QPR's First Championship

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This year marks the Diamond Anniversary of QPR's First Title and Promotion: Sixty Years ago, the 1947/1948 came to a close and QPR won the Third Division South Championship and promotion to the Second Division for the first time in their history.

QPR's manager that season was Dave Magnall. In goal was Reg Allen (still with QPR before moving on to Man United.) QPR's top scorer with 25 goals was C Hatton followed by D Boxshall with 13. Most appearances: Playing in 47 of the 48 League and cup games: Ivor Powell (who's still active sixty years later.).

From QPR Official Site - A POTTED HISTORY OF QPR (1882-2008)
"...In 1945/46 QPR finished top of the League they were in. They also got through to the Fifth Round of the Cup - the only time it was played on a two-leg basis. In 1947/48 they reached the Sixth Round of the Cup before losing to Derby after a replay, and on 26th April 1948 won promotion for the first time to the Second Division.
QPR spent four years in the Second Division, before they were relegated back to Division Three in 1952. Dave Mangnall left the club and his place was taken by Jack Taylor. In 1953 the first floodlights were installed at Loftus Road at a cost of £5,000, the first floodlit match being against Arsenal on 5th October. In 1959 Alec Stock joined the club as a manager, and signed Brian Bedford from Bournemouth.... QPR

From The Official History of Queens Park Rangers by Gordon acey (2000 Edition)
"1947-1948. "...Rangers made two costly signings. They paid their record fee of £2,000 fo George Smith the Bentford centre-half and the same figure to Wolverhampton Wanderers for Fred Ramscar....
....By now the crowds were into the mid 20,000 range for each game ...the title belong to Rangers who had now won promotion for the first time in their history....
...The increased revenue enable the club to make a very important purchase, that of the freehold of the ground together with the thirty nine houses adjoining in Ellersie and Loftus Roads. The cost of £26,250 was met by the issue of shares, which due to the club's success was fully taken up...
Before the start of the [1948-1949] season, Rangers became the first British club to make an official trip to Turkey..." (pp 67-68)

Brief Video of QPR from that year: In the FA CUP that year: - QPR vs Derby Video
Pathe Description: "Start of the FA (Football Association) Cup 6th round football match between Queen's Park Rangers and Derby County. Ball goes out to Harrison. Bad pass. Powell kicks the ball forward. Goalkeeper of Derby County collects ball as Heath rushes in and clears up field. Various shots of the game. Hartburn scores for QPR. Crowd cheering. Throw-in. Close up shot of cheerful Charlie Chester. Billy Steele (Steel) shoots. Goalkeeper partially saves, but ball goes back to Steele who scores from rebound. Crowd cheering. Steele to Morrison, Morrison to Stamps. Centre to Steele, back to Jackie Stamps (Stamp) and Smith clears. Leuty beats Heath in the air, to Steele to Morrison. Powell tackles and slices across goal area. Carter shoot but goalkeeper Allen clears. Steele collects and dribbles forward. Forward pass. Various shots of the game. Final score Queen's Park Rangers 1, Derby County 1." Pathe -

STILL PHOTOS Stll Photo 1 Still Photo II - The Supporters 1 - The Supporters II

QPR's hoops in 1948 (as opposed to their first season after promotion: QPR's "hoops in 1949") (replaced by Hoops again)


DIVISION THREE SOUTH - 1947/1948

Pld W D L GF GA Pts
1 Queens Park Rangers 42 26 9 7 74 37 61
2 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athleti 42 24 9 9 76 35 57
3 Walsall 42 21 9 12 70 40 51
4 Ipswich Town 42 23 3 16 67 61 49
5 Swansea Town 42 18 12 12 70 52 48
6 Notts County 42 19 8 15 68 59 46
7 Bristol City 42 18 7 17 77 65 43
8 Port Vale 42 16 11 15 63 54 43
9 Southend United 42 15 13 14 51 58 43
10 Reading 42 15 11 16 56 58 41
11 Exeter City 42 15 11 16 55 63 41
12 Newport County 42 14 13 15 61 73 41
13 Crystal Palace 42 13 13 16 49 49 39
14 Northampton Town 42 14 11 17 58 72 39
15 Watford 42 14 10 18 57 79 38
16 Swindon Town 42 10 16 16 41 46 36
17 Leyton Orient 42 13 10 19 51 73 36
18 Torquay United 42 11 13 18 63 62 35
19 Aldershot 42 10 15 17 45 67 35
20 Bristol Rovers 42 13 8 21 71 75 34
21 Norwich City 42 13 8 21 61 76 34
22 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 11 12 19 43 73 43
Table

1947-1948 Results: QPR's 1947-1948 Results:

[Further Memories: If you have any memories of this season - or any links to material or photos from this season, please feel free to post or to email at QPRReport@hotmail.com