Update on QPR Vice Chairman's Charity Effort...Ipswich Scout to QPR?...Question Magilton..."Transfers That Rocked The World" - Clive Allen

-
Visit the combination messageboard and quasi-blog: The QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and other football news; nostalgia; and posters' views: No focus on politics, films, music, etc. No ad-hominem attacks on fellow posters. Just an (usually) intelligent focus on QPR and Football

- Ex-QPR, Andrew Howell Joins Braintree Town & Recalling His QPR Days
- Two Year Flashback: "Winding Up Media Reports"
- Nostalgic QPR Photos (Updated)-
- The Magilton Diaries (Satire)
- 2009-2010 Schedule: Important Dates
- Football League Trust Hold its First Conference


Football League - AMIT TAKES THE PLUNGE
- Queens Park Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia has been gearing up for his debut triathlon tonight (Wednesday) by swimming in the coldest open-air pool in London.
- Bhatia, 29, will compete in the Triathletes World Mid-Week Triathlon in Windsor to raise money for QPR's In The Community Trust.

He said: "I'm feeling so nervous about it. It's my first triathlon and anything that is new is nerve-wracking although at the same time I am loving it because it is a challenge.

"The swim is going to be the hardest part because it's so much more difficult to get around to putting on a wetsuit and practising in open water.

"It is much easier to run across Hyde Park or Regents Park or just go for a bike ride.

"I have managed to do a few swims in Hampstead in the coldest pool in London, where they keep the temperature of the water at 14 degrees, which is what I believe the temperature will be tonight."

Bhatia, the son-in-law of Lakshmi Mittal and the steel tycoon's representative on the QPR Holdings board, will take part in the triathlon with his brother-in-law Aditya Mittal, 32.

The event includes a 750-metre open water swim in Dorney Lake, a 20-kilometre bike ride and a five-kilometre run.

Bhatia has been training for a year but only decided to take part in tonight's event a week ago after pulling out of another three-sport competition because of business commitments.

He said: "My first goal is to complete it. My second goal is to be as competitive as I can. I'm hoping to do it in under two hours.

"A lot of my friends and family tend to be quite fit and active. I have leaned on my brother-in-law for advice.

"The key is to combine the training with fun things. My wife and I took a vacation last weekend off the coast of Italy so I took my wetsuit and practised open water swimming.

"I have been doing 20-kilometre bike rides two or three times a week and five to seven-kilometre runs a couple of times a week."

Bhatia raised an astonishing £15,500 in his first day of fundraising yesterday.

He said: "Of course, some of that comes from my friends and family and my associates but I have also been overwhelmed by the support I have received from the fans, who have heard about it and have gone on to the page and contributed.

"There is suddenly this expectation and added pressure, which wasn't the case when I decided to do it."

He added: "It is not only a great way of challenging myself but also a great way to raise awareness for our Trust, which is a very good cause and has done so much to help teenagers across London and overseas."

If you would like to make a donation to the Trust through Bhatia's efforts, log on to www.justgiving.com/amitbhatia - Football League


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR AMIT
- QPR Holdings Ltd Vice-Chairman Amit Bhatia is raising much-needed funds for QPR In The Community Trust this Wednesday by taking part in his first-ever Triathlon.
- Incredibly, his fund-raising has already reached five figures and he is calling on the Rangers fanbase to do what they can to add to it. You can make a donation right now by clicking here.
- Bhatia, who will take part in a 750m open-water swim and a 20km bike ride before a 5km run, said: "As Chairman of the Trust I am immensely proud of our charity organisation.
- "On a daily basis the Trust endeavours to connect with young adults across London in order to provide them with guidance and support where needed.
- "Over the past 14 years this work has achieved fantastic results with youngsters changing their opinion on important lifestyle choices, and gaining the confidence to think BIG about their aspirations as an adult.
- "In the past few years the Trust's work has also ventured overseas.
- "From establishing soccer schools in Bahrain to providing important education about AIDS in South Africa, QPR in the Community is committed to reach all teenagers whenever and wherever possible.
- "So with this in mind I would like to invite you to donate to this very good cause and make my blood, sweat and tears on Wednesday worth every penny!"
- If you would like to make a donation to the Trust through Amit's efforts, log on to
www.justgiving.com/amitbhatia - QPR


Four Four Two "The transfers that rocked the world"
- "... to list The 25 Transfers That Rocked The World, as originally seen in ye olde-fashioned magazine version of FourFourTwo. Over the next five days we’ll be bringing you the 25 in five fun-sized instalments – and we’d love to hear which transfers have shocked, riled, and delighted you most over the years..."

"...Clive Allen QPR to Arsenal £1.25 million, May 1980
-In February 1979, Trevor Francis became the country’s first £1 million player when he moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest. If that fee, for a 25-year-old England international, caused eyebrows to rise, then they were virtually hitting the roof just over a year later.
- Nineteen-year-old Clive Allen had scored 32 goals in just 49 league games for QPR when Arsenal stepped in to make him the world’s most expensive teenager in a £1.25 million transfer in June 1980. But 63 days and three friendly appearances later, the youngster was on the move again, this time to Crystal Palace in a swap deal for defender Kenny Sansom.
- Speculation abounded, much of it centring on Palace wanting Allen’s services, but not having the cash to prise him from Loftus Road and using the highly sought-after Sansom as a bargaining chip to get the Gunners to do their bidding.
- “Several different theories were put forward,” recalls Allen. “There was no foundation to any of them, but it was quite an experience to be involved in. I mean, if Arsenal wanted Kenny Sansom why didn’t they just buy him straight from Palace?”
FourFourTwo


Lowestoft Journal - Ipswich release international scout
- ROY Keane has released international scout Simon Hunt.
- Along with Bryan Klug, Hunt was at the Toulon Tournament in France recently but returned yesterday to be told he was no longer required as he restructures his backroom staff.
- It is understood no direct replacement is imminent but chief scout Steve McCall will expand his duties to cover searching abroad.
- McCall and Hunt went to Argentina last year and returned with Luciano Civelli
- Hunt worked with George Burley during his reign as Town boss and left shortly after the Scot was sacked.
- The highly experienced scout was reemployed by Jim Magilton last summer and it could be the duo link up at QPR or Hunt could rejoin Tony Mowbray who is expected to be named Celtic boss within the next few days.Hunt worked with Mowbray at Town and also at West Brom before coming back to Ipswich.
- He also worked with Scotland manager Burley at Derby, Hearts and Southampton.
- Blues chief executive Simon Clegg said: “On behalf of the Club, I would like to thank Simon for his efforts and wish him every success for his future career.”
- Town's search for players continue with Keane linked with a number of former players from Manchester United and Sunderland while it is possible he also makes use of his coach Tony Loughlan's knowledge of players from Leicester City. Lowestoft Journal


QPR Official Site - QUESTIONS FOR JIM
QPR: The Official Magazine is giving its readers the opportunity to question new R's gaffer, Jim Magilton, in issue three of our popular, new publication.

Magilton has agreed to take time out of his busy summer schedule to answer a selection of the best questions from you - the fans - so get your thinking caps on now!

Simply e-mail your question to iant@qpr.co.uk with the subject header 'Questions for Jim,' and remember to include your key contact details. i.e. Paul Smith, Shepherd's Bush.

We want to get to know all about our new boss - so be inventive!

Where did his love of football come from? Who is the toughest opponent he's ever played against? Why is the Hillsborough tragedy so close to his heart? What are his views on the Anfield Boot Room? How does it feel to be labelled as both a Southampton and Ipswich Town legend? What are his thoughts on the future in W12?

Send your e-mails NOW!

*On sale in July, Issue Three will also include exclusive interviews with Ian Holloway, Matthew Rose and Chris Plummer, comedian Bill Bailey, as well as an exclusive run-down of all the key dates for your diary ahead of the new season.
QPR
[Or just post your question on the QPR Report Messageboard thread