Snippets: Ex-QPR Scores at the Olympics...Baidoo Update...Parkes and Stewart Birthdays...Team Leaders

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Herald Sun (Australia) - Olyroos draw 1-1 in opener against Serbia
Tom Smithies in Shanghai | August 07, 2008 08:51pm

AUSTRALIA'S Olympic odyssey started in positive fashion last night, with the Olyroos grabbing a point against Serbia in Shanghahi to keep alive their dreams of qualifying for the knockout stages.
A goal just past the hour from Ruben Zadkovich set off wild celebrations in the Australian camp from a team widely expected to leave China without even a point, only for Serbia to equalise 10 minutes later.
Just before Serbia's goal Australia had almost scored a second, but the result - and the display - was better than many dared hope for.
Defying critics who viewed them as sacrifical lambs at such an elite level, Australia's U-23 team took the fight to their opponents from the off, playing clever soccer in the heat and giving tremendous satisfaction to coach Graham Arnold.
The point means Graham Arnold's men must win one of their remaining two Group A fixtures - against Argentina on Sunday and Ivory Coast - to qualify for the next round and also keeps them alive until the end of the group.
After Zakovich had sparked hopes of a famous win by opening the scoring on 70 minutes, Slobodan Rajkovic's powerful header from a corner hauled Serbia level.
....But there will also be lingering "if-onlys" after the team had weathered the storm and taken the lead. Had Celeski's jinked shot not rebounded from the post but in, Australia would have one foot in the second round.
For Zadkovich there was the satisfaction of a goal but also the feeling that three points was almost there.
"It's good to get some sort of a result - we're slightly disappointed that Billy's shot didn't go in off the post because if we'd gone 2-0 up then it was game over," he said.
"But we did get something out of the game, and to score in front of my family at an Olympics is a special feeling."
....And how costly it might have been, with the Olyroos sweeping up the other end to score. David Carney was the catalyst, jinking his way into the box and firiing in a low cross. It missed both Thompson and Rukavytsa but Ruben Zadkovich slid in at the far post to finish clinically. Report


The Argus
"Kevin Keehan has taken comfort from two of his senior players as he looks to get Lewes off to a flying start....
Keehan has not closed the door on former QPR and Dagenham striker Shabazz Baidoo, who has been on trial at the club, but no deal has yet been struck. ... The Argus


QPR Birthdays Today - Phil Parkes & Damion Stewart-

QPR's Jamaican International defender Damion Stewart turns 28 (born August 8, 1980) - Stewart Stats -- Also - Wikipedia/Stewart

Phil Parkes: Possibly QPR's greatest-ever goalkeeper (competing for that honour with Ron Springett, Reggie Allen and maybe David Seaman)...Phil Parkes. Parkes turns 58: Born August 8, 1950.

Then QPR-Manager, Les Allen signed Parkes from Walsall in the summer of 1970 for 15,000 pounds (and recouped the money by sellig then QPR-goalie, Mike Kelly to Birmingham for slightly more.) One paper at the time of his transfer characterized Parkes as "strongly tipped for England U-23 honours.)
Parkes made his debut at home to Leicester, in August 1970. QPR lost, but Parkes was brilliant from the first game on.
Parkes crazily played only ONE game for England - kept out by first Gordon Banks; then Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence.
Parkes played an integral part in getting QPR out of the second Division; and almost winning the First Division Championship...
Parkes was sold to then Division-Two West Ham in February 1979,for a world record goalie fee of 550,000 pounds. (But it still wasn't enough!). Played 344 games for QPR and the 344 for West Ham! (+ 52 games for Walsall)
Whether Parkes was QPR's Greatest-ever goalie can always be argued. (Also Reg Allen, Peter Springett, David Seaman, etc.) But he was brilliant, consistent, and almost an ever-present for QPR.
See Parkes Stats - Parkes/Wikipedia


QPR Official Site (Yesterday) - Performance Manager, John Harbin - OUTSTANDING LEADERS
John Harbin has paid tribute to the "dressing room leaders" who have helped to make his job, and the job of Iain Dowie's, that bit easier.
The Performance Manager, who worked alongside Dowie at Oldham, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic and Coventry City, was one of the first people brought on board by the R's First Team Coach following his appointment in May.
And he feels the desire of some key personnel to succeed has helped to make the pre-season preparations run smoothly.
Fitz Hall and Mikele Leigertwood worked under Dowie and Harbin at Crystal Palace - the former also featured in their Oldham team - and Harbin acknowledges that their presence in the current squad was useful.
"The fact that Fitz and Mikele were already here when we arrived was beneficial for us," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"It meant that they had given the players here an idea of what to expect when we got here.
"The other key factor is that we have some outstanding leaders in the dressing room, people with integrity who believe in what we - the staff - are doing.
"Mikele, Fitz, Adam Bolder, Martin Rowlands, Damien Delaney and Gavin Mahon all have a very strong work ethic as individuals, and they've been leading the way.
"They haven't had to drag anyone else along, but their enthusiasm for whatever we're doing has had a positive impact on the rest of the lads."
*You can read John Harbin's exclusive Fitness First column in Saturday's matchday programme, when the R's play host to Barnsley in their opening fixture in the Championship. QPR