished from millimetres out by Nahki Wells, kept the R’s alive into a replay at Loftus Road. Portsmouth: MacGillivray 5, Walkes 6, Whatmough 6, Clarke 7, Brown 6, Naylor 6, Donohue 6 (Close 80, -), Evans 6, Dennis 7, Curtis 6, Pitman 5 Subs not used: Burgess, Morris, Maloney, May, Bass, Haunstrup. Goals: Lynch og 63 (assisted Brown) Booked: Whatmough, Brown 77 (fighting), Curtis 77 (fighting) QPR: Lumley 5; Furlong 5, Leistner 5, Lynch 5, Bidwell 5; Manning 4, Scowen 6; Freeman 7, Oteh 6 (Samuel 65, 6), Wszolek 5 (Smith 71, 6); Wells 6 (Chair 90, -) Subs not used: Ingram, Hall, Cousins, Kakay Booked: Manning 45 (dissent), Lynch 77 (dissent) Goals: Wells 74 (assisted Freeman) Previous ResultsHead to Head >>> QPR wins 15 >>> Draws 13 >>> Pompey wins 11 2019/20 QPR 0-2 Pompey* * - League Cup ConnectionsJim Smith >>> QPR (manager) 1985-1988 >>> Oxford (manager) 1982-1985 When Jim Smith, The Bald Eagle, passed away in December 2019 it left QPR fans to reflect on his Loftus Road legacy. Smith is rarely mentioned in conversations about the club’s greatest managers, with Gordon Jago, Alec Stock, Dave Sexton and Terry Venables obviously out in front, and then a second tier behind them including but not limited to Gerry Francis, Ian Holloway first time around and Neil Warnock. The reason for that is the 1986 League Cup, the last time QPR had a chance to win a major trophy at Wembley – perhaps ever. Rangers had beaten Brian Clough’s storied cup specialists Nottingham Forest, bitter near neighbours Chelsea with an extra time goal from the halfway line by Michael Robinson, and the Liverpool of the 1980s over two legs including an extraordinary 2-2 draw in the second game at Anfield. That alone should have been enough to keep the manager in Rangers folklore forever more. They were red hot favourites to beat unfancied Oxford in the final, but choked and were beaten 3-0 thanks to goals from Trevor Hebberd, former QPR man Jeremy Charles, and nearly QPR man Ray Houghton. Smith had built that Oxford team. He’d won leagues early in his managerial career with Boston, Blackburn and Birmingham before pitching up at Oxford having been unceremoniously dumped by the Blues in favour of Ron Saunders despite promoting them and consolidating them in the top flight. With Oxford he took them from Third Division to First, the first time in the club’s history it had played in the top flight. He only left the Manor Ground to move to QPR after a contract wrangle with club owner Robert Maxwell and when Rangers were beaten at Wembley by his old side his comments pre and post-game angered many in Shepherd’s Bush, with it almost seemingly like Smith was pleased the team he’d built at a club he loved had won the cup even though it was at the expense of his then employer. His decision midway through 1988/89 to walk out and join Newcastle, who he tried and failed to save from First Division relegation, also counts against him.
But when judged overall, his record at Loftus Road was very creditable. He inherited a shambles after the brilliance of Terry Venables’ reign in W12 had collapsed into the farce of Alan Mullery’s mismanagement, and took that on not only to the club’s last domestic cup final, but also a fifth-place finish in the top flight in 87/88 for which Gerry Francis is revered having repeated in 1993. QPR were top that season heading to Liverpool in October after registering their best ever start to a league season — eight wins, a draw and a loss to… Oxford away. Many of the players that formed the basis of great sides for Don Howe and Francis later on were brought in during Smith’s reign. Chief among them, a young Les Ferdinand from Hayes, Paul Parker on the cheap from Fulham, and David Seaman from Birmingham but also Simon Barker, Danny Maddix, Trevor Francis, Mark Falco and others. Much is made of the buy-low-sell-high recruitment during Francis’ time, and Bobby Gould’s ‘little black book’ that bailed Don Howe out of an injury-riddled hole, but the signings made by Smith don’t get nearly as much coverage. He was an early pioneer of wing backs, utilising the pace of Wayne Fereday, the sweeping ability of Terry Fenwick, and the outright angry violence of Mark Dennis. Though how much of that was down to assistant Peter Shreeves is up for debate. He was also in charge for the 6-0 Easter win at home to Chelsea – again, enough to have statues built on Batman Close in normal circumstances. At Portsmouth first time around he became something of a nearly man again. Appointed in 1991 he took a team containing a young Darren Anderston and the free scoring Guy Whittingham (42 goals in 1992/93) to an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool which was lost on penalties after taking the replay all the way through extra time. A year later, despite Whittingham’s goalscoring heroics, they missed promotion to the new Premier League on goal difference, lost in the play-offs, and then sold Anderton and Whittingham to Spurs and Villa. He was eventually dismissed in 1995 in the midst of a First Division relegation battle. Later in his career he did win promotion to the Premier League, and consolidated there, with Derby County. A team bolstered substantially by the addition of Paolo Wanchope after QPR had passed up the opportunity to make his trial permanent. He was Harry Redknapp’s assistant for Portsmouth’s ascent from First Division to Premier League mainstay and FA Cup winner. He took on Oxford again, at a low ebb, and lost narrowly in the Conference play-offs prior to his retirement. Others >>> Jordan Archer, Pompey 2024-present, QPR 2021-2024 >>> Andre The Friendly Ghost, Pompey 2024-present, QPR 2021-2024 >>> Asmir Begovic, QPR 2023-2024, Pompey 2005-2010 >>> Jamal Lowe, QPR (loan) 2023, Pompey 2017-2019 >>> Lee Brown, 2018-2022, QPR 2008-2011 >>> David Wheeler, Pompey (loan) 2018-2019, QPR 2017-2019 >>> Brian Murphy, Pompey 2015-2016, QPR 2011-2015 >>> Cole Kpekawa, QPR 2014-2016, Pompey (loan) 2015 >>> Armand Traore, QPR 2011-2016, Pompey (loan) 2008-2009 >>> Harry Redknapp, QPR (manager) 2012-2015, Pompey (manager) 2005-2008, 2002-2004 >>> Niko Kranjcar, QPR 2013-2015, Pompey 2006-2009 >>> Patrick Agyemang, Pompey 2013-2015, QPR 2008-2012 >>> Marcus Bean, Pompey (loan) 2014-2015, QPR 2002-2006 >>> Gary O’Neill, QPR 2013-2014, Pompey 2000-2007 >>> Shaun Derry, QPR 2010-2013, Pompey 2000-2002 >>> Gavin Mahon, Pompey 2013, QPR 2008-2011 >>> Tal Ben Haim, QPR 2013, Pompey 2009-2012 >>> Akos Buzsaky, Pompey 2012-2013, QPR 2007-2012 >>> Rowan Vine, QPR 2007-2012, Pompey 2000-2005 >>> Tommy Smith, QPR 2010-2012, Pompey 2009-2010 >>> Wayne Routledge, QPR (loan) 2011, 2009-2010, Pompey (loan) 2006 >>> Nigel Quashie, QPR 2010, 1995-1998, Pompey 2000-2005 >>> Dusko Tosic, QPR (loan) 2010, Pompey 2010 >>> Martin Cranie, Pompey 2007-2009, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> Peter Crouch, Pompey 2008-2009, 2001-2002, QPR 2000-2001 >>> Jerome Thomas, Pompey 2008-2009, QPR (loan) 2002 >>> Ben Sahar, Pompey (loan) 2008, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> John Curtis, QPR 2007, Pompey 2005-2006 >>> John Gregory, QPR (manager) 2006-2007, 1981-1985, Pompey (manager) 1989-1990 >>> Brett Angell, QPR 2002-2003, Pompey 1986-1987 >>> Gerry Francis, QPR (manager) 1998-2001, (manager) 1991-1994, 1981-1982, 1968-1979, Portsmouth 1984-1985 >>> Jimmy Carter, Pompey 1995-1998, QPR 1985-1987 >>> Terry Fenwick, Pompey (manager) 1995-1998, QPR 1980-1987 >>> Martin Allen, Pompey 1995-1997, QPR 1984-1989 >>> Mark Hateley, QPR 1995-1997, Pompey 1983-1984 >>> Warren Neill, Pompey 1988-1996, QPR 1980-1988 >>> Paul Walsh, Pompey 1992-1994, QPR (loan) 1991 >>> Colin Clarke, Pompey 1990-1993, QPR 1989-1990 >>> Gavin Maguire, Pompey 1989-1993, QPR 1984-1989 >>> Mike Fillery, Pompey 1987-1990, QPR 1983-1987 >>> Ian Stewart, Pompey 1987-1988, QPR 1980-1985 >>> Dave Thomas, Pompey 1982-1984, QPR 1972-1977 >>> Ernie Howe, Pompey 1982-1984, QPR 1977-1982 >>> Martyn Busby, QPR 1977-1981, 1970-1976, Pompey (loan) 1975-1976 >>> John McClelland, Pompey 1963-1968, QPR 1961-1963 >>> Ray Drinkwater, QPR 1957-1963, Pompey 1956-1957 If you enjoy LoftforWords, please consider supporting the site through a subscription to our Patreon or tip us via our PayPal account loftforwords@yahoo.co.uk. 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