Independent Rs Messageboard

[Steve Russell]

https://www.indyrs.co.uk/2024/11/in-mem ... cclelland/

[Kerrins]

Y'know Steve I have checked some of the QPR social media and I could not find any reference to him at the
time of his passing.

Also I do not think the Club made any reference to him. Did this slip under the Radar?

I could be wrong and may have missed something

[Steve Russell]

I never saw it noted by the Club or anywhere else Bernard.

I came across the news by accident...

[Steve Russell]

Ron Gould on the Indy's Facebook group...

'I saw that hat trick away to Bradford P A.
It was a Supporters Club special weekend. Coach from HQ to Park Avenue, seats in the stand, coach to
Blackpool, b&b included, coach back to HQ. Can't remember the price, but not very expensive.

Our bus caught fire on the way back. That and the hat trick made it a very memorable weekend

[Kerrins]

Steve R. Over on the QPR Report website they have indicated to me that they did not think there was
any mention by QPR FC of John McClelland's passing nor do they recollect any other QPRFC social media picking
up on it.

Mind you it was during the close season. Perhaps this is a reason why the club over looked it?

QPR Report when I raised the topic recently did dig out and post up the tribute from Portsmouth FC to
John McClelland via Twitter(X).

Quite right that Pompey should mark the occasion after all he spent quite a few seasons at Fratton Park

[Bill Elkins]

Rest in Peace John.

John Bonar McClelland (to give him his full name) has to be one of my most favourite QPR players ever.

I too was at Watford on the day that john played his first game in 1961. He was signed on Friday 22 September 1961
from Lincoln City, and played at Vicarage Road on Saturday 23 September. Can anyone imagine that scenario happening
these days? John scored his first goal for QPR on that day in a 3-2 defeat. Jim Towers scored the other goal.

I would just like to add a short anecdote on the day that QPR played Bristol City away on Saturday 18 November 1961.
I was living with my parents in Queens Park at the time (being just 14 years old). I left home in full regalia, blue and white
bobble hat, blue and white scarf, and boarded the 36 bus to Paddington Station to catch the train to Bristol and Ashton Gate.

In those days, bus's had 2 long bench seats downstairs at the back. Upon reaching Bayswater, a couple of stops from Paddington,
a young man bounded on, and sat opposite me on the other bench seat. It turned out to be none other than John Bonar McClelland.
He obviously could not help but notice this spotty youth in blue and white and said "how are are lad". I was dumb struck and
mumbled some incoherent response. This is a true story!

John passed away at the grand old age of 89 (being born in 1935). His last 2 clubs were Portsmouth and Newport County, and
John spent his retirement living at Hayling Island, playing lots of golf.

RIP John McClelland.

[Steve Russell]

Great story Bill, thanks for sharing mate....

[Kerrins]

Lovely post Bill.

Ah that Watford away game sigh. Two goals up with 15 minutes to play and we blew it.
Lost 3-2. Never ever will I forget the Jim Towers goal. He smashed the ball in so hard it hit the stanchion at the back
of the net and rebounded nearly to the half way line!

Those were the days when players travelled on public transport buses. Pat woods once was spotted on the 657 trolley
bus going to an away fixture at Brentford so I am told. Those were the days. Long gone and never to return.