QPR Report Twitter Feed

Monday, May 12, 2008

Newcastle's Ramage Having QPR Fitness Test Today

-
According to Newcastle Evening Chronicle

Evening Chronicle/Alan Oliver - Emotional Ramage gets to say goodbye May 12 2008
PETER RAMAGE was on the verge of joining Queens Park Rangers today – after making a tearful exit from Newcastle United.
Kevin Keegan showed some terrific man-management when he sent the Geordie boy on for the last couple of minutes in yesterday’s defeat by Everton at Goodison Park, even though Ramage had turned down the chance to stay at St James’s Park.
And it was a clearly emotional Ramage who left Goodison on his way to London – where he was having a medical at Loftus Road today – after throwing his last United shirt in among the travelling Toon Army.
Ramage was surprised that he was even in Keegan’s squad after easing his way in gently after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury at Middlesbrough at the end of August.
But he told me from London today: “We picked up a few injuries over the week, and I was told on Saturday morning I would travel, and maybe be on the bench.
“David Edgar went down injured on Saturday morning, and the gaffer said he’d only put me on if it was 100% necessary.
“The gaffer just said to me he wasn’t going to put me on no matter what, as he didn’t want me to get injured and scupper a move, but as the game wore on, he kept looking at me.
“I thought I might get on, and then he said ‘You deserve this chance – go out and enjoy it’.
“It was a nice touch, and something I’ll never forget.
“I didn’t want to end my career at the club having been stretchered off in my last match, and I’ll always be grateful to him.
“I can say I played under Kevin Keegan, and that’s something I’ll always treasure. He’s a legend at Newcastle.
“It was brilliant to get on for the last minute, but, to be honest, I’d have settled for 10 seconds. It didn’t bother me.”
The Toon Army were in magnificent voice yesterday and were not put off by the varying weather conditions of red hot sunshine, thunder and lighting and then rain, and the likes of Ramage, Steven Taylor, Steve Harper and Habib Beye all made a point of throwing their shirts in among them.
Added Ramage: “I threw my shirt into the crowd as a thank you. It was something I wanted to do. They’re always brilliant with the local lads, I think they can relate to you.
“They’ve been brilliant to me with their support for the last three or four years, and now I’ll be one of them.
“I’ll try to get to as many matches as I can.
“Next season I’ll be in amongst them shouting and bawling.” Chronicle

Blog Archive