In 1947/48 they reached the Sixth
Round of the Cup before losing to Derby after a replay, and on 26th
April 1948 won promotion for the first time to the Second Division.
QPR spent four years in the Second Division, before they were relegated
back to Division Three in 1952. Dave Mangnall left the club and
his place was taken by Jack Taylor.
In 1953 the first floodlights were
installed at Loftus Road at a cost of £5,000, the first floodlit
match being against Arsenal on 5th October.
In 1959 Alec Stock joined the club as a manager, and signed Brian
Bedford from Bournemouth, who was to score 180 goals for the club
by the end of the 1964/65 season. QPR played at White City again
for half a season in 1962 but again poor attendances forced back
to Loftus Road.
In 1961/62 QPR scored 129 goals in 52 matches, including a record
111 in the Third Division.
In 1963 Tony Ingham retired after played 548 matches for QPR's first
team.
In March 1965 Jim Gregory became Chairman of QPR. In 1965/66 QPR
finished third in Division Three. Rodney Marsh signed from Fulham
in 1966 for £15,000 and went on to score 134 goals in 242 appearances.
In 1966/67 QPR won Division Three
with 67 points. In the same year they also became the first Third
Division side to win the League Cup, beating West Bromwich Albion
3-2 at Wembley after being 2-0 down at half-time.
In 1967/68 QPR were promoted to the First Division for the first
time by finishing second in the table.
In 1968/69 the South Africa Road
Stand was completed. QPR were relegated after only one season in
Division One with only 18 points. Alex Stock left the club, Tommy
Docherty came and went in 28 days, and Les Allen took over. On 7th
February 1969 Roger Morgan became the first QPR player to be sold
for a six-figure fee.
Gordon Jago became the manager in January 1971 and on 8th March
1972 Rodney Marsh was sold to Manchester City for £200,000. On 8th
September 1972 Stan Bowles became the first six-figure signing for
QPR.
In 1972 the new Ellerslie Road Stand was built.
In 1972/73 QPR finished second in Division Two and were promoted
to the First Division once again.
In 1973/74 QPR reached the Sixth
Round of the Cup again, before losing to Leicester City before a
record crowd for a Cup match at Loftus Road of 34,989. On 27th April
35,353 people saw the League match against Leeds, which was a new
record for Loftus Road. Dave Sexton became manager on 17th October
1974.
In 1973/74 QPR reached the Sixth
Round of the Cup again, before losing to Leicester City before a
record crowd for a Cup match at Loftus Road of 34,989. On 27th April
35,353 people saw the League match against Leeds, which was a new
record for Loftus Road. Dave Sexton became managed on 17th October
1974.
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