Legendary QPR boss back for season's finale

03 February 2010

By Ben Kosky

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 Kevin@kickitout.org