Les Ferdinand made his name scoring important goals for both QPR and Newcastle but will be in the stands this weekend in as the clubs prepare to face each other in the Premier League.
In October 1993 it was Rangers fans singing his name as he scored the opening goal and created the second against his future employers the last time the Hoops won a league game on Tyneside.
The forward, a powerful forward in his day capable of bullying centre-halves and keeping his cool in front of goal, scored after just 10 minutes and was a constant nuisance in front of 33,801 fans at St James Park.
Newcastle had been promoted as First Division champions the year before and would have been confident of continuing their 10 game unbeaten streak against Gerry Francis’ Rangers side.
Ferdinand, ever the warrior, was nursing an injury which had kept him out of international duty the week before and was not expected to make the journey, let alone start the game.
However, The fans’ favourite showed no signs of injury when he latched onto Ray Wilkins through ball in the 10th minute and finished with the aid of both posts.
Newcastle’s defence struggled to contain Ferdinand all afternoon and he was unfortunate not to bag a another when he rounded the keeper only to see his effort cleared off the line by a covering defender.
After scoring the first Ferdinand then created the second as he flicked on a corner for his striker partner Bradley Allen to turn home just two minutes after Newcastle had equalised.
QPR have failed to register an away win at Newcastle since the first season of the Premier League when Ferdinand announced himself as a top striker.
In the 92/93 season Ferdinand scored 20 goals in 37 appearances for QPR including the winner against Newcastle as QPR finished fifth, their highest Premier League finish to date.
Since then QPR have registered four defeats in the top flight and a 1-1 draw when both teams met as Championship sides in 2009.
In 1995 the forward made a £6 million switch to Newcastle three years after he turned down a £3.3 million transfer to the club.
The prolific frontman spent two years at the Tyneside club and picked up runners-up medals in both seasons, narrowly missing out to Manchester United on both occasions.
Ferdinand scored 50 goals in just 84 games as he formed a formidable partnership with Alan Shearer.
