Ex-QPR Players: Lomas, Sinclair and Hill Speaking

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Forgotten man Lomas stunned by country call
Belfast Telegraph By Stuart McKinley

Steve Lomas has given up hope of adding to his 45 international caps.
And the former Northern Ireland captain is uncertain he will even get the chance to make a farewell appearance in the green shirt in his home town this weekend.
The midfielder has been named in the squad for the Milk Cup Silver Jubilee match between a Northern Ireland XI and Premier League side Everton at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
Currently without a club, however, Lomas' participation is by no means certain with just three days to go before the game.
"It would be lovely for me to turn out for Northern Ireland at the Coleraine Showgrounds. That is something that would be very special to me and hopefully it will happen," said Lomas.
"Roy Millar is in charge of the team, he and I go back a long way and the last thing I want is to let him down.
"However, there are a few things that still need to be sorted out.
"I was released by Queens Park Rangers at the end of last season and as I don't have a club that means I'm not covered by insurance if I get injured.
"That is something that the Irish FA is trying to sort out.
"If a club comes in for me in the next few days then I might not be able to make it either and I don't want to have people trying to sort out insurance for me and then not play.
"If I was with a club and the manager was happy to release me then I would be there, no problem and I still want to play."
Lomas last played for Northern Ireland in April 2003 when both James Quinn and Keith Gillespie were sent-off in a 2-0 defeat to eventual European champions Greece.
Lawrie Sanchez ignored him completely and Lomas doesn't believe that, at 33-years-old, he will win a recall from new boss Nigel Worthington as he approaches the final six Euro 2008 qualifiers with a realistic chance of making the finals in Austria and Switzerland next summer.
"I think my Northern Ireland career is in the past now," said Lomas.
"Lawrie Sanchez did a good job with the team, you can't argue about that, but he never lifted the phone to me and I don't think it was because he didn't rate me, I think it was personal.
"Unfortunately it looks very much like I played my last international game at 29-years-old and that is a major disappointment to me.
"It still hurts, it is a bitter pill for me to swallow, but I just have to get on with things.
"If Nigel Worthington ever feels that he needs me and that I could do a job for him then I will be there. That's up to him though.
"The team has a fantastic chance of qualifying, but it is still going to be very difficult and as a supporter I will be cheering them on all the way hoping that they make it to the finals next summer." Belfast Telegraph

Trevor Sinclair Interviewed by Cardiff -
The first question was, Why Cardiff?
Trevor: "I had spoken to a number of clubs and their managers and Dave Jones impressed me the most. The gaffer spoke highly and passionately about what the club was trying to achieve and how they were going to do it. I think there are exciting times ahead at Cardiff with the new stadium being built and the quality and depth of squad we have here."

What are your memories of South Wales?
Trevor: "The one thing that always stands out in my mind about Cardiff is the fans. We knew when we would come to Cardiff the supporters would be passionate and because of this it was always a difficult place to play. I'm looking forward to playing in front of those supporters and hopefully the team and I can give them something to cheer about."

With so much experience both in terms of Premiership and International we asked what can you bring to the team?
Tevor: "I am still very hungry I know I have a couple of years left in me, so I'm up for the challenge. It's a new start for me and one that really excites me. I want to do well for Cardiff and aim to get promotion like everyone wants at the club. I feel really fit I have kept myself going over the summer and now it will be great to link up with the lads and get back into it all."

Will you be moving your family down from Cheshire?
Trevor: "My wife and I will bring the four children down we will look to get a place down here as soon as I get back from Portugal. I have four boys and with the summer holidays we will have eight weeks to get settled and find the kids a new school."

Dave is putting together a quality squad with depth all over the pitch; do know any of the lads?
Trevor: "I know a couple of the lads - I know Darren Purse well and Fordy, but I have met the squad this morning at breakfast and they seem a good bunch of lads and the spirit seems top class." Interview


GORDON HILL PROFILED (Millwall Emphasis)- South London Press
Hill was wing king Jul 10 2007

TO the average punter, Gordon Hill appeared from nowhere to star for Tommy Docherty's Manchester United.

He won the FA Cup with the Reds in 1977 and played six times for his country.

But Millwall fans had known about him for almost three years before. They had a name for him - Merlin. But he wasn't just a bag of amazing tricks. He loved playing football and Lions fans could tell.

The smile on his face when he scored, and his mesmerising ability, graced the Den for more than 100 games over those three years. And he struck 22 goals. When United boss Docherty snapped him up for £70,000, he was joining the biggest club in the world and he would become one of the Reds' biggest names.

But thanks to Lions bosses Benny Fenton and Gordon Jago, he was already the finished article when he got to Old Trafford. He was Millwall's gift to the nation.

Hill's career is encouragement to any player who ever had a poor start with a league club. Brentford-born, he had a stint with QPR, but didn't enjoy it, and so went to play for Southall, aged 16, with his much older brother, Sid -Gordon was the middle boy of five brothers.
While his brother's career stalled, boss Tommy Tranter took Hill under his wing, and the teenager started rattling goals in at non-league level. "It wasn't a massive stadium but I liked the crowd there and they liked me," he said.
Soon West Ham and Spurs were after him. QPR tried, but when scout Derek Healy told him he'd have to get a haircut if he wanted to play at Loftus Road, Hill shot back: "I don't play with my hair." Hill says today: "It wasn't even long. I didn't go back."
But Dave Phillips, a friend of Lions chairman Micky Purser,had seen the youngster and asked him if he wanted a trial at Millwall. After just two games,Fenton asked to sign him.
"I think Southall got two balls out of it," said Hill. "Benny knew what he wanted in a player. You could tell that from the pedigree of the play-ers he had.
"I knew all about them - Derek Possee, Keith Weller, Harry Cripps, Barry Kitchener - they were like folklore at The Den.
"It was just the kind of breeding ground I needed to get into the professional world. Benny believed in us - he saw the potential in all of us."
He played a handful of reserve games before making his debut as a sub at Carlisle in a 1-0 win. "There was a train strike so we had an eight-hour coach drive. I came on for Doug Allder."
He started the following season, and missed only a handful of games, scoring seven, plus one in a three-match epic FA Cup tie against Bury.
He first hit the net in a 3-3 draw at Notts County in November 1973, and also got a brace in a 3-0 win at Oxford United's old Manor Ground.
"I loved it,"he said. "There may only have been a few thousand in the old Den, but they made it seem like 50,000."
And like the fans,he enjoyed the characters he was playing alongside,too.
"Harry had a Jaguar and used to pay the apprentices £5 to clean it.
"He was a character.I remember at Kitch's testimonial, Harry was walking around the ground being greeted like it was his own tribute. It was a pleasure to play with those guys."
Roommate Brian Clark nurtured him in the early months. "He was a gentle giant and he guided me," said Hill. "He's still my best friend to this day. He's bringing 50 youngsters over with him to my training camp in Texas this month."
The squad Fenton assembled has kept this reporter in stories for six summers - Bryan King, Dave Donaldson, Eamonn Dunphy, Gordon Bolland, Dennis Burnett, Cripps, Kitch, Alan Dorney,Allder,Steve Brown, Alf Wood and Brian Smethurst.
Hill can't remember his first goal, let alone any of the others.But he got 24 in exactly 100 games.
"I didn't get many tap-ins, though," he said. "I enjoyed going at players and either crossing the ball or else getting goals myself.
"Every goal was important to me. Putting the ball in the back of the net was a joy - like a lovely disease.
"People seemed to think I was a phoney, because I did impressions of people,and I liked to show what I could do.
"But football was serious for me. When I was on the ball, there was no joking.
"There were great people around the club,too. I remember the physio,Jack Blackman. He used to have Foxes Glacier Mints in his tracksuit, but never gave any away.
"He'd sneak them into his mouth whenever he shouted at the players on the pitch, in the hope we wouldn't work out he had any on him.
"Once I asked him for one but he said 'You're not having one.You'll be on the pitch soon.'
"Those are the sorts of characters that make a club - and Millwall had plenty of them."
* How Gordon Hill's transfer came about after eight goals in 15 games - plus he reveals he applied for the manager's job at The Den last year. Classic Millwall in Friday's South London Press. South London Press