Stan Bowles: 1948-2024

Over the weekend we learned of the sad passing of footballing icon Stan Bowles at the age of 75.

Born on Christmas Eve of 1948, Bowles would go on to play for 8 different teams in his senior career, but most famously for Queens Park Rangers, for whom he played over 250 games.

He started off in 1967 with Manchester City, where over 17 appearances he scored twice. He then played for Bury, Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United between 1970-72 before moving to QPR.

Considered by QPR’s fans as the greatest player they’ve ever had, the club legend also had a stand named after him in 2022.

He played for QPR for just over 7 years, including the 1975-76 season which saw the club’s highest league finish in history with a 2nd place finish in the First Division (losing out to Liverpool on the final day). During his time at the club, Bowles also scored for the club 70 times.

After falling out with the new manager Tommy Docherty in 1979, Bowles moved to Nottingham Forest where he would win the 1979 UEFA Super Cup, though he couldn’t quite find his place in Brian Clough’s side and left just a year later.

Bowles would play for Leyton Orient and Brentford before his professional career would end in 1984, along with having achieved 5 caps for England as well (all achieved while playing QPR).

Stan Bowles will forever be a legend for QPR.

Ashley