Flashback: On This Day: Docherty Victory...Gillard, Spencer, Peacock Debuts

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Eleven Years Ago: November 23, 1996: John Spencer and Gavin Peacock made their QPR debuts in the 2-1 loss at Reading.
(Spencer of course scoring). Stuart Houston made Spencer his first signing when he paid Chelsea almost 2.5 million pounds. Ex-QPR forward/midfielder Peacock joined from Chelsea, initially on a month loan; then QPR paid almost one million pounds.
QPR Team vs Reading: Roberts, Brevitt, McDonald, Ready, Maddix, Sinclair, Barker, Peacock, Impey, Charles, Spencer- Sub: Dichio
[Spencer ended the season with 18 goals in 29 games and was player of the year. After that initial season, things went rather less well and Spencer moved on to Everton.] Reading vs QPR Match Report

Thirty-Nine Years Ago: Tommy Docherty's Only Victory and Ian Gillard's Debut November 23, 1968: Tommy Docherty's QPR won 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest.In his month-long managerial QPR career (Stint I), Tommy Docherty achieved one victory in his four games in charge. (And QPR managed only four victories that entire season. In that Docherty victory, Rodney Marsh scored one of his four goals that season with Tony Hazell scoring the other goal - a true rarity for Hazell) Making his debut that day: 18 year-old Ian Gillard.
QPR's team vs Nottingham Forest had seven "home growns." The full team
Kelly
Clement Hazell Watson Gillard
Ian Morgan - Mcgovern - Sibley - Roger Morgan
Bridges Marsh

Ian Gillard: Born October 1950, Ian Gillard went on to play over 400 League games for QPR and three times for England. Gillard's last game was for QPR was in the FA Cup Replay against Spurs before joining Aldershot as player coach. Gillard playing Stats See also Gillard/Wikipedia and Dave's QPR Site Profile of Gillard

Sixty-Six Years Ago: Former Manager Alan Mullery Born!
Born November 23, 1941. Not perhaps QPR's most successful manager, although supposedly a really nice person. Appointed in June 1984 to replace Terry Venables, which was obviously a very tough act to follow. Mullery managed QPR for just 17 games games. In December 1984, Chairman Jim Gregory fired Mullery and replaced him with Frank Sibley (after Don Revie's appointment fell through).
The Mullery "era" was certainly eventful six months: The period saw QPR's amazing 5-5 draw with Newcastle as QPR came from 0-4 to draw 5-5. It also saw Mullery turn a 6-2 "home" (actually played at Highbury because of QPR's "controversial" Plastic pitch) win versus Partisan Belgrade in the EUFA Cup; followed by a 0-4 loss in the second leg which saw QPR get knocked out of Europe - to never return!.
Among the players he signed for QPR were Gary Bannister and John Byrne. And his managership started so well with two wins and 2 draws including a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Mullery played for Fulham, Spurs and Fulham and England and managed Brighton, Charlton, Crystal Palace, and QPR. Mullery

FourFourTwo reviewing "Mullery: the autobiography" writes ".... ....After initial success on the south coast, Mullery's managerial career fell into rapid decline, as he was forced to endure the machinations of QPR's tyrannical chairman Jim Gregory,....." FourFourTwo
Now an after-dinner speaker and TV commentator
: THE NEWCASTLE PERSPECTIVE OF THE 5-5 GAME -QPR 5 Newcastle 5

ONE YEAR AGO: WIN PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK!
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - HOOP-HOOP-HOORAY!
Posted on: Thu 23 Nov 2006

The R's last-gasp victory against Cardiff on Friday has earned them the coveted F&C Investments Performance of the Week Award.

The League Managers Association five-man Performance of the Week panel - comprising Chairman Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry - were in agreement that this week, the F&C Investments Performance of the Week Award, should go to QPR in the wake of the 1-0 win in Wales.

Ray Jones bagged the only goal of the game in the 86th minute at Ninian Park, as Rangers increased their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions with a stunning third victory on the spin against the league leaders.

Gaffer John Gregory will receive the specially engraved crystal football tomorrow (Friday), in a presentation to be screened on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday this weekend.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk at the full-time whistle in Cardiff, Gregory commented: "I've been so proud of the players since I became manager. They're a pleasure to be around and they're a fantastic bunch of lads.

"They've a tremendous work ethic and throughout the match you could see them backing each other up

QPR

Also: One Year ago: Tim Breacker appointed Assistant Manager at Plymouth, under Ian Holloway. Report