-
The News (Portsmouth) Oastler dreaming again
Joe Oastler is bidding for QPR stardom – just months after he thought his footballing dream was over.
The 18-year-old was shown the Fratton Park exit door at the end of last season after nine years on Pompey's books.
One of seven Academy youngsters to be released, it was heartbreak for the Blues-mad Milton youngster.
Yet Oastler bounced back to star at the Premier League exit trials and spark a 13-club chase for his signature.
Among them were Rangers, Southampton and Hull while former England manager Glenn Hoddle wanted him to join his Spanish Academy.
But it's QPR who won the central defender's vote, awarding him a one-year professional deal.
And, after spending the past week training with his new team-mates, the dream is still very much alive for the former Milton Cross schoolboy.
Oastler said: 'Obviously I was upset after being released by Pompey, but there was no way I was going to give up.
'I'd been with them since the age of eight, I'd had a season ticket for eight years, I live two minutes from Fratton Park.
'I support them and I always will – they are my team.
'Unfortunately it wasn't to be, that's how football is, but I was determined not to let that stop me.
'There were 60 lads who went to the exit trials in Warwick and I knew I had no choice – I had to perform otherwise I would not have got anywhere.
'You only have two 40-minute games to impress in as well, but fortunately it worked out and 13 clubs came in for me.
'Glenn Hoddle rang me up personally – I thought it was my mates winding me up. But I wanted a pro contract and QPR were the first club that came in for me.
'I was upset when I was released from Pompey but I'm definitely happy now.'
Oastler, who played three games for Bognor in April, isn't the only one of Pompey's discards to find himself another club.
John Page has joined Motherwell, goalkeeper Nick Jordan has linked up with Hereford while striker Steve Walker is now on Havant & Waterlooville's books.
And having spent the past week in QPR training, Oastler is relishing pressing ahead with his footballing dream.
He said: 'On Monday we had a meeting with Iain Dowie who told us we are all going to get a good opportunity and he's looking forward to working with us.
'At the moment I am with the youth team and reserves but hopefully I'll get my chance.
'The facilities are decent, we play at Chelsea's old training ground with some lovely pitches. It's only an hour and 10 minutes drive from my house as well so I will end up commuting most days.
'It's now up to me to impress and try to earn a longer deal.' The News
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
Blog Archive
-
▼
2008
(1621)
-
▼
July
(129)
- Gorkss Signs for QPR...Blackpool Withdraw Their Co...
- Ben Watson Update...Paul Bruce, QPR Coach? ...Nard...
- Parejo-QPR Loan Updates
- Updated - QPR Ostensibly Chasing Real Madrid's Dan...
- More Money Coming to QPR! Another Sponsor Announce...
- From Blackpool: Confirmation of Gorkss to QPR - Na...
- The Stomache-Churning, Sinking-Feeling of Deja Vu:...
- Gorkss May Actually Be Joining QPR!
- Teams for Tonight's Kimarnock Friendly
- Mahon and Blackstock Look Forward, Praise Dowie, E...
- Explaining The Gorkss and Nardiello Deals and Dela...
- QPR Report Profiled/Q&A (Part II)
- Kilmarnock Tonight...Coventry's Morrison and Crani...
- QPR Injury Update: Connolly, Cerny Vine, Di Carmin...
- Gorkss to QPR, Nardiello and Rehman to Blackpool -...
- Cerny Set for QPR Debut ...Starting Goalie Not Yet...
- Remembering De Canio and Language Issues
- Blackpool and QPR Both Want Gorkss Transfer Concluded
- Snippets: Q&A With Dennis Signy On The Old QPR of ...
- Remembering The ABC Loan
- Rodney Marsh Responds
- QPR's Ramage Looks Foward to the Season
- QPR's Week in Review
- Flashbacks: Walton and Camp Sign for QPR...Then QP...
- The Geat Stan Bowles Fondly Looks Back and Optimis...
- QPR Crash in Scotland - Reports and Dowie's Reacti...
- QPR's Championship Prospects Assessed
- QPR's ABC Loan Resolution - Update
- QPR Set for Falkirk...Reserves Lose to Hayes...You...
- QPR Youth Hold Chelsea With Malloy Hatrick for QPR...
- QPR Offering QPR Membership and Exclusive W12 Club...
- From Queen's Park Rangers to Queens Park Rangers
- Assessing QPR After Northampton...Recalling QPR's ...
- QPR's Away Strip Unveiled - (Reddish With Some Blu...
- No! Real Madrid's Salgado NOT Coming to QPR
- Redknapp on QPR Cranie Interest...Watson to Someon...
- Twenty-Five "Factoids" About QPR
- Snippets - Dowie Wants Gorkss Resolution...Suppose...
- QPR's Northampton Victory - Reports and Comments
- QPR Announce Squad Numbers
- Ex-QPR Update: Matt Pickens Hopeful...Alan McDona...
- Gorkss or Bust....Nardiello on Expecting to Leave
- Snippets: Shimmin Trialing With St. Mirren...No W...
- Rodney Marsh Rates QPR' s Prospects - and on Gerry...
- QPR Report "Profiled"
- Luton's QPR Contingent Continues to Grow
- Gorkss Training With QPR...Flowers High Spirits at...
- Championship Prospects Preview and Current Promoti...
- Ex-QPR Loan, Martin Cranie Supposedly Set for Loan...
- Ian Dowie Speaks About QPR's Overseas Signings and...
- QPR's Youth Player Harry Smart at Leatherhead...QP...
- Loan Goalie, Jake Cole Goes Off Injured...Another ...
- Ex-QPR Chairman Bill Power's Swindon Reimbursement...
- QPR's Loyal Supporters Association (LSA) Finds a N...
- Highlights From a Week of QPR News and Rumours
- When Ecclestone Gave The QPR Team Talk...and The B...
- One Time QPR "Wonder Kid" Turns 30...Flashback - Q...
- The Dowie Era Opens With a Win
- Supposedly QPR's New Second Strip
- Ben Watson Set to Sign for QPR?...Lee Cook - Year ...
- One-Time QPR Target, Peter Thompson Moves...Ex-QPR...
- More From QPR re Season Tickets and Fans...Dowie ...
- QPR's New Third-Team Kit: Black with a Dash of Yellow
- QPR: "Phenomenal" Season Ticket Sales
- Reviewing QPR's Summer...Previewing QPR's Signings
- QPR and Chelsea: The Humiliation/"Long National Ni...
- Respect and Handshakes Before Every Game
- Snippet: Norwich in for "QPR's" Gorkss?...QPR 'Rev...
- Commodity Barons and Football Clubs (Such as QPR) as
- Dowie on Nardiello, Rowlands, Bolder, More Signing...
- Club Factoid...Gulf Weekly Adopts Hoops and Profil...
- Another QPR Fan Site Profiled: Queens Park Rangers...
- QPR Important to Harrow
- Further Les Ferdinand Comments About QPR
- Flashback: July 2007 - ABC Loan Concerns and Alleg...
- Updated QPR Staff Directory
- Award Winning Fan Magazine AKUTRs Update
- Interviews with Ex-QPR World (and QPR-Supporting) ...
- Past and Prospective QPR: Gorkss Update...Curtiss...
- A Detailed Look at the QPR "Revolution"
- Ex-QPR Snippets: Danny Cullip Goes Non-League...To...
- QPR to Dowie: Get QPR Promoted...Then Be Replaced!
- Just Three QPR "Survivors" Out of Thirty-Five From...
- Coming Soon: Football League's Latest Agents' Fees...
- Updated: QPR Bidding for Real Madrid's Defender Mi...
- Snippet: Jake Cole Loaned to Oxford...Ex-QPR John ...
- Another QPR Fan Site's Perspective of QPR's Prospects
- Gorkss Update.....QPR to Benefit From Shittu Sale
- Newcastle's Chairman Wants to Emulate QPR
- Dowie on Rowlands Staying (as Captain) and Injury ...
- No Lee Cook to QPR?
- Gorkss Not Done...Bolder and Nardiello Blackpool S...
- Ainsworth: No Pressure...Gorkss Investigation Cont...
- Preview and Background of QPR's Pre-Season Away Op...
- Snippets: Ex-QPR New Thailand Manager....Antonio C...
- QPR Fans Raise Thousands For Charity - and Get to ...
- Snippets: Morrison to QPR?...Reversed: Reporters Q...
- Seven Years Ago: QPR at Their Nadir...Takeover Eff...
- One Year Flashback - Sensationalist Headline "QPR ...
- Ex-QPR Hatrick Hero Chris Kiwomya Leaves Arsenal f...
-
▼
July
(129)