Arthur Longbottom (he later changed his name to Langley), stalwart QPR inside-forward of the mid-1950’s/60’s sadly passed away in September.
He played 218 first-team games for the R’s and scored 68 goals during his spell at Loftus Road from 1955 to 1961.
I first saw Arthur play when I started supporting the R’s as a kid way back in September 1957. At that time, I thought that he was one of our better forwards, but to me he did not seem to get the credit he deserved from a number of adult Rangers supporters.
Certainly, in my view I think his talents were more appreciated at his subsequent clubs, especially Port Vale and Oxford United, where he featured in dramatic giant-killing FA Cup runs with both teams.
At Queen’s Park Rangers his stand-out moment was that amazing winning goal that he scored from the half-way line in the big Division 3 promotion clash against Walsall on the 1st April 1961.
Rangers won that vital fixture 1-0, but alas in the end the second-place promotion spot went to Walsall, not us!
After retiring from football, Arthur for a time became an established Gents barber. He had a knack, even in his playing days for the hairdressing business and sometimes he even cut his team-mates hair.
Well done Arthur, you were a good servant for our Club.
Rest in Peace.
Bernard Lambert Kerrins)
Arthur was born in Leeds on 30th January 1933.
Rangers signed him from Methley United in March 1954.
He made his league debut on 12th March 1955 at Leyton Orient.
On 27th October 1958, a Testimonial match was arranged at Loftus Road for Arthur and Keith Rutter against an All Stars X1.
My first ever QPR match was the following month on 8th November when the R’s took on Southampton at Loftus Road.
It ended in a 2-2 and Arthur scored the first Rangers goal. That goal made him at the time the Third DIvision’s leading scorer with 14 goals.
Nixon Farr wrote the following for the popular football magazine, ‘Soccer Star’ in November 1959:
‘It was laughs all the way when we ran into QPR’s star forward, Arthur Longbottom and three of his player pals.
Phew, they have a reputation for taking their soccer seriously, but off-duty they could be likened to the ‘Crazy Gang’.
Arthur, who joined Queen’s Park Rangers from Methley United in 1954, is wisely looking to the future by training to be a hairdresser.
And Mr Lewis, in whose establishment he works during the afternoons, says that Arthur is a ‘natural’ at the job.’ The whole article can be viewed on the Indy’s Home Page….
After making 218 first-team appearances, and scoring 68 goals, Arthur was transferred to Port Vale in May 1961 for a reported fee of £2,000.
He also went on to play for the likes of; Millwall, Oxford United, Colchester United and Scarborough.
Arthur sadly passed away on 15th September, aged 90 years old.
May he Rest in Peace,
Steve Russell