1956–57 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

The 1956-57 Queens Park Rangers season was the club's 66th season of existence and their 5th back in the Football League Third Division following their relegation in the 1951–52 season. QPR finished 10th in their league campaign, and were eliminated in the third round of the FA Cup.

At seasons end future England forward Mike Hellawell was transferred to top division Birmingham City in 1957 in part-exchange for inside-forward Bill Finney and £6,000. When questioned by disappointed supporters, manager Jack Taylor explained that Hellawell had signed for Rangers on condition that "they would not stand in his way if a First Division Club came after him."

League standings

Results QPR scores given first

Third Division South DateOpponentH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeague position18 August 1956ReadingA0–111,4171320 August 1956Plymouth ArgyleA2–1Angell, Longbottom15,718925 August 1956Newport CountyH1–1Hellawell7,8631327 August 1956Plymouth ArgyleH3–0Quigley 2, Hellawell8,45061 September 1956Colchester UnitedA1–1Quigley8,179106 September 1956NorthamptonA0–37,591158 September 1956Norwich CityH3–1Angell, Locke, Quigley12,6311110 September 1956NorthamptonH1–0Longbottom10,785515 September 1956Coventry CityA1–5Quigley18,1601219 September 1956SwindonA0–18,7051422 September 1956SouthamptonH1–2Hellawell12,7921524 September 1956SwindonH3–0Quigley 2, Temby9,5261429 September 1956Exeter CityA0–07,312156 October 1956AldershotA2–4Cameron, Hellawell5,6091513 October 1956WatfordH3–1Hellawell, Balogun, Brown (og)14,2111320 October 1956Shrewsbury TownA0–08,4631227 October 1956WalsallH1–0Kerrins9,461103 November 1956Ipswich TownA0–412,2781310 November 1956Bournemouth & Boscombe Ath.H2–1Petchey, Locke8,5541124 November 1956MillwallH0–010,427111 December 1956BrightonA0–19,7701315 December 1956ReadingH1–1Peacock5,4721222 December 1956Newport CountyA1–1Peacock7,6381225 December 1956Crystal PalaceA1–2Peacock9,9881526 December 1956Crystal PalaceH4–2Cameron 2, Kerrins 25,3071229 December 1956ColchesterH1–1Kerrins8,801115-Jan-1957Southend UnitedHPP12 January 1957Norwich CityA2–1Longbottom, Pointer (og)11,7221019 January 1957Coventry CityH1–1Petchey7,863926-Jan-1957Southend United APP2 February 1957SouthamptonA2–1Hellawell, Longbottom17,07499 February 1957ExeterH5–3Longbottom 3, Kerrins, Andrews8,639816 February 1957AldershotH0–110,5251123 February 1957WatfordA4–2Temby, Cameron, Balogun, Shipwright (og)4,428112 March 1957ShrewsburyH2–1Balogun, Temby9,98479 March 1957GillinghamA1–0Kerrins7,581516 March 1957Ipswich TownH0–212,339723 March 1957Bournemouth & Boscombe Ath.A0–112,5521025 March 1957SouthendH3–0Hellawell, Peacock, Longbottom6,412630 March 1957TorquayH0–19,60576 April 1957MillwallA0–210,8341013 April 1957BrightonH0–06,957915 April 1957SouthendA0–36,0521019 April 1957BrentfordA0–213,8411020 April 1957WalsallA2–0Longbottom 210,924822 April 1957BrentfordH2–2Longbottom, Dargie (og)9,6611027 April 1957TorquayA0–38,6301129 April 1957GillinghamH5–0Longbottom 3, Kerrins, Cameron6,23710

London Challenge Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance1 October 1956First roundWalthamstowH7-0Locke 3, Cameron 2, Balogun, Rhodes (pen)15 October 1956Quarter-finalsArsenalA2–2Cameron, Peacock22 October 1956Quarter-finals replayArsenalH1–3Balogun

Southern Professional Floodlight Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance8 October 1956First roundMillwallH5–2Balogun 2, Locke 2, Woods (pen)5,00026 November 1956Second roundReadingH1–2McLaren (og)3,012

FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance17 November 1956First roundDorchester (Western League)H4–0Hellawell, Locke, Balogun, Cameron9,7648 December 1956Second roundTooting & Mitcham United (Isthmian League)A2–0Balogun, Longbottom11,4505 January 1957Third roundSunderland (First Division)A0–430,577

Friendlies Source: DateOpponents11-Aug-56Whites v RedsPractice Match5-Nov-56Queens Park Rangers v All Star Managers XIFriendly26-Jan-57Brentford v Queens Park RangersFriendlyxx-Jan-57Headington United v Queens Park RangersFriendly18-Mar-57Queens Park Rangers v Middlesex WanderersFriendly2-Apr-57Headington United v Queens Park RangersFriendly11-May-57Chalvey v Queens Park RangersFriendly

Squad Position Nationality Name League appearances League goals Cup appearances Cup goals Total appearances Total goalsGKRon Springett46551DFPeter Lay11DFTony Ingham46551DFKeith Rutter44549DFPat Woods455501DFArthur Rhodes11MFPat Kerrins31334MFCecil Andrews4615511MFPeter Angell1622182MFBobby Cameron31541356MFGeorge Petchey4325482MFJobey Dean44MFMike Powell11FWArthur Longbottom3514313815FWTeslim Balogun14421167FWMike Hellawell4475497FWLesley Locke20231235FWAlec Dawson11FWGordon Quinn44FWTommy Quigley1671177FWTerry Peacock13321154FWBill Temby4343

Transfers

In Name From Date FeePeter LayNottingham ForestJuly 13, 1956 Keith PetcheyMillwallJuly 24, 1956 Peter Knibbs *August ?1956 Terry PeacockHull City JuniorsAugust 2, 1956 Jesilimi (Tesi) BalogunSkegness TownSeptember 1956Stuart RichardsonMethley UNovember 1956 George Knox *December ?1956 George Wood *WealdstoneJanuary 1957 Loan Tony NewcombeMarlowFebruary 4, 1957 Alec DawsonGourock JnrsFebruary 12, 1957 Ken HumphreyWare TownMarch 1957 David BakerApril 6, 1957 John Crabb *May 9, 1957 Jim StanbrookBasildonMay 14, 1957 Bill FinneyBirmingham City15 May 1957plus £6,000 for Mike HellawellTommy StandleyBasildon UnitedMay 18, 1957 Albert AllumDoverJune 1, 1957 £200 Doug Orr *Queen's Park June 14, 1957

Out Name Club Date Fee Date Club FeeBilly McKayDeal TownJuly 1, 1955 July 1956DoverGeorge CricksonSeptember 21, 1951 July? 1956DoverHugh RaineyPortsmouthJune 1955 July 1956AldershotBill NelsonWest HamJuly 1955July 1956Billy McKayDeal TownJuly 1955July 1956Dover TownWillie ClarkPetershillFebruary 1954July 1956Berwick RangersAlbert PounderCharltonFebruary 1954July 1956SittingbourneWillie ClarkPetershillFebruary 1, 1954 August 1956Berwick RangersHarry BrownDerbySeptember 1956PlymouthBill NelsonWest HamJuly 1, 1955 September 1956Ramsgate AthleticGordon QuinnEastcoteAugust 22, 1952 September 1956PlymouthPeter Knibbs *August ?1956 November 1956Slough TownGeorge Knox *December ?1956 February 1957George Wood *WealdstoneJanuary 1957 Loan February 1957WealdstoneLoan Mike HellawellSalts FCAugust 17, 1955 15 May 1957Birmingham City£6,000 plus Bill Finney.

References