QPR Hero, Frank Sibley, Turns Sixty

-
Frank Sibley Turns Sixty: Born December 4, 1947

QPR's Youngest Ever first Team Player, making his debut at 15 in the 1963/64 season, in September 1963, against Aldershot in the League Cup. QPR lost 3-1. The QPR team that day - names from a very different era - P Springett, Brady, Whittaker, P.Brady, Graham, Keen, Leary, Mcquade, Malcolm, Bedford, Sibley)

(Sibley made his League debut later that season, in March 1964 away to Bristol City.)

Defensive player who played Central defense or central midfield. Captained the team. Sadly had numerous injuries and had to END his career at 23.

Sibley's last game came in the 1970/71 season - March 1971, home to Norwich, which QPR lost 1-0. Gordon Jago was Caretaker Manager having replaced Les Allen. The team:
Parkes, Clement, Hunt, Sibleym Hazell, Venables, Francis, I. Moragan, Leach, Marsh, Ferguson.

QPR's Youngest-ever Manager (and at the time, the youngest manager in the First Division). Sibley took over from Dave Sexton at age 29 in 1977/1978.

Sibley was also at various times at QPR, coach and Assistant Manager and Acting-manager (such as when he replaced Alan Mullery as manager).

Part of the 1966/67 League and Cup team.

Frank Sibley Photo 1 (front row, next to Terry Venables or Sibley Photo II ( back row, one from right)

If any player epitomized QPR of that era, it was Frank Sibley. "Home grown." QPR's youngest player to play in the first team at 15). Career ended at 23 by injury. Then was coach at QPR under various managers: Gordon Jago and Dave Sexton. He was QPR manager for just one season. Then he was replaced by Alec Stock/Steve Burtenshaw. Sibley returned as coach under Venables. Then Alan Mullery. When Mullery was sacked, Sibley was Caretaker manager for the second half of the season. Sibley was coach under various subsequent QPR managers. For the past few years, he has been Chief Scout at Watford.

When Rodney Marsh made his QPR debut, away to Peterborough, March 19, 1966:...Sibley was in the team. (The team for Marsh's debut: Peter Springett -Langley, Hunt Sibley Watson - Lazarus, Keen, Roger Morgan, Allen, Collins Marsh.)

See QPR Net Interview with Frank Sibley - Interview with Frank Sibley

Also See Sibley/Wikipedia