Gordon Jago Returning

[QPR Report]

For those who only recently started to support QPR: He used to be manager of QPR

Legendary QPR boss back for season's finale

03 February 2010
By Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times

FORMER QPR manager Gordon Jago MBE will return to Loftus Road as guest of honour at the club's Player of the Year dinner in May.

Jago, who is now 77, is flying in from the United States - where he still runs the Dallas Cup tournament - for his old club's final match of the season against Newcastle.

He will step onto the Loftus Road pitch at half-time to greet the crowd before attending the club's annual awards dinner later that evening, at a venue yet to be announced.

Andy Evans, chief executive of QPR in the Community Trust, said: "We emailed Gordon to invite him over, he was delighted we'd got in touch and got back to us quickly to accept the invitation."

Jago, who grew up in east London, played for Charlton and began his coaching career at non-league level before spending two years in charge of Baltimore Bays.

He joined Rangers at the start of the 1970-71 season and succeeded Les Allen as manager six months later, building a side that won promotion to Division One in 1973.

Jago left Loftus Road just over a year later, but was credited with laying the foundations of the QPR team that, under Dave Sexton, came within a whisker of the Football League title in 1976.

He went on to manage Millwall and returned to America permanently to coach Tampa Bay Rowdies before a brief second spell at QPR as general manager.

QPR in the Community Trust are hosting an evening to benefit grassroots football and local projects later this month at Loftus Road.

One Game, West London, will focus on issues such as coaching, funding, refereeing, the disciplinary process and helping to increase participation among women and ethnic groups.

Rangers captain Mikele Leigertwood is taking part in a question-and-answer session, along with former Rs left-back Clive Wilson and representatives from the Middlesex County FA and the Football Foundation.

The event will be held in the W12 club between 6pm and 9pm on Wednesday February 24. For more information or to book a place (free of charge), call 020 7684 4884 or email [e-mail]


www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/QPR/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=QPRNews&tBrand=KLBTOnline&tCategory=defaultQPR&itemid=WeED03+Feb+2010+13%3A52%3A54%3A090

[QPR Report]

From a couple of years ago

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Gordon Jago: Profiled and Interviewed
-
Yet another great Official Site rememberance/profile/interview: This time Gordon Jago: The man who took QPR and brought Stan Bowles, Dave Thomas, Don Givens, Frank McClintock and Dave Webb to QPR. From the interview ""We faced Carlisle United just after Rodney left and Stan Bowles played magnificently against us at Loftus Road" (Well remember that game; it was a rainy day; Loftus Road pitch was muddy. And Bowles was brilliant.)

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - BLAST FROM THE PAST
In our latest instalment of exclusive interviews on www.qpr.co.uk, former R's boss Gordon Jago comes under the spotlight.

Gordon Jago - 1971-1974
Gordon Jago laid the early foundations for the greatest team in the history of Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
Jago was Manager at Loftus Road from 1971 to 1974. In that time, he built a side that eventually went on to compete with the best in the land.
He said: "It was the happiest period of my career. I took great pleasure from working with the QPR players and I always enjoyed the quality of their play.
"The key to our advancement was the sale of Rodney Marsh in March 1972. We didn't want him to leave, but it was Rodney's choice and he wished to join Manchester City. Fortunately, my Chairman Jim Gregory negotiated a marvellous transfer deal and we got £200,000 clear, which was a large sum of money to rebuild with in those days.
"There was a certain kind of player that was attractive to me. I always went for skilful technique. I didn't favour the old fashioned, big centre-forward down the middle and crashing the ball up to him. I liked to play good football.
"We faced Carlisle United just after Rodney left and Stan Bowles played magnificently against us at Loftus Road. I thought he would be ideal for me. A very similar type of striker to Marsh - very talented, able to beat people, a cute passer of the ball. Stan had a different type of personality, but it was still similar to Rodney's. They were both very flamboyant and I loved that.
"I had also watched Don Givens at Luton Town and Burnley's Dave Thomas. So the money we got for Rodney was used to buy Bowles, Givens and Thomas, who were three top class forwards. We didn't need a lot of new faces as we had some really promising youngsters coming through in Gerry Francis, Dave Clement and Ian Gillard.
"And when I got my final X1 together, from Clement at right-back all the way over to Thomas at outside-left, they could each play passing football. They were happy with the ball and had good touch. There were some great characters and we won promotion to the top flight in 1972/73."
Jago eventually left the R's in October 1974 after a disagreement behind the scenes. But he took immense pride as the Rangers success story continued with Dave Sexton in charge.
"You didn't have to be too clever to know that we had assembled a good squad," said Jago.
"In my first year up in the First Division, we finished eighth. We matched everybody and beat Arsenal and Chelsea for the first time in our history.
"We had a nice blend of experience - like McLintock and Venables - along with the younger element. So it was a perfect position for me as a manager. I felt that the next stage would be the upper echelons of the table and perhaps European football.
"Then unfortunately I fell out with Jim Gregory. It was the most disappointing day of my life when I resigned. It was a hellish decision for me to make.
"So when I walked away, I realised that I wasn't going to have the opportunity to fulfil my dream at Loftus Road. We'd started something, we'd built an excellent team and we'd gone a long way towards where we were aiming.
"I always knew that Rangers were going to be a top side. Of course the season after I departed, they finished runners-up in the League by a point to Liverpool and then went on a superb UEFA Cup run.
"Years afterwards as QPR sustained their status at the highest level, I was able to quietly say to myself 'I had a little bit to do with that.' It was nice to see Rangers become firmly established as a strong club."
Jago has since had a long coaching career in America. Despite being old enough to draw his pension, he still reports for work every day.
"I came out in 1978 so I've been here 30 years. I had six seasons as coach of Tampa Bay Rowdies before joining the Dallas Sidekicks, where I stayed in charge for 18 years. After that, I became Commissioner of the World Indoor Soccer League for three years.
"Nowadays, I am Executive Director of the Dallas Cup, which is the most prestigious youth soccer tournament in the world. I bring in 184 teams from all over the globe. We've had Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea here in recent times.
"I'm 75 years old now and my current role has enabled me to renew a great deal of my old football friendships. Often when I put the phone down after speaking to people over in England, I'm almost certain they say 'I didn't know he was still alive!'
"I'm still having great fun in soccer. I've been very lucky and I've had great health. My wife June has recovered from Cancer so we are very blessed.
"And my blood has always been blue and white for QPR. It has been disappointing to see that the club has not enjoyed good fortune in recent years. But let's hope that the new owners can turn it around and put the Hoops where they should be back up in the Premier League." QPR

[Zamoraaaah]

Well done Andy and the club.

[QPR Report]

And This: "The Great Gordon Jago Still Going Strong"
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=7896&page=1

[QPR Report]

And other Jago photos
www.kicksfan.com/staff/jago/index.htm

[oliverjames]

A real Gent and a big influence in our history

[Zamoraaaah]

Welcome to the board Oliverjames

[oliverjames]

Thanks

Any idea why I got Mr Holloway up next to my name, He was anti football compared to Mr Jago.

Could I have caretaker manager please.

[QPR Report]

Insead of giving stars for number of posts, I made it a few of my favourite managers. It's abritrary: Venables, Jago, Sexton, Holloway, Stock... But that's the reason.. It's your incentive by posting to get away from Holloway!

[desorchid]

Two things;

Firstly, am i being overly sensitive to the conspiracy theory here but first Ainsworth announced as a farewell after the protest idea was floated and now this on the last day of the season - when, let's face it, things could get very vocal indeed?

(BTW Mr Jago, a distinguished figure in the clubs history and if there is no ulterior motive from those who have arranged this apologies.)

Secondly, when he was at Millwall, didn't he try to re-name 'Cold Blow Lane' something like 'Montego Bay Boulevard' or something?

[eusebio13]

surely sub 5 posts should be a Paul Hart

[QPR Report]

I actually wonder how much anybody under 40 Or much under 50? cares about Gordon Jago..So I'm not sure how attractive he'll actually be. (TO me, Jago is G-d - for what he did, coming in for Les Allen, developingus, buying Bowles and Thomas, etc, promotion, great first season back. A slump and the axe)

But for most people I wonder: He's not Marsh or Bowles or Venables.

[desorchid]

Feb 3, 2010 21:22:03 GMT QPR Report said:

I actually wonder how much anybody under 40 Or much under 50? cares about Gordon Jago..So I'm not sure how attractive he'll actually be. (TO me, Jago is G-d - for what he did, coming in for Les Allen, developingus, buying Bowles and Thomas, etc, promotion, great first season back. A slump and the axe)

But for most people I wonder: He's not Marsh or Bowles or Venables.

i think you have a point Mr Report, my dad raves about him but I'm not quite old enough to remember meself. Even my mum thought he was 'lovely', but she did marry my old man so there you go.

[QPR Report]

Shame Jago wasn't at Loftus Road last year when he was back for Millwall

Vital Fooball Millwall - Millwall celebrate Dockers Day
Millwall FC and the MSC celebrate Dockers Day this Saturday, 27th February before we take on Hartlepool.

A host of former Lions favorites from the promotion-winning 1984/5 squad will be back at The Den and such was the success of last year's Dockers Day that the start of this one has been brought forward to enable Lions fans to meet the stars.

The likes of Paul Sansome, Alan McLeary, Dave Martin, Dave Cusack, Steve Lovell, Kevin Bremner, Dean Neal, John Neal, Nicky Chatterton, Lindsay Smith, Anton Otulakowski, Paul Hinshlewood, Steve Lowndes, John Fashanu and Les Briley have all been invited to the big day.
Proceedings will get underway by the Blue Bus at 1.30pm.

This will be the clubs 4th annual Dockers Day and the event has gone from strength to strength.

The first in 2007 was attended by the 1957 Lions team that knocked FA Cup holders Newcastle United out of the competition that year. Stan Anslow, John Shepherd, Ray Brand, Bill Lloyd, Denis Pacey and John Smith were there and The Port of London Authority presented a commemorative trophy to the dockers.
Representatives from the Museum in Docklands and the Island Trust also attended the event.

The following year the team which went on a record 59 unbeaten home run were honored. On the first day of the 1964/5 season. Millwall drew 2-2 with Torquay United - and embarked on an incredible record-breaking run lasting three years and five months the club celebrated that superb achievement with some of the men that made it all possible - Micky Brown, Lawrie Leslie, Barry Kitchener, manager Billy Gray, George Jacks, Tommy Wilson, Ken Jones, Jimmy Whitehouse, Bobby Hunt, Hugh Curran, Dougie Baker, Ray Gough, John Richardson, Dave Armstrong, Billy Neil, Barry Rowan, Joe Broadfoot, Alan Welsh and John Leedham were all at the 2008 Dockers Day.

Last year the unique day saw the promotion winning side of 1975-76 led by revolutionary manager Gordon Jago, over from America attend, along with a host of former dockers.
Terry Brisley, Barry Kitchener, Alan Dorney, Jon Moore, John Seasman, Phil Walker, Terry Shanahan, Nicky Johns, Dave Donaldson and Tony Hazel were members of the squad at the event. It was also a chance to remember players Barry Salvage and Ray Goddard, who had sadly passed away and their families were invited along.
Dockers` Day co-founder Chris Bethell said 'It is an important day and serves as a reunion for the players coming back to their former employer'. The day was made by the tales and knowledge of the former dockers, who were presented with commemorative medals, being passed on to the younger generation.

Lets hope the formers Dockers have a great day at The Den on Saturday.

www.millwall.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=517835

www.millwall.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=517835

[londonranger]

Had a nice talk with him a few years ago on phone. He and his wife were running a football badge, paraphernalia old footie stuff. I was surprised he would talk for so long but he mostly talked about Charlton and the New Valley.

[Lonegunmen]

irony, ex QPR legendary manager and creator of "That team" and the demise of QPR against Newcastle with our biggest ever twat still at the club. I hope gordon refuses to shake Paladinis hand. And if he does shake it, that Gordon checks his pockets straight afterwards.

[QPR Report]

Gordon Jago's opportunity to say: "I knew Jim Gregory. Jim Gregory was a Friend of Mine. And Gianni Paladini, you are no Jim Gregory!"

[Lonegunmen]

Jim Gregory was no angel he put piut his own money where his mouth was....besides being passionately in love with the real QPR too.