-
Chichester Observer - Joe Oastler - Joe is so grateful to the Rocks
Joe Oastler has thanked Bognor's management and fans for helping him on the road to football stardom.
Oastler is the teenage defender who impressed during three appearances for the Rocks in their successful bid to avoid relegation.
He got his chance at Nyewood Lane after being released by hometown club Pompey.
Now he is to sign a contract with Championship side QPR and link up with Glenn Hoddle's football academy in Spain.
And he says the confidence he gained at Bognor – and from a good write-up in the Observer – were crucial in helping him make that step.
Oastler started at Pompey's advanced training centre aged eight and joined their centre of excellence a year later, where he stayed until he was 16.
Then he started a two-year apprenticeship, playing regularly in the academy team and the reserves – but in March he was devastated to be told Pompey didn't want him.
Oastler said: "I was shocked because throughout my apprenticeship, I'd been told I was doing really well."
Shaun North, an ex-youth boss at Pompey, put Oastler's family in touch with the Rocks, who needed defensive cover in their relegation fight.
He joined – and went straight into the side for a crucial game against Weston, which he helped them win 2-0.
"At the time all I wanted to do was play football and keep fit ready for the premier exit trials.
"It was a really good move, because I had a really good game against Weston and the Bognor crowd gave me a standing ovation. It really lifted my confidence.
At the premier exit trials, for youngsters released by top-flight clubs, ex-England boss Hoddle was present and asked Oastler to attend his academy in Spain.
"Two days later, I answered the phone and someone said 'Hello Joe, it's Glenn'. I said 'Glenn who?' He said 'Glenn Hoddle' and I said 'Don't wind me up' – I thought it was my mate having a laugh. But it was him."
Next day, Oastler learned a number of clubs were interested in him. QPR were first to arrange a trial. He played for their reserves and was offered a pro contract.
Joe said: "When I look at how well I must have played at the exit trials, Bognor and Shaun North contributed.
"They helped raise my confidence at a time when it was low. Everyone at Bognor was brilliant, particularly Michael Birmingham who took a risk and put me into an important game. He believed in me and I'll always be grateful.
"Bognor are a fantastic club, really passionate and deserve success. I'd certainly go back there later in my career." Chichester
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
QPR Report Twitter Feed
Friday, May 09, 2008
Blog Archive
-
▼
2008
(1621)
-
▼
May
(142)
- Not Coming to QPR? - Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson
- QPR Fan/Club Meeting and Ex-QPR Snippets
- Season Tickets Selling Well
- QPR Reportedly Bid for Crystal Palace Ben Watson -...
- QPR Fans Condemn QPR Ticket Price Increases
- QPR International Snippets: Delaney....Rehman...Le...
- Simon Walton Disappointed...Ex-QPR (sort of) Mark ...
- Key QPR Summer Dates - Updated Schedule
- QPR's Quartet of Promotions
- QPR1st's Report on Its AGM Meeting and Season Tick...
- QPR's New Crest: Different Perspectives
- "Season Tickets Hike at Rangers Sparks Outrage"
- The Players QPR Supposedly Chasing - Updated
- Fans Everywhere Unhappy at Clubs' Price Increases ...
- Gary Waddock Talking About Aldershot and QPR
- Fanzine Awards: Winners in The Various Categories ...
- Rowlands Injury Update....Ex-QPR Players News
- QPR Jumped The Gun?
- Further QPR Transfer Gossip
- Two Forthcoming Club-Fan Meetings
- Flasback: On This Day - Out of Administration and ...
- Snippets: Gavin Peacock Pursuing Very Different Po...
- Flavio Briatore and Vijay Mallya Compared and Cont...
- QPR Promotion Favourite?
- Another Billionaire Linking Up With QPR?
- Snippets: Dichio's Brace...Delaney's Debut...Waddo...
- A Kick Up The Rs (AKUTRs) Wins Fanzine Award
- Snippets: More TV Money...Bosnich Comeback?
- Five Years Ago Tonight...Fire Alarms Rang Over Car...
- Former QPR Manager Ian Holloway Exits Leicester
- Buzsaky Staying at QPR
- Photos from Loftus Road For The Computer
- Season Ticket Sales: Gareth Ainsworth Urges Fans G...
- Rowlands Injury....Why Oxford-QPR Cancelled...Huds...
- QPR's Recent Loanee Joins Oldham...Flashback: On T...
- Iain Dowie's Press Conference
- Shabbaz Baidoo Again Looking for a Club
- QPR Season Tickets: "Unprecedented Demand"
- Fun, Opportunities, Networking and Making Money
- QPR Defend Season Ticket Prices
- Walton Returning....Pre-Season Change: Oxford Out....
- Gareth Ainsworth to Be Player/Coach Under Dowie
- Snippets: Ex-QPR Birthday...Italian Buzsaky Rumour
- QPR's First Championship
- A Crack in the American QPR Connection?
- Another Pre-Season Friendly for QPR
- QPR Appoint Assistant Manager and Performance Manager
- QPR Captain Gareth Ainsworth Welcomes Dowie Appoin...
- Ian Dowie Talks About His Plans for QPR
- QPR's Pre-Season Schedule
- QPR Birthdays for Two QPR Forwards: One Present; O...
- Snippets: Former QPR Marcus Bean Signs for Brentfo...
- Dowie and Paladini's Involvement in QPR Transfers
- Flavio Briatore's Plans for QPR: What Briatore Has...
- Phillips/Eastwood Interest?....Footballer as Journ...
- Ex-QPRs Update
- Sad Times: Club Remember Kiyan Prince....Happy Tim...
- Supposed QPR Interest in Wolves' Phillips and East...
- QPR's Post-Season Starts With a Bang: Two Eventful...
- QPR Fans Groups Issue Joint Appeal to Club Over Pr...
- Dowie to be In Charge of Player Signings
- "Le Roi est mort. Vive le Roi"
- Snippets: QPR for England U-21s....Nardiello for W...
- Championship Attendances Down...QPR Attendances In...
- Season Ticket Price Increases Evoke Messageboard U...
- Ramage on Leaving Newcastle....Blackstock on De Ca...
- Departed: QPR's Two Italian Coaches
- QPR Confirm Italian Signing...August Loftus Road F...
- Fan Unhappiness With Season Ticket Prices...April'...
- QPR's 2008-2009 Season Tickets Pricing Announced
- Snippets: Keegan Praise for Ramage....Cranie Happy...
- Gerry Francis: Dowie Needs Instant Promotion and O...
- QPR Chairman Flavio Briatore Outlines His Plans fo...
- Awards: Lee Camp Near Runner Up....Two Ex-QPR Goal...
- Reportedly: Only Two Candidates Interviewed....De ...
- Confirmation: Gianni Paladini is Now QPR's "Sporti...
- Iain Dowie Confirmed as QPR's New Manager - New Ti...
- Commemorating QPR's Last Title
- Another "Dowie Taking Over at QPR" Story
- Unwanted Nardiello Returned to QPR....Two Rs in Re...
- Two New QPR Signings Confirmed
- Iain Dowie Remembered and Questioned
- "Dowie Heads to QPR"
- Rangers Future/Rangers Past: Briatore on QPR....M...
- Supposedly a Chelsea Place for "QPR's" Michael Man...
- Gerry Francis Speaking About the New QPR...The New...
- "Dowie Looks Set to Take Over at Loftus Road"
- Newcastle's Ramage Having QPR Fitness Test Today
- QPR's 2008-2009 Fixtures: Five Weeks to Go
- QPR Snippets
- Sunday Tabloid Reportedly Says Dowie is a Done Deal
- The Greatest Day in QPR History
- QPR's New Crest: Reactions Vary
- QPR's Managerial History
- Snippets: QPR's Gareth Ainsworth Turns 35...Ex-QPR...
- Newcastle's Ramage Supposedly Set for QPR....Anoth...
- QPR Reportedly Signing Non-League Defender
- De Canio Reportedly Was Homesick
- Flashback: Thirty-Five Years Ago Today - QPR and E...
- Flashback: "De Canio to Stay at QPR"
-
▼
May
(142)