Rodney Marsh:
a man with a mission

As a lad in Stepney Rodney just loved the game. He would play two matches on Saturday and two on Sunday.  His professional career took off with Fulham F.C.  Luck was not his fortey at Fulham.  A few days after his league debut against Aston Villa in March 1963 (having scored the only goal of the game) during training, he stubbed his toe, chipped the bone and was out for the rest of the season.

The following season in only his fourth game, Rodney sustained a severe injuries that proved threatening to an already promising career.  As he was heading the ball into the Leicester City net for the winning goal, his head hit a defender and a goal post resulting in a broken jaw and loss of hearing in his left ear.

After a great deal of effort and committment to regain full fitness, Rodney had good success with Fulham the following year (1964 - 65) with 18 goals in 41 matches.  A difference of opinion with the coach, Vic Buckingham eventually led to him being transferred to QPR for £15 000 in March 1996. 

Rodney had a good relationship with Alec Stock and with the right kind of encouragement, racked up 44 goals in one season (1966 / 67).  This was followed by majestic success in the final of the League Cup on the 4th March 1967 against West Brom when QPR won 3 - 2. The rest as they say is history!!

My biggest regret was that the England management did not take Rodney to the World Cup Finals in Mexico in 1970 ......

On Rodney's Performance: (Birmingham City: Saturday, October 17^th, 1970)

"What price Rodney Marsh now? The idol of Loftus Road turned on all his old magic, collected a sparkling hat-trick, and completely stole the show. On star value, Alan Campbell, Birmingham's £70 000 signing from Charlton, was very down the bill behind Marsh. Marsh cut Birmingham's five-men defence to shreds, feinting, back-heeling, side-footing . . . . all the Marsh repertoire. And he capped it with some rocket drives. Marsh now sporting a beard, lashed the first goal through Kelly's hands from 25 yards following a long cross from Gillard. Marsh also made one for Venables with a finely judged long pass between the defenders. "We practice that move in training every week," said Rodney. And don't forget young Andy McCullock. He had the satisfaction of scoring on his debut." (Jack Welling, THE PEOPLE)

"Rodney Marsh made it five with the best goal I've seen this season. He got the ball just inside Birmingham's 18 yard box, surrounded by Birmingham shirts. He did a sort of Irish jig with the ball, hypnotising the three or four defenders before spinning from the hips and crashing a powerful shot on the turn low into the corner of the net." (Danny Blanchflower, SUNDAY EXPRESS).