Farewell Stan the Man! QPR legend Bowles was the ultimate maverick No. 10 who dazzled on the pitch… it’s a shame his high old life was brought down by the curse of Alzheimer’s

It used to be a tradition for young football reporters to meet for a beer at QPR’s Loftus Road ground before Saturday matches.

Stan The Man entered the Queen’s Tavern on South Africa Road about half an hour before the 3pm kick-off, having gone into the corner shop to buy a pack of cigarettes.

He smoked the first of those cigarettes for luck, finished his pint and then stopped at the adjacent betting shop to place his bets on the day’s races. He would reach the manager’s dressing room late, but just in time to put on his kit and boots and finally run out of the tunnel. With loud cheers from the audience.

Whether there was a stoppage in play or not, he floated towards the touchline shortly before half-time and shouted to some regular fans near the dugout, who would tell him which night had won the 3.30 somewhere in Haydock Park.

That would be repeated during the second half for information on more races of the day. After the post-match interviews – always jokes about winning or losing with the guys or during the match – we met again in the pub. Then he would party all Saturday night with Don Shanks, his teammate and roommate. Perhaps through a house call from a gambler at the nearest dog track.

Bowles played only five times for England because managers did not trust him at the top level

Of all the wayward wearers of the iconic number 10 shirt who left the match with their abundant talent only partially fulfilled, Stanley Bowles was the supreme villain. Like his 1970s soulmates, he played very few games for England, none of whom were trusted at the top level by professionally demanding managers such as Sir Alf Ramsey and Ron Revie.

Rodney Marsh, who he replaced as the showman of Queen’s Park Rangers but who faltered at Manchester City, would eventually find a natural niche for himself as a great entertainer in American football.

Alan Hudson, idolized at Chelsea, had his genius tragically cut short by devastating injuries inflicted by a hit-and-run driver on a London street. Tony Currie was hampered by football injuries throughout his career, but scored many goals in hundreds of games in the First Division, the forerunner of the Premier League, to the great admiration of his Sheffield United crowd.

A few centre-forwards were fully paid-up members of The Great Unpredictables, loved by the people. Charlie George played just 60 minutes in his solitary England appearance but featured in Arsenal’s League and Cup Double Winning team in 1971 before his rebellious nature got the better of his manager. Frank Worthington played just eight times for his country but provided both spell and goals with his socks down for Huddersfield, Bolton, Leicester, Birmingham and Leeds. And also enjoy the city centers at night with his brilliant imitation of his idol Elvis Presley.

Sadly, Stan Bowles has now gone the way of Worthington. A high life that is brought to a lost, lonely, shadowy end in a nursing home by the curse of Alzheimer’s disease.

Don Shanks, who not only shared a living space with him but also shared prison cells on a few occasions when the revelry went well beyond wild, tells us among friends that Stan stopped recognizing them as the years passed after his diagnosis in 2015. .

He also didn’t remember a minute of his playing days. Not a moment in his scant five games for England. So some of us must reminisce about the unapologetic artistry and carefree extravagance with which he lit up Manchester City and Crewe. QPR, Nottingham Forest – where he inevitably fell out with Brian Clough after refusing to play in a league match after being left out of the team for a testimonial match – Brentford and not least in my case Leyton Orient.

Bowles (left) and Don Shanks (right) lived life to the full during their days as professional football players

Stan the Man’s good old life was brought to a forlorn, lonely end by the curse of Alzheimer’s

To reflect that when his free spirit was given full flower in the 1975-76 season – surprisingly by the most authoritarian and intellectual of managers Dave Sexton – QPR finished second in the League Championship. Just one point behind Liverpool and three points ahead of third-placed Manchester United.

This achievement from this club reminds us that not all brilliance has to come drenched in sweat. That it should still be possible to laugh, joke, have fun, refuse to conform, enjoy every moment to the fullest… while delighting the audience and, yes, winning more often than you lose.

Unfortunately, there is no way yet to juggle and grin, jingle and chat, score and claw your way out of the morbid clutches of dementia. Not even for these most mischievous sporting minds.

Not even – despite all his floppy hats, shiny shoes, drinks in his hand, smoke between his lips and birds on his arm – for Stan The Man.