Chris Kamara among mourners at Stan Bowles’ funeral as QPR legend laid to rest – Footymercato.com

Chris Kamara was among those to pay their respects to Stan Bowles at the QPR great’s funeral in Manchester.

Bowles had endured a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease and died last month at the age of 75. He was laid to rest at St Patrick’s Church with several former team-mates present. Bowles is regarded as QPR’s greatest-ever player and Gerry Francis was among those in attendance.

Francis had two spells at QPR and was team-mates with Bowles, who had been battling Alzheimer’s disease since 2015. Bowles’ death was announced by his daughter Tracey in a Facebook post. She wrote: “Sad to be writing this but dad has passed away. He was with all the family and went peacefully. God bless you, Stanley.”

QPR followed with a statement reading: “It is with a heavy heart we have learned that QPR legend Stan Bowles has passed away. A footballing icon and arguably the greatest to have ever worn our famous blue and white hoops.

“All our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time. RIP, Stan. Forever R’s.” They added: “The club will be confirming how we will be paying a fitting tribute to Stan in due course.”

Bowles scored 97 goals in 315 total appearances in all competitions for QPR during a seven-year stint in west London. He was a key figure in the team that finished as runners-up behind Bob Paisley’s Liverpool in the old First Division in 1975-76. He began his playing career as an apprentice at Manchester City and also represented Bury, Crewe and Carlisle before heading to the capital

Bowles later joined Nottingham Forest in 1979, where he played for one season under Brian Clough before heading to Leyton Orient. His last team was non-league side Epping Town before he hung up his boots for good.

He earned only five international caps for England with Sir Alf Ramsey’s final game in charge against Portugal in Lisbon in 1974 proving to be his debut. Bowles scored his only goal for the Three Lions in a 2-0 win over Wales at Ninian Park that same year.

In December 2021, QPR renamed the Ellerslie Road Stand at Loftus Road as the Stanley Bowles Stand and they recently paid tribute to him during their home game with West Brom earlier in March.

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