Bowles was one of the country’s most talented players and, for fans of a certain age, he helped define an era - taking the field for Bury, Crewe and Carlisle, before joining QPR in 1972

The world of football has paid tribute to QPR legend Stan Bowles who has died aged 75 after suffering Alzheimer’s.

Despite winning just five England caps, Bowles was one of the country’s most talented players and for fans of a certain age, he helped define an era.

George Best was the sport’s first superstar but by the early seventies, his glory days were over. And into the spotlight stepped a charismatic Bowles, alongside a string of mavericks including Rodney Marsh, Frank Worthington, Alan Hudson, and Tony Currie. Born in north Manchester in 1948, he had joined his father’s window cleaning round before he signed for Manchester City, aged 17.

Bowles later played for Bury, Crewe and Carlisle, before joining QPR in 1972, going on to make 315 league appearances and scoring 97 goals over seven seasons. He was part of the team which was narrowly pipped to the First Division title by Liverpool in 1976. And the striker’s dazzling performances in QPR’s iconic blue and white hoops made him the darling of Loftus Road, where a stand was named in his honour in 2022.

Stan Bowles played for a plethora of teams including Queens Park Rangers, Bury, Crewe and Carlisle (

Image:

In his prime he was pictured alongside topless models and pop stars, with a cheeky smile and a glint in his eye. But off the pitch it seemed he was most at home in the bookies or the pub. When he appeared on BBC TV’s Superstars show in 1976, he was so hung over after a night out with racing driver James Hunt, he recorded the lowest score in the programme’s history.

During the pistol shooting challenge, instead of hitting the target he fired a round into the table next to him. His manager at Crewe, Ernie Tagg, once said: “If Stan could pass a betting shop like he can pass a football, he’d be a rich man.”

When it was later said he had spent all his money on gambling, booze and women, he responded, “Well, at least I didn’t waste it.”

He also said: “People may think of me as a footballer who gambled too much. But I’m a gambling addict who happened to be a good footballer.”

After leaving QPR in 1979 he had spells at Nottingham Forest, Leyton Orient and Brentford, before retiring in 1984. He later became an after-dinner speaker and a Sky Sports pundit.

Bowles was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s nine years ago and moved into a care home in Manchester in 2020. He is the latest in a long line of footballers who have had the disease, including 1966 England World Cup heroes Bobby and Jack Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson. News of his death came after QPR’s home victory over Rotherham on Saturday.

In a statement the Championship club said: “A darling of the Loftus Road terraces, Stanley Bowles is one of the greatest players to ever pull on the famous blue and white hoops. Many would argue that he is the best.”

Stan Bowles at Ruislip training grounds on March 26 1974 (

Image:

It added: “The club will be confirming how we will be paying a fitting tribute to Stan in due course.”

Ex England star and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker wrote on X: “Sorry to hear that Stan Bowles has died. A delightful footballer and hugely charismatic man. Always loved watching him play. RIP Stan.”

Ex QPR player Trevor Sinclair said Bowles was “the great entertainer” and Leyton Orient called him “a true footballing icon”.

Another former club Brentford posted: “One of the finest ever to play in red and white, we mourn the death of Stan Bowles.

“A great entertainer and character who put smiles on the faces of all who saw him play. Our thoughts are with Stan’s friends and family at this incredibly sad time.”

He is survived by his wife, Diane Bushell, and by his children, Andria, Carl and Tracy, from his first marriage, to Ann.

Hilary Evans, the chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “It is absolutely devastating that Stan’s final years were ruled by Alzheimer’s disease, but unfortunately this is the case for many people in the UK today.

“At Alzheimer’s Research UK, we are determined to change the ending for everyone affected by dementia-causing diseases by finding a cure. The awful news about Stan highlights that we don’t have a moment to waste.”