Alec Stock

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Alec Stock (30 March 1917 - 16 April 2001) was an English footballer and manager.

Alec Stock was born in Peasedown St John and played as an inside-forward for Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic and QPR before the Second World War and guested for several other clubs during the hostilities. He joined Yeovil Town in 1946.

He came to prominence as the player/manager of Yeovil Town during a historic F.A.Cup run in 1949. They had thrilling victories over Bury and Sunderland, before losing to Manchester United in the fifth round. He later managed Leyton Orient (1949-1959), AS Roma, QPR (1959-1965) (general manager 1965-1968), Luton Town (1968-1972), Fulham (1972-1976) and AFC Bournemouth (1979-1980). He was also the assistant manager of Arsenal for 53 days during the 1955/1956 season and was a director of QPR (1977-1979).

It was perhaps Alec's time as manager of Queens Park Rangers where he is most fondly remembered. It was during his spell in the 1960's that coincided with the development of the club with chairman Jim Gregory. The team enjoyed unprecedented success in 1967 and 1968 winning consecutive promotions with the club reaching the First Division for the first time and becoming the first Third Division team to win the Football League Cup in 1967 beating then First Division West Brom 3-2 in a come from behind win. Stock had a focus on youth bringing many of the team through the clubs youth system (including Frank Sibley, Tony Hazell, Roger Morgan, Ian Morgan and Mick Leach) as well as blending characters such as Rodney Marsh and Mark Lazarus into the set up.With internal pressures mounting in the club following the 1967/68 season however, Stock resigned.He later had success with Luton Town who he helped to promotion from the Third Division and also with Fulham when he led them to the 1975 F.A Cup Final.

He was the inspiration for the famous and hugely popular character, "Ron Manager", who was featured in the BBC comedy programme The Fast Show. Ron was developed and played by the comedian and actor Paul Whitehouse. The origin of Ron's style of speech, characterised by such sentences as, 'small boys in the park, jumpers for goalposts, you know, wasn't it?' stems directly from Stock's idiosynchratic syntax.

Preceded by: '	Yeovil Town Manager 1946-1949	Succeeded by: '
Preceded by: Neil McBain	Leyton Orient Manager 1949-1956	Succeeded by: '
Preceded by: '	Leyton Orient Manager 1956-1957	Succeeded by: '
Preceded by: Giuseppe Viani	AS Roma Coach 1957	Succeeded by: Gunnar Nordahl
Preceded by: '	Leyton Orient Manager 1957-1959	Succeeded by: Johnny Carey
Preceded by: Jack Taylor	QPR Manager 1959-1965	Succeeded by: Jimmy Andrews
Preceded by: Jimmy Andrews	QPR Manager 1965-1968	Succeeded by: Tommy Docherty
Preceded by: Allan Brown	Luton Town Manager 1968-1972	Succeeded by: Harry Haslam
Preceded by: Bill Dodgin, Jr.	Fulham Manager 1972-1976	Succeeded by: Bobby Campbell
Preceded by: Frank Sibley	QPR Caretaker Manager 1978	Succeeded by: Steve Burtenshaw
Preceded by: John Benson	Bournemouth Manager 1979-1980	Succeeded by: David Webb