1972–73 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

Queens Park Rangers 1972–73 football season

Queens Park Rangers

1972–73 season

Chairman

Jim Gregory

Manager

Gordon Jago

Football League Second Division

London Challenge Cup

Quarter-Finals

Top goalscorer

League: Don Givens (23)
All: Don Givens (26)

Highest home attendance

22,518 Vs Burnley (27 January 1973)

Lowest home attendance

9,790 Vs Oxford United (2 December 1972)

Average home league attendance

14, 714

Biggest win

5–0 Vs Portsmouth (31 March 1973), Swindon Town (17 February 1973)

Biggest defeat

1–4 Vs Hull City (26 September 1972)

Home colours

Away colours

← 1971–72 1973–74 →

The 1972–73 season was Queens Park Rangers F.C.'s 54th season of football in the Football League First Division. It was also their second consecutive season in the top division after being promoted from the Football League Second Division in 1971.

League performance

QPR finished the season in 3rd place in the Football League First Division, their highest ever finish at the time. They were level on points with champions Leeds United A.F.C. and runners-up Liverpool F.C., but had an inferior goal difference. The season saw standout performances from forward Stan Bowles, who finished as the club's top scorer with 22 goals.

FA Cup

QPR were eliminated from the FA Cup in the Third Round, losing 2–1 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C..

Crest

QPR replaced their Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith’s arms badge that had been the clubs badge since 1953 with a blue and white hooped shield with the outline of a ball, depicting QPR in plain letters.

Results

Second Division

Main article: 1972–73 Football League § Second Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Burnley (C, P)	42	24	14	4	72	35	2.057	62	Promotion to the First Division
2	Queens Park Rangers (P)	42	24	13	5	81	37	2.189	61	Promotion to the First Division
3	Aston Villa	42	18	14	10	51	47	1.085	50
4	Middlesbrough	42	17	13	12	46	43	1.070	47
5	Bristol City	42	17	12	13	63	51	1.235	46	Qualification for the Watney Cup

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

First Division

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance	Position
12 August 1972	Swindon Town	A	2–2	Busby, Leach	14,170	14
19 August 1972	Sheffield Wednesday	H	4–2	Francis, O'Rourke, Givens, Leach	12,977	7
26 August 1972	Preston North End	A	1–1	O'Rourke	9,242	7
2 September 1972	Middlesbrough	H	2–2	Givens, O'Rourke	10,601	13
9 September 1972	Burnley	A	1–1	Busby	10,798	11
16 September 1972	Nottingham Forest	H	3–0	Givens, Bowles, McCulloch	12,528	10
19 September 1972	Bristol City	H	1–1	Francis	11,586	10
23 September 1972	Orient	A	2–2	Leach, Bowles	9,492	10
26 September 1972	Hull City	A	1–4	Givens	8,289	12
30 September 1972	Cardiff City	H	3–0	Givens 2, Bowles	11,182	10
7 October 1972	Carlisle United	H	4–0	Francis, Leach, Evans, Busby	11,755	8
14 October 1972	Aston Villa	A	1–0	Francis	34,045	5
17 October 1972	Fulham	A	2–0	Bowles, Givens	20,614	2
21 October 1972	Sunderland	H	3–2	Givens, Bowles 2	17,356	2
28 October 1972	Blackpool	A	0–2		14,160	3
4 November 1972	Hull City	H	1–1	Bowles	13,619	3
11 November 1972	Bristol City	A	2–1	Givens 2	12,570	1
18 November 1972	Millwall	H	1–3	Bowles	15,857	2
25 November 1972	Portsmouth	A	1–0	Givens	8,460	2
2 December 1972	Oxford United	H	0–0		9,790	2
9 December 1972	Luton Town	A	2–2	Givens, Clement	13,670	3
23 December 1972	Brighton And Hove Albion	A	2–1	Givens 2	13,735	2
26 December 1972	Orient	H	3–1	Leach, Givens, Francis	15,062	2
30 December 1972	Sheffield Wednesday	A	1–3	Leach	20,185	2
6 January 1973	Preston North End	H	3–0	Givens 2, Francis	10,519	2
20 January 1973	Middlesbrough	A	0–0		8,398	2
27 January 1973	Burnley	H	2–0	Givens, leach	22,518	2
6 February 1973	Huddersfield Town	H	3–1	Givens 2, Thomas	13,539	2
10 February 1973	Nottingham Forest	A	0–0		11,617	2
17 February 1973	Swindon Town	H	5–0	Givens, Francis, Bowles 3	13,472	2
3 March 1973	Carlisle United	A	3–1	Thomas, Bowles, Clement	8,729	2
6 March 1973	Huddersfield Town	A	2–2	Francis, Leach	8,627	2
10 March 1973	Aston Villa	H	1–0	Leach	21,578	1
24 March 1973	Blackpool	H	4–0	Thomas, Bowles, Francis,Hatton OG	15,714	2
31 March 1973	Portsmouth	H	5–0	Thomas, Leach, Venables, Lewis OG	14,086	2
7 April 1973	Oxford United	A	0–2		12,144	2
14 April 1973	Luton Town	H	2–0	Mancini, Givens	16,471	2
18 April 1973	Cardiff City	A	0–0		11,958	2
21 April 1973	Millwall	A	1–0	Bowles	16,136	2
24 April 1973	Brighton and Hove Albion	H	2–0	Bowles, Francis	16,625	2
28 April 1973	Fulham	H	2–0	Bowles, Clement	22,187	2
9 May 1973	Sunderland	A	3–0	Bowles 2, Thomas	43,265	2

London Challenge Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
25 September 1972	First Round	Crystal Palace	A	1–0
4 October 1972	Quarter-Final	Tottenham	A	0–2

Football League Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
6 September 1972	Second Round	West Bromwich Albion	A	1–2	Givens	8,282

FA Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
13 January 1973	Third Round	Barnet	H	0–0		13,627
16 January 1973	Third Round Replay	Barnet	A	3–0	Leach, Bowles, Mancini	10.919
24 January 1973	Fourth Round	Oxford United	A	2–0	Givens, Clement	16,057
24 February 1973	Fifth Round	Derby County	A	2–4	Leach, Givens	38,100

Squad

Position	Name	League Appearances (substitute)	League Goals	Cup Appearances	F.A.Cup Goals	League Cup Goals	Total Appearances	Total Goals
GK	Phil Parkes	41	4				45
GK	Alan Spratley	1	1				2
DF	Dave Clement	40	5	3	1		45	4
DF	Tony Hazell	41	5				46
DF	Ian Gillard	8					8
DF	Ron Hunt	2(1)	1				4
DF	Terry Mancini	24	4	2	1		28	3
DF	Ian Evans	18	1	1			19	1
DF	John Delve	6(3)	1				10
MF	John Beck	(1)					1
MF	Martyn Busby	13	1	3			14	3
MF	Mike Ferguson	1(1)	2				4
MF	Gerry Francis	42	4	9			46	9
MF	Mick Leach	35(1)	5	10	2		41	12
MF	Ian Watson	35	4				39
FW	Terry Venables	37	2	1			39	1
FW	Stan Bowles	35	4	17	1		33	18
FW	Andy McCulloch	5(2)		1			7	1
FW	John O'Rourke	7(1)	1	3			9	3
FW	Don Givens	41	5	23	2	1	46	26
FW	Dave Thomas	28	4	6			32	6
FW	Barry Salvage	(3)	1				4
FW	Ian Morgan	2					2

Transfers out

Name	from	Date	Fee	Date	Club	Fee
Andrew McCulloch	Walton & Hersham	October 1970		October 1972	Cardiff City	£45,000
Michael McGovern	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	November 1968		November 1972	Watford	Loan
Ron Hunt	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	March 1963		July 1973	Retired (injury)
Alan Spratley	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	May 1967		July 1973	Swindon Town	Free
Mike Ferguson	Aston Villa	November 1969	£15,000	July 1973	Cambridge United	Free
Barry Salvage	Millwall	March 1971		February 1973	Brentford

Transfers in

Name	from	Date	Fee
Stan Bowles	Carlisle United	September 1972	£112,000
Dave Thomas	Burnley	October 1972	£165,000
Frank McLintock	Arsenal	June 1973	£25,000
Richard Teale	Walton & Hersham	July 1973	£9,000
Mike Ferguson	Aston Villa	November 1969	£15,000
Keith Pritchett	Doncaster Rovers	July 1973

References

Macey, Gordon (1993). Queens Park Rangers: A Complete Record. london: Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873626401. ^
"QPR History". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
"Queens Park Rangers 1972–1973 Season". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
"1972–1973 England Football League First Division Table". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
"Queens Park Rangers Top Scorers 1972–1973". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
"Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Queens Park Rangers". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
"nonleaguematters". Non league Matters. 14 February 2022.

v t e Queens Park Rangers F.C. seasons
1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

Queens Park Rangers F.C. seasons

1895–96
1896–97
1897–98
1898–99
1899–00
1900–01
1901–02
1902–03
1903–04
1904–05
1905–06
1906–07
1907–08
1908–09
1909–10
1910–11
1911–12
1912–13
1913–14
1914–15
1915–16
1916–17
1917–18
1918–19
1919–20
1920–21
1921–22
1922–23
1923–24
1924–25
1925–26
1926–27
1927–28
1928–29
1929–30
1930–31
1931–32
1932–33
1933–34
1934–35
1935–36
1936–37
1937–38
1938–39
1939–40
1940–41
1941–42
1942–43
1943–44
1944–45
1945–46
1946–47
1947–48
1948–49
1949–50
1950–51
1951–52
1952–53
1953–54
1954–55
1955–56
1956–57
1957–58
1958–59
1959–60
1960–61
1961–62
1962–63
1963–64
1964–65
1965–66
1966–67
1967–68
1968–69
1969–70
1970–71
1971–72
1972–73
1973–74
1974–75
1975–76
1976–77
1977–78
1978–79
1979–80
1980–81
1981–82
1982–83
1983–84
1984–85
1985–86
1986–87
1987–88
1988–89
1989–90
1990–91
1991–92
1992–93
1993–94
1994–95
1995–96
1996–97
1997–98
1998–99
1999–2000
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
2024–25

1972–73 in English football

« 1971–72 1973–74 »

National teams

League competitions

Levels 1–4	Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division)
Levels 5–6	Isthmian League (level 5 only) Northern Premier League (level 5 only) Southern League (Premier, One North, One South)
Levels 7–9	Athenian League (Premier, One, Two) Cheshire County League (level 7 only) Eastern Counties League (level 7 only) Essex Senior League (level 7 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One, Two) Kent League (level 7 only) Lancashire Combination (level 7 only) Midland Football Combination (level 7 only) Midland League (level 7 only) Northern League (level 7 only) South Midlands League (Premier, One) Spartan League (level 7 only) Sussex County League (One, Two) United Counties League (Premier, One, Two) West Midlands (Regional) League (level 7 only) Western League (level 7 only) Yorkshire League (One, Two, Three)

Cup competitions

FA cups	FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final) Charity Shield FA Trophy (Final) FA Amateur Cup
Football League cups	League Cup (Final) Watney Cup

European competitions

Club seasons
First Division	Arsenal Birmingham City Chelsea Coventry City Crystal Palace Derby County Everton Ipswich Town Leeds United Leicester City Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Norwich City Queens Park Rangers Sheffield United Southampton Stoke City Tottenham Hotspur Wolverhampton Wanderers
Second Division	Aston Villa Blackpool Brighton & Hove Albion Bristol City Burnley Cardiff City Carlisle United Fulham Huddersfield Town Hull City Leyton Orient Luton Town Middlesbrough Millwall Nottingham Forest Oxford United Portsmouth Preston North End Sheffield Wednesday Sunderland Swindon Town West Bromwich Albion West Ham United
Third Division	Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Bournemouth Brentford Bristol Rovers Charlton Athletic Chesterfield Grimsby Town Halifax Town Notts County Oldham Athletic Plymouth Argyle Port Vale Rochdale Rotherham United Scunthorpe United Shrewsbury Town Southend United Swansea City Tranmere Rovers Walsall Watford Wrexham York City
Fourth Division	Aldershot Barnsley Bradford City Bury Cambridge United Chester Colchester United Crewe Alexandra Darlington Doncaster Rovers Exeter City Gillingham Hartlepool United Hereford United Lincoln City Mansfield Town Newport County Northampton Town Peterborough United Reading Southport Stockport County Torquay United Workington

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