QPR'S WEMBLEY GLORY

COLIN ALLAN RECALLS WHEN THE THIRD DIVISION SIDE STUNNED TOP-FLIGHT WEST BROM ON A PIVOTAL DAY IN THE LEAGUE CUP'S HISTORY

CLIVE Clark, West Bromwich Albion's outside left, seems to have made sure that 'the Throstles' will retain the League Cup.

Playing against his former club, Queens Park Rangers, Clark opened the scoring after just seven minutes when receiving a pass from Doug Fraser and shooting past Peter Springett (brother of the England international keeper Ron).

Then, on 36 minutes, Clark beats the offside trap to connect with a clever ball from Tony Brown to make it 2-0.

Clark has scored in every round and looks destined to reap his reward by winning the cup for First Division West Brom.

It is March 4, 1967 and 97,952 spectators are present to witness the first League Cup final to be staged at Wembley. It's also the first final not to be played over two legs.

An added interest for the fans is that this is a truly David v Goliath clash QPR are the first Third Division team to reach a final staged on Wembley's hallowed turf.

Compared to West Brom's relatively carefree passage to the final in six games, QPR had to play eight to reach Wembley. The west Londoners sported an all-white strip with West Brom opting for all-red.

The game also marked a crucial moment for the competition. It was seen as quite a risk by the Football League to stage the game at Wembley.

As The Times' famous football correspondent Geoffrey Green noted in his preview: "An Unwanted Child Stands On Its Own Two Feet At Last."

He was referring to the somewhat fraught introduction of the competition in July 1960. Many First Division clubs shunned the competition at first, complaining of possible fixture congestion.

The magnetic lure of the FA Cup and entry into European competitions was too great.