Peterborough United Reserves (1) – QPR Reserves (1) 

Football Combination 

Team: Spence, Woods, Newcombe, Cockell, Jones (A), Walker, Barber, Bottoms, Razzell, Collins, Bateson 

Attendance: 6,754 

On Monday, 22nd August 1960, the Rangers reserves travelled to London Road to take on Peterborough United. 

This is from the ‘Club Chatter’ section of the match programme: 

‘Tonight, we play our first ever Football Combination home match and extend a great welcome to Queen’s Park Rangers Reserves in their first visit to London Road.’ 

I noticed at left-back for Peterborough was Dick Whittaker, who had signed for them in June from Chelsea. He arrived at Loftus Road in July 1963 and went on to make 18 first team appearances. 

A few lines on the game later appeared in the Bradford City home match programme: 

‘At Peterborough on Monday, the reserves gained a creditable 1-1 draw before a 6,754 crowd.  

Mike Barber was our scorer and manager Alec Stock was so impressed with the display of Rangers’ young hopefuls that he immediately signed on 20-year-old wing-half Dave Cockell from Hounslow Town, as a professional.  

The half-back line on Monday evening was all-amateur, and there two more “play for fun” boys in the forwards.’ 

Alec Stock described the game as, “the best reserve match I have ever seen.” 

Steve Russell