Queen's Park Rangers are just as well known by the Club's initials, QPR, as ourselves, PNE. West Bromwich Albion are the only other team that really falls into this category but WBA does not flow off the tongue as easy as QPR & PNE.
Although our two club's had met in a couple of friendlies (1902 & 1906), the first time we met in the league was during the 1949-1950 season. QPR had been promoted as champions of Division Three South the previous season and North End had just been relegated from the First Division.
Can you believe that the fixture organising body made us play both home and away in mid-week? The first game, away at Loftus Road, was on a Wednesday evening with a 6.00pm kick-off (7th Sept). Having said that, just over 20,000 attended the game, with the obvious magnet being Tom Finney. According to the match report, Tom gave a masterly and artistic display but could not find a way past the Rangers goalkeeper, Reg Allen.
The game ended as it started, 0-0, but it was far from boring as the home team missed a twice taken penalty. Cunningham, a good covering full-back, was adjudged to have handled when trying to breast the ball away from danger. Hatton pulled his spot kick wide much to Willie's jubilation but the referee wanted it to be re-taken as Jimmy Gooch had come off his goal line. Full-back Jefferson took the second effort but again the fans saw the chance go begging as his effort also flew wide of the goalpost.
The return game the following Wednesday evening was Queens Park Rangers' first visit to Deepdale. The Londoners arrived with the only remaining unbeaten record in the division. They held second spot in the league behind Tottenham Hotspur whilst North End were in 11th place.
The introduction of Ken Horton at inside-right proved to be an inspired move by the North End management. His dash, enthusiasm and directness had an invigorating effect on the five man forward line. Finney, at last, had found a partner who could keep up with him, give him more freedom and supply the type of pass Tom liked. Apparently, Tom was tricky, elusive, adroit and bafflingly clever with his footwork and variety of moves.
Both Finney and Horton scored before half-time but North End gifted the visitors a goal when Willie Robertson's half- volley back pass shot past Gooch. Addinall made it 2-2 but Angus Morrison's goal finished them off after they eventually succumbed to North End's continuous pressure. Over 26,500 attended even though the kick-off was at 5.45pm.
For the record PNE finished 6th with QPR narrowly avoiding relegation by just two points. Tottenham went on to win the championship but the place for the second promotion spot could not have been closer. Three teams, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Southampton all finished on the same number of points but Wednesday went up due to a better goal average of just 0.008 of a goal !!!!!!!
Ian Rigby
