Forest had enjoyed eleven days away from trying to reach the impossible dream of a domestic treble, in the middle of a frantic period of fixtures in the bleak English winter of 1978. After their fantastic 3-1 win away at Leeds United in the first leg of the league cup, almost guaranteeing a place in the final at Wembley, their next league match at Villa Park had been called off the Saturday after and so had their League Cup semi-final second leg at home to Leeds in midweek. Now they faced another away cup tie, a tricky match in the F. A. Cup 5th Round at Loftus Road.
QPR haven't always played at Loftus Road, in fact they've played homes games on 20 different grounds in their local area - a record, apparently. These included a stadium that was built to house the Olympic games and one that was built to look like Middlesbrough's ground, Ayresome Park.
From 1904 until 1907 they played at Park Royal, now an industrial estate. It held 40,000 but their next ground, just 400 yards away was built along the lines of Ayresome Park and held 60,000.
Bizarrely, QPR were forced to move away from this ground in 1915 as it was taken over by the army. I guess you don't argue with government employees who are trained to kill.
Queen's Park Rangers finally moved into Loftus Road in 1917 at the end of the first world war after an amateur team that played there (Shepherd's Bush F. C.) disbanded. 103 years later, this temporary solution, is still their home ground despite several attempts to move elsewhere.
For all of their history up to this point, QPR had been a non-league side mostly playing in the Southern League. But they gained league status in 1920 - to the newly formed Division Three South.
An interesting point of note is that when they entered the league they did play in hoops, but green and white ones.
They were never entirely happy with the ground, as it was quite small and QPR were an ambitious lot. So in 1931 they moved to a much bigger stadium that was nearby - The White City Stadium, which had been built in 1908 to host the Olympic games.
It didn't last long and they moved back to Loftus Road again just one year later. Their status remained the same throughout this time, in Division Three South.
After the war, QPR reached the second division for the first time - but only for four seasons before they were relegated back.
The ground at this stage was open terrace on three sides and still only had a capacity of around 30,000 and as it was often packed as they pushed for promotion to the second tier, so Rangers again moved to White City Stadium where they played in the 1962-63 season.
One interesting fact I learned writing this was the the White City Stadium even staged a game in the 1966 World Cup - between Uruguay and France. Phuh! Didn't know that!
After their last abortive attempt to move it seems QPR finally resigned themselves to having to play at Loftus Road permanently and invested in the development of the ground.
It was around this time that QPR made their most progress moving from being a pretty average third division side in the late 1950s. In two amazing years they went from a third division side to a first division side that had one a major trophy.
All of this was under the astute management of Alec Stock, who ran the team for nine years from 1959-1968.
In 1968, now as a first division side, the open terraced side of the ground, along South Africa Road, was finally developed and replaced with a neat little compact stand with blue seats.
If you want more information about them have a look at this QPR Historian's web site.
Of the seven other 5th round games scheduled that day, only five were played. Arsenal brushed third division Walsall aside 4-1. Millwall scraped past Notts County in the all-second division affair. The other three games, like Forest's had ended in a draw. Most remarkably, Blyth Spartans drew at Wrexham to win a replay which would attract over 40,000 at St James' Park. The others were first division sides drawing at second division sides.
The other two fixtures were, again, affected by the bad weather. Derby would lose to West Brom 2-3 in midweek but Middlesbrough's tie against Bolton would be postponed again.
In the league Everton did end up beating West Ham (2-1 in front of 33,862) and so Forest's lead at the top of the first division was cut to four points - although, of course, Forest did still have a game in hand.
Bob Latchford failed to score for once so there wasn't much change at the top of the scorer's chart.
So, another replay had to be squeezed in somewhere. With Forest's cup successes and the bad weather taking its toll, that wouldn't be easy. Next up, weather-permitting, was the re-scheduled semi-final second leg against Leeds United. With Forest already 3-1 up from the first leg, surely this would be a formality and Forest would earn their place at Wembley to face Liverpool, who had already secured their final berth with a 0-0 draw at Arsenal in midweek.
Happy days!
Loftus Road - My 40th Ground
I missed the league game at QPR earlier in the season so I wasn't going to miss this one, my first visit to Loftus Road and so my 40th league ground.
Seven and half years after watching my first game, at Field Mill (a 3-2 home win against Halifax Town in the 3rd Division in November 1970), I was well on my way to doing all 92. That would take a lot longer though - I wouldn't complete it until the year 2000.
Seven and half years after watching my first game, at Field Mill (a 3-2 home win against Halifax Town in the 3rd Division in November 1970), I was well on my way to doing all 92. That would take a lot longer though - I wouldn't complete it until the year 2000.
QPR haven't always played at Loftus Road, in fact they've played homes games on 20 different grounds in their local area - a record, apparently. These included a stadium that was built to house the Olympic games and one that was built to look like Middlesbrough's ground, Ayresome Park.
From 1904 until 1907 they played at Park Royal, now an industrial estate. It held 40,000 but their next ground, just 400 yards away was built along the lines of Ayresome Park and held 60,000.
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| The main stand there, was very similar to the one in Middlesbrough |
Queen's Park Rangers finally moved into Loftus Road in 1917 at the end of the first world war after an amateur team that played there (Shepherd's Bush F. C.) disbanded. 103 years later, this temporary solution, is still their home ground despite several attempts to move elsewhere.
For all of their history up to this point, QPR had been a non-league side mostly playing in the Southern League. But they gained league status in 1920 - to the newly formed Division Three South.
An interesting point of note is that when they entered the league they did play in hoops, but green and white ones.
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| QPR Kit 1903-1925 |
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| Loftus Road between the wars |
They were never entirely happy with the ground, as it was quite small and QPR were an ambitious lot. So in 1931 they moved to a much bigger stadium that was nearby - The White City Stadium, which had been built in 1908 to host the Olympic games.
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| White City Stadium - QPR's ground 1931-1932 |
It didn't last long and they moved back to Loftus Road again just one year later. Their status remained the same throughout this time, in Division Three South.
After the war, QPR reached the second division for the first time - but only for four seasons before they were relegated back.
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| QPR at Loftus Road in 1958, playing in white shirts (as they did 1953-1959) |
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| White City - White Elephant. QPR went back to Loftus Road the season after this |
After their last abortive attempt to move it seems QPR finally resigned themselves to having to play at Loftus Road permanently and invested in the development of the ground.
It was around this time that QPR made their most progress moving from being a pretty average third division side in the late 1950s. In two amazing years they went from a third division side to a first division side that had one a major trophy.
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| Rodney Marsh scores for QPR as they win Division Three |
QPR winning the League Cup at Wembley, as a third division side...
All of this was under the astute management of Alec Stock, who ran the team for nine years from 1959-1968.
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| Alec Stock : QPR Manager 1959-1968 |
In 1968, now as a first division side, the open terraced side of the ground, along South Africa Road, was finally developed and replaced with a neat little compact stand with blue seats.
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| QPR win the League Cup and two successive promotions - time to develop Loftus Road |
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| Loftus Road in 1977 |
If you want more information about them have a look at this QPR Historian's web site.
QPR in the Cup
I covered quite a bit about Queen's Park Rangers' relatively short history in the previous blog for the league match (which Forest won 2-0) so here, I'll just add a little about their F. A. Cup record as it compares with Forest's.
QPR did not have a great record in the F. A. Cup in 1978. They had never reached the semi-finals and only made it to the quarter-finals on six occasions in 78 attempts. It's not much better 40 years later - but at least they did get to the final to lose to Spurs in 1982.
Forest are an older club than QPR so it's no surprise that Forest entered the tournament long before QPR did and did better than they did for decades. From Forest's first entry in 1878 it would be 17 seasons before QPR's, and it was another 11 seasons before QPR did as well as Forest in the competition. 1907-08 was the first season QPR progressed further than Forest in the Cup but after that point Forest only did better than QPR once before the war. So the score (in terms of which team did better than the other in the cup that season) at the end of 1915 was Forest 29 QPR 4, with four seasons both teams going out the same round.
Highlights for QPR here were reaching the quarter finals (twice) as a non-league side. Forest, of course, beat Derby 3-1 in the final of 1898 and reached the semi finals five times.
It was a little more evenly matched between the wars. Forest doing better than QPR 11 times, QPR 3 times with six seasons both teams going out the same round. QPR, now a league side, again reached the quarter finals (once), as did Forest three times.
The two clubs met for the first, and only, time before this encounter, in the F. A. Cup in 1934. It was a 3rd round tie on 13th January at the City Ground. Forest won 4-0.
Since the second world war, Forest have been the better F. A. Cup side overall (16-7) but for the first nine years Forest only did better than QPR once. And in the nine season before this (1977-78) one Forest only did better than them twice.
Forest won the cup again in 1959, reached the semis in 1967 and the quarter finals in 1974 and this season, 1977-78. QPR managed three quarter final appearances - in 1948, 1970 and 1974.
Here're the highlights of QPR's last but one quarter final appearance at home to Chelsea in 1970, who won 4-2 on their way to winning the Cup.
In 1973-74 both teams made it to the quarter finals in the same season for the only time. Forest gettingcheated knocked out of the cup by Newcastle and QPR lost 0-2 at home to Leicester City.
In the cup run this season, QPR had been given a relatively easy draw in the 3rd round, at home to non-league Wealdstone of the Southern League. Wealdstone had beaten a club famous for their own giant-killing Hereford United in the first round 3-2 at Edgar Street after a 0-0 draw at home. They followed that up with another impressive win against league opposition, 2-1 win at home to Reading.
Wealdstone were no match for Queen's Park Rangers though, who won 4-0 to go through to the 4th round.
Here's a clip of the action from that match played in front of 16,158 fans.
In the 4th round QPR drew West Ham United away and drew 1-1 in front of 35,556 at Upton Park.
In the replay, at Loftus Road, just 3 days later, 24,057 watched a very tight first half that ended 1-1. No-one saw what was coming next as QPR scored 5 with no reply in the second half to storm into the 5th round 6-1. The goals were scored by Don Givens, John Hollins, Stan Bowles (penalty), Leighton James and 2 from Martin Busby.
So with ten goals in the last two F.A. Cup home games it seemed Forest needed to be at their best defensively.
QPR did not have a great record in the F. A. Cup in 1978. They had never reached the semi-finals and only made it to the quarter-finals on six occasions in 78 attempts. It's not much better 40 years later - but at least they did get to the final to lose to Spurs in 1982.
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| Never semi-finalists (DNE = Did not enter) |
Forest are an older club than QPR so it's no surprise that Forest entered the tournament long before QPR did and did better than they did for decades. From Forest's first entry in 1878 it would be 17 seasons before QPR's, and it was another 11 seasons before QPR did as well as Forest in the competition. 1907-08 was the first season QPR progressed further than Forest in the Cup but after that point Forest only did better than QPR once before the war. So the score (in terms of which team did better than the other in the cup that season) at the end of 1915 was Forest 29 QPR 4, with four seasons both teams going out the same round.
Highlights for QPR here were reaching the quarter finals (twice) as a non-league side. Forest, of course, beat Derby 3-1 in the final of 1898 and reached the semi finals five times.
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| Forest were the dominant F. A. Cup team up until the start of the First World War |
It was a little more evenly matched between the wars. Forest doing better than QPR 11 times, QPR 3 times with six seasons both teams going out the same round. QPR, now a league side, again reached the quarter finals (once), as did Forest three times.
The two clubs met for the first, and only, time before this encounter, in the F. A. Cup in 1934. It was a 3rd round tie on 13th January at the City Ground. Forest won 4-0.
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| 7 = 6th Round, 6 = 5th Round, 5 = 4th Round, 4 = 3rd Round |
Since the second world war, Forest have been the better F. A. Cup side overall (16-7) but for the first nine years Forest only did better than QPR once. And in the nine season before this (1977-78) one Forest only did better than them twice.
Forest won the cup again in 1959, reached the semis in 1967 and the quarter finals in 1974 and this season, 1977-78. QPR managed three quarter final appearances - in 1948, 1970 and 1974.
Here're the highlights of QPR's last but one quarter final appearance at home to Chelsea in 1970, who won 4-2 on their way to winning the Cup.
In 1973-74 both teams made it to the quarter finals in the same season for the only time. Forest getting
In the cup run this season, QPR had been given a relatively easy draw in the 3rd round, at home to non-league Wealdstone of the Southern League. Wealdstone had beaten a club famous for their own giant-killing Hereford United in the first round 3-2 at Edgar Street after a 0-0 draw at home. They followed that up with another impressive win against league opposition, 2-1 win at home to Reading.Wealdstone were no match for Queen's Park Rangers though, who won 4-0 to go through to the 4th round.
Here's a clip of the action from that match played in front of 16,158 fans.
In the 4th round QPR drew West Ham United away and drew 1-1 in front of 35,556 at Upton Park.
In the replay, at Loftus Road, just 3 days later, 24,057 watched a very tight first half that ended 1-1. No-one saw what was coming next as QPR scored 5 with no reply in the second half to storm into the 5th round 6-1. The goals were scored by Don Givens, John Hollins, Stan Bowles (penalty), Leighton James and 2 from Martin Busby.
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| QPR beat West Ham 6-1 in a replay after a 1-1 draw at Upton Park |
So with ten goals in the last two F.A. Cup home games it seemed Forest needed to be at their best defensively.
Meanwhile, in the League
Despite a couple of good home games in the cup, QPR weren't on great form in the league so most of us Forest fans expected us to get through this and be in the draw for the 6th Round of the cup.
They had lost to Manchester City 2-1 the week before in front of 39,860 on a day just four first division games were played, one of the casualties being Forest's away tie at Villa Park. Arsenal had been held to a draw at Leicester 1-1 in front of 15,780, so things could have been worse for us.
So, as Everton didn't play either, all that happened was Manchester City joined them six points behind Forest. Alarmingly, this was Man City's seventh league win on the trot but, as we'd beaten them recently in the cup it kind of gave us an added feeling of invincibility.
In the other games last week, Chelsea draw 2-2 with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in front of 32,238 and Bristol City got a great 2-1 win at Upton Park in front of 19,934.
On the day of the 5th round, as we were getting to the pointy end of the cup, there were a couple of league games played that day too, both involving teams trying to chase Forest, so the pressure was definitely on.
Manchester City had played an away game at Bristol City on the Friday night, and drew 2-2 which brought them to within five points of us at the top of the league.
As the game at QPR kicked off, Everton started the only First Division match that day at Goodison Park at home to West Ham. A win would close the gap to four points.
They had lost to Manchester City 2-1 the week before in front of 39,860 on a day just four first division games were played, one of the casualties being Forest's away tie at Villa Park. Arsenal had been held to a draw at Leicester 1-1 in front of 15,780, so things could have been worse for us.
So, as Everton didn't play either, all that happened was Manchester City joined them six points behind Forest. Alarmingly, this was Man City's seventh league win on the trot but, as we'd beaten them recently in the cup it kind of gave us an added feeling of invincibility.
In the other games last week, Chelsea draw 2-2 with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in front of 32,238 and Bristol City got a great 2-1 win at Upton Park in front of 19,934.
On the day of the 5th round, as we were getting to the pointy end of the cup, there were a couple of league games played that day too, both involving teams trying to chase Forest, so the pressure was definitely on.
Manchester City had played an away game at Bristol City on the Friday night, and drew 2-2 which brought them to within five points of us at the top of the league.
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| Gap closed to five points |
As the game at QPR kicked off, Everton started the only First Division match that day at Goodison Park at home to West Ham. A win would close the gap to four points.
The Teams
Freed from the restraint of having three (League) Cup tied players, Clough/Taylor reverted to their best eleven for this match, the twelfth consecutive time they did so in the league and F. A. Cup.
For QPR, Ernie Howe and Ron Abbott were newcomers to the side since Forest last played them - replacing David Webb and, of course, David Needham making a return to a club he played just 18 games for. Leighton James had also come into the side since we last met.
Queens Park Rangers
1 Phil Parkes, 2 David Clement, 3 Ian Gillard, 4 John Hollins, 5 Ernie Howe, 6 Ron Abbott, 7 Don Shanks, 8 Martin Busby, 9 Leighton James, 10 Stan Bowles, 11 Don Givens.
Goals: Martin Busby 1.
Nottingham Forest
1 Peter Shilton, 2 Viv Anderson, 3 Colin Barrett, 4 John McGovern, 5 David Needham, 6 Kenny Burns, 7 Martin O'Neill, 8 Archie Gemmill, 9 Peter Withe, 10 Tony Woodcock, 11 John Robertson.
Goals : Martin O'Neill 1.
1 Phil Parkes, 2 David Clement, 3 Ian Gillard, 4 John Hollins, 5 Ernie Howe, 6 Ron Abbott, 7 Don Shanks, 8 Martin Busby, 9 Leighton James, 10 Stan Bowles, 11 Don Givens.
Goals: Martin Busby 1.
Nottingham Forest
1 Peter Shilton, 2 Viv Anderson, 3 Colin Barrett, 4 John McGovern, 5 David Needham, 6 Kenny Burns, 7 Martin O'Neill, 8 Archie Gemmill, 9 Peter Withe, 10 Tony Woodcock, 11 John Robertson.
Goals : Martin O'Neill 1.
Attendance: 26,803
The Game
I think this was an away day on the train, Forestrail and the excitement (for us northern lads) of a trip on the London Underground from St Pancras station.
It was another cold day and ice threatened to stop the game so a tonne of sand was used to cover the pitch and, presumably, keep the surface dry and hence free from ice. We were packed in at the open Loftus Road (away) end of the ground.
Forest, as favourites, started positively and goalkeeper Phil Parkes was put under a lot of early pressure. After that QPR came back into the game with Leighton James and Stan Bowles proving a handful and they dominated possession and shots on goal.
Their pressure paid off on the 18th minute when a dangerous Stan Bowles through ball into the box was put out for a corner by Archie Gemmill only for the cross by Leighton James to be flicked in at the near post by Martin Busby beating Shilton and a row of Forest players on the goal line.
Forest fought straight back but QPR continued to dominate until just before half time when Martin O'Neill created a shooting chance for Gemmill that was brilliantly saved by Parkes. 1-0 to QPR at half time. We were a little cheered to hear the half time score from Goodison that West Ham were holding Everton to 1-1.
The second half started with Rangers looking to add a second with Bowles and James causing more angst for Forest before the game settled down to a period of stalemate. Forest started piling on the pressure as the game proceeded. Withe fired one close to the post and then John Robertson appeared to be fouled in the box - but no penalty was given. Then, a typically lovely Forest move was completed with a fierce shot from Martin O'Neill but again Phil Parkes was equal to it. A Withe shot was cleared off the line add with the minutes ticking away it looked like it wasn't going to be Forest's day.
Enter the indefatigable Archie Gemmill. A long hopeful pass from Colin Barrett into the left corner of the pitch was chased by the little Scot and once collected, he wasted no time in turning and sending over a cross for Martin O'Neill, running in towards the near post to score a similar goal to Busby's in the first half - a near post flick past Parkes with just one minute of normal time remaining. We went crazy as the dream of the treble was kept alive. After so many games without much threat of defeat this - even though it was 'only' winning a replay against QPR - felt like a victory.
It was another cold day and ice threatened to stop the game so a tonne of sand was used to cover the pitch and, presumably, keep the surface dry and hence free from ice. We were packed in at the open Loftus Road (away) end of the ground.
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| I was in there somewhere at the Loftus Road end of the ground |
Forest, as favourites, started positively and goalkeeper Phil Parkes was put under a lot of early pressure. After that QPR came back into the game with Leighton James and Stan Bowles proving a handful and they dominated possession and shots on goal.
Their pressure paid off on the 18th minute when a dangerous Stan Bowles through ball into the box was put out for a corner by Archie Gemmill only for the cross by Leighton James to be flicked in at the near post by Martin Busby beating Shilton and a row of Forest players on the goal line.
Forest fought straight back but QPR continued to dominate until just before half time when Martin O'Neill created a shooting chance for Gemmill that was brilliantly saved by Parkes. 1-0 to QPR at half time. We were a little cheered to hear the half time score from Goodison that West Ham were holding Everton to 1-1.
The second half started with Rangers looking to add a second with Bowles and James causing more angst for Forest before the game settled down to a period of stalemate. Forest started piling on the pressure as the game proceeded. Withe fired one close to the post and then John Robertson appeared to be fouled in the box - but no penalty was given. Then, a typically lovely Forest move was completed with a fierce shot from Martin O'Neill but again Phil Parkes was equal to it. A Withe shot was cleared off the line add with the minutes ticking away it looked like it wasn't going to be Forest's day.
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| John Motson: "O'Neill.... YES! Martin O'Neill has scored!" |
Of the seven other 5th round games scheduled that day, only five were played. Arsenal brushed third division Walsall aside 4-1. Millwall scraped past Notts County in the all-second division affair. The other three games, like Forest's had ended in a draw. Most remarkably, Blyth Spartans drew at Wrexham to win a replay which would attract over 40,000 at St James' Park. The others were first division sides drawing at second division sides.
The other two fixtures were, again, affected by the bad weather. Derby would lose to West Brom 2-3 in midweek but Middlesbrough's tie against Bolton would be postponed again.
In the league Everton did end up beating West Ham (2-1 in front of 33,862) and so Forest's lead at the top of the first division was cut to four points - although, of course, Forest did still have a game in hand.
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| Everton close the gap to four points |
Bob Latchford failed to score for once so there wasn't much change at the top of the scorer's chart.
So, another replay had to be squeezed in somewhere. With Forest's cup successes and the bad weather taking its toll, that wouldn't be easy. Next up, weather-permitting, was the re-scheduled semi-final second leg against Leeds United. With Forest already 3-1 up from the first leg, surely this would be a formality and Forest would earn their place at Wembley to face Liverpool, who had already secured their final berth with a 0-0 draw at Arsenal in midweek.
Happy days!
The Programme
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