1977–78 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

Queens Park Rangers
1977–78 season
Chairman	Jim Gregory
Manager	Frank Sibley
Stadium	Loftus Road
Football League First Division	20th
FA Cup	Third round
Football League Cup	Fourth round
Top goalscorer	League: Stan Bowles Peter Eastoe (6); All: Stan Bowles (9)
Highest home attendance	26,267 v Chelsea (24 September 1977)
Lowest home attendance	12,925 v Middlesbrough (1 April 1978)
Average home league attendance	16, 287
Biggest win	6-1 Vs West Ham United (7 January 1978)
Biggest defeat	1-5 Vs Everton (8 October 1977)

During the 1977–78 English football season, Queens Park Rangers competed in the First Division

Season summary

QPR struggled all season but just survived relegation under manager Frank Sibley. In other competitions there were early exits in both the FA Cup and the League Cup^[1]

Kit

Adidas remained QPR's kit manufacturers.

League Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
17	Bristol City	42	11	13	18	49	53	−4	35
18	Ipswich Town	42	11	13	18	47	61	−14	35	Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round^[a]
19	Queens Park Rangers	42	9	15	18	47	64	−17	33
20	West Ham United (R)	42	12	8	22	52	69	−17	32	Relegation to the Second Division
21	Newcastle United (R)	42	6	10	26	42	78	−36	22	Relegation to the Second Division

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated
Notes:

^ Ipswich Town qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1977–78 FA Cup winners.

Results

QPR scores given first

Win Draw Loss

First Division

Date	Opponents	Venue	Half time score	Full Time Score F – A	Scorers	Attendance	Position	Parkes	Clement	Gillard	Hollins	Needham	Webb	Eastoe	Francis	Masson	Bowles	Givens	Williams	Abbott	Leach	Shanks	Busby	James	Wallace	Richardson	Cunningham	McGee	Howe	Perkins	Goddard
20 August 1977	Aston Villa	H	0-0	1-2	Eastoe	25,431	16	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
23 August 1977	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	0-0	0–1		22,278	18	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		9	10	11		8	12
27 August 1977	Norwich City	A	0-1	1-1		17.914	19	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		9	10	11	12		8
3 September 1977	Leicester City	H	1-0	3-0	Givens, Francis, Needham	14,516	14	1	2		4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11				3
10 September 1977	West Ham United	A	2-1	2-2	Eastoe, Lock OG	26,922	14	1	2		4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12			3
17 September 1977	Manchester City	H	1-1	1-1	Francis	24,668	13	1	2	3		5	6	7	8	9	10	11	4	12
24 September 1977	Chelsea	H	0-1	1-1	Masson	26,267	14	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1 October 1977	Bristol City	A	2-1	2-2	Masson, Eastoe	26,041	13	1	2	3	4	5		7		9	10	11	12	6			8
4 October 1977	Birmingham City	H	1-2	1-2	Masson	21,304	14	1	2			5		7		9	10	11	12	6	4	3	8
8 October 1977	Everton	H	1-2	1-5	Eastoe	20,495	18	1	2		12	5		7		9	10	11		6	4	3	8
15 October 1977	Arsenal	A	0-0	0-1		36,172	19	1	2	3	4	5		7		9	10	11				6	8
22 October 1977	Nottingham Forest	H	0-0	0-2		24,448	19	1	2	3	4	5		7		9	10	11	12			6	8
29 October 1977	West Bromwich Albion	H	0-0	2-1	Eastoe, Bowles	18,800	18	1	2	3	4			7			10	9	11	5		6		8	12
5 November 1977	Middlesbrough	A	1-0	1-1	Busby	18,215	18			3	4	5					10	9	11	6		2	7	8	12	1
8th November 1977	Liverpool (H)			pp
12 November 1977	Liverpool	H	2-0	2-0	Bowles, James	25,625	17			3	4	5		7			10	9	11			2	6	8		1	12
19 November 1977	Coventry City	A	0-3	1-4	Givens	20,441	18			3	4	5					10	9	11	12		2	6	8		1		7
26 November 1977	Manchester United	H	1-1	2-2	Givens, Needham	25,367	19			3	4	5					10	9			7	2		8	11	1	6
3 December 1977	Leeds United	A	0-1	0-3		26,507	19			3	4	5					10	9			7	2		8	11	1	6
10 December 1977	Newcastle United	H	0-0	0-1		15,251	19			3	4	5			8		10	9				2		7	11	1	6
17 December 1977	Liverpool	A	0-1	0-1		38,249	19			3	4				8			9	7		10	2	12		11	1	6		5
26 December 1977	Derby	H	0-0	0-0		18,917	20			3	4			11	8		10	9				2		7		1	6		5
27 December 1977	Ipswich Town	A	0-1	2-3	Bowles, Mcgee	22,317	20			3	4			11	8		10	9				2		7		1	6	12	5
31 December 1977	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	1-1	1-3	Shanks	16,067	20			3	4			9	8		10	11				2		7		1	6	12	5
2 January 1978	Aston Villa	A	0-1	1-1	Smith og	34,750	20	1		3	4			9	8		10	11				2	12	7			6		5
14 January 1978	Norwich City	H	2-0	2-1	Eastoe, Cunningham	14,241	20	1		3	4			7	8		10	11				2		9	12		6		5
21 January 1978	Leicester City	A	0-0	0-0		16,286	20	1		3	4				8		10	11	12			2		9	7		6		5
4th February 1978	West Ham United (H)			pp
11 February 1978	Manchester City	A	0-0	1-2	Abbot	39,860	20	1	2	3	4						10	11		6		7	8	9					5
18th February 1978	Chelsea (A)			pp
25 February 1978	Bristol City	H	1-0	2-2	Busby Bowles	17,051	20	1	2	3	4						10	11		6		7	8	9					5
4 March 1978	Everton	A	1-2	3-3	Hollins, Howe, Shanks	33,861	20	1	2	3	4						10	11				7	8		12		6	9	5
11th March 1978	Arsenal (H)			pp
14 March 1978	West Ham United	H	1-0	1-0	Cunningham	20,394	19	1	2	3	4						10	11				7	8	9			6	12	5
18th March 1978	Nottingham Forest (A)			pp
22 March 1978	West Bromwich Albion	A	0-0	0-2		19,536	19	1	2	3	4							11				7	8	9			6	10	5
25 March 1978	Ipswich Town	A	2-1	3-3	James, Mcgee 2	33,861	20	1	2	3	4						10	11				7	8	9			6	12	5
27 March 1978	Derby County	A	0-1	0-2		20,156	20	1	2	3	4						10					7	8	9	12		6	11	5
1 April 1978	Middlesbrough	H	0-0	1-0	Busby	12,925	20	1	2	3	4						10					7	8		9			11	5	6
8 April 1978	Manchester United	A	0-1	1-3	Bowles	42,677	20	1	2	3	4						10					7	8	12	9			11	5	6
11 April 1978	Arsenal	H	1-0	2-1	Shanks, Bowles	25,683	20	1	2	3	4						10	11				6	8	9				7	5		12
15 April 1978	Coventry City	H	1-1	2-1	James, Goddard	17,062	19	1	2	3	4						10		12			6	8	9				7	5		11
18 April 1978	Nottingham Forest	A	0-1	0-1		30.300	20	1	2	3	4						10		11			6		9				7	5		8
22 April 1978	Newcastle United	A	2-0	3-0	Givens, Mcgee, Hollins	13,000	17	1	2	3	4						10	11	7			6		9				8	5		12
25 April 1978	Birmingham City	H	0-0	0-0		16,049	18	1	2	3	4						10	11	7			6		9				8	5		12
29 April 1978	Leeds United	H	0-0	0-0		23,993	17	1	2	3	4						10	11				6		9	8			7	5		12
2 May 1978	Chelsea	A	0-2	1-3	James	10.950	19		2	3	4						10	11	12			6		9		1		8	5		7

Football League Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Half time score	Result F – A	Scorers	Attendance	Parkes	Clement	Gillard	Hollins	Needham	Webb	Eastoe	Francis	Masson	Bowles	Givens	Williams	Abbott	Shanks	Wallace
31 August 1977	Second Round	Bournemouth (Fourth Division)	A	1-0	2-0	Eastoe, Givens	10,006	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
26 October 1977	Third Round	Aston Villa (First Division)	A	0-1	0-1		34,481	1	2	3	4	5		7			10	9	8	12	6	11

FA Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Half time score	Result F – A	Scorers	Attendance	Parkes	Clement	Gillard	Hollins	Bowles	Givens	Williams	Abbott	Leach	Shanks	Busby	Wallace	James	Cunningham	McGee	Howe
7 January 1978	Third Round	Wealdstone (Southern Football League Premier Division)	H	1-0	4-0	Givens, James, Bowles, Howe	16,158	1		3	4	10	11	12		7	2		8	9	6		5
28 January 1978	Fourth Round	West Ham United (First Division)	A	0-1	1-1	Howe	35,566	1	2	3	4	10	11		6		7	8		9			5
7 January 1978	Fourth Round Replay	West Ham United (First Division)	H	1-1	6-1	Givens, James, Bowles, Busby 2, Hollins	24,057	1	2	3	4	10	11		6		7	8		9			5
18 February 1978	Fifth Round	Nottingham Forest (First Division)	H	1-0	1-1	Busby	26,803	1	2	3	4	10	11		6		7	8		9			5
27 February 1978	Fifth Round Replay	Nottingham Forest (First Division)	A	1-1	1-1	Shanks	40.097	1	2	3	4	10	11		6		7	8		9		12	5
2 March 1978	Fifth Round Second Replay	Nottingham Forest (First Division)	A	0-1	1-3	Bowles	33,990	1		3	4	10	11	12	6		2	9			8	7	5

Friendlies^[2]

Date	Location	Opponents	H / A
23rd July 1977	East Germany	Borussia Dortmund (GDR) (A)	A
24th July 1977	East Germany	DJK Wanheimerort (GDR) (A)	A
26th July 1977	East Germany	Kaiserslautern (GDR) (A)	A
30th July 1977	Holland	Go Ahead Eagles (NLD)(A)	A
6th August 1977		Milton Keynes City (A)	A
8th August 1977		Southall (A)	A
10th August 1977	Dave Clement Testimonial	Wimbledon (A)	A
13th August 1977	Dave Clement Testimonial	Wycombe Wanderers (A)	A
14th August 1977	Dave Clement Testimonial	Top Ten XI (H)	H
2nd April 1978		Hungerford Town (A)	A
5th May 1978	Dave Clement Testimonial	Manchester United (H)	H
8th May 1978	Rob Curtis Testimonial	Charlton Athletic (A)	A
18th May 1978	Cyprus	Omonoia FC (CYP) (A)	A
21st May 1978	Greece	AEK Athens (GRC) (A)	A
22nd May 1978	Greece	Aris Salonika (GRC) (A)	A

Squad

Pos.	Nat.	Name	League Appearances	League Goals	F A Cup Appearances	F A Cup Goals	League Cup Appearances	League Cup Goals	Total Appearances	Total Goals
GK	ENG	Phil Parkes	31		6		2		39
GK	ENG	Derek Richardson	11						11
DF	ENG	Don Shanks	36	3	6		1	1	43	4
DF	ENG	Ian Gillard	38		6		2		46
DF	ENG	Dave Clement	31		4		2		37
DF	ENG	Ernie Howe	23	1	6			2	29	7
DF	ENG	Steve Perkins	2						2
DF	ENG	Thomas Cunningham	16	2	2				18	2
MF	ENG	Barry Wallace	13		1				14
MF	ENG	Brian Williams	19		2		2		23
MF	ENG	Ron Abbott	10	1	5		1		16	1
MF	ENG	Gerry Francis	13	2			1		14	2
MF	ENG	John Hollins	40	2	6		2	1	48	3
MF	ENG	Martyn Busby	21	3	5			3	26	8
FW	IRE	Paul McGee	17	4	2				19	4
FW	WAL	Leighton James	26	3	5			2	31	5
FW	IRE	Don Givens	37	4	6	1	2	2	45	7
FW	ENG	Paul Goddard	6	1					6	1
FW	ENG	Peter Eastoe	19	6		1	2		21	7
FW	ENG	Mick Leach	7		1				8
FW	ENG	Stan Bowles	40	6	6		2	3	48	9

Transfers Out

Name	from	Date	Fee	Date	Club	Fee
Steve Adams	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	July 1975		July 1977	Millwall	Free
Nicky Ironton	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	July 1976		July 1977	Barking	Free
Eddie Kelly	Arsenal	September 3,1976	£50,000	July 1977	Leicester	£50,000
Tony Tagg	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	March 1975		July 1977	Millwall	Free
Phil Nutt	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	July 1975		July 1977	Hounslow Town
Dave Thomas	Burnley	October 20,1972	£165,000	August 1977	Everton	£200,000
David Webb	Chelsea	July 11,1974	£120,000	September 1977	Leicester City	£50,000
Don Masson	Notts County	December 11,1974	£100,000	October 1977	Derby County	Leighton James
Dave Needham	Notts County	June 8,1977	£90,000	December 1977	Nottingham	£140,000
Tony Martin	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	September 12,1975		June 78	Vauxhall Motors	Free
Brian Williams	Bury	July 14,1977	£70,000	June 78	Swindon	£50,000

Transfers In

Name	from	Date	Fee
Paul Goddard	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	July 1977
Peter Hucker	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	July 1977
Brian Williams	Bury	July 14,1977	£70,000
Barry Wallace	Queens Park Rangers Juniors	August 1977
Martyn Busby	Notts County	September 26,1977	£80,000
Leighton James	Derby County	October 27,1977	Don Masson
Paul McGee	Sligo Rovers	November 17,1977	£15,000
Ernie Howe	Fulham	December 14,1977	£55,000
Billy Hamilton	Linfield	Apr 30,1978	£25,000
Rachid Harkouk	Crystal Palace	June 28,1978	£150,000

References

^ "Queens Park Rangers » Fixtures & Results 1977/1978". World Football.net. 15 January 2024.
^ "QPR Programme Guide". www.qpr-prog.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2026.

^[1]

^ "Seasonal Stats - Files". QPRnet. Retrieved 27 May 2025.

[table_note_res_CWC1R0.11886398825742-2] Ipswich Town qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1977–78 FA Cup winners.

[1] "Queens Park Rangers » Fixtures & Results 1977/1978". World Football.net. 15 January 2024.

[3] "QPR Programme Guide". www.qpr-prog.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2026.

[4] "Seasonal Stats - Files". QPRnet. Retrieved 27 May 2025.

[1]

[a]

[2]

[1]

Queens Park Rangers F.C. seasons
1880s	1880–81 1881–82 1882–83 1883–84 1884–85 1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889-90
1890s	1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900
1900s	1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910s	1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920s	1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930s	1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940s	1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950s	1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960s	1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980s	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990s	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
2000s	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010s	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020s	2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26