Stan Bowles, QPR legend and former England international, dies at 75

Queens Park Rangers’ legendary former forward Stan Bowles has died at the age of 75.

Bowles, who was capped five times at international level for England, enjoyed a 17-year playing career across the top divisions of English football.

He was most closely associated with QPR, where he scored 70 league goals across over seven seasons at the west London club.

Bowles joined QPR in 1972 and inherited the No 10 shirt vacated by fan favourite Rodney Marsh, but such was his success at Loftus Road that the shirt number became synonymous with his name.

Bowles was a forward who established himself as somewhat of a non-conformist, and was the star player in arguably QPR’s greatest ever side during the 1970s.

It is with a heavy heart we have learned that QPR legend Stan Bowles has passed away.

A footballing icon and arguably the greatest to have ever worn our famous blue and white hoops.

All our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

RIP, Stan. Forever R’s. 💙🤍

— QPR FC (@QPR) February 24, 2024

Having helped QPR secure promotion to England’s top-flight in his debut season, Bowles was influential as the club established themselves at the top level and finish a club-best second place in 1976 — missing out on the title to Liverpool by one point.

In 2015, Bowles was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Two years later, QPR played a benefit match against Bournemouth to fundraise for the former player’s ongoing care.

In the summer of 2022, QPR renamed the Ellerslie Road Stand at their Loftus Road home as the Stanley Bowles Stand as a tribute to his enduring popularity at the club.

Bowles began his career at Manchester City, spending three seasons at the club before spells at Bury, Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United preceded his move to QPR in 1972.

His seven seasons in west London were iconic for QPR fans, who voted Bowles as the club’s greatest ever player in a 2004 fan poll.

Bowles was sold to European champions Nottingham Forest in 1979, but he ruled himself out of the European Cup final in his one season at the club following multiple disagreement with boss Brian Clough.

Bowles had essentially been competing for a starting spot throughout the season with British football’s first £1million-signing, Trevor Francis.

Bowles was sold to Leyton Orient in 1980 and would go on to spend the final seasons of his career at Brentford.

All of his five England international caps came when he was at QPR, with his one goal at international level coming in a two-goal victory over Wales in 1974.

(Ron Hallett/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)