Tottenham And Queen’s Park Rangers: Six Connections
By Logan Holmes
Tottenham and Queen’s Park Rangers have numerous links. Both clubs were founded in 1882 but their first Football League meeting didn’t occur until after the Second World War, in the late 1940s.
That was a brief encounter over two seasons until Tottenham won the 2nd Division title and were promoted in May, 1950. The clubs renewed their acquaintanceship in 1968 when Queen’s Park Rangers were promoted to the 1st Division for the first time.
6 Connections: Tottenham and Queen’s Park Rangers
The Allen Family
Les Allen was a member of Tottenham’s ‘Double’ winning team providing vital goals alongside Bobby Smith in 1960-61. With the arrival of Jimmy Greaves the following season, Allen was unfortunate to lose his place in the team and over the next few seasons his chances were restricted at Spurs. In 1965 he was transferred to Queen’s Park Rangers where he became part of the successful Rangers team which won the League Cup while in the 3rd Division. They then won back to back promotions to rise to the 1st Division in 1968. Les Allen went on to manage Rangers.
His son Clive also played for the Loftus Road club. After time at Arsenal and Crystal Palace, Clive returned to Rangers from whom he was transferred to Tottenham in 1984. Season 1986-87 was a tremendous season for Clive Allen at Tottenham when he set a new club record of 49 League and Cup goals in the season. After retiring he returned to White Hart Lane as a coach for many years and then working with Harry Redknapp until his departure in the summer of 2012.