Ex-QPR Birthdays...Carlisle Praised...Johnson Free...Dichio Returns

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Birthdays Today:

Former Manager, Stewart Houston Turns 58 - Born August 20, 1949.
Houston was appointed QPR Manager exactly a decade ago. Took over from Ray Wilkins and was QPR Manager for just over a year, forming a partnership with Bruce Rioch. Among the players he signed for QPR: John Spencer, Gavin Peacock, Matt Rose, Steve Morrow, Lee Harper and Mike Sheron. Houston/Wikipedia

Lee Charles Turns 36 - Born August 20, 1971...
Charles was signed by Ray Wilkins from non-League. Charles made a few appearances in QPR's relegation season and the following season, before moving on to Barnet.
Charles Also: Lee Charles Profiled/Interviewed
Q: ".... What is the most memorable moment of your career?
A: Signing for QPR. As a kid I always supported Liverpool but my best mate's granddad used to be chief steward at QPR. Signing pro was what I always wanted to do.

Recent Birthday: Ex-QPR winger, Michael Meaker Turned 36 - Born August 18, 1971
Meaker, for the most part a reserve while at QPR, played for QPR from 1989-1994 before being sold to Reading (valued at 250,000 pounds) as part of the deal that brought Simon Osborne to QPR (for a few months!)
Meaker See Also: Michael Meaker/Wikipedia

Elaborating on Former Manager Ian Holloway's Kidney Stones - Kidney Stones

Paul Murray played the first 69 minutes as Gretna drew 1-1 at Hearts BBC

CLARKE CARLISLE - Smarter than the average player
By Suzanne Geldard
CARLISLE 6, Brazil 5 is likely to be a unique scoreline. But Clarke Carlisle is a unique kind of footballer.
Whereas Alan Brazil left school at 15 to spend two years sweeping floors at Portman Road, conducting the chores that were once customary for young apprentices while also laying the foundations for a football career, Carlisle gained straight As at GCSE level - including five A-stars.
He pipped Brazil in the final of television programme Britain's Brainiest Footballer' in 2002..... Carlisle, a defender for QPR at the time, claimed Rangers' first major trophy since 1967 when he lifted the Britain's Brainiest Footballer crown.
Now with Burnley, the 27-year-old could be the brains behind a real drive for success this season.
"He might get a bit of stick off the lads if he starts bringing broadsheets onto the team bus," quipped Clarets boss Steve Cotterill on the day Carlisle's £200,000 move from Watford was completed.
As well as an experienced defender, and intellect, it seems Cotterill is also getting a good character - a key component for the Burnley boss when it comes to new signings.
Indeed, Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd couldn't speak highly enough of the former Blackpool stopper.
"Clarke is a brilliant guy and if his football ability matched his personality he would be captain of England," he said.
"I know that he will be sorely missed around the club and people will be genuinely sad to see him go because the human qualities that he brings to wherever he works are invaluable. Therefore, I would like to wish him all the best for his future career."
Watford's loss surely seems to be Burnley's gain.
Many have expressed their surprise at the Hornets' decision to allow Carlisle to leave for a Championship rival.
Soon after returning from a loan spell with Luton Town, he put in a man-of-the-match performance against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final, but in pre-season he was dropped for the penultimate fixture against Willem II and then asked to play for the reserves against Lincoln.
A plethora of central defenders at Watford meant something had to give.
Boothroyd added: "I feel that the transfer is a good piece of business for the club as the fee we'll get is double what we paid for him two years ago, and we are well covered at centre back.
"It is also important for Clarke to get the opportunity to play as many games as he can at his age and I couldn't guarantee him that if he stayed at Vicarage Road." Lancashire

New Zealand HeraldEx-QPR Richard Johnson
Soccer: Freedom a big chance to make a difference
Sunday August 19, 2007 By Michael Brown
When the Wellington Phoenix make their A-League debut against Melbourne next weekend, Richard Johnson might have to content himself with a place on the bench. It's a lot better than jail.
The 33-year-old midfielder has just returned from an Achilles injury and has yet to stake a claim for a starting spot but a place in the squad seemed a distant dream just five months ago.
On March 18, Johnson made the biggest mistake of his life when he tried to outrun police in a drunken car chase around Newcastle, NSW. He was soon handed an eight-month jail sentence, including a six-month non-parole period, that would have almost certainly signalled the end of his football career.

Johnson had his sentence suspended on appeal, citing mitigating circumstances like his mother's battle with cancer.
It would be wrong to call it an epiphany but a remorseful Johnson has a new outlook on life. Facing up to the prospect of time in jail can do that to people.
"It's something I reflect on quite often and I have had many a sleepless night thinking about it," the former Watford player says after another long day training in Wellington. "I now have a greater appreciation for what I have because I realise how quickly you can lose it all.
"The thing is, I'm a pretty quiet and private person. It was a ridiculous thing I did and I get embarrassed talking about it but I just hope I can repay the club for sticking by me."
The Phoenix would have been within their rights to tear up Johnson's contract but they stuck by him. Ironically, coach Ricki Herbert moved to make Johnson one of his first captures because he had been so impressed with the midfielder's professionalism during Herbert's short stint as Knights manager at the end of last season.
"The reason Richard is here is that I thought he was very professional in everything he did last year, and he's continued that," Herbert says.
"People might judge him but he wants to make a difference at this club."
Johnson made the biggest difference with Watford, where he played 242 games over 12 seasons before short stints with Northampton, Colchester, Stoke, QPR and Milton Keynes. He then spent one year with Newcastle in the A-League's inaugural season before crossing the Tasman to team up with the Knights.
It's fair to say that wasn't the best season of his career, with the club lurching from defeat to defeat before falling over financially, but he brightens immeasurably when talking about the Phoenix.
"It's totally different," Johnson says. "And it starts from the owner [Terry Serepisos]. He has a passion for the football club and where he sees it going. At the Knights, that wasn't the case.
"Wellington's a bit different to Auckland, where there wasn't much publicity and no one really cared about the club. Here in Wellington, there seems to be a tight-knit sporting community.
"Ricki's coaching, and the team he has built up, make me think that we will be challenging for the top four."
Their pre-season form, when they toppled both Melbourne and Sydney away from home and played an attractive, attacking style of football, suggests they could do well. But the Phoenix will be coming up against sides that have had three years together, not three months, and they will need to hit the ground running.
"Because it's such a short season, 21 games, it's really important we get off to a good start and get the buzz going around the city," Johnson says.
He already feels the buzz.
He has felt it since being granted his freedom. New Zealand Herald

Danny Dichio Returned from Injury for MLS Team Toronto.Unfortunately didn't score and they lost.
Toronto Star
"..Twelve minutes from the end of Toronto FC's 2-0 loss to Chivas USA, Danny Dichio had a head of steam and a Chivas player in his crosshairs.
As Lawson Vaughan dribbled just outside Toronto's 18-yard box, Dichio, out since late July with a bad back and sore hip flexor, loped towards him, then launched himself at the ball feet first, his 6-foot-4 frame nearly parallel to the ground.
Vaughan toppled, the ball popped free and Dichio, whistled for a foul, hopped to his feet and lined up to defend the free kick.
Guess his back's feeling better.
"I felt okay. Better than I thought I'd feel," Dichio said. "It's still hampering me a bit but I'm just happy to be back out there."
Physically, Toronto FC is healthier than it's been in weeks, with first-stringers Dichio, Marvell Wynne and Jeff Cunningham all playing in the second half yesterday.
But on the field the team continues to limp. Toronto hasn't won since July 4. With nine games to go they remain in 11th place in the 13-team league. (Eight teams make the playoffs – the top two from each conference and four more regardless of conference.)
Dichio says Toronto can't depend on coach Mo Johnston and his staff to rally them into the playoffs.
"The buck stops with us 11 players that goes out there," said Dichio, who played for the first time since a July 25 friendly against Aston Villa. "We've got to start standing up as men. That's the only way we're going to dig ourselves out."
Along with Wynne and Cunningham, Dichio was listed as doubtful heading into yesterday's game, and all three remained on the bench as Toronto and Chivas drifted through a listless first half. The loudest cheers from the 20,178 fans came in the 36th minute, when the three players and Toronto's other reserves left the bench to warm up.
Dichio replaced Andrea Lombardo at the half, while Wynne replaced Andy Welsh, who suffered a charley horse after creating several first-half scoring chances. By the 70th minute, when Cunningham took the field, Toronto's returning starters had energized the game, both on the pitch and in the stands...
till, the short-term future for the three men isn't clear. While Wynne felt no pain in the hamstring he pulled three weeks ago, Dichio says he'll play through the soreness lingering in his lower back....
Tonto is now five minutes away rom claiming the MLS record for longest goalless streak Toronto Star