# 1981–82 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

During the 1981–82 English football season, Queens Park Rangers competed in the Second Division and finished in 5th position. They also reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history, losing the final after a replay to Tottenham Hotspur.

## Season summary

During the summer of 1981, Rangers installed an artificial Omniturf pitch at their Loftus Road ground. The opening match on the new surface - the first of its kind in British professional football - was a 2–1 defeat to Luton Town, who would install a synthetic pitch of their own a few years later. Despite this setback, Rangers proved difficult to beat at home, but away results were indifferent by comparison and they ultimately fell two points short of the third promotion spot.
In the FA Cup, Rangers beat Middlesbrough, Blackpool, Grimsby Town, Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion en route to the final at Wembley, where their opponents were holders Tottenham. Terry Fenwick's header salvaged a 1–1 draw after Glenn Hoddle had put Spurs in front, both goals coming in the second half of extra-time, but Hoddle converted a penalty in the sixth minute of the replay which proved decisive despite Rangers enjoying much of the possession for the remainder of the game.

## Omniturf

During the summer of 1981 an artificial pitch of Omniturf was installed at Loftus Road, the first such surface to be used in British professional football.The surface was not favoured by everyone, with QPR keeper Peter Hucker describing it as "basically a bit of carpet over two feet of concrete", and stated that as a goalkeeper, he strongly disliked diving onto it saying that "I'd have close to third degree burns because the pitch would totally rip the skin off."Rangers lost the first league match played on the new surface 1-2 versus Luton Town on 1 September 1981. During the time that Loftus Road had the Omniturf pitch installed, QPR reached two cup finals and became Second Division champions, something that critics claimed was caused by the advantage the pitch presented,

## Badge

A new centenary badge was unveiled on the FA Cup Final shirt, which remained in use until 2008

## Kit

Adidas remained as QPR's kit manufacturers.

## Second Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 3 | Norwich City (P) | 42 | 22 | 5 | 15 | 64 | 50 | +14 | 71 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 55 | 51 | +4 | 70 | |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 65 | 43 | +22 | 69 | |
| 6 | Barnsley | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 67 | |
| 7 | Rotherham United | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 66 | 54 | +12 | 67 | |

## Results

QPR scores given first
Win  Draw  Loss

### Second Division

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | Position |
| 29 August 1981 | Wrexham | A | 3–1 | King, Allen 2 | 4661 | 5 |
| 1 September 1981 | Luton Town | H | 1–2 | King | 18,703 | 6 |
| 5 September 1981 | Newcastle United | H | 3–0 | King, Roeder, Stainrod | 14,176 | 3 |
| 12 September 1981 | Grimsby Town | A | 1–2 | Gregory | 9490 | 8 |
| 19 September 1981 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–0 | Stainrod | 17,039 | 6 |
| 22 September 1981 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–2 | | 6421 | 8 |
| 26 September 1981 | Derby County | A | 1–3 | Gregory | 11,246 | 14 |
| 3 October 1981 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 2–0 | Gregory, Allen | 9541 | 10 |
| 10 October 1981 | Norwich City | H | 2–0 | Gregory, Stainrod | 11,806 | 7 |
| 18 October 1981 | Orient | A | 1–1 | Gillard | 8192 | 6 |
| 24 October 1981 | Leicester City | H | 2–0 | Stainrod, Gregory | 12,419 | 4 |
| 31 October 1981 | Charlton Athletic | A | 2–1 | Stainrod, Allen | 11,333 | 4 |
| 7 November 1981 | Rotherham United | H | 1–1 | Flanagan | 10,949 | 4 |
| 14 November 1981 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–1 | Stainrod 3 | 17,024 | 3 |
| 21 November 1981 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–2 | Flanagan | 4765 | 4 |
| 24 November 1981 | Oldham Athletic | H | 0–0 | | 9477 | 4 |
| 28 November 1981 | Cardiff City | H | 2–0 | Stainrod 2 | 10,225 | 3 |
| 5 December 1981 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 0–1 | | 6076 | 5 |
| 12 December 1981 | Barnsley | H | 1–0 | Flanagan | 10,972 | 4 |
| 26 December 1981 | Chelsea | H | 0–2 | | 22,022 | 5 |
| 16 January 1982 | Wrexham | H | 1–1 | Stainrod | 10,066 | 4 |
| 30 January 1982 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–0 | | 15,267 | 6 |
| 6 February 1982 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–0 | Gregory | 8753 | 5 |
| 9 February 1982 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 | | 4822 | 6 |
| 16 February 1982 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–2 | Allen | 6884 | 7 |
| 20 February 1982 | Derby County | H | 3–0 | Hazell, Fenwick, Flanagan | 8890 | 6 |
| 27 February 1982 | Norwich City | A | 1–0 | Roeder | 15,928 | 7 |
| 9 March 1982 | Watford | A | 0–4 | | 16,862 | 7 |
| 13 March 1982 | Leicester City | A | 2–3 | Currie, Stainrod | 17,821 | 9 |
| 20 March 1982 | Charlton Athletic | H | 4–0 | Fenwick, Allen 3 | 13,118 | 7 |
| 27 March 1982 | Rotherham United | A | 0–1 | | 10,472 | 9 |
| 29 March 1982 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 2–0 | Flanagan, Stainrod | 11,710 | 7 |
| 6 April 1982 | Orient | H | 3–0 | Hazell, Flanagan, Stainrod | 10,531 | 7 |
| 10 April 1982 | Chelsea | A | 1–2 | Gregory | 18,365 | 7 |
| 12 April 1982 | Watford | H | 0–0 | | 22,091 | 7 |
| 17 April 1982 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 2–1 | Flanagan, Allen | 11,148 | 6 |
| 24 April 1982 | Cardiff City | A | 2–1 | Allen, Micklewhite | 5979 | 6 |
| 1 May 1982 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 7–1 | Gregory, Micklewhite, Flanagan 2, Fenwick (pen), Stainrod, Allen | 10,002 | 5 |
| 5 May 1982 | Newcastle United | A | 4–0 | Gregory, Allen, Flanagan, Stainrod | 10,670 | 5 |
| 8 May 1982 | Barnsley | A | 0–3 | | 10,579 | 6 |
| 11 May 1982 | Luton Town | A | 2–3 | Fenwick, Stainrod | 16,657 | 6 |
| 15 May 1982 | Cambridge United | H | 2–1 | Allen, Fenwick (pen) | 10,467 | 5 |

### Milk Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 6 October 1981 | Second Round First Leg | Portsmouth | H | 5–0 | Ellis (og), Gregory 2, Micklewhite 2 | 13,502 |
| 27 October 1981 | Second Round Second Leg | Portsmouth | A | 2–2 | Flanagan, Micklewhite | 7677 |
| 10 November 1981 | Third Round | Bristol City | H | 3–0 | Flanagan, Stainrod, Allen | 9215 |
| 1 December 1981 | Fourth Round | Watford | A | 1–4 | Stainrod (pen) | 18,276 |

### FA Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 2 January 1982 | Third Round | Middlesbrough | H | 1–1 | Stainrod | 12,100 |
| 18 January 1982 | Third Round Replay | Middlesbrough | A | 3–2 (aet - 2–2 at 90 mins) | Stainrod 2, Neill | 14,819 |
| 23 January 1982 | Fourth Round | Blackpool | A | 0–0 | | 10,227 |
| 26 January 1982 | Fourth Round Replay | Blackpool | H | 5–1 | Allen 4, Stainrod (pen) | 11,712 |
| 13 February 1982 | Fifth Round | Grimsby Town | H | 3–1 | Stainrod, Allen, Howe | 13,344 |
| 6 March 1982 | Sixth Round | Crystal Palace | H | 1–0 | Allen | 24,653 |
| 3 April 1982 | Semi-Final | West Bromwich Albion | N | 1–0 | Allen | 45,015 |
| 22 May 1982 | Final | Tottenham Hotspur | N | 1–1 (aet - 0–0 at 90 mins) | Fenwick | 100,000 |
| 27 May 1982 | Final Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | N | 0–1 | | 90,000 |

### Pre-Season

| Date | Country | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A | Scorers |
| 25 July 1981 | Sweden | Stugens BK | A | 6-0 | Stainrod 2, King 2, Burridge, Sealy |
| 27 July 1981 | Sweden | Sandviks IK | A | 8-1 | Flanagan, Micklewhite 2, Stainrod, Waddock, Sealy 2, Muir |
| 29 July 1981 | Sweden | Spanga IS | A | 1–0 | Micklewhite |
| 30 July 1981 | Sweden | Enkopings | A | 9-1 | Flanagan 3, Micklewhite, Stainrod 2, Allen 2, Muir |
| 2 August 1981 | Sweden | Ludvika BK | A | 4-1 | Flanagan, Stainrod 2, Gregory |
| 16 August 1981 | Ireland | Athlone Town | A | 4-3 | Flanagan, Stainrod 3 |
| 18 August 1981 | Ireland | Bohemians | A | 3-0 | Stainrod 2, Allen |

## Squad

| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League Appearances | League Goals | Milk Cup Appearances | Milk Cup Goals | F A Cup Appearances | F A Cup Goals | Total Appearances | Total Goals |
| GK | ENG | Peter Hucker | 22 | | | | 9 | | 31 | |
| GK | ENG | John Burridge | 20 | | 4 | | | | 24 | |
| GK | ENG | Graham Benstead | | | | | | | | |
| DF | ENG | Ian Dawes | 5 | | | | | | 5 | |
| DF | ENG | Terry Fenwick | 36 | 5 | 4 | | 8 | 1 | 48 | 6 |
| DF | ENG | Ian Gillard | 33(2) | 1 | 4 | | 9 | | 46(2) | 1 |
| DF | JAM | Bob Hazell | 23(1) | 2 | 4 | | 4 | | 31(1) | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Ernie Howe | 16 | | 1 | | 5 | 1 | 22 | 1 |
| DF | NIR | Alan McDonald | | | | | | | | |
| DF | ENG | Warren Neill | 11 | | | | 3(1) | 1 | 14(1) | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Glenn Roeder | 41 | 2 | 4 | | 8 | | 53 | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Steve Wicks | 9 | | | | | | 9 | |
| MF | ENG | Tony Currie | 20 | 1 | 1 | | 7 | | 28 | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Martin Duffield | | | | | | | | |
| MF | ENG | Gerry Francis | 7 | | | | | | 7 | |
| MF | ENG | John Gregory | 34 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 7 | | 45 | 11 |
| MF | ENG | Andy King | 4 | 3 | | | | | 4 | 3 |
| MF | ENG | Gary Micklewhite | 24(2) | 2 | 3(1) | 3 | 4(1) | | 31(4) | 5 |
| MF | IRE | Mark O'Connor | 1 | | | | | | 1 | |
| MF | IRE | Gary Waddock | 35 | | 3 | | 9 | | 47 | |
| MF | ENG | Dean Wilkins | (1) | | 1 | | | | 1(1) | |
| FW | ENG | Clive Allen | 36(1) | 13 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 45(1) | 21 |
| FW | ENG | Steve Burke | 2(10) | | 1(1) | | (1) | | 3(12) | |
| FW | ENG | Martyn Busby | | | | | | | | |
| FW | ENG | Wayne Fereday | 2(2) | | | | 0(1) | | 2(3) | |
| FW | ENG | Mike Flanagan | 36(1) | 10 | 3 | 2 | 9 | | 48(1) | 12 |
| FW | ENG | Ian Muir | | | | | | | | |
| FW | ENG | Tony Sealy | 4(3) | | 1 | | | | 5(3) | |
| FW | ENG | Simon Stainrod | 39 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 52 | 24 |
| FW | NIR | Ian Stewart | 2(1) | | 0(2) | | 1(1) | | 3(4) | |

## Transfers Out

| Name | from | Date | Fee | Date | Club | Fee |
| Don Shanks | Luton Town | November 1974 | £35,000 | August 1981 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Free |
| Barry Silkman | Brentford | October 1980 | £20,000 | September 1981 | Leyton Orient | £15,000 |
| Andy King | Everton | September 1980 | £400,000 | September 1981 | West Bromwich Albion | |
| Dean Neal | Queens Park Rangers Juniors | January 1979 | | October 1981 | Millwall | £80,000 |
| Gordon Hill | Derby County | November 1979 | £150,000 | November 1981 | Montreal Manic | |
| Gerry Francis | Crystal Palace | February 1981 | £150,000 | January 1982 | Coventry | £145,000 |
| Tony Sealy | Crystal Palace | March 1981 | £80,000 | February 1982 | Port Vale | loan |
| Ian Gillard | Queens Park Rangers Juniors | October 1968 | | July 1982 | Aldershot | |

## Transfers In

| Name | from | Date | Fee |
| Alan McDonald | Queens Park Rangers Juniors | August 1981 | |
| Martin Duffield | Queens Park Rangers Juniors | January 1982 | |
| Steve Wicks | Crystal Palace | March 1982 | £325,000 |