In Memory of Mark Lazarus – “I had a Great Time at QPR & that was Mainly Due to the Supporters”
Last month the Club announced that they had been informed by Mark’s family that he was gravely ill in hospital. Then, the following week on 29th July, we learned that he had sadly passed away at the age of 86!
The second youngest of thirteen, Mark was born in Stepney in the East End of London, on 5th December 1938.
He played for Fulham’s youth side and possibly one or two others, before joining Dagenham.
Mark then briefly gave up football so that he could concentrate on boxing. He boxed as a light-middleweight for the Stepney & St. George’s Club. His brother Lew was a well-known boxer and another brother Harry, fought as a welter-weight.
His next club was Barking and in 1958, Alec Stock signed him for Leyton Orient. But as a professional he wasn’t allowed to continue boxing, (unbeaten in 14 fights).
Alec, now manager at QPR, signed him in September 1960 and Mark scored on his debut in the 1-0 away win at Colchester.
He was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers a year later for a fee of £27,500.
Mark found it difficult to settle there and coupled with the fact that his relationship with Stan Cullis wasn’t good, he re-signed for QPR in February 1962 for £14,000.
Two years later, Mark was transferred to Brentford, but in November 1965 he signed for the R’s for a third time!
QPR finished the season in third place with Mark scoring 12 goals, which included a hat-trick at Loftus Road against Bournemouth.
The 1966/67 season was an historic one for the Club with the League Cup Final win over First Division West Brom at Wembley. Mark scored the winning goal, and the following month promotion was sealed at Oldham.
I remember seeing Mark scoring another hat-trick at Swansea that season, not bad for a No.7!
When Steve Zico and I had the honour of interviewing Mark at his home in 2009, I had to ask him about the legendary occasion when he tore his shorts during the Carlisle Cup tie at Loftus Road.
“I had taken off my torn shorts and thrown them in the dugout, Alec Farmer handed me a new pair, but before I could put them on, someone passed me the ball.”
“Instinct took over, so I ran along the wing with the ball and crossed it into the area. I was aware that supporters thought it was funny, but it was the professional and right thing to do.”
Apart from that song: ‘QPR the Greatest’, Mark told me that on the eve of the League Cup Final the team were staying at the Winton Hotel. Also there was Fats Domino, and Mark plus some of the players, joined in with him for a rendition of ‘Blueberry Hill’!
After making 235 appearances and scoring 85 goals, Mark left Rangers in November 1967 for the final time when he signed for Crystal Palace.
Mark later moved back to Leyton Orient and then finished his playing career with various non-league sides.
He once played for the Football League against the Netherlands in Amsterdam when Ron Greenwood was the manage
When I first started going with my mates in the 60’s, I used to stand by the half-way line on the South Africa Road terrace. There were some right characters there and I can remember him clearly coming over and acknowledging the fans with his arms raised and palms outstretched!
At the end of that interview, I asked Mark for a few words for the Rangers fans:
“I would like to say that I had 17 years of playing professional football, and believe it or not, QPR were both the best club I played for and the best team I played in.”
“The support from the supporters was the best of my career, and it was always appreciated. It was a wonderful, wonderful time.”
“I realise that the team and myself, gave the supporters a lot of pleasure, but believe you me, they gave me back all that pleasure and much more besides.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the memories will stay with me forever. I had a great time at QPR, and that was mainly due to the supporters. So a massive thank you.”
A true QPR legend who will never be forgotten, so many memories, thanks Mark.
Steve Russell