Foot in Both Camps: Bolton Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers

Bolton Wanderers take on Queens Park Rangers this Saturday in the Sky Bet Championship at the University of Bolton Stadium. With that in mind, bwfc.co.uk take a look back at some of the notable names to have played for both sides.

Gary O’Neil

Current Wanderers midfielder O’Neil spent time a season with the R’s in 2013/14.

Re-uniting him with his former boss Harry Redknapp, the 35-year-old was a member of the QPR team that gained promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

Despite getting sent off in the 60th minute of the play-off final, the Hoops beat Derby County 1-0 and earned a place in the top flight of English football.

Alex Baptiste

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Joining the Whites in May 2013, the full back signed a three-year contract once leaving Blackpool.

He made his debut against local rivals Burnley in August and went on to make over 40 appearances in his single season at the club.

After moving around the country to clubs like Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Preston North End, Baptiste signed for Queens Park Rangers in August 2017.

Dave Clement

A club stalwart for the R’s, Clement made over 450 appearances for the club.

Making his debut in 1966/67, it was a season to remember for the Hoops as they won the Football League Third Division title by 12 points.

Additionally that year, QPR became the first Third Division club to win a major trophy in the League Cup, defeating West Bromwich Albion 3-2 in their first final at Wembley.

After a 14 year stay at his boyhood club, where he made his England debut in 1976, Clement joined Bolton in June 1979 and played 33 league games for the Whites in his short stay at the club.

Les Ferdinand MBE

After starting his career at Hayes FC, Ferdinand joined Queens Park Rangers in April 1987 as a 20-year-old.

With interim spells on loan at Brentford and Turkish side Besiktas, Ferdinand made his debut aged 20 as a substitute in a 4-0 defeat to Coventry City in April 1987.

The forward spent eight years at the club and scored at nearly a goal every two games for the R’s.

His 10 goals in 23 games in the 1991/92 season saw QPR preserve their status in the top flight of English football and be one of the founder members of the inaugural Premier League.

In his final season at The Hoops, Ferdinand had his best season in a blue and white shirt.

He finished the season as third top scorer in the division, with only Robbie Fowler and Alan Shearer finding the net more times that year.

Moving onto 2004 and an experienced Ferdinand moved to The University of Bolton from Leicester City, where he was coming off the back of a 12 in 29 game season for the Foxes.

In his one season spell for the Whites, he scored just two goals for the club. But, how they are still remembered by Wanderers’ fans far and wide.

Coming on in the 75th minute against rivals Manchester United when the game was poised at 1-1, Ferdinand was set loose in the 90th minute of the game.

With the ball seemingly dealt with by Tim Howard and Mikael Silvestre, but a mix-up between the pair allowed Ferdinand to nip in and grab his final ever Premier League goal.

Even though it only earned a point against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side that day, Ferdinand is thought of fondly around the BL6 area to this date.

John Gregory

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Gregory left Brighton & Hove Albion to join Queens Park Rangers in 1981.

Dropping down to the Second Division, QPR reached the FA Cup final in 1982 but fell at the final hurdle to Tottenham Hotspur in a replay.

However, Gregory was a part of the 1982/83 Second Division title winning team.

This wasn’t the crowning achievement for the midfielder in his tenure at Loftus Road, as he helped them finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Cup in 1984.

In the twilight of his career, Gregory joined Wanderers in 1990 and made 8 appearances before retiring aged 36.

Sammy Lee

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With ten years at Liverpool, Lee joined QPR in 1986 and was a regular member of Jim Smith’s side.

In his one season stay, Lee aided the Hoops to a 16th placed finish in the First Division.

After a move to Spanish team Osasuna and a loan spell back with Southampton, Lee joined Wanderers for the 1990/91 season before his eventual retirement from playing.

From there, Lee joining the coaching staff back at Liverpool in 1993, as well as a part-time coach with England in 2001.

Lee came back to Wanderers as assistant manager to Sam Allardyce in September 2005.

He was named as the successor to Allardyce in April 2007.

Billy McAdams

Back in the 1960s, McAdams spent the 1960/61 with Wanderers and he had a fruitful spell in his short stint at Burnden Park.

He scored 18 goals in 27 league games that season, before joining Leeds United the year after.

The Northern Irish forward joined the R’s from Brentford in 1964.

In a two season stay with today’s opposition, McAdams scored 11 times in 33 games.

Peter Reid

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Huyton born Reid joined as Wanderers a youth prospect in the 1970s.

He spent nine seasons with Wanderers, making his debut in 1974 and going onto make 261 appearances with 25 goals to his name.

A highlight of his time with the Whites is the 1977/78 Division Two title winning team, taking the spoils by one point.

Danny Shittu

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Joining as an initial loan signing from Charlton in 2001, Shittu certainly made an impact at Loftus Road as manager Ian Holloway signed the Nigerian centre half to a permanent deal.

The towering defender was a part of the 2003/04 Hoops team that gained promotion to the First Division after finishing second behind Plymouth Argyle that year.

After a short time with Watford proceeding this, Shittu joined Wanderers in August 2008 on a three-year contract.

After just 11 appearances for the Whites and a singular goal, Shittu moved to Millwall briefly before returning to QPR for the 2011/12 season.

It was one to remember for the R’s and Shittu, as they found their way back to the Premier League after winning the Championship crown by four points.

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