QPR Captain Martin Rowlands Previews QPR's Season

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Martin Rowlands Looks Forward - Gulf Weekly/Stan Szecowka - Let's get the ball rolling! -

Martin Rowlands, Queens Park Rangers' charismatic captain, is confident of taking his side to glory and winning over an army of fans in Bahrain this season.
This Saturday the Superhoops kick off their challenge to win promotion to the coveted Premiership and will proudly wear the kingdom's national carrier Gulf Air's emblem on their shirts.
The squad of first-team players has been busy training and playing friendlies in preparation for the start of the Coca-Cola Football League Championship campaign.
Rowlands told GulfWeekly: "Pre-season has gone really well and I have to say the lads look strong and fit.
"There are only a few days left now before the season begins and I am confident that by the time we play Barnsley on Saturday we're going to be in excellent shape.
"As for myself, I wasn't actually able to do any of my own training during the summer because I injured my ankle while away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland. I was only in a position to do some physical work once we all returned for pre-season on June 30.
"I'm feeling good now, though. I've had a couple of little niggles, but nothing major and I'll be fine to go when the season gets underway."
The team face a triple challenge from Yorkshire in their first three games of the season. Straight after the clash with last season's FA Cup semi-finalists at home the side travels to Sheffield and then plays host to Doncaster Rovers.
And the captain thinks his side has the spirit and character to take on anyone. "There's quite a few characters to be honest!" said Rowlands. "I'd say that I am one of them. I enjoy having banter with the lads.
"Gavin Mahon and Damien Delaney are fairly lively too, as are Fitz Hall and Dexter Blackstock. We're fortunate in that we have a lot of funny characters. It's great for the team spirit because it keeps everyone tight-knit.
"In my opinion, we've got to be aiming to be in the top six to top 10 at Christmas time. That will put us in a good position to have a strong promotion push in the second-half of the season.
"I believe this club should be in the Premiership, and I also believe we can get there.
"The main competitors are obviously the three that have come down. Derby have signed about 10 players, Reading are strong and Birmingham will be just as tough.
"And there's also teams like Sheffield United, who will be up there challenging, I'm sure. But if we can keep ourselves fit and strong, and maybe add a couple more faces, I firmly believe we can be in amongst that pack."
His message to supporters in Bahrain is simple.
He said: "Please keep following and supporting us. Hopefully at some point we will visit Bahrain, in association with our main sponsors Gulf Air, and that will give the fans the opportunity to see us in action."
Rowlands started his career at Farnborough Town in 1997 before moving to Brentford in August 1998 for a transfer fee of £45,000. In five seasons with Brentford he made 186 appearances in all competitions, scoring 23 goals.
After suffering a broken leg, former QPR manager Ian Holloway took a gamble on Rowlands and signed him on a free transfer in the summer of 2003. This gamble paid off, as Rowlands scored 12 goals from midfield, helping QPR to achieve promotion from the Second Division. That season, Rowlands also showed versatility, playing right back, right midfield, left midfield and centre midfield; excelling in all positions.
He won both the supporters and players player of the year competitions. Despite struggling with injuries in 2006/07 he managed to score 10 goals from midfield.
The following season he was selected captain, and was regularly among Rangers' best performers. He is now the longest-serving member of the QPR squad having spent five years at the club.
Following fine displays with QPR he was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad in the summer of 2004.
His good club form last season led him to be included in Giovanni Trapattoni's first Republic of Ireland squad. Gulf Weekly