Ahead of the clash with Queens Park Rangers, I thought I would try something different.
Trying my hardest to delve back into the past, I tried to recall the names of those who have played for both Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town.
In doing so, I came up with the names of eleven players from which I have formed a starting eleven, albeit a little naïve formation wise.
See what you think and see if you can come up with any other names of those who have worn the colours of both sides.
1 – Don Givens
The Republic of Ireland international joined the Hatters from Manchester United and appeared in our coveted shirt during the period 1970 to 1972 making 83 league appearances and scoring 19 goals.
Givens left Luton to join Queens Park Rangers where he made 242 league appearances scoring 76 goals in the period 1972 to 1978
2 – Don Shanks
This popular defender joined Luton Town from Fulham and played for the Hatters from 1970 to 1974 making 90 league appearances and netting on 2 occasions.
In 1974 he joined Queens Park Rangers and remained there until 1981 making 180 league appearances scoring 10 goals.
Away from the game, Don was fortunate enough to date the 1977 Miss World, Mary Stavin
3 – Andy King
Born in Luton, the popular midfielder was on the Hatters books from 1974 to 1976 making 33 league appearances and scoring on 9 occasions. He left Luton to join a flourishing Everton side.
Following four years at Goodison Park, King joined QPR where he went on to make 30 league appearances scoring 9 times.
In the first ever fixture played on a plastic pitch, King scored the first goal on that pitch for QPR, ironically against his former side Luton.
4 – Juergen Sommer
This USA international goalkeeper joined Luton Town in 1991 and made 82 league appearances. While at Luton he spent loan spells with Brighton, Kettering Town and Torquay United before joining QPR in 1995 for whom he went on to make 66 league appearances.
5 – Mike Keen
QPR fans have fond memories of Mike Keen, during his time with the club he made 393 league appearances scoring on 39 occasions between 1959 and 1969. Keen captained QPR when they won the League Cup and Third Division in the 1966 / 1967 season.
When his time at Loftus Road came to an end, Keen moved to Kenilworth Road where he stayed from 1969 to 1972 making 144 league appearances and scoring 11 goals.
6 – Kazenga LuaLua
LuaLua only spent a small time at Loftus Road making 11 league appearances and scoring just the 1 goal in 2017.
In 2018 LuaLua joined the Hatters and is still a member of the current squad and could feature in the game against his former club this Saturday.
7 – Tim Breaker
A popular defender who starred for the Hatters from 1983 to 1990 making 210 league appearances and scoring on 3 occasions.
Later in his career, Breaker joined QPR and played for the club from 1999 to 2001 making 3 appearances
8 – Tony Thorpe
This prolific striker scored 48 times for Luton in 120 league appearances during the period 1992 to 1998.
Later in his career, he made 41 league appearances scoring on 10 occasions for QPR from 2003 to 2005
9 – John O’Rourke
Played for Luton Town from 1963 to 1966 and made 84 league appearances scoring 64 goals, a superb goals / game ratio.
In 1971 he joined QPR staying until 1974 making 34 league appearances and hitting the net 12 times.
10 – Kevin Gallen
This striker had two spells with QPR, interrupted by a move to Barnsley. In the first period, spanning 1994 to 2000, he made 172 league appearances scoring 36 times. His second spell spanned 2001 to 2007 where he made a further 197 league appearances scoring 54 times.
In 2008 he joined Luton Town on loan making 9 league appearances and netting the 1 goal before joining permanently in 2009, staying until 2011 during which he made 60 league appearances scoring 18 times.
11 – Gary Waddock
A midfielder who played 203 league games for QPR scoring 8 goals between 1979 and 1987.
In 1994 Waddock joined Luton Town and made 153 league appearances scoring 3 times before leaving the club in 1998.
As for a manager, look no further than the remarkable Alec Stock who managed Luton during the period 1968 to 1972 and took charge in a caretaker position during 1978
Based on the above and playing a 3-3-4 adventurous attacking formation, our previously mentioned XI would line up as follows:
• Goalkeeper – Sommer
• Defender – Shanks
• Defender – Keen
• Defender – Breaker
• Midfield – Lua Lua
• Midfield – King
• Midfield – Waddock
• Striker – Givens
• Striker – O’Rourke
• Striker – Thorpe
• Striker – Gallen
• Manager – Alec Stock
Can you name any others I may have missed and could make the above side better balanced?
COYH’s
Previous article by Mad Hatter
The Big Luton Town Question – How Many Players Will The Club Sign This January Transfer Window?
John Collins,
Good shout, John William Bashley Collins to give him his full name, played for Luton between 1969 and 1971 played for QPR 1959 to 1966
Roy Wegerle
Another great shout, loved Wegerle, he could have achieved far more in the game than he did, played for Luton 1988 to 1990 ad QPR 1990 to 1992
A couple of subs. Mark Stein, Paul Walsh (short term loan at QPR) and caretaker manager Mick Harford!
another great shout, so pleased there has been a response to this article, might become a regular feature
I would start both Walsh & Stein.
On reflection, so would I 🙂