Snippets: Goalie and Ex-Captain Birthdays...Connolly Caution...Championship Analysis....Ray Jones First Goal...Phil Parkes Debut...Shittu..Griffiths

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Birthdays for Lee Camp and Marcus Bignot
Lee Camp Turns 24 - Born August 22, 1984
After two periods on loan, Goalie Lee Camp joined QPR from Derby last summer. Played in 2002-2003 Promotion season. Played in our last 12 games which saw us gain promotion. Was QPR's first team goalie, last year. This season, he was dropped for QPR's new signing from Spurs. Profile. See Also: Lee Camp/Wikpedia

Marcus Bignot Turns 34 - Born August 22, 1974
Holloway's first signing from Bristol Rovers when he took over from Gerry Francis in QPR's 2000-2001 relegation season. Played in our first season in Division "Two." Then went to Rushden Diamonds for a couple of seasons, before being signed back on Deadline eve, in our 2002-2003 Promotion season. Joined Millwall last season after starting the season as QPR captain. Profile. See Also Bignot/Wikipedia.


Teamtalk - Connolly wary of plucky Rovers
QPR defender Matthew Connolly insists he and his team-mates will not be underestimating the threat posed by newly-promoted Doncaster.Rovers have made a solid start to life in the Championship, beating Derby on the opening day before being held by Cardiff last week.
Rangers, by contrast, host Sean O'Driscoll's side on Saturday looking to bounce back from last week's 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United.
"Doncaster are unbeaten and we won't underestimate them," Connolly told the Kilburn Times.
"Everyone saw what Bristol City did last season, so we know what you can expect from a team that has just come up.
"From what I've heard Sean O'Driscoll is a good manager who likes to play attractive football. So it should be a good game, but the focus will be on our team and what we can do. We're at home, we're strong there and we'll be looking to bounce back from Sheffield United." Teamtalk


SKYSPORT/Peter Beagrie Championship Analysis...QPR's Prospects
"The Championship is well underway and already it has been predictably unpredictable! On their day, anyone can beat anyone and I think it's going to be as open a league as it was last year....
"...Conundrum
QPR have also brought a lot of new faces in but they're a conundrum to me. Everyone's tipping them - so much that I'm questioning why I'm not! - but I just think there have been too many changes.
It looks like a case of throwing a pack of cards in the air and seeing how they settle. And as we saw with Bristol City last season, the Championship is about teamwork, organisation and application
Even if Iain Dowie does get QPR promotion, it's been mooted that the owners want a bigger name and if you're working under that sort of pressure, it doesn't matter how driven you are. As much they seem to be fancied, I can't see them even being in the play-offs.
It is refreshing for the division as a whole though that, even with the relegated clubs' parachute payments, anyone on a given day can beat anyone. It's not like the Premier League where you can't see anyone really breaking into the top four, and that's the beauty of the Championship..." Skysports


Ray Jones, First Senior Goal two years ago:
As the club tomorrow sets to commemorate Ray Jones (RIP), flashback two years to Jones' first Senior goal as QPR defeated Northampton . "A first goal in senior football from Ray Jones finally finished off the Cobblers in a thrilling first round tie. The R's second half substitute headed home in the 87th minute to clinch the Hoops a deserved place in round two....Remarkably, there was still time for a fifth and final goal and it was Ray Jones who leapt off the bench to score it.
The 17 year-old rose tallest on the edge of the six-yard box to head home Bignot's inch-perfect cross, to finally finish off a plucky performance from the Cobblers.
QPR: Cole, Bignot, Stewart (Kanyuka 90), Rehman, Howell, Baidoo, Bircham (R Jones 84), Bailey, Cook, Gallen (Oliseh 76), Blackstock. Subs: PJones, Donnelly." QPR Official Site


Bolton News/Liam Chronnell - Shittu delight at Premiership return
DANNY Shittu is delighted to be back in the Premier League.
The Bolton new boy briefly tasted life in the top flight with Watford two seasons ago.
But when the Championship outfit failed to bounce back at the first attempt last season, the Nigerian defender knew his future lay elsewhere.
Linked with a move to Scottish giants Rangers, Shittu also received offers from France and Greece, as well as closer to home.
But as soon as Wanderers showed an interest, the rugged, 27-year-old centre-half jumped at the chance.
And he is convinced he can more than hold his own in the Premiership after joining from the Hornets in a £2million move.
“The Premiership is where I’ve always wanted to be,” said Shittu, who began his career at Charlton and has also had spells with QPR and Blackpool. Bolton News


Phil Parkes's QPR's Debut:
Thirty-Eight years ago today, 19 year old goalie made his QPR debut. Signed in the summer from Walsall by manage Les Allen, for 15,000 pounds, replacing Mike Kelly who was sold for the same fee, to Birmingham. Parkes wasn't the goalie for the opening loss at Birmingham. But Parkes was in goal (replacing Alan Spratley) for the home opener, against Leicester. Unfortunately QPR lost 1-3 (Venables penalty), but Parkes in that very first game looked pretty classy. QPR's team - Parkes - Clement Hazell Hunt Gillard - Venables Sibley Leach - Saul Bridges Marsh - Francis as sub.


- Leroy Griffiths's Latest Club
Eastleigh Blog - Griffiths joins Spitfires
"... An official club statement read as follows: "Eastleigh FC can confirm that we have signed Leroy Griffiths from Gillingham on a non-contract basis.
Leroy trained with the first team squad last night, and will be available for selection for our home game with Fisher Athletic on Saturday (ko 3.00pm)."
This news means an unexpected reunion for Ian Baird with the man who he fell out with whilst at former club Havant and Waterlooville.
Despite the pair's differences Baird credited Leroy on contacting him and is very much a fan of the strikers ability on the pitch.
The Eastleigh boss was quoted in the Daily Echo today: "He's been big enough and brave enough to get in contact with me and say he'd love to come and play at Eastleigh.
"Marshy was the one player we had with genuine, electric pace and Leroy is as quick as anything," he said. Eastleigh


Not Needing Leroy Griffiths:
Staines News - We don't need Leroy, insists Swans gaffer
STAINES boss Steve Cordery this week brushed off missing out on signing Leroy Griffiths, insisting he has enough firepower anyway.
As reported in the the Herald & News last week, Cordery refused to be held to ransom by the former QPR and Gillingham pay demands and Griffiths went to Eastleigh instead...
Staines News - Griffith Stats
Ex-QPR Loanee, Jerome Thomas:
Ex-QPR Loan, Jerome Thomas has joined Portsmouth from Charlton. Thomas has two loan spells at QPR under Ian Holloway. (Thomas was at Portsmouth on loan; it's been converted into a permanent signing - Charlton Official Site - Wikipedia/Thomas