Alec Stock facts for kids

Alec William Alfred Stock (born March 30, 1917 – died April 16, 2001) was a famous English footballer and manager. He is known for his long time managing teams like Leyton Orient and Queens Park Rangers. He even managed AS Roma in Italy for a short period. At QPR, he helped the team get promoted twice in a row, reaching the top league (First Division) for the very first time. He also led them to win the League Cup. Alec Stock is one of the most experienced football managers ever, having coached in more games than almost anyone else.

Playing and Managing Career

Early Days as a Player

Alec Stock was born in Peasedown St John, a village in Somerset, England. Before the Second World War, he played football as a forward. He played for clubs like Charlton Athletic and Queens Park Rangers. During the war, he also played for several other teams as a guest player.

Yeovil Town and FA Cup Magic

In 1946, Alec Stock joined Yeovil Town. He became their player-manager, meaning he played for the team and managed them at the same time. He became well-known during a special FA Cup run in 1949. Yeovil Town, a smaller team, managed to beat bigger clubs like Bury and Sunderland. They finally lost to the famous Manchester United in the fifth round, which was a huge achievement for them.

Success with Queens Park Rangers

After Yeovil Town, Alec Stock managed several other clubs. He had long spells at Leyton Orient (1949–1959) and Queens Park Rangers (1959–1965). His time at QPR in the 1960s is remembered as a golden age for the club. Working with chairman Jim Gregory, the team achieved amazing success.

In 1967 and 1968, QPR won promotions two years in a row. This meant they reached the First Division, which was the top league in England, for the very first time in their history. They also made history by becoming the first team from the Third Division to win the Football League Cup in 1967. In that final, they beat West Bromwich Albion 3–2, coming from behind to win.

Alec Stock believed in developing young players. He brought many talented players from the club's youth system into the main team. These included players like Frank Sibley, Tony Hazell, Roger Morgan, Ian Morgan, and Mick Leach. He also successfully combined these young talents with experienced players like Rodney Marsh and Mark Lazarus.

Later Management Roles

After his first successful period at QPR, Alec Stock went on to manage Luton Town (1968–1972). He helped Luton Town get promoted from the Third Division. He also managed Fulham (1972–1976) and led them to the 1975 FA Cup Final. He briefly returned to QPR as a director in 1977–1979 and later managed AFC Bournemouth (1979–1980).

Managerial Records

Here is a summary of Alec Stock's managing career, showing how many games his teams played, won, drew, and lost.