Newspaper Clippings - Loose - Volume 1 - page 8
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SHIELDS GAZETTE , FRIDAY , JANUARY 2 , 1970 Quote from QPR ma nager Les Allen : I've had Shields watched and and I'm very , very wary of them ' THE HEART SAYS THE MARINERS CAN DO IT BUT THE HEAD SAYS ' NO ' ON THIS the eve of South Shields Football Club's " Match of the Century " against Second Division glamour boys Queen's Park Rangers at Loftus Road tomorrow , the heart flutters and whispers that the Mariners can stun the soccer world by winning or even forcing a replay ... but the head shatters the dream by telling you to face facts and anticipate defeat . This is one of those games , though , that looks so certain to go one way that one cannot help but wonder a little . Could Shields possibly go to London and hold their star - studded opponents for 90 min utes ? Have they the slightest chance of doing so ? How to get there By road This week the Gazette has received numerous tele phone calls from South Shields supporters asking how to get to Queen's Park Rangers ' Loftus Road ground by road and rail once they have arrived in London . The ground , Shepherd's Bush , is extremely accessible . Many calls we received were from supporters travel ling by car , and the Auto mobile Association issued this easy route : At the end of the M1 at Hendon , turn RIGHT and follow the North Circular Road . Shortly before reach ing Hendon , the twin towers of Wembley Stadium will be seen on the right , so this will be a final reminder that Hendon is just a few min utes further on . Follow the North Circular Road ( which eliminates hav ing to drive through the city of London ) and turn LEFT on the A404 to Willesden . Follow this road and turn RIGHT on the A219 . This will lead you into Scrubs Lane to the White City Stadium which is well sign posted . Immediately past the White City turn RIGHT into South Africa Road which leads into Loftus Road and to the football ground . By rail Other supporters asked how to reach the ground by tube train in London itself . Here , too , there should be no trouble . From the King's Cross tube station you can get a tube DIRECT to Shepherd's Bush on the METROPOLI TAN LINE . The ground is just a few minutes ' walk from Shepherd's Bush tube station . As a guide , the sta tion immediately BEFORE Shepherd's Bush is Latimer Road . Those travelling to the ground by tube are , how ever , advised to start in . plenty of time , for a Satur day lunch - time is one of the peak travelling times . The kick - off is at 3 p.m. , so it would be best if the tube travellers started their journey from King's Cross no later than 1.45 p.m. ( Sure they have a chance . There's always the degree of chance that exists in any con test ; the flimsy chance that allowed David to get away with it when he started this giant - killing business in the first place . The moral of the story is this : Even the giant has his weakness - if you can find it quickly enough . Shields have 90 minutes before them . . but they haven't only to find the Londoners ' weakness , they have to prevent the Rangers exploiting their obvious strengths and advantages . Can the Mariners bottle up that brilliant , arrogant and deadly striker Rodney Marsh where so many others have failed ? UNENVIABLE I have a feeling that fire cracker Gerry Donoghue might well be given the unenviable task of dropping back to thwart Marsh at every turn . To hustle and spoil and be just as darned well awkward as he can possibly be . It is no secret that Marsh , brilliant though he is , can succumb to frustration when tightly marked . Then , can left back Bob McLeod retain contact with power - shooting Rangers winger Barry Bridges ? Bridges , with 19 goals this season , is joint top scorer in the Football League and is repaying the £ 55,000 Rangers shelled out for him when he came from Birmingham City . Bridges is the sort of player who can play well no matter what the opposition does , but at the same time McLeod is such a fine defender that this particular duel could well be the feature of the match . MAGNIFICENT On the other flank right back Billy Thompson will be just as ready for battle , while between the two . twin centre halves Bobby Elwell and Dave Adams face the threat of centre forward Frank Clarke , brother of Leeds United's £ 165,000 striker , plus anyone else who thrusts for Shields ' heart . But these two are also playing magnificent stuff at the back , and they'll take a deal of cracking . In midfield , Queen's Park Rangers have the talented Terry Venables who cost £ 70,000 from Spurs . This chunky international is the captain of their ship and steers the game the way he wants it to go . But , and Shields look upon it as an advantage to themselves and not a disadvantage . Venables likes to dwell on the ball . HE LIKES TO HAVE TIME , AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO DOUBTING HIS ABILITY , Wishing the Team Team every against Queen's Park Rangers Make sure your football is a success Buy your equipment from the experts success RIPPONS Charlotte Terrace , South Shields - www SHIELDS " DWELLERS " RAPIERS . THE can be only one winner of this THE match : QPR . They are expected to win handsomely , but plans If I were asked to put my and expectations have gone finger on any weakness in the wrong before . QPR set - up , I would , with LET'S JUST WISH THE respect , point to their centre MARINERS ALL THE LUCK half Vic Mobley . I know they IN THE WORLD IN THIS paid £ 55,000 for him to Shef- THEIR field Wednesday , but when- GAME . GREATEST EVER ever I have seen him ( and in this respect my viewing of QPR has been confined to television ) I have always rated him shaky both in the air and on his left side . CRACKS PREFER ΤΟ I am told , also , that any team that slings high crosses into the QPR goalmouth can look for reward . It is a fact that they have let in only one goal less than bottom - of - the table Aston Villa , and there are cracks at the back if Shields can lift their game to heights never before reached in order to exploit them . Len Smith , with 314 goals under his belt in 285 games in the Shields colours , will be looking for the slightest open ing . BY DICK KIRKUP It's asking more than we've probably got a right to ask . But this is the FA Cup . This is the greatest domestic club competition in the world . This is the competition in which Yeovil toppled the then mighty Sunderland : the competition in which unhear - of Bedford came to St. James's Park and , with all the odds you could thing of stacked against them , sent all non - Leaguers everywhere wild with delight with a sensa tional victory . IF ... IF ... IF So Shields are not without non - League form to encourage them and above all , they have steeled themselves for what they know will be a torrid 90 minutes for they are convinced that a replay is not out of the question . Rangers manager Les Allen revealed to me he had Shields watched last week - end , and he said : " Obviously they are a very , very good side with lots of enthusiasm . I'm very , very wary of them . I am cautious about this game . " " It's just fantastic that Shields are playing in the third round the dream of all non - League clubs . It is a great prestige achievement for the Northern Premier League and , of course , Shields are the first Premier League club to reach the third round . Other teams in the league have reached round three , but not as Premier League sides . Not an easy draw , says Les Allen BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN THEORY , Queen's Park Rangers have the easiest task of all the 42 clubs in the First and Second Divisions when they receive South Shields in the F.A. Cup tomorrow . But manager Les Allen views the tie with much maximum caution . " Its not an easy draw , " he said . " We've got to went out in a sixth round the League's leading scorer replay , beaten 5-0 at Derby . treat them as a good team or we'll do it all wrong . " this term . Bridges , with Chel sea until 19 months ago , has 19 goals and Marsh 11 . Ace striker Rodney Marsh returns to a side that has lost That's what this romantic clash is all about . Can the at home only once this sea- In midfield there is Terry If Rangers win , they will son . Mariners , that bunch of brave appear in round four for the Marsh , who cost Rangers a who has representod England Venables , still the only player bart - timers whose Tuesday last occasion , in 1947-48 , they up with £ 55,000 Barry Bridges , son . Venables cost a club first time in 21 years . On the bargain £ 15,000 in 1966 , lines at all levels , and Mike Fergu and Thursday training ses sions follow a hard day's grind at work , be honestly expected to lift themselves into the same bracket as Messrs . Marsh , Bridges , Ven ables , Mobley , Clarke and the rest ? ' Shields record £ 70,000 from Spurs last summer , whille Ferguson arrived from Aston Villa in November . are just fantastic ! " I COULDN'T be more involved in the tie at Queen's Park Rangers if I was chairman of South Shields myself . " That was how dynamic Northern Premier League chairman Peter Swales this week spoke of the Mariners ' gla mour tie in London tomor row . " If Shields get a good result in London , it will be the greatest boost the Premier League has had since it was formed . It's asking a lot of them to win , but if they do as well as Macclesfield Town did at Fulham two years ago , then they will have done non - League football a great service . మనం చేయల Once again I feel right winger Eric Johnstone could make an impact . His speed is more than equal to that of the " I would love them to do well wingers in the League - and no and on Saturday I will be full back likes to run up sitting on the edge of my against a speed merchant . If seat wondering what's he can get past his full back happening at Loftus Road . I and send over as many loping was half expecting Shields crosses as he can , then QPR's to invite me to the tie , but I weaknesses at the back could can imagine they've been up be torn wide open . to their eyes in planning . Anyway , they take with If . . . if . . . if . There are SOUTH SHIELDS AFC CUP FEATURE - II k MARSH ( right ) , Queen's Park Rangers ' deadly striker valued at £ 200,000 , and among the exclusive band of this country's top players . Here he challenges the goalkeeper in typical style - but in 6ft 3in , 15 st . Bert Gar row , the Mariners goalkeeper , even Rodney could find his match . RODNEY 1 ) Home - grown Tony Hazell is the only ever - present member of the side this season . Other defenders are QPR raised Sheffield Wed. for £ 55,000 . Dave Clement and Ian Gillard , and Vic Mobley , signed from Goalkeeper Mike Kelly helped Wimbledon to win the FA Amateur Cup in 1963. He has been beaten 28 times in 24 games this campaign . Cup winner Tickets for the game are selling well and a crowd of Ron Phillips says : " Now people 20,000 is predicted . Secretary NOTE : In that Fulham v know Rodney Marsh will be Macclesfield Town tie Peter indeed . " V back , sales are going very well Swales referred to , Rangers began this season at Macclesfield were twice a cracking pace , winning ten ahead , were denied at least and drawing two of their first one blatant penalty and 13 League and Cup games and eventually lost 4-2 . The scoring 35 goals in the process . match was one of three ties They led the Second Division featured on BBC TV's Match at that point but have since of the Day programme . deteriorated and now lie fifth . them all the good wishes of non - League clubs , and I shall be sending a similar telegram to those I sent when they beat Bradford Park Avenue and Oldham Athletic . BEST WISHES TO THE CLUB FROM ... N. E. ELECTRIC & GENERAL SUPPLIES LIMITED ELECTRICAL WHOLESALERS ( inc . W. E. Moffat and Co. ) AND GOOD LUCK AGAINST Q.P.R. ! Telephone : SOUTH SHIELDS 61039 and 3242 |
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