QPR's Kit...Matt Connolly on QPR and Arsenal...Ex-QPR Terry Mancini ...Year Flashback: QPR Bottom and Winless After Harford Debut... Welcoming Hill

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Presume just talking about our new away strip as opposed to the black strip for this season
Mirror "...Qpr boss Iain Dowie hopes a new red away kit will lift his players. "It's a big game and it's important we make the fans proud," he said." Mirror


The Sun - Marking Thierry did me good
MATT'LL DO NICELY ... QPR are reaping rewards for Connolly¿s grounding

MATTHEW CONNOLLY is ready to Gun down the Championship’s long-ball merchants.
The QPR centre-back grew up through the ranks at Arsenal.
He made a £1million switch to Loftus Road this summer. And despite being one of the many young talents that failed to make the Gunners grade, Connolly insists marking the likes of Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie in training has been the best education he could have hoped for.
The Rangers star, 21, has the somewhat easier task today of dealing with Birmingham’s Kevin Phillips and James McFadden.
He said: “The Championship is a different test to what I was used to.
“In the Premier League there is a lot more passing and movement. But here there are a lot more long balls and it’s much more physical.
“It’s a different challenge for a centre-back and took getting used to. But I’m learning the ropes now.
“It was strange leaving Arsenal as I’d been there since I was eight-years-old.
“But as a young player at Arsenal, it’s so difficult breaking into that first team. Leaving was the right thing to do and it was the right time.
“Rangers matched my ambition too, which is to play in the top flight.
“So hopefully we can achieve that and I’ll be back at the Emirates sooner than I thought — playing for QPR next year.
“I learnt so much there and have nothing but praise for the club. I could have stayed and been patient but I’m at the age where I want to push on.
“I had to mark the likes of Thierry Henry and more recently Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.
“It was a great experience to play against those guys and it will only help me. You learn so much from the little things they do, the movement and bits of skills are amazing.
“I couldn’t have got a sharper learning curve.
“Hopefully that will stand me in good stead in this new challenge with Rangers.”
Eighth-placed QPR have managed only one league win in the last four outings.
Connolly says Iain Dowie’s side must get back on track at St Andrew’s today.
He added: “We’ve made a good start to the season, especially at home. But we’ve had a bit of a blip recently and now we need to get back to winning ways.
“We’ve got a young squad but also a good mix of experienced players too. We’ll be up there at the end of the season.” The Sun


Former QPR center half, Terry Mancini, turns sixty-Six.
Born October 4, 1942 - QPR manager Gordon Jago signed Orient's 29 year-old captain and Center-half, Terry Mancini, in November 1971 to bolster QPR promotion hopes. It didn't work, and initially, Mancini was not a great success and was initially replaced by QPR's own 'home grown" Ian Evans.
But Mancini "worked his way up/back" and QPR were promoted the following season, and Mancini became a firm fan favourite, even if not the world's greatest. And to the amazement of many, he was a major success in QPR's first season back in the First Division and was even capped by the Republic of Ireland.
Mancini was sold to struggling Arsenal in October 1974, shortly before Gordon Jago himself left QPR. Mancini had been replaced by David Webb in the QPR Defense. Record

A Brief Bio - About Terry Mancini
"I started my career at Watford FC in 1960 and spent the next 6 year's in and out of Watfords 1st team, progressing at a very slow rate. In 1966, after being given a free transfer by the club I decided to see if I would progress my career by playing abroad.
After a very quick decision, once I had received an offer from PE City in South Africa, I moved 7000 miles from home. Probably the best decision I ever made as once I was away from the comfort and trappings of home, I had to look after myself and integrate with my team mates, on and off the field. It creates a team bond that stays with you forever. It’s amazing how quickly you mature as a person and a player, once you have to look after yourself if you don't give in. The standard of football was probably equivalent to the English 4th division in those days and I quickly adapted to the training and the wonderful SA people and country. In a short space of time and with the help of a large contingent of ex-English players in the side, I was made captain and we went on during the next 20 months and 2 seasons, to win the SA League and Cup.
I then felt I had matured enough as a player and person to come back to England in late 1967 and try my luck in the English league once again. This time, with a much more physical and professional approach and a total feeling of personal confidence, I managed to secure a contract with Leyton Orient and went on to captain them to the 3rd division championship in 1969/70.
In 1971 they transferred me to QPR for a very small amount of £25,000. During my time at QPR I played with some very fine players indeed, in a wonderful side with a great team spirit. Some who are still household names like: Venables, Marsh, Bowles, Parkes, Francis and McLintock. I also gained my first International cap with the Republic of Ireland whilst I was at QPR and went onto win another 5. In 1974 after gaining promotion from the 2nd division into the 1st divison and finally achieving what the manager at Watford at the time he gave me a free transfer, thought I would never do, I played in the 1st Division of the English League. We had gained promotion to the 1st division at QPR and took the 1st division by storm.
During the following season and much to my surprise, I was transferred from QPR to Arsenal for the same amount £25,000 and went on to play for the Gunners at Highbury until 1977. I really felt I had arrived when I stepped out at Highbury and spent the next 3 seasons with Arsenal, playing with some of the greatest names in the game, Ball, Brady, O'Leary, Stapleton etc.
In 1977 I went to play in Los Angeles for the final season of my career and retired in early 1978. I felt I had worked hard enough and achieved more than most would have thought, with the limited ability I had. But the things that always pushed me further was a belief in my own ability, which is very important to any sportsman or individual, work hard at the qualities you have and an attitude that never gives up. It worked for me!! BarwellEvents/Mancini

Also: QPRNet.com Interview with Terry Mancini QPRnet Q&A Mancini


Flashback: One Year Ago today: Mick Harford's debut game as Acting Manager: 2-4 Loss to Colchester and QPR Bottom
After Colchester's first home league win of the season against QPR, QPR were bottom of the Championship and the only club in the country yet without a win.
Leicester 8 8
Norwich 9 8
Sheff Wed 9 6
QPR 8 3
QPR: Camp, Barker, Cullip, Bolder, Blackstock, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Jarrett, Ephraim, Vine, Leigertwood. -- Subs: Cole, Bignot, Stewart, Sahar, Moore.
- Match Reports


And Two Years Ago Flashback: Staff Departures and Arrivals - Richard Hill Joins QPR

QPR Official Site - All Change"
In the wake of John Gregory's arrival as QPR manager, the Club have parted company with four of their backroom team.
Reserve Team Manager Justin Skinner, Head of Recruitment John O'Brien, Assistant Physiotherapist Bobby Bacic and Team Masseur Graham Staddon have all left the Club, with two new staff members set to be announced in the next 24 hours.
The Club wishes to thank the quartet for their services to QPR, while also wishing them all the best for the future.

Official Site - NEW ADDITIONS
Queens Park Rangers Football Club are delighted to welcome Richard Hill and Joe Dunbar to the Club.
Hill joins John Gregory's backroom staff as a coach, while Dunbar is employed as a Sports Performance Coach.
The pair will work closely alongside the new gaffer, who was understandably pleased with their appointments: "Joe was Lennox Lewis' personal trainer. When Lennox was getting ready for a fight, he had a ten week period where Joe was the guy who had to get him up to speed.
"Since Lennox has retired, Joe has had a bit more time on his hands and has been working for me here at the Club on a semi-part-time basis.
"Hilly worked with me at Wycombe between 1996 and 1998. When I went to Aston Villa he went to Gillingham, so he knows this division very well and knows how to survive in it. He will be working alongside me.''
Stay tuned to www.qpr.co.uk for further news and interviews regarding the appointments.Official Site
http://qprreport.blogspot.com/2006/10/four-backroom-departures-from-qpr.html