One Day In History - Doncaster Rovers 1966-67

Alec Stock's Queens Park Rangers welcomed Doncaster Rovers - with the teams sat side by side in the Third Division

Teams: Queens Park Rangers v Doncaster Rovers

Date: Sunday September 17, 1966

Competition: Football League Third Division

Venue: Loftus Road, London

After a stuttering start with a draw at home to Shrewsbury Town (2-2) then a defeat away at Watford (0-1), you would be forgiven for thinking for thinking the worst about Rangers promotion ambitions.

Back to back home victories over Swindon Town (3-1) and Middlesbrough (4-0) propelled their position in the league, before a positive point against Reading (2-2) at Elm Park.

Stock's charges were now coming into the fixture with a head of steam as Rodney Marsh found his scoring boots to score a hatrick against Middlesbrough, while Roger and Ian Morgan were proving formidable flankers.

They faced a Doncaster Rovers side sat one place above them in the table - in seventh place - who had themselves had a positive start under boss Bill Leivers.

Two wins, two draws and a defeat came from their opening five fixtures with home wins over Torquay United (2-1) and Oxford United (2-1) seeing them into their lofty position.

Unfortunately for Rovers they came into the fixture with a point to prove after being defeated at home by Darlington (0-4) who themselves were surprising many with their early season form.

Stock made two changed from the side that drew at Reading with Ian Morgan and Ian Watson dropping out for Ron Hunt and Jim Langley to come back into the side.


It would be fair to say that Rangers were in no mood to be charitable on the day as they stormed to victory at Loftus Road, keeping alive their excellent revival.

While Ian Morgan was sidelined, brother Roger wasted little time in putting Rovers to the sword, netting two of the goals that saw Rangers on their way to victory.

Skipper Mike Keen also weighed in with a double, while Rodney Marsh (pictured) netted his fourth of the campaign in what would prove to be a fruitful season for the R's front-man.

Rangers finished 12 points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough as they cantered to promotion in what has been hailed as one of the greatest seasons in the club's history.

They also managed to secure League Cup glory against First Division West Bromwich Albion, with Marsh, Lazarus and Roger Morgan the heroes of the hour in a sensational turn-around.

30 goals for the season for Rodney Marsh as Rangers reigned as champions of the Third tier - and after roudning off the scoring against Rovers, his season truly kick-started.

Final Score: Queens Park Rangers 6-0 Doncaster Rovers

Attendance: 8090

Queens Park Rangers: Springett, Hazell, Langley, Keen (c), Hunt, Sibley, Lazarus, Sanderson, Allen, Marsh, Morgan R.

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