CONTINUING to look at the past pedigree of my own club Queens Park Rangers where we have fielded numerous truly outstanding defenders over the years.
Many of these guys deservedly received international recognition. More recently, some of them attracted football betting in online betting stakes.
Here is my selection of the top QPR defensive players of all-time listed in alphabetical order…
DAVID BARDSLEY
A cultured overlapping right-back, Bardsley made 295 appearances for Rangers and scored five times.
He won two England international caps whilst on the books at Loftus Road.
RUFUS BREVETT
A wholehearted left-back. Joined the R’s from Doncaster in February 1991 completing a £250,000 transfer.
He accumulated 152 appearances for Rangers over seven years. Really tough in the tackle!
CLARKE CARLISLE
A rock-like centre-half. Gained the title of ‘Britain's Brainiest Footballer’ in a TV game show during his time at Queens Park Rangers.
He made 112 appearances for the R’s and scored six goals between 2000 and 2004.
DAVE CLEMENT
An athletic right-back. Achieved five England caps playing for QPR. He mustered 476 first team appearances for us, scoring 28 goals.
Clement was an integral component in the great Rangers side that finished runners-up by a point to Liverpool in the 1975/76 League title race.
Tragically took his own life at the age of 34 in March 1982 when suffering from depression after believing his football career was finished due to a broken leg.
TERRY FENWICK
The most capped England player in the history of Queens Park Rangers. Expertly operating in defence and midfield, Fenwick won the first 19 of his 20 England caps as a QPR star.
His most crucial R’s impact came in the 1982 FA Cup Final when he supplied a late headed equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.
This led to a typical Statto-esque observation from John Motson in the BBC TV commentary box: “…And Terry Fenwick has become the first full-back to score from open play in a Cup Final…”
IAN GILLARD
A refined left-back gracing our 1975/76 team and winning three full England caps as a Queens Park Rangers man.
Gillard made 484 appearances for Rangers, scoring 11 times.
BOB HAZELL
This bustling centre-half starred in our run to the 1982 FA Cup Final.
His best performance was in marking potent striker Cyrille Regis out of the game in our 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Semi-Final at Highbury that year.
Hazell made a total of 124 appearances for Rangers and scored nine goals.
CLINT HILL
Clint was a robust defender during QPR’s 2010/11 promotion campaign to attain Premier League status.
Overall, he racked up 169 matches in six years with Rangers. A true 100% performer.
TONY INGHAM
A left-back who chalked up 555 appearances for the R’s. That puts him first in our all-time list of Hoops appearance holders. Ingham became the mainstay of our team for 13 years.
His QPR career included a remarkable sequence of 272 consecutive matches (250 League and 22 Cup) between 25th February 1956 and 12th September 1961, which is another club record for us.
GAVIN MAGUIRE
In my opinion, the ‘hardest’ defender I’ve ever seen down at Loftus Road. Master of the crunching tackle.
Gavin has gentle attributes too as he went on to become a hairdresser after retiring from football.
ALAN McDONALD
Our most capped international player. Centre-half McDonald featured 52 times for Northern Ireland as a Queens Park Rangers stalwart.
‘Macca’ made 483 QPR first team appearances and was hugely popular with our fans due to his non-stop commitment every game.
GINO PADULA
Argentina-born Padula moved to Queens Park Rangers in July 2002. He appeared 103 times in a hooped shirt and scored five times.
Played his part in our team which won promotion to the Championship in 2003/04.
PAUL PARKER
Won 16 England caps whilst serving Queens Park Rangers. He made 160 immaculate appearances in a hooped shirt at right-back, centre-half and sweeper.
Parker played in a World Cup Semi-Final as a QPR employee – facing the Germans at Italia ’90.
KARL READY
Ready chalked up 246 appearances at centre-half and occasionally at right-back for the R’s.
In addition, he earned five full Wales caps amidst his 11 year career with QPR. Is now a businessman based mainly in Africa.
DON SHANKS
A versatile right-back that could also slot into midfield. Shanks amassed 206 QPR appearances between 1974 and 1981.
He was best mate of the legendary Stanley Bowles. ‘Shanksy’ still regularly attends Loftus Road supporting our team.
DANNY SHITTU
A powerful centre-half. Accrued 184 appearances for the Hoops and bulldozed 28 goals – mostly with headers when pushing forward on set pieces.
Won the first of his caps for Nigeria whilst a QPR man. The R’s fans used to adoringly sing:
“Chim chiminey,
Chim chiminey,
Chim chim cher-ooh
Who needs Sol Campbell
When we’ve got Shittu…”
DANNY SIMPSON
An important right-back in our 2014 Championship Play-Off Final victory over Derby County at Wembley Stadium.
Everyone who turned out for the R’s that day is a hero in my opinion.
STEVE WICKS
Towering centre-back ‘Wicksy’ was another player enjoying own song at Queens Park Rangers:
“Six foot two
Eyes of blue
Stevie Wicks is after you
La la la la, la la la, la la la, la la…”
CLIVE WILSON
Probably the best uncapped defender in this country. Signed from Chelsea in August 1990 for £450,000 as a midfield player but soon got switched to left-back.
Made 199 appearances for the R’s and hit the net 14 times incorporating several deadly penalties.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
