Played for both: Sheffield United

JUST LIKE that, the R’s are swiftly back in action following the memorable afternoon at Ashton Gate - home of Bristol City - only three days ago.

Mick Beale’s side now travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United in another important Sky Bet Championship clash.

Ahead of the meeting with Paul Heckingbottom’s outfit, we look at five figures who have pulled on the shirt of both sides throughout their careers.

First up is goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who is fondly remembered in W12 for the role he played throughout the 2010/11 campaign which ultimately saw Neil Warnock’s side clinching promotion to the Premier League.

Having begun his career with Bradford Park Avenue, Kenny would make his name with Bury before moving to Sheffield United in 2002, where he worked with former boss Warnock.

An impressive eight-year association with the Blades was prematurely ended in 2010, having made 266 appearances for United, before he joined the R’s ahead of that famous '10/11 season.

Kenny would play a key role that year, being voted the club’s player of the year, and remained Rangers’ number one the following season on our return to the top-flight.

Now 44, Paddy's 82nd and final appearance for the Super Hoops arrived in THAT away clash with Manchester City, which saw Rangers avoiding relegation in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The Republic of Ireland international would later move to Leeds United, before having spells with Bolton Wanderers, Ipswich Town, Bury, Rotherham United, Northampton Town and Maltby Main.

Paddy was inducted into the Forever R’s Club in 2021, QPR’s former players, managers, and coaches’ association as we recognised his time in west London.

Next up is attacking midfielder Tony Currie, who of course will be remembered for his prolonged spell with Sheffield United throughout the late 1960s and early seventies.

Having begun his career with Watford, Currie moved to Bramall Lane in 1968 and would go on to make over 300 appearances for the Blades, scoring 54 goals while also being made club captain in March 1974.

Currie has since been named Sheffield United’s greatest-ever player and has a stand named after him at the home of the Blades.

Now 72, Tony eventually left South Yorkshire in 1976, initially switching to Leeds United before joining QPR three years later.

The exuberant playmaker would look to fill the void left by the departing Stanley Bowles, who left W12 shortly after Currie’s arrival in west London.

Currie would go on to make 98 appearances for the R’s, scoring six times while also captaining the Super Hoops in the 1982 FA Cup final replay following the suspension of Glenn Roeder.

He would depart Loftus Road in 1983, joining Toronto Nationals, Southend United and finally Torquay United.

Tony was inducted into the Forever R’s Club in 2017.

Striker Simon Stainrod would become a popular figure in west London following his arrival at Loftus Road in 1980.

Having begun his career with Sheffield United, Stainrod made 67 appearances for the Blades, scoring 14 times, but his goals couldn’t prevent United from suffering relegation to the Second Division at the end of the 1975/76 campaign - and he would eventually depart for Oldham Athletic three years later.

An impressive season with the Latics would follow, with Chelsea and QPR battling it out for the signature of Stainrod in 1980. The forward opted for a move to W12.

The now-63-year-old would go on to play a key role in Rangers’ FA Cup run of 1982, while scoring a career best of 24 goals throughout that season, eventually helping the R’s clinch the Second Division title the following year.

Having made 177 appearances, scoring 62 goals, Stainrod departed in 1985 to join Sheffield Wednesday.

Spells with Aston Villa, Stoke City, RC Strasbourg, FC Rouen, Falkirk, Dundee and Ayr United would follow, before he hung up his boots in 1995.

Simon was inducted into the Forever R’s Club in 2018.

Republic of Ireland international Don Givens is a memorable figure from his time in west London, as he played a major role in QPR’s famous side of 1975/76 which narrowly missed out on the First Division title in agonising circumstances.

Alongside the likes of Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis, Dave Thomas and Don Masson to name just a few of that wonderful side, under the guidance of Dave Sexton the R’s would entertain the country with our skilful and attractive football. Givens was a major part of that.

Having moved to W12 in 1972 and departing in 1978, Givens made 294 appearances for Rangers, scoring 101 goals in all competitions – making him one of only five players to have scored over a century of goals for the R’s.

He would depart for Birmingham City in 1978, before moving to Sheffield United in 1980 where he enjoyed a solitary campaign with the Blades. Don scored three times from 11 appearances.

Givens moved to Neuchâtel Xamaz in the Swiss league the following year, where he spent six years before retiring in 1987.

Don was inducted into the Forever R’s Club in 2017.

Playing for a host of different sides during his playing days, goalkeeper John Burridge enjoyed spells with both QPR and Blackpool early on in his career.

Initially arriving at Bloomfield Road towards the tail end of the 1970/71 campaign in a loan from parent club Workington, the deal was to be made permanent and John made an impressive 131 appearances for Blackpool before eventually departing for Aston Villa in 1975.

Burridge moved to Loftus Road in 1980 and during his time in W12, made 45 appearances for the R’s under boss Terry Venables - being a member of the squad which reached the FA Cup final in 1982.

He departed for Wolves that summer and would go on to be on the books of no less than 14 different sides in total before eventually retiring in 1997.

A huge thank you to club historian Chris Guy for his contribution to this piece.