Ex-QPR Chris Day Cites His Times at QPR and Promotion

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Chris Day Speaking - South London Press
Sep 22 2006 - By Toby Porter

"CHRIS Day is keeping his eye on the ball.
Results may not be going according to plan. But the 31-year-old keeper believes Millwall are edging towards turning the corner.
Putting aside the set-back of Tuesday night's 4-0 Carling Cup defeat by Southampton, he knows how much the fans crave some wins...
...And this is the target Day and his teammates are aiming for: "What we most want to do is put a smile back on the fans' faces," he said. "We want them to go home happy.That is what it's all about."
Day knows what it feels like for those fans when things aren't going well.
"I've seen some of them standing there in shock, thinking 'It's happened again'," he said. "We are desperate to change that. There has to be some positivity in the camp and we'll work hard to turn the corner.
"One of the first things the fans told me was that if you give 100 per cent, they will give it back,"he added. "That has to be our aim.
"We'll give our all and the rest is in the lap of the gods.
"It can be like the lottery.Sooner or later,the right balls will come up and we will get a small reward.
"We want to walk away at 5pm with three points in the bag. Then the fans can hold their heads up high all week. We want to see those smiling faces on a Saturday night. That is our job.
"Then we can start building a bond with the fans. And then we'll feel proud."
There is another prize to aim for after that. The keeper remembers the day he won promotion from League One with QPR. "It was in a 3-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday two years ago and we took 12,000 fans with us to Hillsbrough. I would like to get hold of a video of that day and show it to the lads, because it would give us something to aim for...."
But Day warns: "It took us three years to go up at QPR. First we were 10th, then we lost in the play-offs, then we were promoted. It is a tough battle.
"We had a great manager in Ian Holloway,but even so it still took three seasons."
Day would love to be back in the Championship as soon as possible. "The Premiership is full of foreign keepers so if you can get a berth one level down, it is a bit like the Holy Grail for an English keeper.There are a lot of very talented ones in the Championship -even some on the bench.
"It would be great if we could get promoted so we can prove ourselves at that level."
Day is desperate to continue his run in the team.
He is now at his peak, and knows what it's like to miss out for a long period.
He only played 100 games for QPR at this level in four years up to 2004, because of a broken leg.
Last season at Oldham he played more than 36 games, while at Watford he had to play second fiddle to Alec Chamberlain, who is still playing at the age of 42.
"But all that time I was learning good habits," he said.
Day brings a wealth of experience to the role, which Millwall will find immensely valuable this season, especially when his rival for the number one shirt, Lennie Pidgeley, has played so little at this level.
"I had an inkling Lennie would get the nod at the beginning of the season," said Day. "I knew what the situation would be when I joined. I will always be there to help any of the boys, especially Lennie. I'll try and help install belief and help the younger players.
"But I had just been told I could leave Oldham and it was nice to be wanted here.
"I always hope I'll get my chance..."
South London Press