# 1972–73 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

The 1972–73 season was Queens Park Rangers F.C.'s 54th season of football in the Football League First Division. It was also their second consecutive season in the top division after being promoted from the Football League Second Division in 1971.

## League performance

QPR finished the season in 3rd place in the Football League First Division, their highest ever finish at the time. They were level on points with champions Leeds United A.F.C. and runners-up Liverpool F.C., but had an inferior goal difference. The season saw standout performances from forward Stan Bowles, who finished as the club's top scorer with 22 goals.

## FA Cup

QPR were eliminated from the FA Cup in the Third Round, losing 2–1 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C..

## Crest

QPR replaced their Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith’s arms badge that had been the clubs badge since 1953 with a blue and white hooped shield with the outline of a ball, depicting QPR in plain letters.

## Results
### Second Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Burnley (C, P) | 42 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 72 | 35 | 2.057 | 62 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Queens Park Rangers (P) | 42 | 24 | 13 | 5 | 81 | 37 | 2.189 | 61 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 42 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 51 | 47 | 1.085 | 50 | |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 46 | 43 | 1.070 | 47 | |
| 5 | Bristol City | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 63 | 51 | 1.235 | 46 | Qualification for the Watney Cup |

## Results
### First Division

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Position |
| 12 August 1972 | Swindon Town | A | 2–2 | Busby, Leach | 14,170 | 14 |
| 19 August 1972 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 4–2 | Francis, O'Rourke, Givens, Leach | 12,977 | 7 |
| 26 August 1972 | Preston North End | A | 1–1 | O'Rourke | 9,242 | 7 |
| 2 September 1972 | Middlesbrough | H | 2–2 | Givens, O'Rourke | 10,601 | 13 |
| 9 September 1972 | Burnley | A | 1–1 | Busby | 10,798 | 11 |
| 16 September 1972 | Nottingham Forest | H | 3–0 | Givens, Bowles, McCulloch | 12,528 | 10 |
| 19 September 1972 | Bristol City | H | 1–1 | Francis | 11,586 | 10 |
| 23 September 1972 | Orient | A | 2–2 | Leach, Bowles | 9,492 | 10 |
| 26 September 1972 | Hull City | A | 1–4 | Givens | 8,289 | 12 |
| 30 September 1972 | Cardiff City | H | 3–0 | Givens 2, Bowles | 11,182 | 10 |
| 7 October 1972 | Carlisle United | H | 4–0 | Francis, Leach, Evans, Busby | 11,755 | 8 |
| 14 October 1972 | Aston Villa | A | 1–0 | Francis | 34,045 | 5 |
| 17 October 1972 | Fulham | A | 2–0 | Bowles, Givens | 20,614 | 2 |
| 21 October 1972 | Sunderland | H | 3–2 | Givens, Bowles 2 | 17,356 | 2 |
| 28 October 1972 | Blackpool | A | 0–2 | | 14,160 | 3 |
| 4 November 1972 | Hull City | H | 1–1 | Bowles | 13,619 | 3 |
| 11 November 1972 | Bristol City | A | 2–1 | Givens 2 | 12,570 | 1 |
| 18 November 1972 | Millwall | H | 1–3 | Bowles | 15,857 | 2 |
| 25 November 1972 | Portsmouth | A | 1–0 | Givens | 8,460 | 2 |
| 2 December 1972 | Oxford United | H | 0–0 | | 9,790 | 2 |
| 9 December 1972 | Luton Town | A | 2–2 | Givens, Clement | 13,670 | 3 |
| 23 December 1972 | Brighton And Hove Albion | A | 2–1 | Givens 2 | 13,735 | 2 |
| 26 December 1972 | Orient | H | 3–1 | Leach, Givens, Francis | 15,062 | 2 |
| 30 December 1972 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–3 | Leach | 20,185 | 2 |
| 6 January 1973 | Preston North End | H | 3–0 | Givens 2, Francis | 10,519 | 2 |
| 20 January 1973 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–0 | | 8,398 | 2 |
| 27 January 1973 | Burnley | H | 2–0 | Givens, leach | 22,518 | 2 |
| 6 February 1973 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–1 | Givens 2, Thomas | 13,539 | 2 |
| 10 February 1973 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–0 | | 11,617 | 2 |
| 17 February 1973 | Swindon Town | H | 5–0 | Givens, Francis, Bowles 3 | 13,472 | 2 |
| 3 March 1973 | Carlisle United | A | 3–1 | Thomas, Bowles, Clement | 8,729 | 2 |
| 6 March 1973 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–2 | Francis, Leach | 8,627 | 2 |
| 10 March 1973 | Aston Villa | H | 1–0 | Leach | 21,578 | 1 |
| 24 March 1973 | Blackpool | H | 4–0 | Thomas, Bowles, Francis,Hatton OG | 15,714 | 2 |
| 31 March 1973 | Portsmouth | H | 5–0 | Thomas, Leach, Venables, Lewis OG | 14,086 | 2 |
| 7 April 1973 | Oxford United | A | 0–2 | | 12,144 | 2 |
| 14 April 1973 | Luton Town | H | 2–0 | Mancini, Givens | 16,471 | 2 |
| 18 April 1973 | Cardiff City | A | 0–0 | | 11,958 | 2 |
| 21 April 1973 | Millwall | A | 1–0 | Bowles | 16,136 | 2 |
| 24 April 1973 | Brighton and Hove Albion | H | 2–0 | Bowles, Francis | 16,625 | 2 |
| 28 April 1973 | Fulham | H | 2–0 | Bowles, Clement | 22,187 | 2 |
| 9 May 1973 | Sunderland | A | 3–0 | Bowles 2, Thomas | 43,265 | 2 |

### London Challenge Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 25 September 1972 | First Round | Crystal Palace | A | 1–0 | | |
| 4 October 1972 | Quarter-Final | Tottenham | A | 0–2 | | |

### Football League Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 6 September 1972 | Second Round | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–2 | Givens | 8,282 |

### FA Cup

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 13 January 1973 | Third Round | Barnet | H | 0–0 | | 13,627 |
| 16 January 1973 | Third Round Replay | Barnet | A | 3–0 | Leach, Bowles, Mancini | 10.919 |
| 24 January 1973 | Fourth Round | Oxford United | A | 2–0 | Givens, Clement | 16,057 |
| 24 February 1973 | Fifth Round | Derby County | A | 2–4 | Leach, Givens | 38,100 |

## Squad

| Position | Name | League Appearances (substitute) | League Goals | Cup Appearances | F.A.Cup Goals | League Cup Goals | Total Appearances | Total Goals |
| GK | Phil Parkes | 41 | 4 | | | | 45 | |
| GK | Alan Spratley | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 | |
| DF | Dave Clement | 40 | 5 | 3 | 1 | | 45 | 4 |
| DF | Tony Hazell | 41 | 5 | | | | 46 | |
| DF | Ian Gillard | 8 | | | | | 8 | |
| DF | Ron Hunt | 2(1) | 1 | | | | 4 | |
| DF | Terry Mancini | 24 | 4 | 2 | 1 | | 28 | 3 |
| DF | Ian Evans | 18 | 1 | 1 | | | 19 | 1 |
| DF | John Delve | 6(3) | 1 | | | | 10 | |
| MF | John Beck | (1) | | | | | 1 | |
| MF | Martyn Busby | 13 | 1 | 3 | | | 14 | 3 |
| MF | Mike Ferguson | 1(1) | 2 | | | | 4 | |
| MF | Gerry Francis | 42 | 4 | 9 | | | 46 | 9 |
| MF | Mick Leach | 35(1) | 5 | 10 | 2 | | 41 | 12 |
| MF | Ian Watson | 35 | 4 | | | | 39 | |
| FW | Terry Venables | 37 | 2 | 1 | | | 39 | 1 |
| FW | Stan Bowles | 35 | 4 | 17 | 1 | | 33 | 18 |
| FW | Andy McCulloch | 5(2) | | 1 | | | 7 | 1 |
| FW | John O'Rourke | 7(1) | 1 | 3 | | | 9 | 3 |
| FW | Don Givens | 41 | 5 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 26 |
| FW | Dave Thomas | 28 | 4 | 6 | | | 32 | 6 |
| FW | Barry Salvage | (3) | 1 | | | | 4 | |
| FW | Ian Morgan | 2 | | | | | 2 | |

## Transfers out

| Name | from | Date | Fee | Date | Club | Fee |
| Andrew McCulloch | Walton & Hersham | October 1970 | | October 1972 | Cardiff City | £45,000 |
| Michael McGovern | Queens Park Rangers Juniors | November 1968 | | November 1972 | Watford | Loan |
| Ron Hunt | Queens Park Rangers Juniors | March 1963 | | July 1973 | Retired (injury) | |
| Alan Spratley | Queens Park Rangers Juniors | May 1967 | | July 1973 | Swindon Town | Free |
| Mike Ferguson | Aston Villa | November 1969 | £15,000 | July 1973 | Cambridge United | Free |
| Barry Salvage | Millwall | March 1971 | | February 1973 | Brentford | |

## Transfers in

| Name | from | Date | Fee |
| Stan Bowles | Carlisle United | September 1972 | £112,000 |
| Dave Thomas | Burnley | October 1972 | £165,000 |
| Frank McLintock | Arsenal | June 1973 | £25,000 |
| Richard Teale | Walton & Hersham | July 1973 | £9,000 |
| Mike Ferguson | Aston Villa | November 1969 | £15,000 |
| Keith Pritchett | Doncaster Rovers | July 1973 | |