Yeovil Town and QPR meet at Huish Park this coming Tuesday in the Capital One Cup First Round and in this edition of ‘A Foot in both camps’ we take a look at a former manager of the two sides Alec Stock.
Tuesday’s game is proving popular with the supporters and ticket sales have been good, you can still book your place at Huish Park by clicking HERE and buying your ticket in advance, online.
Alec Stock was a Somerset born boy with a big footballing future ahead of him, the quiet sleepy town of Peasedown St John would give the country a man who would manage Yeovil to their greatest cup giant killing as well as going on to become QPR’s greatest ever manager as well.
Stock played for QPR in the late 1930’s but when he returned to the game after the Second World War, it was back in his native county with Yeovil Town.
A role as player-manager gave him the chance to continue playing whilst honing his management skills. He played a vital part in the famous 1949 FA Cup run which helped put Yeovil on the map.
It was not enough to stand on the side lines and bark instructions, he played in every round and scored the opening goal in the win over Sunderland in the 4th round.
That game has been touted as arguably the greatest FA Cup giant killing of all time, with Sunderland’s ‘bank of England’ side boasting the best names in the country and a host of international standard players.
What’s more, it was at the Huish he developed his switch to the formation we know today as 4-4-2.
Some texts claim that Stock himself actually invented the formation but that isn’t quite confirmed.
The stories to come out of that era include one where he promised to sack anyone that ducked out of defending a last minute free kick or that Stock himself would lead the signing and skittles on team celebrations.
Stock would leave Yeovil later that year bound for Leyton Orient before AS Roma in Italy came calling.
He headed back to these shores in 1959 where he would embark on nine years of success at the R’s.
Aside from back to back promotions guiding the team from Division 3 to Division 1 he masterminded the club’s unprecedented success in the League Cup.
Rangers, a third division side at the time not only made the final but won the trophy coming from behind to beat First Division West Brom in the final.
His near decade at Loftus Road may never be surpassed and the League Cup remains their only silverware from domestic knock out competition.
Stock would manage Luton, Fulham and Bournemouth before retiring and later releasing an autobiography called: A little thing called pride.
On returning home to Somerset, Stock remained close to his local club and was honoured at the recent QPR v Yeovil fixture with an entire day dedicated in his name.
Alec Stock passed away in April 2001 and will forever live long in the history books and the memories of both clubs.
Queens Park Rangers visit again this Tuesday in the first round of the Capital One Cup, you can secure your tickets for the game by clicking HERE.
Stay tuned to YTFC.net as we preview the big cup match and focus on a goalkeeper that has connections with both Bristol Rovers and Yeovil Town before the weekend’s derby game.