Bio:
Terry Venables said that his transfer to Second Division QPR changed his life, and stated that “I cannot think of a transfer blessed with so much good fortune”. Initially, Rangers could only manage mid-table finishes in the 1969–70 and 1970–71 campaigns, with Venables scoring 18 goals in 83 games. Chairman Jim Gregory opted to sack Les Allen and appoint Gordon Jago as manager, who took Rangers up to fourth-place in 1971–72 – just two points behind promoted Birmingham City.
Once coach Bobby Campbell departed Loftus Road for Arsenal, Jago allowed Venables to supervise the club’s training sessions. Rangers continued to progress, and won promotion in 1972–73 after securing runners-up spot with an 11-point gap over third-place Aston Villa.
Venables signed with Crystal Palace in 1974. He and Ian Evans were traded to Palace in exchange for Don Rogers. He made 14 Third Division appearances in the 1974–75 season, before retiring due to arthritis on New Year’s Eve. Manager Malcolm Allison gave him a coaching role for the second half of the campaign.
As well as receiving two international caps, Venables held the distinction of being the only footballer to play for England at schoolboy, youth, amateur, Under-23, and for the full international team. The amateur team was disbanded in 1974, no player was ever able to match his record. He was named by Alf Ramsey on the list of 33 “possibles” for the 1966 FIFA World Cup, having won two caps in 1964 – a 2–2 draw with Belgium and a 1–1 draw with the Netherlands, but did not make it into the final squad of 22.
Factfile:
- Full Name: Terence Frederick Venables
- Position: Midfield
- Date of Birth: 06.01.1943
- Birthplace: Dagenham, Essex
- Nation: England
- Caps: 2
- Goals: –
- Club Career: Queens Park Rangers
- Period: 1969-1974
- League Games, 177
- League Goals, 19
- Previous Club: Tottenham Hotspur
- Transfer Fee: Swop
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