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QPR's former Midfielder, Martin Allen who had been reportedly been interested in the Huddersfield Managership, misses out. The new manager is Stan Ternent. Huddersfield Appoint Ternent
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Lee Cook Returned
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Lee Cook has returned to Fulham, with strong messageboard rumours that he'll be signing for QPR in the summer.
Charlton Official Site
Alan Pardew's focus on next season was further demonstrated on Thursday when he allowed Lee Cook to return to Fulham.
With Charlton's hopes of involvement in the end-of-season play-offs now over, Pardew is already looking ahead to the 2008/09 Championship campaign.
Cook, who limped out of Saturday's 1-0 loss at former club Queens Park Rangers after just 20 minutes with a dead leg, had forced his way into Pardew's first team in recent weeks.
But, following the end of Charlton's promotion bid, Pardew felt it was in both the club's and Cook's best interests for the player to return to Fulham.
Pardew told the official website: "Lee was brought here to try and help us gain promotion, and that chance has now gone.
"He's a Fulham player and I didn't feel we had any chance of signing him permanently. There's no point keeping him here so I've sent him back and his position will be taken by one of the players who will be here next year and who is looking to make an impact."
With Jerome Thomas (hamstring) and Lloyd Sam (thigh) sidelined by injury, Cook's place for Saturday's clash with Barnsley at Oakwell is up for grabs, so the likes of Luke Varney and youngster Scott Wagstaff will both be pushing to start on the left flank.
Pardew added: "Unfortunately, we do have a couple of injuries to wide players in JT and Lloyd Sam, which is a bit of a blow, but it can be cushioned by one or two of the youngsters."
The Addicks clinched a loan deal for Cook just five hours before the January transfer window closed.
The capture of the 25-year-old, who was purchased by the Cottagers from Queens Park Rangers for £2.5m in July, followed the departure of midfielder Andy Reid to Sunderland earlier the same day.
Hampered by a series of injuries this term, Cook has yet to make his debut for Fulham. But he earned plenty of plaudits during his time at Loftus Road. A boyhood QPR fan, Hammersmith-born Cook made 137 appearances for the R's, scoring 10 goals, from 2004-07.
He started his career at Aylesbury United and moved to QPR from Watford, going on to be named Rangers' young player of the year in his first season, followed by both the supporters' player and players' player of the year awards in subsequent campaigns.
Cook made his Addicks debut in the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in February and went on to make eight further appearances in a red shirt. Charlton
Lee Cook has returned to Fulham, with strong messageboard rumours that he'll be signing for QPR in the summer.
Charlton Official Site
Alan Pardew's focus on next season was further demonstrated on Thursday when he allowed Lee Cook to return to Fulham.
With Charlton's hopes of involvement in the end-of-season play-offs now over, Pardew is already looking ahead to the 2008/09 Championship campaign.
Cook, who limped out of Saturday's 1-0 loss at former club Queens Park Rangers after just 20 minutes with a dead leg, had forced his way into Pardew's first team in recent weeks.
But, following the end of Charlton's promotion bid, Pardew felt it was in both the club's and Cook's best interests for the player to return to Fulham.
Pardew told the official website: "Lee was brought here to try and help us gain promotion, and that chance has now gone.
"He's a Fulham player and I didn't feel we had any chance of signing him permanently. There's no point keeping him here so I've sent him back and his position will be taken by one of the players who will be here next year and who is looking to make an impact."
With Jerome Thomas (hamstring) and Lloyd Sam (thigh) sidelined by injury, Cook's place for Saturday's clash with Barnsley at Oakwell is up for grabs, so the likes of Luke Varney and youngster Scott Wagstaff will both be pushing to start on the left flank.
Pardew added: "Unfortunately, we do have a couple of injuries to wide players in JT and Lloyd Sam, which is a bit of a blow, but it can be cushioned by one or two of the youngsters."
The Addicks clinched a loan deal for Cook just five hours before the January transfer window closed.
The capture of the 25-year-old, who was purchased by the Cottagers from Queens Park Rangers for £2.5m in July, followed the departure of midfielder Andy Reid to Sunderland earlier the same day.
Hampered by a series of injuries this term, Cook has yet to make his debut for Fulham. But he earned plenty of plaudits during his time at Loftus Road. A boyhood QPR fan, Hammersmith-born Cook made 137 appearances for the R's, scoring 10 goals, from 2004-07.
He started his career at Aylesbury United and moved to QPR from Watford, going on to be named Rangers' young player of the year in his first season, followed by both the supporters' player and players' player of the year awards in subsequent campaigns.
Cook made his Addicks debut in the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in February and went on to make eight further appearances in a red shirt. Charlton
Ex-QPR Mike Flanagan Profiled and Interviewed
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Yet another fine profile and interview on the QPR Official Site. This time, Mike Flanagan: One of Terry Venables' signings from Crystal Palace and half of the "Flanagan and Allen" pairing. (Although perhaps his success at Charlton might have been mentioned.)
QPR Official Site BLAST FROM THE PAST: Mike Flanagan
In our latest instalment of exclusive past player interviews on www.qpr.co.uk, R's legend Mike Flanagan comes under the spotlight.
Mike Flanagan (1980-1984)
Mike Flanagan made an incredible impact on his debut for Rangers by scoring the winner from 50-yards!
It came in a 2-1 victory at Bolton Wanderers in December 1980. Flanagan had just completed a £150,000 move from Crystal Palace and got off to an audacious start with
He recalls: "The move began with a clearance by their goalkeeper Terry Poole from the edge of his penalty area. Poole then fell over after colliding with QPR striker Simon Stainrod and he was a little bit slow in getting back on to his feet.
"I saw that the keeper and two Bolton defenders were running back towards their own goal. So I chested the ball down on the halfway line and I thought 'I'll go for it!'
"I hit it with my left foot and the shot flew in just under the crossbar, which was nice to see. I scored a few special goals in my time and that's one I will always remember."
Flanagan was a versatile striker who made a total of 93 appearances for the R's and scored 22 goals. He was part of our side that reached the FA Cup Final in 1982 and won promotion to Division One a year later.
"I had a spell with Crystal Palace under Manager Terry Venables and when he moved to QPR I was one of the players he brought with him," said Flanagan.
"Terry put a decent squad together at Loftus Road. He had a lot of belief in our ability and so that filtered through to the players.
"It all came to the fore in our FA Cup run. The further we went in the competition, we got more confidence that we could go on and win it.
"The semi-final against West Brom at Highbury was fantastic. It could have gone either way. It was decided late on when a clearance from one of the Albion defenders was blocked by Clive Allen and the ball ricocheted into the net. So we were through to Wembley to face Spurs!
"Not too many players get to appear in an FA Cup Final. We saw it as a lovely bonus at the end of a great season for us - and it was such an amazing occasion. I spoke to a few former professionals beforehand and they said 'Just go out and enjoy the day. Everything is over before you know it.' And that was certainly true!
"We held Spurs to a 1-1 draw. Then we had goalscoring opportunities to win the replay, although you have to put them away in those sort of games.
"Glenn Hoddle was the difference for Tottenham and he scored the penalty that won the Cup. But had we taken our chances, then who knows what might have happened.
"We were a good team without any real outstanding stars. We all played for one another and I think that is what brought us the fine results we had as we went on to win promotion in 1983.
"Personally, it was a nice spell in my career. I joined Rangers as a centre-forward and I always thought that was my best position. But Terry Venables put me out on the left wing. He realised that I could still get 14-15 goals a season playing wide. I had a successful time at QPR and I loved every moment of it."
Now aged 55, Flanagan lives in Essex and is no longer involved in football. But like all past players, he looks out for the results of his former Clubs.
"I have a varied lifestyle at the moment. I worked for a swimming pool company for the past eight years. They install pools and do all sorts.
"More recently, I've moved into the City. I undertake maintenance up there for the Corporation of London. In fact, I am doing this programme interview from the top of a ladder!
"Meanwhile, I keep an interest in all the teams I played for. Looking at QPR, I know a great deal of new investment has arrived this year and they are a Club who are big enough to be able to compete in the Premier League. I wish everyone at Rangers well."QPR
Yet another fine profile and interview on the QPR Official Site. This time, Mike Flanagan: One of Terry Venables' signings from Crystal Palace and half of the "Flanagan and Allen" pairing. (Although perhaps his success at Charlton might have been mentioned.)
QPR Official Site BLAST FROM THE PAST: Mike Flanagan
In our latest instalment of exclusive past player interviews on www.qpr.co.uk, R's legend Mike Flanagan comes under the spotlight.
Mike Flanagan (1980-1984)
Mike Flanagan made an incredible impact on his debut for Rangers by scoring the winner from 50-yards!
It came in a 2-1 victory at Bolton Wanderers in December 1980. Flanagan had just completed a £150,000 move from Crystal Palace and got off to an audacious start with
He recalls: "The move began with a clearance by their goalkeeper Terry Poole from the edge of his penalty area. Poole then fell over after colliding with QPR striker Simon Stainrod and he was a little bit slow in getting back on to his feet.
"I saw that the keeper and two Bolton defenders were running back towards their own goal. So I chested the ball down on the halfway line and I thought 'I'll go for it!'
"I hit it with my left foot and the shot flew in just under the crossbar, which was nice to see. I scored a few special goals in my time and that's one I will always remember."
Flanagan was a versatile striker who made a total of 93 appearances for the R's and scored 22 goals. He was part of our side that reached the FA Cup Final in 1982 and won promotion to Division One a year later.
"I had a spell with Crystal Palace under Manager Terry Venables and when he moved to QPR I was one of the players he brought with him," said Flanagan.
"Terry put a decent squad together at Loftus Road. He had a lot of belief in our ability and so that filtered through to the players.
"It all came to the fore in our FA Cup run. The further we went in the competition, we got more confidence that we could go on and win it.
"The semi-final against West Brom at Highbury was fantastic. It could have gone either way. It was decided late on when a clearance from one of the Albion defenders was blocked by Clive Allen and the ball ricocheted into the net. So we were through to Wembley to face Spurs!
"Not too many players get to appear in an FA Cup Final. We saw it as a lovely bonus at the end of a great season for us - and it was such an amazing occasion. I spoke to a few former professionals beforehand and they said 'Just go out and enjoy the day. Everything is over before you know it.' And that was certainly true!
"We held Spurs to a 1-1 draw. Then we had goalscoring opportunities to win the replay, although you have to put them away in those sort of games.
"Glenn Hoddle was the difference for Tottenham and he scored the penalty that won the Cup. But had we taken our chances, then who knows what might have happened.
"We were a good team without any real outstanding stars. We all played for one another and I think that is what brought us the fine results we had as we went on to win promotion in 1983.
"Personally, it was a nice spell in my career. I joined Rangers as a centre-forward and I always thought that was my best position. But Terry Venables put me out on the left wing. He realised that I could still get 14-15 goals a season playing wide. I had a successful time at QPR and I loved every moment of it."
Now aged 55, Flanagan lives in Essex and is no longer involved in football. But like all past players, he looks out for the results of his former Clubs.
"I have a varied lifestyle at the moment. I worked for a swimming pool company for the past eight years. They install pools and do all sorts.
"More recently, I've moved into the City. I undertake maintenance up there for the Corporation of London. In fact, I am doing this programme interview from the top of a ladder!
"Meanwhile, I keep an interest in all the teams I played for. Looking at QPR, I know a great deal of new investment has arrived this year and they are a Club who are big enough to be able to compete in the Premier League. I wish everyone at Rangers well."QPR
QPR Youth Players Retained and Released
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Best of luck to those players released
"Danny Maguire, Romone Rose, Matt O'Brien, Reece Crowther, Josh Ford and Chris Arthur were all retained, but Lee Brown, Billy Coyne, Aaron Morgan-Cummings, James Folkes and Chris Goodchild have been told they won't be offered deals by QPR.
[For Profiles of the youth players - Youth Profiles]
QPR Official Site " HARD SIDE OF FOOTBALL
Last Friday was a day of celebration for some, but an afternoon of disappointment for others, as QPR's Second Year Scholars discovered whether they had done enough to earn themselves a one-year professional contract.
Danny Maguire, Romone Rose, Matt O'Brien, Reece Crowther, Josh Ford and Chris Arthur were all retained, but Lee Brown, Billy Coyne, Aaron Morgan-Cummings, James Folkes and Chris Goodchild have been told they won't be offered deals by QPR.
Youth Team Manager Steve Brown was handed the onerous task of letting the lads know their fate, and he admitted: "It's not easy, but it's part of football unfortunately.
"People often talk about the good side of the game we're involved in, but not a lot of people mention the horrible side of it, which is telling a young lad that he hasn't quite made it.
"When kids are given a two-year Scholarship, it is up to them to work hard, develop and take on board all the information they're given.
"Unfortunately, some of them fall short. That doesn't mean they're not going to bounce back, but QPR is a Championship club with aspirations of getting into the Premiership very shortly.
"As such, the selection process is very rigid.
"We've looked at the whole football scenario here," Brown explained.
"The difficulty is that there is no Reserve set-up. Yes, there are Reserve matches, but there isn't a group of Reserve players.
"At this stage of their development, the youngsters aren't ready to train with the first team, they've still got work to do before they are ready for that. So they could do with having a Reserve 'group' to work within.
"If we can set that up, it means we could also look at other teams who have released players that they feel aren't ready for their first-team, and haven't got a Reserve 'group' in place.
"It would give us a great opportunity to work with players who may have the potential to progress and improve between the ages of 18 and 21.
"It's worth noting that players don't tend to make their debuts at the age of 17 or 18 these days, it's now between 19 and 21.
"Angelo Balanta is the exception to that. He has made a seamless transition from the youth team to the first team, but it is unfair to expect the same of everyone else.
"Angelo has fantastic potential, and just like you don't expect every 16-year-old at Everton to be a 'Wayne Rooney', you can't expect every Second Year at QPR to be an 'Angelo Balanta'. He's a one-off.
"But the players we have kept on have got definite potential, they just need to develop their strengths further.
"At the moment, the Reserve fixtures we play aren't at a sufficient level to really test our youngsters.
"There's been talk of a Championship Reserve League, and if that happens, then the whole Reserve aspect becomes more of a worthwhile exercise for the Football Club." QPR
Also: From last week: QPR Official Site on Championship for U-18s
Best of luck to those players released
"Danny Maguire, Romone Rose, Matt O'Brien, Reece Crowther, Josh Ford and Chris Arthur were all retained, but Lee Brown, Billy Coyne, Aaron Morgan-Cummings, James Folkes and Chris Goodchild have been told they won't be offered deals by QPR.
[For Profiles of the youth players - Youth Profiles]
QPR Official Site " HARD SIDE OF FOOTBALL
Last Friday was a day of celebration for some, but an afternoon of disappointment for others, as QPR's Second Year Scholars discovered whether they had done enough to earn themselves a one-year professional contract.
Danny Maguire, Romone Rose, Matt O'Brien, Reece Crowther, Josh Ford and Chris Arthur were all retained, but Lee Brown, Billy Coyne, Aaron Morgan-Cummings, James Folkes and Chris Goodchild have been told they won't be offered deals by QPR.
Youth Team Manager Steve Brown was handed the onerous task of letting the lads know their fate, and he admitted: "It's not easy, but it's part of football unfortunately.
"People often talk about the good side of the game we're involved in, but not a lot of people mention the horrible side of it, which is telling a young lad that he hasn't quite made it.
"When kids are given a two-year Scholarship, it is up to them to work hard, develop and take on board all the information they're given.
"Unfortunately, some of them fall short. That doesn't mean they're not going to bounce back, but QPR is a Championship club with aspirations of getting into the Premiership very shortly.
"As such, the selection process is very rigid.
"We've looked at the whole football scenario here," Brown explained.
"The difficulty is that there is no Reserve set-up. Yes, there are Reserve matches, but there isn't a group of Reserve players.
"At this stage of their development, the youngsters aren't ready to train with the first team, they've still got work to do before they are ready for that. So they could do with having a Reserve 'group' to work within.
"If we can set that up, it means we could also look at other teams who have released players that they feel aren't ready for their first-team, and haven't got a Reserve 'group' in place.
"It would give us a great opportunity to work with players who may have the potential to progress and improve between the ages of 18 and 21.
"It's worth noting that players don't tend to make their debuts at the age of 17 or 18 these days, it's now between 19 and 21.
"Angelo Balanta is the exception to that. He has made a seamless transition from the youth team to the first team, but it is unfair to expect the same of everyone else.
"Angelo has fantastic potential, and just like you don't expect every 16-year-old at Everton to be a 'Wayne Rooney', you can't expect every Second Year at QPR to be an 'Angelo Balanta'. He's a one-off.
"But the players we have kept on have got definite potential, they just need to develop their strengths further.
"At the moment, the Reserve fixtures we play aren't at a sufficient level to really test our youngsters.
"There's been talk of a Championship Reserve League, and if that happens, then the whole Reserve aspect becomes more of a worthwhile exercise for the Football Club." QPR
Also: From last week: QPR Official Site on Championship for U-18s
Waddock Talking About His Time at QPR and Success at Aldershot
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Setanta/Toby Davis - Exclusive Interview with Gary Waddock
With only one automatic promotion place on offer, guiding a club into the Football League is one of the toughest jobs in club management.
When Hercules completed his twelfth labour, he might just have fancied doing another. But if someone suggested he take on the task of getting promoted from Blue Square Premier, he would probably have called it a day.
But Aldershot, under the stewardship of boss Gary Waddock, have made this ultra-Herculean task look rather easy.
The Shots have waltzed to the title amassing an astonishing tally of 100 points – a Conference record – with one game still to play.
Waddock arrived at the club last summer - after an unsuccessful spell in charge at QPR - with one thing on his mind.
“Promotion was the target from day one,” he told setantasports.com in an exclusive interview.
“I told the players as soon as I got here that it was what we were going for and they have done a fantastic job to achieve that.
“When I arrived I knew we had a good group of players, I knew they were talented and had a lot of ability, but they have worked extremely hard. Hard work is the starting point in football, then you can show your ability and they have done just that.”
Waddock was thrust into football management when QPR decided then boss Ian Holloway’s fingers were not as green as they could be and sent him on gardening leave in 2006.
He had been on Holloway’s coaching staff, but took up the reins and initially brought success, keeping the club in The Championship.
But the following season, results did not go their way and Waddock was replaced by John Gregory.
But he bears no ill-will towards the club where he spent nine years as a player, before becoming manager.
“Things didn’t go according to plan at QPR,” he added. “But I learnt a hell of a lot in a short period of time and I have put it into good use here at Aldershot. It didn’t work for me, but it wasn’t for want of trying and I’m better for the experience.”
“I wasn’t disappointed to drop down to the Conference. It was a new challenge, a new opening.
“The Aldershot job just came about. Terry Brown (former boss) left for family reasons. I applied for the job, went through the interview stage and they offered me the position. They gave me the opportunity to get back into the game.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Aldershot were top of the table by November and gradually built up an assailable lead.
But despite their dominance, Waddock was keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground.
A repetitive feature of post-match interviews became his reluctance to accept what was blindingly obvious to all – Aldershot were going to win the title at a canter.
“As we got closer, people were saying you’ve won it,” he added. “But you haven’t won anything until you cross that finish line. I have been in football for quite some time and it has a habit of slapping you in the face when you haven’t achieved anything.
“If I am being honest, it wasn’t hard to keep the players grounded either. They are a young group, but we asked them to take it one game at a time and to their credit, that’s what they have done.”
The champagne finally flowed when Aldershot wrapped up the title down in Devon with a draw at Exeter City.
But with the celebrations over and done with, the business of planning for next season is already underway.
“I have started thinking about next year,” Waddock added. “You have to enjoy the moment which we have, but you also have to plan for the future.
“The Blue Square is a really difficult league. There are a lot of good players and managers there. So we have done well to get out. And if we can get off to a good start next season, then hopefully the lads will feel comfortable playing at that level; we are looking forward to it.”
Although Waddock remains undaunted by the prospect of moving into The Football League, the task of improving the squad has already begun in earnest.
He is confident his players can cut the mustard in League Two, but hinted that, with the board’s backing, there could be one or two new arrivals over the summer.
“I hope the chairman’s going back me with some cash this summer, but you will have to ask him. We have spoken about budgets so I am fully aware of what I have got due to me.
“I have got to deal with the players who are out of contract first, and if they commit to the club then great, but if they don’t then I will have to look elsewhere.”
But even if personnel change, one thing will remain the same. Few people would think of the Conference as easy on the eye, but Aldershot have played an open, expansive brand of football that has seen them hit 81 goals on their way to the title.
“We won’t change the way we play,” Waddock added. “It’s bought success. If we need to, I will have a look at it, but we have got players that play that way and we can’t all of a sudden change our style.”
Perhaps the biggest fear for Aldershot fans is that Waddock’s success may lead him to pastures new. But while he remains at the club, the future looks bright and the celebrations will continue. Setanta
Setanta/Toby Davis - Exclusive Interview with Gary Waddock
With only one automatic promotion place on offer, guiding a club into the Football League is one of the toughest jobs in club management.
When Hercules completed his twelfth labour, he might just have fancied doing another. But if someone suggested he take on the task of getting promoted from Blue Square Premier, he would probably have called it a day.
But Aldershot, under the stewardship of boss Gary Waddock, have made this ultra-Herculean task look rather easy.
The Shots have waltzed to the title amassing an astonishing tally of 100 points – a Conference record – with one game still to play.
Waddock arrived at the club last summer - after an unsuccessful spell in charge at QPR - with one thing on his mind.
“Promotion was the target from day one,” he told setantasports.com in an exclusive interview.
“I told the players as soon as I got here that it was what we were going for and they have done a fantastic job to achieve that.
“When I arrived I knew we had a good group of players, I knew they were talented and had a lot of ability, but they have worked extremely hard. Hard work is the starting point in football, then you can show your ability and they have done just that.”
Waddock was thrust into football management when QPR decided then boss Ian Holloway’s fingers were not as green as they could be and sent him on gardening leave in 2006.
He had been on Holloway’s coaching staff, but took up the reins and initially brought success, keeping the club in The Championship.
But the following season, results did not go their way and Waddock was replaced by John Gregory.
But he bears no ill-will towards the club where he spent nine years as a player, before becoming manager.
“Things didn’t go according to plan at QPR,” he added. “But I learnt a hell of a lot in a short period of time and I have put it into good use here at Aldershot. It didn’t work for me, but it wasn’t for want of trying and I’m better for the experience.”
“I wasn’t disappointed to drop down to the Conference. It was a new challenge, a new opening.
“The Aldershot job just came about. Terry Brown (former boss) left for family reasons. I applied for the job, went through the interview stage and they offered me the position. They gave me the opportunity to get back into the game.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Aldershot were top of the table by November and gradually built up an assailable lead.
But despite their dominance, Waddock was keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground.
A repetitive feature of post-match interviews became his reluctance to accept what was blindingly obvious to all – Aldershot were going to win the title at a canter.
“As we got closer, people were saying you’ve won it,” he added. “But you haven’t won anything until you cross that finish line. I have been in football for quite some time and it has a habit of slapping you in the face when you haven’t achieved anything.
“If I am being honest, it wasn’t hard to keep the players grounded either. They are a young group, but we asked them to take it one game at a time and to their credit, that’s what they have done.”
The champagne finally flowed when Aldershot wrapped up the title down in Devon with a draw at Exeter City.
But with the celebrations over and done with, the business of planning for next season is already underway.
“I have started thinking about next year,” Waddock added. “You have to enjoy the moment which we have, but you also have to plan for the future.
“The Blue Square is a really difficult league. There are a lot of good players and managers there. So we have done well to get out. And if we can get off to a good start next season, then hopefully the lads will feel comfortable playing at that level; we are looking forward to it.”
Although Waddock remains undaunted by the prospect of moving into The Football League, the task of improving the squad has already begun in earnest.
He is confident his players can cut the mustard in League Two, but hinted that, with the board’s backing, there could be one or two new arrivals over the summer.
“I hope the chairman’s going back me with some cash this summer, but you will have to ask him. We have spoken about budgets so I am fully aware of what I have got due to me.
“I have got to deal with the players who are out of contract first, and if they commit to the club then great, but if they don’t then I will have to look elsewhere.”
But even if personnel change, one thing will remain the same. Few people would think of the Conference as easy on the eye, but Aldershot have played an open, expansive brand of football that has seen them hit 81 goals on their way to the title.
“We won’t change the way we play,” Waddock added. “It’s bought success. If we need to, I will have a look at it, but we have got players that play that way and we can’t all of a sudden change our style.”
Perhaps the biggest fear for Aldershot fans is that Waddock’s success may lead him to pastures new. But while he remains at the club, the future looks bright and the celebrations will continue. Setanta
Briatore Raving About Balanta and Talking About Plans for QPR Development....Real Madrid Players to QPR?
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Daily Mail - QPR chief Briatore hails Loftus Road teenager Balanta as 'the new Michael Schumacher'
Flavio Briatore has hailed Queens Park Rangers teenager Angelo Balanta as "the new Michael Schumacher."
The Rangers chairman identified the 17-year-old striker as the jewel in the crown of a young squad primed with the task of restoring the glory days to Loftus Road.
Briatore masterminded Formula One team Benetton's transformation from down-grid also-rans into a motor-racing powerhouse with Schumacher the catalyst on the track.
Now he has earmarked Colombian-born Balanta for stardom. The teenager, who hopes to make only the fifth start of his brief career against Norwich on Saturday, recently claimed he will have more of an impact on English football than former Newcastle icon and fellow countryman Faustino Asprilla.
"Balanta is the new Schumacher," said Briatore. "He is very young, strong, talented and confident. Look at Alexandre Pato in Italy [with AC Milan]. He is a teenager and very confident but if you are talented like Balanta you can be.
"In Formula One now, all the drivers are young but when Schumacher came in he was 19 and drivers like Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Ricardo Patresi were in their thirties.
In the briefings, Schumacher looked like a baby but on the track, he fought with his heroes.
"When you are talented you feel confident and I see that in Balanta."
Briatore sees many parallels between Benetton and Rangers, not least in terms of recruitment and the nurturing of young talent. The Italian added: "When I helped create Benetton I knew I didn't have the possibility to take Senna or Alain Prost because I didn't have the credibility in Formula One.
"We needed somebody to go with us, so we took Schumacher. QPR are the same. We will be very prudent. We have a young squad and they can grow together.
"Its easy to come into football with a big fortune and leave with a small fortune. I will not sit back at all. I have a responsibility and a respect for my shareholders.
"I am very busy with F1 but I am sure I have one hour a day for QPR."
Talk of wholesale change — from moving grounds to changing managers — is unavoidable where a man with Briatore's power and financial standing is concerned.
Billionaire co-owners Lakshmi Mittal and Bernie Ecclestone represent a wealth of ruthless business acumen, but Briatore insists the club will not be transformed into something the fans would not recognise.
"QPR are very sexy — the tradition, the history of the club," said Briatore. "It is very fashionable and the last thing I want to lose is the history of the club.
"We have plenty of time to talk to the council about the stadium. We want to stay there. The location is one of the things that made QPR attractive. I don't want a stadium for 40,000 at the moment. 30,000 is plenty for now. Let's build up the club.
"With the manager, Gigi is a super professional guy. He is a transparent guy, very honest and he is working very hard. For the project we have at QPR, I feel he is the right guy to start it. I judge anyone by the results.
"For the moment, I don't have any worry because he has done a great job."
With a new Platinum club and an exclusive 100-seater restaurant also planned for next season, the future looks bright. The club recently announced a £20million shirt sponsorship with Lotto Sport Italia and Briatore revealed that particular club record deal is just a sign of things to come.
"We have more deals but we don't want to announce everything together," said the QPR chief, before cryptically adding: "Summer is very long — sometimes it is better to have good news every couple of weeks." Daily Mail
Mail - Loan Rangers clinch the Real deal - but miss out on the Raul deal
Some of Real Madrid's top youngsters could be on their way to Queens Park Rangers thanks to a friendship between Flavio Briatore and the Spanish club's president.
Ramon Calderon was the Rangers co-owner's guest for their 3-2 win over Blackpool at Loftus Road last month and QPR are looking to establish links between the clubs.
Raul won't be coming to Loftus Road unless Real Madrid draw QPR in the InterToto Cup
A Rangers source said: "QPR won't be getting the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy or Raul in any loan deals but they could get others who might fit the bill.
"Madrid's facilities are among the best in the world, so maybe some of our youth players might benefit from a training spell there as well.
"Calderon is a big F1 fan, which is how he knows Flavio."
Any Spanish imports would be joining a club who are on the verge of great things, according to manager Luigi De Canio.
The Italian, whose team are unbeaten in seven games, said: "The spirit of the squad is excellent. We need to become a team that is hard to beat, and we are making great strides." Daily Mail
Daily Mail - QPR chief Briatore hails Loftus Road teenager Balanta as 'the new Michael Schumacher'
Flavio Briatore has hailed Queens Park Rangers teenager Angelo Balanta as "the new Michael Schumacher."
The Rangers chairman identified the 17-year-old striker as the jewel in the crown of a young squad primed with the task of restoring the glory days to Loftus Road.
Briatore masterminded Formula One team Benetton's transformation from down-grid also-rans into a motor-racing powerhouse with Schumacher the catalyst on the track.
Now he has earmarked Colombian-born Balanta for stardom. The teenager, who hopes to make only the fifth start of his brief career against Norwich on Saturday, recently claimed he will have more of an impact on English football than former Newcastle icon and fellow countryman Faustino Asprilla.
"Balanta is the new Schumacher," said Briatore. "He is very young, strong, talented and confident. Look at Alexandre Pato in Italy [with AC Milan]. He is a teenager and very confident but if you are talented like Balanta you can be.
"In Formula One now, all the drivers are young but when Schumacher came in he was 19 and drivers like Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Ricardo Patresi were in their thirties.
In the briefings, Schumacher looked like a baby but on the track, he fought with his heroes.
"When you are talented you feel confident and I see that in Balanta."
Briatore sees many parallels between Benetton and Rangers, not least in terms of recruitment and the nurturing of young talent. The Italian added: "When I helped create Benetton I knew I didn't have the possibility to take Senna or Alain Prost because I didn't have the credibility in Formula One.
"We needed somebody to go with us, so we took Schumacher. QPR are the same. We will be very prudent. We have a young squad and they can grow together.
"Its easy to come into football with a big fortune and leave with a small fortune. I will not sit back at all. I have a responsibility and a respect for my shareholders.
"I am very busy with F1 but I am sure I have one hour a day for QPR."
Talk of wholesale change — from moving grounds to changing managers — is unavoidable where a man with Briatore's power and financial standing is concerned.
Billionaire co-owners Lakshmi Mittal and Bernie Ecclestone represent a wealth of ruthless business acumen, but Briatore insists the club will not be transformed into something the fans would not recognise.
"QPR are very sexy — the tradition, the history of the club," said Briatore. "It is very fashionable and the last thing I want to lose is the history of the club.
"We have plenty of time to talk to the council about the stadium. We want to stay there. The location is one of the things that made QPR attractive. I don't want a stadium for 40,000 at the moment. 30,000 is plenty for now. Let's build up the club.
"With the manager, Gigi is a super professional guy. He is a transparent guy, very honest and he is working very hard. For the project we have at QPR, I feel he is the right guy to start it. I judge anyone by the results.
"For the moment, I don't have any worry because he has done a great job."
With a new Platinum club and an exclusive 100-seater restaurant also planned for next season, the future looks bright. The club recently announced a £20million shirt sponsorship with Lotto Sport Italia and Briatore revealed that particular club record deal is just a sign of things to come.
"We have more deals but we don't want to announce everything together," said the QPR chief, before cryptically adding: "Summer is very long — sometimes it is better to have good news every couple of weeks." Daily Mail
Mail - Loan Rangers clinch the Real deal - but miss out on the Raul deal
Some of Real Madrid's top youngsters could be on their way to Queens Park Rangers thanks to a friendship between Flavio Briatore and the Spanish club's president.
Ramon Calderon was the Rangers co-owner's guest for their 3-2 win over Blackpool at Loftus Road last month and QPR are looking to establish links between the clubs.
Raul won't be coming to Loftus Road unless Real Madrid draw QPR in the InterToto Cup
A Rangers source said: "QPR won't be getting the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy or Raul in any loan deals but they could get others who might fit the bill.
"Madrid's facilities are among the best in the world, so maybe some of our youth players might benefit from a training spell there as well.
"Calderon is a big F1 fan, which is how he knows Flavio."
Any Spanish imports would be joining a club who are on the verge of great things, according to manager Luigi De Canio.
The Italian, whose team are unbeaten in seven games, said: "The spirit of the squad is excellent. We need to become a team that is hard to beat, and we are making great strides." Daily Mail
Flashback, One Year: John Gregory's Contract Extended and Planning For The Future
-
From a year ago: April 24, 2007. What a year!
QPR Official Site -GAFFER STAYS ON
The Club are delighted to announce that John Gregory has agreed a two year extension to his current contract.
In the wake of the R's guaranteeing their Championship status with victory against Cardiff City on Saturday, Gregory has activated a clause within his existing contract that will see him remain at Loftus Road until the end of the 2008/09 campaign.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Gregory said: "I'm delighted to accept the offer made to me by Chairman Gianni Paladini.
"I feel very honoured to have been the Manager of QPR for the last seven months and to have been given the task of keeping us in the Championship. Now that has been secured, the rebuilding has to begin.
"We need to put some concrete in the foundations to make sure the Club does not sink to the appalling depths that it has done this season. That means making changes throughout the Club, which will not always be popular ones.
"I personally have never been happier. I look forward to working alongside Gianni, as we strive to build a better future for our loyal fans. All you need is love.''
Gregory joined the R's on September 20th 2006, replacing Gary Waddock, whose ten games in charge in all competitions at the start of the season heralded just two victories.
His impact was immediate, as the R's clinched back-to-back wins in his first two games, before four wins in five outings, culminating in Saturday's 1-0 win against the Bluebirds, confirmed the R's place in the second tier of English football.
Chairman Gianni Paladini expressed his delight at the news, commenting: "John Gregory has done a fantastic job in his short time in charge here and we are all delighted that he has agreed to be part of our future.
"The impact he has made since he arrived here in September has been quite staggering. The signings he has made have been inspirational and he's proven what a top Manager he is.
"He has our one hundred per-cent backing and he is most definitely the right man to lead us to what we hope will be a very bright future.'' QPR
April 24, 2007 - Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Carry on John
JOHN Gregory has been given the green light to strengthen his squad for next season after QPR ensured their place in the Championship.
Gregory's relegation-haunted team finally clinched survival with a 1-0 win over Cardiff last weekend and the manager immediately signed a new two-year deal to stay at Loftus Road.
Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini told the Times: "It's up to John what players he wants to bring in. He knows the budget for next season and I will back him 100 per cent.
"It's not easy to find the right replacement when you change managers after five years and we believed Gary Waddock was the right one and gave him the chance to sign the players he wanted.
"Unfortunately it didn't work out, but we asked John to come in and I'm completely confident that QPR have a bright future with him as manager.
"If you look at our form in the last two months, that's what we're capable of doing. There will be a big clearout and, if we have the right players next season, we can be much higher up the table."
Gregory has already offloaded eight players permanently and sent six others out on loan since he succeeded Waddock as Rangers boss seven months ago.
And the manager vowed to make further changes in personnel when the season ends, saying: "There's a lot of hard work to be done in terms of who's going and who's staying.
"I had too many losers at the club and it took me a while to get them off our backs. There was too much laughing after we got beaten on the coach on the way home.
"Some of them forgot the score at 6pm on a Saturday night and they're not here any more. The ones that were hurting, they're still here.
"People who were employees at the club were glad to see us losing, but they've gone and if there's anyone like that here now, they'll be gone in the summer."
But Gregory paid tribute to the efforts of the players who hauled Rangers to safety with two games remaining, especially some of those who have arrived since the turn of the year.
He declared: "The day I signed Danny Cullip was the day this club started to move forward. Adam Bolder's been great for us, so has Lee Camp and [Sami] Timoska will get better as time goes on.
"It wasn't just the players I brought in, though, some of those I inherited have worked so hard too and what they've achieved this season has been incredible.
"The players have been under pressure from the first day and they've shown an unbelievable amount of courage, effort and enthusiasm on the training ground.
"The spirit in the dressing-room has got us out of trouble. I'm delighted for everyone connected with this club, now I'd like to celebrate and have a bloody good time."
Once the celebrations have died down, Gregory's task will be to keep his squad focused on their two remaining games, beginning with play-off hopefuls Wolves at Molineux on Saturday.
Meanwhile, QPR have announced a 10 per cent reduction on season ticket prices in a bid to raise attendances at Loftus Road next season.
Rangers have averaged crowds of less than 13,000 this season, compared to close on 16,000 before steep price rises were introduced two years ago.
Chairman Gianni Paladini hopes the new pricing scheme - which keeps the cost of a season ticket for under-16s at £70 and allows under-eights in for free - will help bring back the missing supporters.
Current season ticket holders have until May 31 to renew with a further reduction and Paladini stressed: "The 10 per cent discount is across the board, so there will still be a discount on the early bird rate.
"One of the main reasons we stayed up was because the fans turned out in force. Loftus Road must be a fortress next season and I want to see an extra two or three thousand people for each game.
From a year ago: April 24, 2007. What a year!
QPR Official Site -GAFFER STAYS ON
The Club are delighted to announce that John Gregory has agreed a two year extension to his current contract.
In the wake of the R's guaranteeing their Championship status with victory against Cardiff City on Saturday, Gregory has activated a clause within his existing contract that will see him remain at Loftus Road until the end of the 2008/09 campaign.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Gregory said: "I'm delighted to accept the offer made to me by Chairman Gianni Paladini.
"I feel very honoured to have been the Manager of QPR for the last seven months and to have been given the task of keeping us in the Championship. Now that has been secured, the rebuilding has to begin.
"We need to put some concrete in the foundations to make sure the Club does not sink to the appalling depths that it has done this season. That means making changes throughout the Club, which will not always be popular ones.
"I personally have never been happier. I look forward to working alongside Gianni, as we strive to build a better future for our loyal fans. All you need is love.''
Gregory joined the R's on September 20th 2006, replacing Gary Waddock, whose ten games in charge in all competitions at the start of the season heralded just two victories.
His impact was immediate, as the R's clinched back-to-back wins in his first two games, before four wins in five outings, culminating in Saturday's 1-0 win against the Bluebirds, confirmed the R's place in the second tier of English football.
Chairman Gianni Paladini expressed his delight at the news, commenting: "John Gregory has done a fantastic job in his short time in charge here and we are all delighted that he has agreed to be part of our future.
"The impact he has made since he arrived here in September has been quite staggering. The signings he has made have been inspirational and he's proven what a top Manager he is.
"He has our one hundred per-cent backing and he is most definitely the right man to lead us to what we hope will be a very bright future.'' QPR
April 24, 2007 - Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Carry on John
JOHN Gregory has been given the green light to strengthen his squad for next season after QPR ensured their place in the Championship.
Gregory's relegation-haunted team finally clinched survival with a 1-0 win over Cardiff last weekend and the manager immediately signed a new two-year deal to stay at Loftus Road.
Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini told the Times: "It's up to John what players he wants to bring in. He knows the budget for next season and I will back him 100 per cent.
"It's not easy to find the right replacement when you change managers after five years and we believed Gary Waddock was the right one and gave him the chance to sign the players he wanted.
"Unfortunately it didn't work out, but we asked John to come in and I'm completely confident that QPR have a bright future with him as manager.
"If you look at our form in the last two months, that's what we're capable of doing. There will be a big clearout and, if we have the right players next season, we can be much higher up the table."
Gregory has already offloaded eight players permanently and sent six others out on loan since he succeeded Waddock as Rangers boss seven months ago.
And the manager vowed to make further changes in personnel when the season ends, saying: "There's a lot of hard work to be done in terms of who's going and who's staying.
"I had too many losers at the club and it took me a while to get them off our backs. There was too much laughing after we got beaten on the coach on the way home.
"Some of them forgot the score at 6pm on a Saturday night and they're not here any more. The ones that were hurting, they're still here.
"People who were employees at the club were glad to see us losing, but they've gone and if there's anyone like that here now, they'll be gone in the summer."
But Gregory paid tribute to the efforts of the players who hauled Rangers to safety with two games remaining, especially some of those who have arrived since the turn of the year.
He declared: "The day I signed Danny Cullip was the day this club started to move forward. Adam Bolder's been great for us, so has Lee Camp and [Sami] Timoska will get better as time goes on.
"It wasn't just the players I brought in, though, some of those I inherited have worked so hard too and what they've achieved this season has been incredible.
"The players have been under pressure from the first day and they've shown an unbelievable amount of courage, effort and enthusiasm on the training ground.
"The spirit in the dressing-room has got us out of trouble. I'm delighted for everyone connected with this club, now I'd like to celebrate and have a bloody good time."
Once the celebrations have died down, Gregory's task will be to keep his squad focused on their two remaining games, beginning with play-off hopefuls Wolves at Molineux on Saturday.
Meanwhile, QPR have announced a 10 per cent reduction on season ticket prices in a bid to raise attendances at Loftus Road next season.
Rangers have averaged crowds of less than 13,000 this season, compared to close on 16,000 before steep price rises were introduced two years ago.
Chairman Gianni Paladini hopes the new pricing scheme - which keeps the cost of a season ticket for under-16s at £70 and allows under-eights in for free - will help bring back the missing supporters.
Current season ticket holders have until May 31 to renew with a further reduction and Paladini stressed: "The 10 per cent discount is across the board, so there will still be a discount on the early bird rate.
"One of the main reasons we stayed up was because the fans turned out in force. Loftus Road must be a fortress next season and I want to see an extra two or three thousand people for each game.
No QPR Match Against Real Madrid!
-
Daily Mirror - NO REAL POINT
QPR have abandoned plans for a glamour friendly against Real Madrid at Wembley - as it would have left them £500,000 out of pocket.
Rangers joint-owner Flavio Briatore is a friend of Madrid president Ramon Calderon and the pair had held talks about a high-profile preseason fixture.
But the game would have cost Rangers £1.2million to stage and the club were not confident of bringing enough fans through the gates to break even. Mirror
[Who we would have been playing: Real Madrid's Official Site (in English)]
Daily Mirror - NO REAL POINT
QPR have abandoned plans for a glamour friendly against Real Madrid at Wembley - as it would have left them £500,000 out of pocket.
Rangers joint-owner Flavio Briatore is a friend of Madrid president Ramon Calderon and the pair had held talks about a high-profile preseason fixture.
But the game would have cost Rangers £1.2million to stage and the club were not confident of bringing enough fans through the gates to break even. Mirror
[Who we would have been playing: Real Madrid's Official Site (in English)]
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Ainsworth Looks Backs and Looks Forward...Blackstock and De Canio Look Forward...Rehman Speaks Out Against Racism
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Gareth Ainsworth/Kilburn Times - Step on the Gaz
WE saw a bit of an upset this week at QPR - and I'm not talking about our win against Charlton.
Damien Delaney's the new king of go-karting - he took Rowly's title off him when the lads all went down to the track on Tuesday and he'll be the man to beat next time.
But nobody should think that means we're easing up as far as football goes. We've got two massive games left and we can still have a say at both ends of the table.
We're playing with a lot of freedom, producing some good football and enjoying it - and I think everyone could see the contrast between us and Charlton last Saturday.
To be honest we expected more from them, but as soon as we got a goal they seemed to crumble and they looked like they all had a weight on their shoulders.
Charlton didn't offer a lot, but we were pleased to keep a clean sheet all the same and I felt we were looking more comfortable in the last 10 minutes than we have done for a while.
I'm pleased for Dexter as well - suddenly he's found a purple patch at the end of what's been a tricky season for him.
Maybe people forget how young Dexter is - he's still only 21 and, because of the way he finished last season, expectations and pressure were higher this time.
It's also worth pointing out that a cartilage injury can take some time to come back from - and, in a funny way, what may have helped him is the birth of his son Ramirez.
You wouldn't think that sleepless nights are the best backdrop to playing football, but when you've got a family to look after it can focus your head better.
Like Charlton, Norwich will be the team feeling the pressure when we go there this weekend. Everyone felt they'd already done enough to stay up and I have to say it'd be a travesty if they went down on 52 points.
But there's no reason why we can't go there and make them sweat a bit.
I played with Dion Dublin years ago at Cambridge United and this is going to be his last home game at the end of a fantastic career, but we aren't going to lie down out of sentiment.
As well as Dion, we've got our old friend Jamie Cureton to contend with, so it'll be a good test for our back four, but I'm confident we can come through that and keep our unbeaten run going. Kilburn Times
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Blackstock braced for a battle
QPR matchwinner Dexter Blackstock accepts he faces a fight to stay in the team next season despite his current rich vein of form.
Blackstock's goal against Charlton was the fourth time he has found the net in five games - his best scoring sequence since last season, when he headed Rangers' goal charts with 14.
With Rowan Vine and Patrick Agyemang out injured, Blackstock - still only 21 - is the only senior striker available for now, but knows that situation is almost certain to change during the close season.
He said: "Everyone wants to play for QPR at the moment and there's a lot of talk about money and the club going places with Flavio [Briatore] and Bernie [Ecclestone] behind us.
"The fans are seeing that. You can tell by the attendance against Charlton - over 17,000 - that the fans are coming back and getting excited about the future.
"That carries a lot more expectation, therefore better players have got to be brought into the club to take it forward.
"As a professional footballer, you have to accept players are going to come in and fight for your shirt.
"Everyone in our changing room wants to stay here and be part of what's ahead. We all want to achieve promotion in the long term and we'll need a big squad of players to do that.
"If I can get goals, then it's great to be helping the team perform and win games, that's the main thing."
The former Southampton forward was paired with 17-year-old Angelo Balanta, a product of Rangers' Centre of Excellence, on Saturday.
Balanta impressed in only his fourth start for the first team and Rs boss Luigi de Canio stressed afterwards that he plans to promote more players from the youth system long-term.
"Angelo's an excellent player," said De Canio. "He does want to learn and puts in a lot of effort. This has to go to the credit of the youth coaches who have worked with him.
"My dream is to have a QPR side in the Premier League with six or seven players in the squad who have come up through the youth set-up.
"We have just started on the project and the important thing is that we try and build gradually."
SATURDAY'S crowd of 17,035 was the biggest for a league game at Loftus Road in nearly three years.
Almost 18,000 watched Rangers beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 at the end of the 2004-05 season, but a hefty increase in ticket prices that summer led to a severe fall in attendances. Kilburn Times
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Call for community action gets Zesh's vote
QPR'S Zesh Rehman has backed the Times campaign for Londoners to 'Get out and VOTE' in the capital's elections next week.
The Rangers defender is one of just four British Asian footballers plying their trade in the professional game and is a leading supporter of anti-racism programmes run by the FA and PFA.
Rehman told the Times: "Football is the perfect vehicle to unite communities, to help bridge the gap between communities and create more harmony.
"If you don't go out and use your vote, you could be helping to cause distress for the whole community. I believe it's important for everyone to vote."
Rehman, who grew up in Birmingham but plays international football for his parents' native country, Pakistan, has recently set up a website to provide support and advice for youngsters trying to forge a career in the sport.
Asked why so few Asians have broken into the professional ranks to date, the Rangers centre-back observed: "I think we're at the stage where black players were in the 70s, but there are different stereotypes to deal with now.
"There are pre-conceived ideas that maybe they're scared of the weather, or they have the wrong diet and aren't strong enough - and if those keep being repeated then they're less likely to get a fair start in the game.
"There aren't enough role models and, if you're a young lad growing up, you need to see those. People will ask you 'who do you want to be like?' and there aren't many answers to give.
"As one of only four Asian footballers in this country, I see it as my responsibility to try and give something back and make a difference - not just to Asian youngsters but everyone."
Along with QPR team-mate Damien Delaney, Rehman recently attended the launch of a video for the Show Racism the Red Card campaign at Westminster Academy.
The event was organised by Rangers' Football in the Community department and was also attended by former Rs striker Leroy Rosenior and ex-Wimbledon and Sheffield United boss Dave Bassett.
You can visit Rehman's website and read his blog at www.zeshrehman.com Kilburn Times
Gareth Ainsworth/Kilburn Times - Step on the Gaz
WE saw a bit of an upset this week at QPR - and I'm not talking about our win against Charlton.
Damien Delaney's the new king of go-karting - he took Rowly's title off him when the lads all went down to the track on Tuesday and he'll be the man to beat next time.
But nobody should think that means we're easing up as far as football goes. We've got two massive games left and we can still have a say at both ends of the table.
We're playing with a lot of freedom, producing some good football and enjoying it - and I think everyone could see the contrast between us and Charlton last Saturday.
To be honest we expected more from them, but as soon as we got a goal they seemed to crumble and they looked like they all had a weight on their shoulders.
Charlton didn't offer a lot, but we were pleased to keep a clean sheet all the same and I felt we were looking more comfortable in the last 10 minutes than we have done for a while.
I'm pleased for Dexter as well - suddenly he's found a purple patch at the end of what's been a tricky season for him.
Maybe people forget how young Dexter is - he's still only 21 and, because of the way he finished last season, expectations and pressure were higher this time.
It's also worth pointing out that a cartilage injury can take some time to come back from - and, in a funny way, what may have helped him is the birth of his son Ramirez.
You wouldn't think that sleepless nights are the best backdrop to playing football, but when you've got a family to look after it can focus your head better.
Like Charlton, Norwich will be the team feeling the pressure when we go there this weekend. Everyone felt they'd already done enough to stay up and I have to say it'd be a travesty if they went down on 52 points.
But there's no reason why we can't go there and make them sweat a bit.
I played with Dion Dublin years ago at Cambridge United and this is going to be his last home game at the end of a fantastic career, but we aren't going to lie down out of sentiment.
As well as Dion, we've got our old friend Jamie Cureton to contend with, so it'll be a good test for our back four, but I'm confident we can come through that and keep our unbeaten run going. Kilburn Times
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Blackstock braced for a battle
QPR matchwinner Dexter Blackstock accepts he faces a fight to stay in the team next season despite his current rich vein of form.
Blackstock's goal against Charlton was the fourth time he has found the net in five games - his best scoring sequence since last season, when he headed Rangers' goal charts with 14.
With Rowan Vine and Patrick Agyemang out injured, Blackstock - still only 21 - is the only senior striker available for now, but knows that situation is almost certain to change during the close season.
He said: "Everyone wants to play for QPR at the moment and there's a lot of talk about money and the club going places with Flavio [Briatore] and Bernie [Ecclestone] behind us.
"The fans are seeing that. You can tell by the attendance against Charlton - over 17,000 - that the fans are coming back and getting excited about the future.
"That carries a lot more expectation, therefore better players have got to be brought into the club to take it forward.
"As a professional footballer, you have to accept players are going to come in and fight for your shirt.
"Everyone in our changing room wants to stay here and be part of what's ahead. We all want to achieve promotion in the long term and we'll need a big squad of players to do that.
"If I can get goals, then it's great to be helping the team perform and win games, that's the main thing."
The former Southampton forward was paired with 17-year-old Angelo Balanta, a product of Rangers' Centre of Excellence, on Saturday.
Balanta impressed in only his fourth start for the first team and Rs boss Luigi de Canio stressed afterwards that he plans to promote more players from the youth system long-term.
"Angelo's an excellent player," said De Canio. "He does want to learn and puts in a lot of effort. This has to go to the credit of the youth coaches who have worked with him.
"My dream is to have a QPR side in the Premier League with six or seven players in the squad who have come up through the youth set-up.
"We have just started on the project and the important thing is that we try and build gradually."
SATURDAY'S crowd of 17,035 was the biggest for a league game at Loftus Road in nearly three years.
Almost 18,000 watched Rangers beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 at the end of the 2004-05 season, but a hefty increase in ticket prices that summer led to a severe fall in attendances. Kilburn Times
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Call for community action gets Zesh's vote
QPR'S Zesh Rehman has backed the Times campaign for Londoners to 'Get out and VOTE' in the capital's elections next week.
The Rangers defender is one of just four British Asian footballers plying their trade in the professional game and is a leading supporter of anti-racism programmes run by the FA and PFA.
Rehman told the Times: "Football is the perfect vehicle to unite communities, to help bridge the gap between communities and create more harmony.
"If you don't go out and use your vote, you could be helping to cause distress for the whole community. I believe it's important for everyone to vote."
Rehman, who grew up in Birmingham but plays international football for his parents' native country, Pakistan, has recently set up a website to provide support and advice for youngsters trying to forge a career in the sport.
Asked why so few Asians have broken into the professional ranks to date, the Rangers centre-back observed: "I think we're at the stage where black players were in the 70s, but there are different stereotypes to deal with now.
"There are pre-conceived ideas that maybe they're scared of the weather, or they have the wrong diet and aren't strong enough - and if those keep being repeated then they're less likely to get a fair start in the game.
"There aren't enough role models and, if you're a young lad growing up, you need to see those. People will ask you 'who do you want to be like?' and there aren't many answers to give.
"As one of only four Asian footballers in this country, I see it as my responsibility to try and give something back and make a difference - not just to Asian youngsters but everyone."
Along with QPR team-mate Damien Delaney, Rehman recently attended the launch of a video for the Show Racism the Red Card campaign at Westminster Academy.
The event was organised by Rangers' Football in the Community department and was also attended by former Rs striker Leroy Rosenior and ex-Wimbledon and Sheffield United boss Dave Bassett.
You can visit Rehman's website and read his blog at www.zeshrehman.com Kilburn Times
QPR Season-by-Season Statistics
-
The excellent QPR Fan Site, QPR Net recently completed its season-by-season statistics for the past century and more of QPR's games. It makes interesting reading!
QPR Net - History: Season By Season
"The season by season stats section is now complete, you can view or download excel info sheets for every season from 1899 to the present day. ..."
"...The stats are held on excel files which are viewable online or downloadable if you prefer, each sheet covers one season and lists player appearances, stats, fixtures and results. We will be putting the sheets online in batches over the course of the year.
To access the files click on the link to the left and simply choose the year you wish to view to open the excel file, or right click on link and choose “save as” To download the file to your PC." QPR Net
- Download the Files: Season-by-Season
-
FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Explanation: FILE CONTENTS AND EXPLANATIONS
VIEW FILES
The excellent QPR Fan Site, QPR Net recently completed its season-by-season statistics for the past century and more of QPR's games. It makes interesting reading!
QPR Net - History: Season By Season
"The season by season stats section is now complete, you can view or download excel info sheets for every season from 1899 to the present day. ..."
"...The stats are held on excel files which are viewable online or downloadable if you prefer, each sheet covers one season and lists player appearances, stats, fixtures and results. We will be putting the sheets online in batches over the course of the year.
To access the files click on the link to the left and simply choose the year you wish to view to open the excel file, or right click on link and choose “save as” To download the file to your PC." QPR Net
- Download the Files: Season-by-Season
-
FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Explanation: FILE CONTENTS AND EXPLANATIONS
VIEW FILES
Snippets: QPR Reserves Hold Southampton...Ex-QPR Birthday...Ex-QPR Steve Morrow Unbeaten
-
Good comeback for QPR Reserves against Southampton. [Pickens, who was not on the bench for QPR's game against Charlton, was not in QPR's goal for this reserve game]
Ex-QPR goalie, Frazer (or Fraser) Digby Turns 41. Digby played some 20 games for QPR between October 2001 and January 2003. - Wikipedia --- Digby
Steve Morrow's FC Dallas, only team remaining unbeaten in MLS! Unbeaten FC Dallas -- FC Dallas Report (and uniform!)
Another Ex-QPR day coming up in the MLS: Gino Padula (photo) vs John Spencer (Assistant Coach) -
COlumbus vs Houston Dynamos
Southampton Official Site - Reserves draw
Saints Reserves fielded a strong side as they went in search of the win which would clinch top spot in the Pontins Holidays Combination Central Division.
Marek Saganowski and Vincent Pericard were paired up front with Nathan Dyer and Alex Ostlund also given a match fitness run-out in readiness for the final two Coca-Cola Championship games of the season.
Saints Res: Pernecky, Ostlund, Lancashire, K Davies, Mills, Dyer (Thomson 87), Gillett, James, Lallana, Pericard (McGoldrick 45), Saganowski (Baseya 45). Subs: Hatch, Poke.
QPR Res: Crowther, Coyne, Barker, O'Brien (Smith 45), Rehman, Braithwaite, Kelly, Maguire, German (Morgan-Cummings 63), Arthur (Brown 63), Rose. Subs: Wright, Goodchild.
Referee: B Malone. Attendance: 728
Saints almost took the lead after just three minutes as James fed Lallana on the left and his delicate cross picked out the unmarked Saganowski who flicked a header inches wide of the far post from six yards.
James found Lallana again three minutes later but this time his chip was nodded away from Pericard by Rehman.
An 18-yard shot by James swung just wide of the left post following a lay-back by Pericard who then had a shot blocked by Rehman.
Ostlund's clever backheel and spin gave him space to hang up a cross for Saganowski at the far post. He met it well but the powerful header was well saved at almost point blank range by Crowther on 10 minutes.
Lallana dropped the shoulder and darted past three defenders in quick succession but his attempted lay-off for James was intercepted.
The lively Lallana then saw a 22-yard shot fly over and James was also off target with a blast from similar range on 25 minutes.
A minute later the visitors managed their first attempt on goal, a 30-yard drive by Arthur always rising.
Gillett threaded through for Lallana who turned well in the box but could only prod through to the keeper under pressure.
Ostlund shaped to cross on the run but instead cut in from the right to hit a low left-foot drive which was turned round the near post.
Saganowski fired a low 18-yard shot past the right post then Rose tried an ambitious 30-yard shot which took a deflection to win a corner.
Ostlund teed up Gillett whose powerful 20-yard left-foot blast was beaten away by Crowther to his left.
Dyer's deflected shot came to Lallana who reacted sharply but could not quite divert the header on target. Pericard blasted past the right post from 16 yards as Saints kept up the pressure.
Pernecky dived bravely at the feet of Maguire as he tried to pounce on a firm, low diagonal ball in from the right.
Half-time: Saints Res 0 QPR Res 0
Saints made two changes at half-time taking off Saganowski and Pericard to protect them for the league games and sending on Baseya and McGoldrick. QPR also made a switch replacing O'Brien with Smith.
It almost paid immediate dividends as McGoldrick broke down the right and put in a low centre but Baseya could only meet it straight on beyond the far post and put it wide.
Ostlund made a powerful driving run into the box but had to stretch for the shot and could only put it over the bar.
Lallana appeared to be taken out by a rash lunge from the keeper but with the ball already running behind, the referee gave only a goal-kick.
Saints went agonisingly close on 54 minutes when Gillett's powerful 22-yard central free-kick deflected off the wall and came back off the inside of the right post.
Mills made a superbly-timed lunge to rob Maguire as he was about to shoot from eight yards and with the goal seemingly at his mercy.
James curled a 20-yard shot past the angle of the far right post and bar on 57 minutes and Lancashire bravely hurled himself in the way of a long-range effort by Coyne.
QPR made a double switch on 63 minutes sending on Brown and Morgan-Cummings for Arthur and German.
Morgan escaped a booking after bringing down Ostlund in full flight just outside the box. James floated in the free-kick which dropped between the keeper and Braithwaite at the far post and hit the shins of Lancashire running in. It came at him too suddenly to direct it and he could only run it wide of the far post.
Dyer burst forward through the inside right position but could only fire over from 20 yards. Then he outsprinted a defender in pursuit of a James chip. Dyer tried to lob the keeper who made a fine save at full-stretch to tip behind.
McGoldrick clipped a 30-yard free-kick over the bar with 18 minutes on the clock. McGoldrick then collided with the keeper as he chased Ostlund's chip forward. Baseya followed up to head the ball over Crowther and towards the unguarded goal only for Rehman to get back and nod off the line.
MCGOLDRICK needed treatment and as he was summoned back onto the field he robbed Braithwaite on the edge of the area, rounded Crowther and slotted into the empty net from 10 yards to give Saints a deserved lead on 76 minutes.
Lallana and Coyne both needed treatment after a collision in the box and Davies intercepted well to stop Brown.
With three minutes on the clock, Saints sent on Thomson for Dyer who received a warm ovation as he went off.
Immediately he made a run down the right to win a corner which was cleared by Braithwaite as three minutes were added.
In the second of those, Brown was played in to the left of goal. He had time and space to measure a shot but drove wide of the far post.
In the dying seconds, Saints were rocked as a powerful low centre by Morgan-Cummings was turned in at the far post by BROWN with almost the last kick of the game.
It left Stewart Henderson's men still needing to win their final game of the season against Watford at Boreham Wood on May 1 to secure top spot in the Pontins Holidays Combination League as Charlton have a better goal difference.
P W D L GD Pts
Charlton 18 11 4 3 22 37
SAINTS 17 11 3 3 19 36
Watford 15 7 4 4 4 25
C Palace 16 5 8 3 1 23
Brighton 16 6 3 7 6 21
Leyton Orient 15 6 2 8 -4 20
Wycombe 17 5 2 10 -11 17
Aldershot 15 4 4 7 -12 16
QPR 16 3 5 8 -8 14
Millwall 16 3 5 8 -17 14
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
BROWN BAGS LATE LEVELLER
Posted on: Tue 22 Apr 2008
Substitute Lee Brown notched a last-gasp equaliser, as a young QPR Reserve side shared the spoils with title-chasing Southampton in the Pontins Holidays Combination League tonight (Tuesday).
David McGoldrick had earlier put Saints ahead in the 76th minute, only for Brown to level terms with almost the last kick of the game.
While Rangers included just two first team squad members in the shape of Chris Barker and Zesh Rehman, Southampton - chasing a victory that would take them to the summit of the division - named a strong starting XI.
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Marek Saganowski and Vincent Pericard were paired in attack, while Nathan Dyer and Alex Ostlund also started for the South Coast outfit.
After a tight opening at St Mary's, Saints almost took the lead on three minutes, when Saganowski's glancing header fell inches wide of the far post.
The Saints front-man was proving a constant threat and when he met Ostlund's perfectly flighted cross seven minutes later, Reece Crowther was in the right place at the right time to tip the ball wide.
The R's first effort of note arrived on the half hour, but Chris Arthur's powerful drive from distance was always rising.
As the clock ticked towards the break, Adam Lallana diverted a header wide, before Pericard fired over on the stroke of half-time.
Southampton continued to ask questions of the R's rearguard after the interval, and their deserved breakthrough arrived 14 minutes from time.
Half-time substitute McGoldrick, who had twice gone close earlier in the half, rounded Crowther with ease before slotting into an empty net.
Rangers - to their credit - continued to chase the game, and they were rewarded in the second of three added minutes, when Brown tucked home Aaron Morgan-Cummings' low cross.
The draw left Saints requiring victory against Watford in their final fixture to secure the title. QPR
Good comeback for QPR Reserves against Southampton. [Pickens, who was not on the bench for QPR's game against Charlton, was not in QPR's goal for this reserve game]
Ex-QPR goalie, Frazer (or Fraser) Digby Turns 41. Digby played some 20 games for QPR between October 2001 and January 2003. - Wikipedia --- Digby
Steve Morrow's FC Dallas, only team remaining unbeaten in MLS! Unbeaten FC Dallas -- FC Dallas Report (and uniform!)
Another Ex-QPR day coming up in the MLS: Gino Padula (photo) vs John Spencer (Assistant Coach) -
COlumbus vs Houston Dynamos
Southampton Official Site - Reserves draw
Saints Reserves fielded a strong side as they went in search of the win which would clinch top spot in the Pontins Holidays Combination Central Division.
Marek Saganowski and Vincent Pericard were paired up front with Nathan Dyer and Alex Ostlund also given a match fitness run-out in readiness for the final two Coca-Cola Championship games of the season.
Saints Res: Pernecky, Ostlund, Lancashire, K Davies, Mills, Dyer (Thomson 87), Gillett, James, Lallana, Pericard (McGoldrick 45), Saganowski (Baseya 45). Subs: Hatch, Poke.
QPR Res: Crowther, Coyne, Barker, O'Brien (Smith 45), Rehman, Braithwaite, Kelly, Maguire, German (Morgan-Cummings 63), Arthur (Brown 63), Rose. Subs: Wright, Goodchild.
Referee: B Malone. Attendance: 728
Saints almost took the lead after just three minutes as James fed Lallana on the left and his delicate cross picked out the unmarked Saganowski who flicked a header inches wide of the far post from six yards.
James found Lallana again three minutes later but this time his chip was nodded away from Pericard by Rehman.
An 18-yard shot by James swung just wide of the left post following a lay-back by Pericard who then had a shot blocked by Rehman.
Ostlund's clever backheel and spin gave him space to hang up a cross for Saganowski at the far post. He met it well but the powerful header was well saved at almost point blank range by Crowther on 10 minutes.
Lallana dropped the shoulder and darted past three defenders in quick succession but his attempted lay-off for James was intercepted.
The lively Lallana then saw a 22-yard shot fly over and James was also off target with a blast from similar range on 25 minutes.
A minute later the visitors managed their first attempt on goal, a 30-yard drive by Arthur always rising.
Gillett threaded through for Lallana who turned well in the box but could only prod through to the keeper under pressure.
Ostlund shaped to cross on the run but instead cut in from the right to hit a low left-foot drive which was turned round the near post.
Saganowski fired a low 18-yard shot past the right post then Rose tried an ambitious 30-yard shot which took a deflection to win a corner.
Ostlund teed up Gillett whose powerful 20-yard left-foot blast was beaten away by Crowther to his left.
Dyer's deflected shot came to Lallana who reacted sharply but could not quite divert the header on target. Pericard blasted past the right post from 16 yards as Saints kept up the pressure.
Pernecky dived bravely at the feet of Maguire as he tried to pounce on a firm, low diagonal ball in from the right.
Half-time: Saints Res 0 QPR Res 0
Saints made two changes at half-time taking off Saganowski and Pericard to protect them for the league games and sending on Baseya and McGoldrick. QPR also made a switch replacing O'Brien with Smith.
It almost paid immediate dividends as McGoldrick broke down the right and put in a low centre but Baseya could only meet it straight on beyond the far post and put it wide.
Ostlund made a powerful driving run into the box but had to stretch for the shot and could only put it over the bar.
Lallana appeared to be taken out by a rash lunge from the keeper but with the ball already running behind, the referee gave only a goal-kick.
Saints went agonisingly close on 54 minutes when Gillett's powerful 22-yard central free-kick deflected off the wall and came back off the inside of the right post.
Mills made a superbly-timed lunge to rob Maguire as he was about to shoot from eight yards and with the goal seemingly at his mercy.
James curled a 20-yard shot past the angle of the far right post and bar on 57 minutes and Lancashire bravely hurled himself in the way of a long-range effort by Coyne.
QPR made a double switch on 63 minutes sending on Brown and Morgan-Cummings for Arthur and German.
Morgan escaped a booking after bringing down Ostlund in full flight just outside the box. James floated in the free-kick which dropped between the keeper and Braithwaite at the far post and hit the shins of Lancashire running in. It came at him too suddenly to direct it and he could only run it wide of the far post.
Dyer burst forward through the inside right position but could only fire over from 20 yards. Then he outsprinted a defender in pursuit of a James chip. Dyer tried to lob the keeper who made a fine save at full-stretch to tip behind.
McGoldrick clipped a 30-yard free-kick over the bar with 18 minutes on the clock. McGoldrick then collided with the keeper as he chased Ostlund's chip forward. Baseya followed up to head the ball over Crowther and towards the unguarded goal only for Rehman to get back and nod off the line.
MCGOLDRICK needed treatment and as he was summoned back onto the field he robbed Braithwaite on the edge of the area, rounded Crowther and slotted into the empty net from 10 yards to give Saints a deserved lead on 76 minutes.
Lallana and Coyne both needed treatment after a collision in the box and Davies intercepted well to stop Brown.
With three minutes on the clock, Saints sent on Thomson for Dyer who received a warm ovation as he went off.
Immediately he made a run down the right to win a corner which was cleared by Braithwaite as three minutes were added.
In the second of those, Brown was played in to the left of goal. He had time and space to measure a shot but drove wide of the far post.
In the dying seconds, Saints were rocked as a powerful low centre by Morgan-Cummings was turned in at the far post by BROWN with almost the last kick of the game.
It left Stewart Henderson's men still needing to win their final game of the season against Watford at Boreham Wood on May 1 to secure top spot in the Pontins Holidays Combination League as Charlton have a better goal difference.
P W D L GD Pts
Charlton 18 11 4 3 22 37
SAINTS 17 11 3 3 19 36
Watford 15 7 4 4 4 25
C Palace 16 5 8 3 1 23
Brighton 16 6 3 7 6 21
Leyton Orient 15 6 2 8 -4 20
Wycombe 17 5 2 10 -11 17
Aldershot 15 4 4 7 -12 16
QPR 16 3 5 8 -8 14
Millwall 16 3 5 8 -17 14
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
BROWN BAGS LATE LEVELLER
Posted on: Tue 22 Apr 2008
Substitute Lee Brown notched a last-gasp equaliser, as a young QPR Reserve side shared the spoils with title-chasing Southampton in the Pontins Holidays Combination League tonight (Tuesday).
David McGoldrick had earlier put Saints ahead in the 76th minute, only for Brown to level terms with almost the last kick of the game.
While Rangers included just two first team squad members in the shape of Chris Barker and Zesh Rehman, Southampton - chasing a victory that would take them to the summit of the division - named a strong starting XI.
Article continues
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Marek Saganowski and Vincent Pericard were paired in attack, while Nathan Dyer and Alex Ostlund also started for the South Coast outfit.
After a tight opening at St Mary's, Saints almost took the lead on three minutes, when Saganowski's glancing header fell inches wide of the far post.
The Saints front-man was proving a constant threat and when he met Ostlund's perfectly flighted cross seven minutes later, Reece Crowther was in the right place at the right time to tip the ball wide.
The R's first effort of note arrived on the half hour, but Chris Arthur's powerful drive from distance was always rising.
As the clock ticked towards the break, Adam Lallana diverted a header wide, before Pericard fired over on the stroke of half-time.
Southampton continued to ask questions of the R's rearguard after the interval, and their deserved breakthrough arrived 14 minutes from time.
Half-time substitute McGoldrick, who had twice gone close earlier in the half, rounded Crowther with ease before slotting into an empty net.
Rangers - to their credit - continued to chase the game, and they were rewarded in the second of three added minutes, when Brown tucked home Aaron Morgan-Cummings' low cross.
The draw left Saints requiring victory against Watford in their final fixture to secure the title. QPR
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Ex-QPR's Kevin Gallen Happy He Joined MK Dons
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BBC/Pete Oliver - Dons switch pays off for Gallen
Kevin Gallen could have been playing Championship football this season.
Instead, he joined the revolution at MK Dons and has been rewarded with only the second promotion of his career.
Gallen had the chance to sign for Plymouth Argyle last summer after ending the 2006/07 season on loan with the Pilgrims under his former manager at Queens Park Rangers, Ian Holloway.
But both have since taken different paths with Gallen's leading him to the top of League Two with the Dons.
"I have played at a number of different clubs but to get promoted, no matter what league it's in, is fantastic and I joined MK Dons for that reason," the striker told BBC Sport.
"I thought they had a great chance of getting promoted. I was going to go to Plymouth but I changed my mind at the 11th-hour and I have come here and got promoted so it was a good decision.
"I met the chairman [Pete Winkelman] before I signed. I had heard about the new stadium but once I got to the ground and saw it I was blown away. It's a great place to play every other Saturday.
The manager definitely wants us to win the league and he has been instilling that in us - Kevin Gallen
"His enthusiasm and the fact that the manager was Paul Ince were big factors in me coming."
The Dons had just lost in the League Two play-offs under Martin Allen when Gallen was persuaded to join a club looking to go one step further following the appointment of Ince and the opening of their new Stadium:mk.
It has proved a winning combination with the club, which was created from the former Wimbledon and relocated to Milton Keynes in 2003, clinching promotion for the first time in its current incarnation with two games to spare.
Finishing top and holding off the challenge of Peterborough United is now the target.
"We want to win the league," Gallen added.
"We have to match Peterborough's result on Saturday and then we will be champions so we have got a good chance of doing it.
"The manager definitely wants us to win the league and he has been instilling that in us.
"He wants us to go up as champions. He says we deserve it because we are the best team and hopefully we will prove that."
We have worked our behinds off right 'til the end and we have got our rewards
Kevin Gallen
Winning the title would add the gloss to a memorable season and give the Dons a notable double after they lifted the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in March to fulfil another ambition for Gallen.
"I played at the old Wembley for the [England] Under-15s but when the new one was opened I didn't think there was a much of a chance. I thought that might have passed me by.
"To play for the first time at the new Wembley was a great feeling," said the former QPR, Huddersfield and Barnsley frontman.
The Dons made the most of their Wembley experience but did not let it deflect them from their major goal.
"We didn't think about Wembley until three days before the game and then after it won our next two matches. We were always focussed on promotion," said Gallen.
"It's great that all our hard work through the season has paid off. We have worked our behinds off right 'til the end and we have got our rewards."
The league table reflects that and demonstrates the consistency Ince's side has shown with a mix of players inherited and signed by the former England international.
Gallen falls into the latter category and as well as his share of eight league goals has also lent crucial guile and experience, along with former Scotland international midfielder Colin Cameron, who is three years his senior at 35.
Gallen explained: "We try and help. Colin Cameron is a good player and he trains well. The younger lads can maybe see that me and Colin Cameron train to the maximum every day and they think if they are doing it, we should be doing it.
"I also give the lads bits of advice. I used to get that when I was a young lad from Ray Wilkins and Les Ferdinand. I had people like that to look up to and get advice from and I certainly appreciated it."
Gallen heeded it well as a near century of goals in two spells with QPR, making him the London club's sixth highest all-time goalscorer, proved.
Since the Dons clinched promotion at Stockport, twice coming from behind against the promotion challengers in a style which Gallen believes epitomised the togetherness which has been a big factor behind the team's success, he has also been offering further words of wisdom.
"I have said to the lads 'enjoy the good times because bad times might be just round the corner'," he added.
Not that Gallen - who despite his prolific career had previously tasted promotion only once before with QPR in 2004 - expects the Dons' success story to end here.
"I think we have got a good chance of doing well again next year. The crowds are getting bigger. We took 33,000 to Wembley which shows that there is support to tap into and the league crowd have doubled.
"Next year we will be playing bigger and better teams which should mean even bigger crowds and I think in the next 10 years MK Dons can be a force in English football.
"I am not talking about the Champions League or anything like that, but the club is at least set up for the Championship." BBC
BBC/Pete Oliver - Dons switch pays off for Gallen
Kevin Gallen could have been playing Championship football this season.
Instead, he joined the revolution at MK Dons and has been rewarded with only the second promotion of his career.
Gallen had the chance to sign for Plymouth Argyle last summer after ending the 2006/07 season on loan with the Pilgrims under his former manager at Queens Park Rangers, Ian Holloway.
But both have since taken different paths with Gallen's leading him to the top of League Two with the Dons.
"I have played at a number of different clubs but to get promoted, no matter what league it's in, is fantastic and I joined MK Dons for that reason," the striker told BBC Sport.
"I thought they had a great chance of getting promoted. I was going to go to Plymouth but I changed my mind at the 11th-hour and I have come here and got promoted so it was a good decision.
"I met the chairman [Pete Winkelman] before I signed. I had heard about the new stadium but once I got to the ground and saw it I was blown away. It's a great place to play every other Saturday.
The manager definitely wants us to win the league and he has been instilling that in us - Kevin Gallen
"His enthusiasm and the fact that the manager was Paul Ince were big factors in me coming."
The Dons had just lost in the League Two play-offs under Martin Allen when Gallen was persuaded to join a club looking to go one step further following the appointment of Ince and the opening of their new Stadium:mk.
It has proved a winning combination with the club, which was created from the former Wimbledon and relocated to Milton Keynes in 2003, clinching promotion for the first time in its current incarnation with two games to spare.
Finishing top and holding off the challenge of Peterborough United is now the target.
"We want to win the league," Gallen added.
"We have to match Peterborough's result on Saturday and then we will be champions so we have got a good chance of doing it.
"The manager definitely wants us to win the league and he has been instilling that in us.
"He wants us to go up as champions. He says we deserve it because we are the best team and hopefully we will prove that."
We have worked our behinds off right 'til the end and we have got our rewards
Kevin Gallen
Winning the title would add the gloss to a memorable season and give the Dons a notable double after they lifted the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in March to fulfil another ambition for Gallen.
"I played at the old Wembley for the [England] Under-15s but when the new one was opened I didn't think there was a much of a chance. I thought that might have passed me by.
"To play for the first time at the new Wembley was a great feeling," said the former QPR, Huddersfield and Barnsley frontman.
The Dons made the most of their Wembley experience but did not let it deflect them from their major goal.
"We didn't think about Wembley until three days before the game and then after it won our next two matches. We were always focussed on promotion," said Gallen.
"It's great that all our hard work through the season has paid off. We have worked our behinds off right 'til the end and we have got our rewards."
The league table reflects that and demonstrates the consistency Ince's side has shown with a mix of players inherited and signed by the former England international.
Gallen falls into the latter category and as well as his share of eight league goals has also lent crucial guile and experience, along with former Scotland international midfielder Colin Cameron, who is three years his senior at 35.
Gallen explained: "We try and help. Colin Cameron is a good player and he trains well. The younger lads can maybe see that me and Colin Cameron train to the maximum every day and they think if they are doing it, we should be doing it.
"I also give the lads bits of advice. I used to get that when I was a young lad from Ray Wilkins and Les Ferdinand. I had people like that to look up to and get advice from and I certainly appreciated it."
Gallen heeded it well as a near century of goals in two spells with QPR, making him the London club's sixth highest all-time goalscorer, proved.
Since the Dons clinched promotion at Stockport, twice coming from behind against the promotion challengers in a style which Gallen believes epitomised the togetherness which has been a big factor behind the team's success, he has also been offering further words of wisdom.
"I have said to the lads 'enjoy the good times because bad times might be just round the corner'," he added.
Not that Gallen - who despite his prolific career had previously tasted promotion only once before with QPR in 2004 - expects the Dons' success story to end here.
"I think we have got a good chance of doing well again next year. The crowds are getting bigger. We took 33,000 to Wembley which shows that there is support to tap into and the league crowd have doubled.
"Next year we will be playing bigger and better teams which should mean even bigger crowds and I think in the next 10 years MK Dons can be a force in English football.
"I am not talking about the Champions League or anything like that, but the club is at least set up for the Championship." BBC
QPR Not a Winner....
-
Football League THE GROUNDSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The winners of the annual Groundsman of the Year award have been announced and this season Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Shrewsbury Town have picked up the divisional awards. All visiting managers and referees mark a pitch out of five after each game and at the end of February those marks are averaged out and the top three receive a close inspection by The Playing Surfaces Committee. Under the guidance of Dr Stephen Baker they will then judge the best pitches in each League and the winners receive a certificate, an engraved glass trophy and a cheque for £250.
Southampton's Andrew Gray and Graeme Mills were the winners in the Championship, picking up the accolade for the second time in four years albeit for the first time since their relegation from the Premiership.
Click here for reaction from Southampton's official website
In League 1 Ewan Hunter's work on the pitch at the City Ground was rewarded for the second season running, as well as winning it twice now, he was also the runner-up the year before that in his first season as Groundsman at Nottingham Forest.
Click here for reaction from Nottingham Forest's official website
Shrewsbury Town's Richard Barnett got the nod from the Sports Turf Research Institute in League 2, after his hard work tending to the needs of the pitch at the Shrews' New Meadow stadium.
Click here for reaction from Shrewsbury Town's official website
There was one extra award in League 1 this year, with his retirement approaching, Cheltenham Town's Mike Heather was awarded a certificate recognising the consistent quality of the playing surface at Whaddon Road over the last nine years.
WINNERS
Championship - Andrew Gray and Graeme Mills (Southampton)
League 1 - Ewan Hunter (Nottingham Forest)
League 2 - Richard Barnett (Shrewsbury Town)
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Championship - Andy Jackson (Stoke City) and Rob Lane (West Bromwich Albion)
League 1 - Mike Heather (Cheltenham Town) and Dave Brown (Hartlepool United)
League Two - Joe Aylett (MK Dons) and Mark Mathers (Macclesfield)
Football League
Also: No QPR players in this week's "Championship Team of the Week"
Football League THE GROUNDSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The winners of the annual Groundsman of the Year award have been announced and this season Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Shrewsbury Town have picked up the divisional awards. All visiting managers and referees mark a pitch out of five after each game and at the end of February those marks are averaged out and the top three receive a close inspection by The Playing Surfaces Committee. Under the guidance of Dr Stephen Baker they will then judge the best pitches in each League and the winners receive a certificate, an engraved glass trophy and a cheque for £250.
Southampton's Andrew Gray and Graeme Mills were the winners in the Championship, picking up the accolade for the second time in four years albeit for the first time since their relegation from the Premiership.
Click here for reaction from Southampton's official website
In League 1 Ewan Hunter's work on the pitch at the City Ground was rewarded for the second season running, as well as winning it twice now, he was also the runner-up the year before that in his first season as Groundsman at Nottingham Forest.
Click here for reaction from Nottingham Forest's official website
Shrewsbury Town's Richard Barnett got the nod from the Sports Turf Research Institute in League 2, after his hard work tending to the needs of the pitch at the Shrews' New Meadow stadium.
Click here for reaction from Shrewsbury Town's official website
There was one extra award in League 1 this year, with his retirement approaching, Cheltenham Town's Mike Heather was awarded a certificate recognising the consistent quality of the playing surface at Whaddon Road over the last nine years.
WINNERS
Championship - Andrew Gray and Graeme Mills (Southampton)
League 1 - Ewan Hunter (Nottingham Forest)
League 2 - Richard Barnett (Shrewsbury Town)
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Championship - Andy Jackson (Stoke City) and Rob Lane (West Bromwich Albion)
League 1 - Mike Heather (Cheltenham Town) and Dave Brown (Hartlepool United)
League Two - Joe Aylett (MK Dons) and Mark Mathers (Macclesfield)
Football League
Also: No QPR players in this week's "Championship Team of the Week"
Football's "Sugar Daddies"
-
[In the last paragraph]
Sue Mott/Daily Telegraph - Sugar daddies target the Premier League
There was a time when all you needed to attract a sugar daddy was a well-turned ankle, a bulging lingerie drawer and a set of morals necessarily loosened by the onset of diamond earrings.
Now, as with so many things, the situation is slightly more complex. Now the legs need to be muscled and hairy, the underwear is more likely to be a jockstrap and, as for morals, they lie there like football rattles, hopeless relics of football's past.
[Photo:] Money men: Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone joined up at QPR
Sugar daddies don't just want blondes any more (otherwise someone would have snapped up Robbie Savage), they want the big, blousy balance sheet figures involved in Premier League football clubs.
It is not in private life they seek their thrills but in the up-front, out-there public arena, flirting - positively fornicating - with fame. The flood of sugar daddies into the highest echelon of British football has been one of the most significant trends of modern sport, especially as the Premier League's 'fit and proper persons' test seems to involve a check on whether the potential new owners have a pulse and a bank account with nine noughts on the end.
This season just closing has provided a rich seam of intrigue on the sugar daddy front. If Liverpool do reach the Champions League final, despite the loud, public and destructive arguments raging at board level between two American millionaires scenting blood and profit in equal measure, it will be enormous credit to Rafa Benitez, their manager, who has endured the situation manfully.
Co-owner Tom Hicks is now a hate figure on the Wirral as he wrestles financially and verbally with co-owner II George Gillett jnr. Since Gillett lists turkey processing among his lucrative businesses, maybe he would be better off with Derby. As for the players, they are either saintly in their ability to tune out the violent static in the boardroom, or too thick and rich to care.
But the plague of plutocrats has not been a complete disaster and if there was a Premier League table - sugar daddy division - it would make interesting reading. Unarguably at the top would sit Aston Villa, a team who have scored nearly as many league goals this season as Manchester United, and whose owner, Randy Lerner, despite being American, a former lawyer and involved in equity investments, all social faux pas in current football circles, is actually popular.
Admittedly, he has no co-owner to fight, but there is clearly something decent about a guy who can donate $5million to the National Portrait Gallery out of his $1.6 billion fortune.
Maybe the deal is that a portrait of Martin O'Neill will be hanging in there soon alongside Cardinal Wolsey. Both operators at the highest level.
In second spot you could go for Portsmouth benefactor, Alexandre Gaydamak, who - whatever the alleged involvement of his father in running arms to Angola, according to the French authorities - has presided over a time of relative greatness on the south coast.
Harry Redknapp's team may have defended like transfixed rabbits on Sunday in their 3-1 defeat at Manchester City, but they are in the FA Cup final where they may very well beat Championship side Cardiff.
As for City, they will finish the season in their highest ever Premier League berth, thanks to the nous of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, and the cash of the Thai ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. That is the good news.
The bad news is that Shinawatra, accustomed to paying for results (in a good way - or maybe not, depending on Amnesty reports of human rights violations during his tenure as leader in his country) is cross that City did not cling to their early-season Champions League berth. The ex-England manager is clinging on to his job, or his redundancy package, depending on the outcome of projected talks next week.
Chelsea's place in the league is too hard to predict. There are two schools of thought. Either Roman Abramovich's man, Avram Grant, is a cruelly-maligned genius who will guide the Blues to a Champions and Premier League double or he is a monosyllabic gloom-monger out on his ear as soon as the trophy-less season draws to a close. Results against Liverpool tonight and Manchester United on Saturday will go some way to clearing the picture.
It may or may not be afflicting Abramovich that he is no longer Russia's richest man. He has been overtaken by two metals moguls. Note the names: Oleg Derpaska (£14.3 billion) and Alexei Mordashov (£12.25 billion). If one of them is not on the phone to Bolton before the season is out, it will come as a huge surprise to the fans and grim disappointment to the Premier League management.
Struggling to make ends meet on £12.25 billion, Abramovich would probably concede that Glazers United have had a better-looking year to date. But are they popular? Not really, just absent. The lure of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seems to be stronger to the Glazer family unless, funnily enough, they prefer the Florida weather to the more gushing micro-climate over Manchester.
Meanwhile, Mike Ashley's up with Newcastle, and Mohammed Al Fayed is down (more literally than he would like) with Fulham. Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has been static with West Ham since they decided their season was over last December. John Madejski is trying to sell Reading (lately plummeting through the sugar daddy league). As he says: "Millionaires need not apply". Too poor. You don't keep a troupe of luxury car-owning, offshore bank-accounting superstars happy on mere millions.
Finally, the greatest sugar daddy of them all is now playing footsie (index) with QPR along with his sugar uncle friends. The London-based, Indian billionaire industrialist worth £16 billion, Lakshmi Mittal, has bought into the west London club along with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and Renault owner Flavio Briatore and what has become of them? Fourteenth in the Championship. It is early days but while money buys you love, it definitely doesn't guarantee promotion. Telegraph
[In the last paragraph]
Sue Mott/Daily Telegraph - Sugar daddies target the Premier League
There was a time when all you needed to attract a sugar daddy was a well-turned ankle, a bulging lingerie drawer and a set of morals necessarily loosened by the onset of diamond earrings.
Now, as with so many things, the situation is slightly more complex. Now the legs need to be muscled and hairy, the underwear is more likely to be a jockstrap and, as for morals, they lie there like football rattles, hopeless relics of football's past.
[Photo:] Money men: Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone joined up at QPR
Sugar daddies don't just want blondes any more (otherwise someone would have snapped up Robbie Savage), they want the big, blousy balance sheet figures involved in Premier League football clubs.
It is not in private life they seek their thrills but in the up-front, out-there public arena, flirting - positively fornicating - with fame. The flood of sugar daddies into the highest echelon of British football has been one of the most significant trends of modern sport, especially as the Premier League's 'fit and proper persons' test seems to involve a check on whether the potential new owners have a pulse and a bank account with nine noughts on the end.
This season just closing has provided a rich seam of intrigue on the sugar daddy front. If Liverpool do reach the Champions League final, despite the loud, public and destructive arguments raging at board level between two American millionaires scenting blood and profit in equal measure, it will be enormous credit to Rafa Benitez, their manager, who has endured the situation manfully.
Co-owner Tom Hicks is now a hate figure on the Wirral as he wrestles financially and verbally with co-owner II George Gillett jnr. Since Gillett lists turkey processing among his lucrative businesses, maybe he would be better off with Derby. As for the players, they are either saintly in their ability to tune out the violent static in the boardroom, or too thick and rich to care.
But the plague of plutocrats has not been a complete disaster and if there was a Premier League table - sugar daddy division - it would make interesting reading. Unarguably at the top would sit Aston Villa, a team who have scored nearly as many league goals this season as Manchester United, and whose owner, Randy Lerner, despite being American, a former lawyer and involved in equity investments, all social faux pas in current football circles, is actually popular.
Admittedly, he has no co-owner to fight, but there is clearly something decent about a guy who can donate $5million to the National Portrait Gallery out of his $1.6 billion fortune.
Maybe the deal is that a portrait of Martin O'Neill will be hanging in there soon alongside Cardinal Wolsey. Both operators at the highest level.
In second spot you could go for Portsmouth benefactor, Alexandre Gaydamak, who - whatever the alleged involvement of his father in running arms to Angola, according to the French authorities - has presided over a time of relative greatness on the south coast.
Harry Redknapp's team may have defended like transfixed rabbits on Sunday in their 3-1 defeat at Manchester City, but they are in the FA Cup final where they may very well beat Championship side Cardiff.
As for City, they will finish the season in their highest ever Premier League berth, thanks to the nous of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, and the cash of the Thai ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. That is the good news.
The bad news is that Shinawatra, accustomed to paying for results (in a good way - or maybe not, depending on Amnesty reports of human rights violations during his tenure as leader in his country) is cross that City did not cling to their early-season Champions League berth. The ex-England manager is clinging on to his job, or his redundancy package, depending on the outcome of projected talks next week.
Chelsea's place in the league is too hard to predict. There are two schools of thought. Either Roman Abramovich's man, Avram Grant, is a cruelly-maligned genius who will guide the Blues to a Champions and Premier League double or he is a monosyllabic gloom-monger out on his ear as soon as the trophy-less season draws to a close. Results against Liverpool tonight and Manchester United on Saturday will go some way to clearing the picture.
It may or may not be afflicting Abramovich that he is no longer Russia's richest man. He has been overtaken by two metals moguls. Note the names: Oleg Derpaska (£14.3 billion) and Alexei Mordashov (£12.25 billion). If one of them is not on the phone to Bolton before the season is out, it will come as a huge surprise to the fans and grim disappointment to the Premier League management.
Struggling to make ends meet on £12.25 billion, Abramovich would probably concede that Glazers United have had a better-looking year to date. But are they popular? Not really, just absent. The lure of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seems to be stronger to the Glazer family unless, funnily enough, they prefer the Florida weather to the more gushing micro-climate over Manchester.
Meanwhile, Mike Ashley's up with Newcastle, and Mohammed Al Fayed is down (more literally than he would like) with Fulham. Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has been static with West Ham since they decided their season was over last December. John Madejski is trying to sell Reading (lately plummeting through the sugar daddy league). As he says: "Millionaires need not apply". Too poor. You don't keep a troupe of luxury car-owning, offshore bank-accounting superstars happy on mere millions.
Finally, the greatest sugar daddy of them all is now playing footsie (index) with QPR along with his sugar uncle friends. The London-based, Indian billionaire industrialist worth £16 billion, Lakshmi Mittal, has bought into the west London club along with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and Renault owner Flavio Briatore and what has become of them? Fourteenth in the Championship. It is early days but while money buys you love, it definitely doesn't guarantee promotion. Telegraph
Football Aid - QPR's "Live the Dream" Game at Loftus Road
-
[Note: This is neither a QPR Report endorsement nor a paid ad!]
Football Aid - Still time to Live the Dream with QPR!
You still have the chance to represent your team on Thursday 8th May at Loftus Road!
Those of you who haven’t secured your position this year have one last opportunity to grace the pitch at Loftus Road in our officially regulated 90 minute charity match. You'll experience exclusive behind the scenes access, a personalised shirt waiting for you in the changing room, the revered run through the tunnel onto the hallowed turf and the chance to play alongside Super Hoops legends, who in the past have included Gary Waddock and Clive Wilson.
All of this could still be yours, as 45 minute centre half position in the Home Team has just become available again. If you are interested in becoming a legend yourself, please visit our QPR homepage here - for full details, and to make an offer for one of the greatest footballing realities.
To secure your position and grab the chance to ‘live the dream’, just follow the instructions online or call our sales team on 0131 220 5999 NOW!
Alternatively if you would like more information before securing your position please just e-mail us at - barbara.davidson@footballaid.com
Thanks for your support
The Football Aid Team
- About Football Aid --- Football Aid Partners
From Football Aid - "Live their Dream at Loftus Road"
Queens Park Rangers - CLUB HISTORY & BACKGROUND
QPR joined the Football Aid family in 2001 and have hosted successful games at Loftus Road ever since with Club Legends like Clive Wilson and Wayne Fereday showing their support. Chairman Gianni Paladini even shocked fans by attending the Football Aid game at Loftus Road in 2006, cheering from the sidelines alongside the then management team of Gary Waddock and Alan McDonald. While both teams did themselves proud, there were no new signings announced for the Super Hoops the next day but maybe next year....
Read our article on the official QPR site!
UPCOMING EVENTS: EVENT NAME : GAME 1EVENT TYPE : LIVE THE DREAMVENUE : LOFTUS ROADDATE : 8TH MAY 2008 (ko 6:00pm)
ONE LAST "BUY NOW" POSITIONS AVAILABLE NOW!
There is now just one last positions available in this game, the 45 min Home No 5 CH available to Buy Now for £275. To Buy Now, simply login, select the position and follow the instructions online. If you would like to discuss purchasing a position further or wish to make an offer for this last available position please use the online form to Contact Us or call our Sales team on 0131 220 5999.
PLAYING LEGENDS & MANAGERS
Legends and Managers are still to be confirmed for this event., names will be displayed in the information box on the right hand side of the screen when confirmed.
SPECTATOR TICKETS
There are a limited number of spectator tickets available for players' friends and family and we will ask for a £5.00 donation per ticket. To order these tickets please follow the instructions in the "allocation" e-mail or use the order form in your player's pack. For this game the club has allowed 3 payable tickets for access to the hospitality areas, and an unlimited number of extra spectators can gain entry free of charge without a ticket to just watch the game from the stands without gaining access to the hospitality areas.
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY & FILMING
Wherever possible, official match photographs and a match day DVD will be made available to be purchased on the day of the game. Players will receive a Final Details e-mail to confirm these details in the weeks leading up to your game. Examples of photos and DVD footage can be found in our Gallery page.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you would like to ask us any questions about this Club, please use the Contact Us form to get in touch. Games usually take place at the end of the season in the months of April - June, dates will be posted on this page as we get them confirmed by the Club.
EVENT PARTICIPATION
This is a male only event.
TICKET ALLOCATION
3 + Open House ...Football Aid
QPR Official Site -November 20, 2007 FOOTBALL AID
Sick of socks and swamped in smellies? Tired of ties and jaded by jumpers? Well, now is the time to speak out for what you really want for Christmas ? the chance to play for QPR at Loftus Road!
The Super Hoops have joined forces with Football Aid to host a charity match at the end of the current football season at Loftus Road.
It promises to be a day to remember, from seeing your shirt hanging up in the changing room; to the first step on the hallowed turf.
As well as pulling on your Club's colours, you'll play alongside and be managed by former QPR legends.
Founded in 2000, Football Aid raises money for a wide range of charities and voluntary organisations.
By hosting events at the UK's largest Clubs, they give fans the chance to take part in a range of unique football based experiential products, including their original 'Live the Dream' event allowing supporters to play an adrenaline fuelled 90 minutes on the pitch of the Club they support.
Positions in the exclusive event are available to buy now at www.footballaid.com and proceeds from the games will go to Football Aid's parent charity, Field of Dreams, towards diabetes research, education and management projects as well as a charity nominated for funding by QPR.
For further information, visit www.footballaid.com or call the Football Aid Sales team on 0131 220 5999. QPR
[Note: This is neither a QPR Report endorsement nor a paid ad!]
Football Aid - Still time to Live the Dream with QPR!
You still have the chance to represent your team on Thursday 8th May at Loftus Road!
Those of you who haven’t secured your position this year have one last opportunity to grace the pitch at Loftus Road in our officially regulated 90 minute charity match. You'll experience exclusive behind the scenes access, a personalised shirt waiting for you in the changing room, the revered run through the tunnel onto the hallowed turf and the chance to play alongside Super Hoops legends, who in the past have included Gary Waddock and Clive Wilson.
All of this could still be yours, as 45 minute centre half position in the Home Team has just become available again. If you are interested in becoming a legend yourself, please visit our QPR homepage here - for full details, and to make an offer for one of the greatest footballing realities.
To secure your position and grab the chance to ‘live the dream’, just follow the instructions online or call our sales team on 0131 220 5999 NOW!
Alternatively if you would like more information before securing your position please just e-mail us at - barbara.davidson@footballaid.com
Thanks for your support
The Football Aid Team
- About Football Aid --- Football Aid Partners
From Football Aid - "Live their Dream at Loftus Road"
Queens Park Rangers - CLUB HISTORY & BACKGROUND
QPR joined the Football Aid family in 2001 and have hosted successful games at Loftus Road ever since with Club Legends like Clive Wilson and Wayne Fereday showing their support. Chairman Gianni Paladini even shocked fans by attending the Football Aid game at Loftus Road in 2006, cheering from the sidelines alongside the then management team of Gary Waddock and Alan McDonald. While both teams did themselves proud, there were no new signings announced for the Super Hoops the next day but maybe next year....
Read our article on the official QPR site!
UPCOMING EVENTS: EVENT NAME : GAME 1EVENT TYPE : LIVE THE DREAMVENUE : LOFTUS ROADDATE : 8TH MAY 2008 (ko 6:00pm)
ONE LAST "BUY NOW" POSITIONS AVAILABLE NOW!
There is now just one last positions available in this game, the 45 min Home No 5 CH available to Buy Now for £275. To Buy Now, simply login, select the position and follow the instructions online. If you would like to discuss purchasing a position further or wish to make an offer for this last available position please use the online form to Contact Us or call our Sales team on 0131 220 5999.
PLAYING LEGENDS & MANAGERS
Legends and Managers are still to be confirmed for this event., names will be displayed in the information box on the right hand side of the screen when confirmed.
SPECTATOR TICKETS
There are a limited number of spectator tickets available for players' friends and family and we will ask for a £5.00 donation per ticket. To order these tickets please follow the instructions in the "allocation" e-mail or use the order form in your player's pack. For this game the club has allowed 3 payable tickets for access to the hospitality areas, and an unlimited number of extra spectators can gain entry free of charge without a ticket to just watch the game from the stands without gaining access to the hospitality areas.
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY & FILMING
Wherever possible, official match photographs and a match day DVD will be made available to be purchased on the day of the game. Players will receive a Final Details e-mail to confirm these details in the weeks leading up to your game. Examples of photos and DVD footage can be found in our Gallery page.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you would like to ask us any questions about this Club, please use the Contact Us form to get in touch. Games usually take place at the end of the season in the months of April - June, dates will be posted on this page as we get them confirmed by the Club.
EVENT PARTICIPATION
This is a male only event.
TICKET ALLOCATION
3 + Open House ...Football Aid
QPR Official Site -November 20, 2007 FOOTBALL AID
Sick of socks and swamped in smellies? Tired of ties and jaded by jumpers? Well, now is the time to speak out for what you really want for Christmas ? the chance to play for QPR at Loftus Road!
The Super Hoops have joined forces with Football Aid to host a charity match at the end of the current football season at Loftus Road.
It promises to be a day to remember, from seeing your shirt hanging up in the changing room; to the first step on the hallowed turf.
As well as pulling on your Club's colours, you'll play alongside and be managed by former QPR legends.
Founded in 2000, Football Aid raises money for a wide range of charities and voluntary organisations.
By hosting events at the UK's largest Clubs, they give fans the chance to take part in a range of unique football based experiential products, including their original 'Live the Dream' event allowing supporters to play an adrenaline fuelled 90 minutes on the pitch of the Club they support.
Positions in the exclusive event are available to buy now at www.footballaid.com and proceeds from the games will go to Football Aid's parent charity, Field of Dreams, towards diabetes research, education and management projects as well as a charity nominated for funding by QPR.
For further information, visit www.footballaid.com or call the Football Aid Sales team on 0131 220 5999. QPR
Monday, April 21, 2008
QPR's New Logo/Badge
-
Photos and rumours of QPR's New badge have been on the various QPR messageboard.
According to Vital QPR..."The prospective new logo has been filed for trademark as of 30th January 2008 by QPR Holdings Limited. It sports a royal crown, accompanied by blue and white hooped shield, depicting the words Queens Park Rangers...." Vital QPR
UPDATE
As noted by a poster on another QPR messageboard (QPR Fanzine), a link
to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) shows the QPR crest IPO
See - The logo/Crests I and Logo/Crests II
Trade mark details as at 22 April 2008
Case details for Trade Mark 2478532
"....Names and addresses
Proprietor:
QPR Holdings Limited
Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, London, W12 7PA
Case History
Photos and rumours of QPR's New badge have been on the various QPR messageboard.
According to Vital QPR..."The prospective new logo has been filed for trademark as of 30th January 2008 by QPR Holdings Limited. It sports a royal crown, accompanied by blue and white hooped shield, depicting the words Queens Park Rangers...." Vital QPR
UPDATE
As noted by a poster on another QPR messageboard (QPR Fanzine), a link
to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) shows the QPR crest IPO
See - The logo/Crests I and Logo/Crests II
Trade mark details as at 22 April 2008
Case details for Trade Mark 2478532
"....Names and addresses
Proprietor:
QPR Holdings Limited
Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, London, W12 7PA
Case History
QPR Relegated....On This Day Seven Years Ago
-
Flashback - Seven years ago today: April 21, 2001 - QPR's Relegation made certain with a 2-1 loss at Huddersfield.
One of the worst moments in QPR memory: And there have been more than one in the last few years!) QPR's relegation back to the old "Third Division" (in 2001 called the Second Division; and now called League 1) was made certain with a 2-1 loss at Huddersfield, who had Kevin Gallen playing for them. QPR were under the recently-appointed Ian Holloway. (And of course, off the field, the club was in some considerable turmoil, with the Chairman selling up and the club going into Administration - having just fought off a merger with Wimbledon.) Ironically, Huddersfield were also relegated at the end of the season.
The QPR team on that sad, sad day: Harper, Baraclough, Ready, Plummer, Perry, Knight, Bignot, Peacock, Darlington, Crouch, Thomson. Subs: Bull, Wardley, Paquette, Kulcsar, Kiwomya.
BBC - April 21, 2001 - Huddersfield 2 QPR 1
Striker Delroy Facey's injury-time tap-in condemned QPR to Second Division football next season.
Facey picked up his 10th goal of the season in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Andy Booth's shot was parried straight to him by the visitors' keeper Lee Harper.
Facey, who turns 21 on Sunday, wheeled away in celebration knowing that his goal also helped the Terriers in their own fight against relegation.
Huddersfield took the lead on 33 minutes when Dean Gorre's low, 18-yard drive took a deflection off Ian Baraclough, leaving Harper stranded.
Action-packed
Rangers hit back on 43 minutes when Marcus Bignot's long ball down the right was expertly controlled by Andy Thomson, who then lobbed advancing keeper Nico Vaesen from 10 yards.
In an action-packed first half, Huddersfield had three shots cleared off the line by Mark Perry (twice) and then Baraclough.
Andy Booth struck a fierce shot goalwards after rounding Harper on nine minutes, but Perry, at full stretch, denied the recent recruit from Sheffield Wednesday.
Booth turned provider on 28 minutes with a fine left-wing cross which Simon Baldry thumped goalwards only to see Perry block the effort.
Sterile second half
Town's Chris Lucketti followed up but Baraclough stuck his leg out and blocked the ball before Karl Ready hacked the ball to safety.
At the other end, 6ft 6in striker Peter Crouch seemed certain to put Rangers ahead on three minutes but he mishit a shot into the ground and saw the ball balloon high over Vaesen's right-hand upright despite having only the big Belgian to beat from just six yards.
The second period was a sterile non-event in which neither side produced much of note.
QPR substitute Chris Kiwomya had a late goal ruled out for offside, and Huddersfield's best chance came on 74 minutes when Lucketti headed unmarked straight at Harper from a Baldry free-kick.
Facey's winning touch was a cruel blow on a hard working QPR side who matched Huddersfield stride for stride in an evenly balanced game.
The visiting players collapsed on the floor at the final whistle knowing that they were certain to be relegated.
Huddersfield: Vaesen, Heary, Lucketti, Jenkins, Baldry, Armstrong, Gorre, Holland, Thornley, Booth, Facey. Subs: Margetson, Gray, Moses, Irons, Gallen.
QPR: Harper, Baraclough, Ready, Plummer, Perry, Knight, Bignot, Peacock, Darlington, Crouch, Thomson. Subs: Bull, Wardley, Paquette, Kulcsar, Kiwomya.
Referee: A Bates (Stoke on Trent). BBC
Table, Results and Appearances from 2000-2001
Table from 2000-2001
2000-2001 - League Table
2000-2001 Results
QPR's Squad and Goalscorers in 2000-2001 (Crouch Top scorer with 10)
OTHER RESULTS THAT DAY
Preston 3-2 Watford
Saturday review
Bolton 1-0 Norwich
Burnley 0-0 Birmingham
Gills 1-2 West Brom
Grimsby 0-1 Sheff Utd
Huddersfield 2-1 QPR
Portsmouth 1-1 Fulham
Sheff Wed 2-1 Barnsley
Stockport 3-0 Crewe
Tranmere 1-1 C Palace
Wimbledon 2-1 Forest
Wolves 0-0 Blackburn
Flashback - Seven years ago today: April 21, 2001 - QPR's Relegation made certain with a 2-1 loss at Huddersfield.
One of the worst moments in QPR memory: And there have been more than one in the last few years!) QPR's relegation back to the old "Third Division" (in 2001 called the Second Division; and now called League 1) was made certain with a 2-1 loss at Huddersfield, who had Kevin Gallen playing for them. QPR were under the recently-appointed Ian Holloway. (And of course, off the field, the club was in some considerable turmoil, with the Chairman selling up and the club going into Administration - having just fought off a merger with Wimbledon.) Ironically, Huddersfield were also relegated at the end of the season.
The QPR team on that sad, sad day: Harper, Baraclough, Ready, Plummer, Perry, Knight, Bignot, Peacock, Darlington, Crouch, Thomson. Subs: Bull, Wardley, Paquette, Kulcsar, Kiwomya.
BBC - April 21, 2001 - Huddersfield 2 QPR 1
Striker Delroy Facey's injury-time tap-in condemned QPR to Second Division football next season.
Facey picked up his 10th goal of the season in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Andy Booth's shot was parried straight to him by the visitors' keeper Lee Harper.
Facey, who turns 21 on Sunday, wheeled away in celebration knowing that his goal also helped the Terriers in their own fight against relegation.
Huddersfield took the lead on 33 minutes when Dean Gorre's low, 18-yard drive took a deflection off Ian Baraclough, leaving Harper stranded.
Action-packed
Rangers hit back on 43 minutes when Marcus Bignot's long ball down the right was expertly controlled by Andy Thomson, who then lobbed advancing keeper Nico Vaesen from 10 yards.
In an action-packed first half, Huddersfield had three shots cleared off the line by Mark Perry (twice) and then Baraclough.
Andy Booth struck a fierce shot goalwards after rounding Harper on nine minutes, but Perry, at full stretch, denied the recent recruit from Sheffield Wednesday.
Booth turned provider on 28 minutes with a fine left-wing cross which Simon Baldry thumped goalwards only to see Perry block the effort.
Sterile second half
Town's Chris Lucketti followed up but Baraclough stuck his leg out and blocked the ball before Karl Ready hacked the ball to safety.
At the other end, 6ft 6in striker Peter Crouch seemed certain to put Rangers ahead on three minutes but he mishit a shot into the ground and saw the ball balloon high over Vaesen's right-hand upright despite having only the big Belgian to beat from just six yards.
The second period was a sterile non-event in which neither side produced much of note.
QPR substitute Chris Kiwomya had a late goal ruled out for offside, and Huddersfield's best chance came on 74 minutes when Lucketti headed unmarked straight at Harper from a Baldry free-kick.
Facey's winning touch was a cruel blow on a hard working QPR side who matched Huddersfield stride for stride in an evenly balanced game.
The visiting players collapsed on the floor at the final whistle knowing that they were certain to be relegated.
Huddersfield: Vaesen, Heary, Lucketti, Jenkins, Baldry, Armstrong, Gorre, Holland, Thornley, Booth, Facey. Subs: Margetson, Gray, Moses, Irons, Gallen.
QPR: Harper, Baraclough, Ready, Plummer, Perry, Knight, Bignot, Peacock, Darlington, Crouch, Thomson. Subs: Bull, Wardley, Paquette, Kulcsar, Kiwomya.
Referee: A Bates (Stoke on Trent). BBC
Table, Results and Appearances from 2000-2001
Table from 2000-2001
2000-2001 - League Table
2000-2001 Results
QPR's Squad and Goalscorers in 2000-2001 (Crouch Top scorer with 10)
OTHER RESULTS THAT DAY
Preston 3-2 Watford
Saturday review
Bolton 1-0 Norwich
Burnley 0-0 Birmingham
Gills 1-2 West Brom
Grimsby 0-1 Sheff Utd
Huddersfield 2-1 QPR
Portsmouth 1-1 Fulham
Sheff Wed 2-1 Barnsley
Stockport 3-0 Crewe
Tranmere 1-1 C Palace
Wimbledon 2-1 Forest
Wolves 0-0 Blackburn
Sunday, April 20, 2008
QPR's Charlton Victory - Reports and Comments
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QPR 1 Charlton 0 - Sunday Times/Paul Rowan - QPR too good for Charlton
Pre-season favourites to bounce back into the Premier League and having been as high as second back in November, Charlton yesterday bowed out of the promotion race with little more than a whimper. They barely created a chance against a team who probably now look the more likely to get back into the top tier of English football before they do. The pill for Charlton fans was even more bitter to swallow because their chance of a playoff place was ended yesterday when they lost sight of fierce rivals Crystal Palace.
“Our record against the top 10 sides is the best in the Championship, but when we should have won, we didn’t,” Charlton manager Alan Pardew said afterwards. “There were some flaws in this side that we didn’t correct in the last window and we will need to correct in the next window.”
The transfer of their captain Andy Reid in January also didn’t help, while the gamble of bringing in some loan signings backfired, but Pardew will be given time to get it right. “I know the responsibility I have of trying to get this club back to the Premiership. We have one more parachute payment to go and it is going to be essential to get it right.”
Pardew’s budget will probably still look like small change compared with what Luigi De Canio will have to play with, though yesterday QPR’s Italian manager was adamant that he wanted to build his success on the back of the club’s youth system. He will surely also want to rely at least initially on a journeyman of the lower leagues, Gavin Mahon, who ran this game yesterday. Mahon set up the winner on 15 minutes, though Charlton centre-half Paddy McCarthy slipped as Dexter Blackstock got the ball in the box and was able to turn easily to score from 10 yards.
Blackstock might have had a couple more and 17-year-old Angelo Balanta was also profligate, but an insipid Charlton side hardly created a chance that might have punished them.
Star man: Gavin Mahon (QPR)
Player ratings: QPR: Camp 6, Connolly 6, Stewart 6, Hall 5 (Mancienne 33min, 7), Delaney 6, Ainsworth 6 (Buzsaky 51min, 5), Rowlands 6, Mahon 8, Ephraim 6 (Leigertwood 79min), Balanta 6, Blackstock 6
Charlton: Weaver 6, Halford 5, McCarthy 5, Bougherra 7, Thatcher 6, Zhi 5 (Semedo 70min), Holland 7, Cook 5, Ambrose 5, Gray 5 (Iwelumo 60min), Lita 5
Scorer: QPR: Blackstock 15
Referee: T Kettle
Attendance: 17,035 Sunday Times
Sunday Mirror/John Gubba - Blackstock kills Pard's play-off bid
Dexter Blackstock's early strike proved enough for Rangers as Charlton meekly surrendered their play-off hopes.
Alan Pardew's men waited until the dying minutes to exert any pressure and it was only Rangers' failure to make their advantage count that allowed the visitors to stage a final flurry.
Charlton's efforts were so half-hearted against a superior Rangers side, that theird is gruntled fans chanted: "Pardew, sort it out."
Pardew responded by dragging off Andy Gray and replacing him with Chris Iwelumo just before the hour - then looked on in anguish as the substitute smashed his first touch wildly over the bar.
That was Charlton's first threat on the Rangers goal. It was 86 minutes before they had a shot on target, but even then Greg Halford's tame free-kick failed to stretch Camp.
Deflated boss Pardew looking at the the wreckage of a failed promotion challenge conceded: "We just weren't good enough.
"I knew we weren't going to be good enough earlier in the season and I took a chance with some loan players but it just hasn't worked out."
Rangers, with little to play for having long since banished any fears of relegation, look set for a bright future under mega-rich owners Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.
They were were never in danger as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches, despite their lack of striking options.
Colombian teenager Angelo Balanta started up front and looks an exciting prospect, prompting boss Luigi De Canio to declare: "My dream is to take this club into the Premier League with six or seven players coming through from the reserves."
Balanta's more experienced strike partner Blackstock grabbed the glory when he pounced in the 15th minute. Blackstock robbed Paddy McCarthy then raced away from the Charlton defender.
McCarthy gamely made up ground but Blackstock turned him again and fired past Nicky Weaver.
It almost got worse for McCarthy shortly afterwards when the ball ricocheted off his shin from just outside the area and flew inches over his own bar.
Balanta then set up Gareth Ainsworth with a glorious crossfield pass but the winger failed to hit the target.
Zheng Zhi, Charlton's best player, probed tirelessly in the first half but failed to inspire a side lacking belief and ambition.
Martin Rowlands went closest to extending Rangers' lead when he sent a scorching free-kick narrowly over.
Qpr substitute Mikele Leigertwood broke away deep into injury time, but shot tamely wide.
HOW THEY RATED
QPR Camp 6; Connolly 6, Hall 5 (Mancienne 6), Stewart 6, Delaney 6; Ainsworth 6 (Buzsaky 6), Rowlands 7, Mahon 6, Ephraim 5 (Leigertwood 5); Balanta 7, BLACKSTOCK 8
Manager De Canio 6
CHARLTON Weaver 6; Halford 5, Bougherra 5, McCarthy 5, Thatcher 6; Zhi 7 (Semedo 5), Holland 6, Ambrose 6, Cook 5 (Varney 5); Lita 5, Gray 5 (Iwelumo 5).
Manager Pardew 5
Referee T Kettle 6
MAN OF THE MATCH DEXTER BLACKSTOCK Clinical finish earned the points.
Sunday Mirror
Sunday People/Ann Gripper - Dext message to Pardew: Yr stffd
Dexter Blackstock's third goal in three games hammered the final nail into the coffin of Charlton's play-off hopes.
The Addicks needed to win to keep alive faint hopes of finishing sixth but they seemed to have given up the ghost as they were outplayed and outfought by a QPR side with nothing to play for.
And with bitter south London rivals Crystal Palace beating Watford, Alan Pardew's side were left in the same boat as convincing winners Rangers - their season over with two games still to go.
Angelo Balanta had already sent a fierce ten-yard shot into the sidenetting before Rangers took the lead after 15 minutes.
Paddy McCarthy allowed Blackstock to hustle him out of a high ball and although the Irishman recovered to make life difficult for the striker, Blackstock calmly turned him again and fired home a low left-foot shot.
Charlton barely threatened Lee Camp's goal in the first half and when the ball finally did come to Leroy Lita on the edge of the box, the on-loan Reading striker fell over.
A Damien Delaney header dropped just wide on 54 minutes to bring chants of "Pardew, Pardew sort it out" from the travelling supporters.
Charlton finally created a chance on 61 minutes but sub Chris Iwelumo ballooned over from two yards.
Qpr: Camp 6 - Connolly 6, Hall 6 (Mancienne, 34mins, 6), Stewart 7, Delaney 6 - Ainsworth 7 (Buzsaky, 51mins, 6), Rowlands 7, *MAHON 8, Ephraim 6 (Leigertwood, 80mins 6) - Blackstock 7, Balanta 7
Charlton: Weaver 5 - Halford 5, Bougherra 5, McCarthy 4, Thatcher 5 - Zheng 4 (Semedo, 74mins), *HOLLAND 6, Ambrose 4, Cook 5 (Varney, 23mins, 5) - Gray 4 (Iwelumo, 60mins, 5), Lita 4. Ref: T. Kettle 5. Sunday People
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
DERBY DAY DELIGHT
Posted on: Sat 19 Apr 2008
Luigi De Canio was in buoyant mood following the R's derby day victory against Charlton Athletic.
Dexter Blackstock bagged the only goal of the game early in the first half, as Rangers thoroughly out-played Alan Pardew's play-off hopefuls.
"It was another excellent performance from the boys," De Canio told www.qpr.co.uk.
"Our recent performances have been to a very high standard and yet again, the team played very well today.
"The application was excellent and the players showed great maturity and professionalism.
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"The spirit of the squad is excellent and we kept taking the game to Charlton throughout the 90 minutes.
"We need to become a team that is very hard to beat and we are making great strides."
De Canio reserved special praise for sponsors' man of the match Damion Stewart, who successfully stifled the threat of Addicks front-man Leroy Lita.
"Damion was excellent," he said. "He's a really good footballer, but there is still great room for improvement.
"When he focuses for the 90 minutes, he is a great asset for us."
Under the watchful eye of Eire Assistant Manager Marco Tardelli, Martin Rowlands' performance also draw praise from De Canio, who added: "I can't speak highly enough of my captain.
"Tardelli was here watching and I'm certain he would have been impressed by Martin's performance."
QPR
Charlton Manager, Alan Pardew: Charlton Official Site - Pards pain after play-off door slams shut
Alan Pardew admitted missing out on the Championship play-offs was a painful experience after the Addicks dreams were dashed by a 1-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
Surveying the damage of the reverse coupled with Crystal Palace's win against Watford that left a top-six place as impossibility, a sombre Pardew said: "I'm very, very disappointed at the day's events.
"It's very painful because I have got some good honest players down there and they are hurting as we all are.”
And Pardew, who lost former Rangers man Lee Cook in the first half and Zheng Zhi late on with a groin injury, added: "I thought the performance was not as good as I expected, not by a long chalk, but the injuries, particularly the one to Cook, affected us.”
"QPR are a good side, especially here, so it was always going to be a tough game. We had a couple of half chances but creating goals has been a bit of an issue for us this year."
Dexter Blackstock scored the decisive goal in the 15th minute, capitalising on a slip-up from Paddy McCarthy and tucking the ball into the bottom corner.
The Addicks needed to win to keep their hopes alive but the loss, and Palace's 2-0 win at Watford, consigned them to a second season in the second tier.
"I thought we started second best and struggled to get into gear," Pardew continued. The injury to Cook affected us and we gifted them their goal.
"Overall QPR made it difficult fore us and we did not have the answers."
" I felt we didn't get a grip on the first half in any shape or form. Without attaching blame to anyone the referee didn't do us any favours today. I think I better leave it there though or I will get in trouble."
Now Pardew, who named Scott Wagstaff on the bench for the first time and included 16-year-old Jonjo Shelvey in the squad, admitted he will start planning for 2008/09 in the closing weeks of the campaign.
"We have worked hard this season, but it's been a season of frustration. There are some flaws in the side that we did not correct in the last window; we will in the summer.
"For us now is a chance to have look at a couple of things and make sure we get a head start on everyone else.
"To be honest I didn't feel Waggy warranted getting on today. The senior players' season was on the line out there.
"This isn't something to say our academy is good. They were both here because they are good enough but I don't feel they deserved to come out on the pitch today.
"Jonjo's an outstanding player and has a great chance for us. In the next two games he will make his debut." Charlton
Championship Table - BBC
1 West Brom 44 31 77
2 Stoke 44 13 75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Hull 44 18 72
4 Bristol City 44 -1 71
5 Watford 44 7 69
6 Crystal Palace 44 12 68
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Ipswich 44 8 65
8 Sheff Utd 44 5 63
9 Wolverhampton 43 1 63
10 Plymouth 44 8 61
11 Charlton 44 5 61
12 Burnley 44 -2 61
13 Cardiff 43 4 60
14 QPR 44 -1 58
15 Preston 44 -3 55
16 Blackpool 44 -2 53
17 Coventry 44 -9 52
18 Norwich 44 -10 52
19 Barnsley 44 -13 52
20 Leicester 44 -1 51
21 Southampton 44 -17 50
--------------------------
22 Sheff Wed 44 -6 49
23 Scunthorpe 44 -24 42
24 Colchester 44 -23 37
BBC
Full Championship table
QPR 1 Charlton 0 - Sunday Times/Paul Rowan - QPR too good for Charlton
Pre-season favourites to bounce back into the Premier League and having been as high as second back in November, Charlton yesterday bowed out of the promotion race with little more than a whimper. They barely created a chance against a team who probably now look the more likely to get back into the top tier of English football before they do. The pill for Charlton fans was even more bitter to swallow because their chance of a playoff place was ended yesterday when they lost sight of fierce rivals Crystal Palace.
“Our record against the top 10 sides is the best in the Championship, but when we should have won, we didn’t,” Charlton manager Alan Pardew said afterwards. “There were some flaws in this side that we didn’t correct in the last window and we will need to correct in the next window.”
The transfer of their captain Andy Reid in January also didn’t help, while the gamble of bringing in some loan signings backfired, but Pardew will be given time to get it right. “I know the responsibility I have of trying to get this club back to the Premiership. We have one more parachute payment to go and it is going to be essential to get it right.”
Pardew’s budget will probably still look like small change compared with what Luigi De Canio will have to play with, though yesterday QPR’s Italian manager was adamant that he wanted to build his success on the back of the club’s youth system. He will surely also want to rely at least initially on a journeyman of the lower leagues, Gavin Mahon, who ran this game yesterday. Mahon set up the winner on 15 minutes, though Charlton centre-half Paddy McCarthy slipped as Dexter Blackstock got the ball in the box and was able to turn easily to score from 10 yards.
Blackstock might have had a couple more and 17-year-old Angelo Balanta was also profligate, but an insipid Charlton side hardly created a chance that might have punished them.
Star man: Gavin Mahon (QPR)
Player ratings: QPR: Camp 6, Connolly 6, Stewart 6, Hall 5 (Mancienne 33min, 7), Delaney 6, Ainsworth 6 (Buzsaky 51min, 5), Rowlands 6, Mahon 8, Ephraim 6 (Leigertwood 79min), Balanta 6, Blackstock 6
Charlton: Weaver 6, Halford 5, McCarthy 5, Bougherra 7, Thatcher 6, Zhi 5 (Semedo 70min), Holland 7, Cook 5, Ambrose 5, Gray 5 (Iwelumo 60min), Lita 5
Scorer: QPR: Blackstock 15
Referee: T Kettle
Attendance: 17,035 Sunday Times
Sunday Mirror/John Gubba - Blackstock kills Pard's play-off bid
Dexter Blackstock's early strike proved enough for Rangers as Charlton meekly surrendered their play-off hopes.
Alan Pardew's men waited until the dying minutes to exert any pressure and it was only Rangers' failure to make their advantage count that allowed the visitors to stage a final flurry.
Charlton's efforts were so half-hearted against a superior Rangers side, that theird is gruntled fans chanted: "Pardew, sort it out."
Pardew responded by dragging off Andy Gray and replacing him with Chris Iwelumo just before the hour - then looked on in anguish as the substitute smashed his first touch wildly over the bar.
That was Charlton's first threat on the Rangers goal. It was 86 minutes before they had a shot on target, but even then Greg Halford's tame free-kick failed to stretch Camp.
Deflated boss Pardew looking at the the wreckage of a failed promotion challenge conceded: "We just weren't good enough.
"I knew we weren't going to be good enough earlier in the season and I took a chance with some loan players but it just hasn't worked out."
Rangers, with little to play for having long since banished any fears of relegation, look set for a bright future under mega-rich owners Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.
They were were never in danger as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches, despite their lack of striking options.
Colombian teenager Angelo Balanta started up front and looks an exciting prospect, prompting boss Luigi De Canio to declare: "My dream is to take this club into the Premier League with six or seven players coming through from the reserves."
Balanta's more experienced strike partner Blackstock grabbed the glory when he pounced in the 15th minute. Blackstock robbed Paddy McCarthy then raced away from the Charlton defender.
McCarthy gamely made up ground but Blackstock turned him again and fired past Nicky Weaver.
It almost got worse for McCarthy shortly afterwards when the ball ricocheted off his shin from just outside the area and flew inches over his own bar.
Balanta then set up Gareth Ainsworth with a glorious crossfield pass but the winger failed to hit the target.
Zheng Zhi, Charlton's best player, probed tirelessly in the first half but failed to inspire a side lacking belief and ambition.
Martin Rowlands went closest to extending Rangers' lead when he sent a scorching free-kick narrowly over.
Qpr substitute Mikele Leigertwood broke away deep into injury time, but shot tamely wide.
HOW THEY RATED
QPR Camp 6; Connolly 6, Hall 5 (Mancienne 6), Stewart 6, Delaney 6; Ainsworth 6 (Buzsaky 6), Rowlands 7, Mahon 6, Ephraim 5 (Leigertwood 5); Balanta 7, BLACKSTOCK 8
Manager De Canio 6
CHARLTON Weaver 6; Halford 5, Bougherra 5, McCarthy 5, Thatcher 6; Zhi 7 (Semedo 5), Holland 6, Ambrose 6, Cook 5 (Varney 5); Lita 5, Gray 5 (Iwelumo 5).
Manager Pardew 5
Referee T Kettle 6
MAN OF THE MATCH DEXTER BLACKSTOCK Clinical finish earned the points.
Sunday Mirror
Sunday People/Ann Gripper - Dext message to Pardew: Yr stffd
Dexter Blackstock's third goal in three games hammered the final nail into the coffin of Charlton's play-off hopes.
The Addicks needed to win to keep alive faint hopes of finishing sixth but they seemed to have given up the ghost as they were outplayed and outfought by a QPR side with nothing to play for.
And with bitter south London rivals Crystal Palace beating Watford, Alan Pardew's side were left in the same boat as convincing winners Rangers - their season over with two games still to go.
Angelo Balanta had already sent a fierce ten-yard shot into the sidenetting before Rangers took the lead after 15 minutes.
Paddy McCarthy allowed Blackstock to hustle him out of a high ball and although the Irishman recovered to make life difficult for the striker, Blackstock calmly turned him again and fired home a low left-foot shot.
Charlton barely threatened Lee Camp's goal in the first half and when the ball finally did come to Leroy Lita on the edge of the box, the on-loan Reading striker fell over.
A Damien Delaney header dropped just wide on 54 minutes to bring chants of "Pardew, Pardew sort it out" from the travelling supporters.
Charlton finally created a chance on 61 minutes but sub Chris Iwelumo ballooned over from two yards.
Qpr: Camp 6 - Connolly 6, Hall 6 (Mancienne, 34mins, 6), Stewart 7, Delaney 6 - Ainsworth 7 (Buzsaky, 51mins, 6), Rowlands 7, *MAHON 8, Ephraim 6 (Leigertwood, 80mins 6) - Blackstock 7, Balanta 7
Charlton: Weaver 5 - Halford 5, Bougherra 5, McCarthy 4, Thatcher 5 - Zheng 4 (Semedo, 74mins), *HOLLAND 6, Ambrose 4, Cook 5 (Varney, 23mins, 5) - Gray 4 (Iwelumo, 60mins, 5), Lita 4. Ref: T. Kettle 5. Sunday People
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
DERBY DAY DELIGHT
Posted on: Sat 19 Apr 2008
Luigi De Canio was in buoyant mood following the R's derby day victory against Charlton Athletic.
Dexter Blackstock bagged the only goal of the game early in the first half, as Rangers thoroughly out-played Alan Pardew's play-off hopefuls.
"It was another excellent performance from the boys," De Canio told www.qpr.co.uk.
"Our recent performances have been to a very high standard and yet again, the team played very well today.
"The application was excellent and the players showed great maturity and professionalism.
Article continues
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"The spirit of the squad is excellent and we kept taking the game to Charlton throughout the 90 minutes.
"We need to become a team that is very hard to beat and we are making great strides."
De Canio reserved special praise for sponsors' man of the match Damion Stewart, who successfully stifled the threat of Addicks front-man Leroy Lita.
"Damion was excellent," he said. "He's a really good footballer, but there is still great room for improvement.
"When he focuses for the 90 minutes, he is a great asset for us."
Under the watchful eye of Eire Assistant Manager Marco Tardelli, Martin Rowlands' performance also draw praise from De Canio, who added: "I can't speak highly enough of my captain.
"Tardelli was here watching and I'm certain he would have been impressed by Martin's performance."
QPR
Charlton Manager, Alan Pardew: Charlton Official Site - Pards pain after play-off door slams shut
Alan Pardew admitted missing out on the Championship play-offs was a painful experience after the Addicks dreams were dashed by a 1-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
Surveying the damage of the reverse coupled with Crystal Palace's win against Watford that left a top-six place as impossibility, a sombre Pardew said: "I'm very, very disappointed at the day's events.
"It's very painful because I have got some good honest players down there and they are hurting as we all are.”
And Pardew, who lost former Rangers man Lee Cook in the first half and Zheng Zhi late on with a groin injury, added: "I thought the performance was not as good as I expected, not by a long chalk, but the injuries, particularly the one to Cook, affected us.”
"QPR are a good side, especially here, so it was always going to be a tough game. We had a couple of half chances but creating goals has been a bit of an issue for us this year."
Dexter Blackstock scored the decisive goal in the 15th minute, capitalising on a slip-up from Paddy McCarthy and tucking the ball into the bottom corner.
The Addicks needed to win to keep their hopes alive but the loss, and Palace's 2-0 win at Watford, consigned them to a second season in the second tier.
"I thought we started second best and struggled to get into gear," Pardew continued. The injury to Cook affected us and we gifted them their goal.
"Overall QPR made it difficult fore us and we did not have the answers."
" I felt we didn't get a grip on the first half in any shape or form. Without attaching blame to anyone the referee didn't do us any favours today. I think I better leave it there though or I will get in trouble."
Now Pardew, who named Scott Wagstaff on the bench for the first time and included 16-year-old Jonjo Shelvey in the squad, admitted he will start planning for 2008/09 in the closing weeks of the campaign.
"We have worked hard this season, but it's been a season of frustration. There are some flaws in the side that we did not correct in the last window; we will in the summer.
"For us now is a chance to have look at a couple of things and make sure we get a head start on everyone else.
"To be honest I didn't feel Waggy warranted getting on today. The senior players' season was on the line out there.
"This isn't something to say our academy is good. They were both here because they are good enough but I don't feel they deserved to come out on the pitch today.
"Jonjo's an outstanding player and has a great chance for us. In the next two games he will make his debut." Charlton
Championship Table - BBC
1 West Brom 44 31 77
2 Stoke 44 13 75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Hull 44 18 72
4 Bristol City 44 -1 71
5 Watford 44 7 69
6 Crystal Palace 44 12 68
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Ipswich 44 8 65
8 Sheff Utd 44 5 63
9 Wolverhampton 43 1 63
10 Plymouth 44 8 61
11 Charlton 44 5 61
12 Burnley 44 -2 61
13 Cardiff 43 4 60
14 QPR 44 -1 58
15 Preston 44 -3 55
16 Blackpool 44 -2 53
17 Coventry 44 -9 52
18 Norwich 44 -10 52
19 Barnsley 44 -13 52
20 Leicester 44 -1 51
21 Southampton 44 -17 50
--------------------------
22 Sheff Wed 44 -6 49
23 Scunthorpe 44 -24 42
24 Colchester 44 -23 37
BBC
Full Championship table
Saturday, April 19, 2008
QPR Complete the Double Over Charlton
-
QPR beat Charlton 1-0 - getting their first double of the season - in front of their biggest gate of the season (17,000). QPR's only goal came through a first-half Dexter Blackstock goal. QPR move up to 58 points with two games remaining. Updated Table
QPR Official Site
Dexter Blackstock continued his rich vein of form with the only goal of the game, as the R's completed their first double of the season in front of a season's high Loftus Road crowd of 17, 035.
The R's front-man notched his fourth goal in five matches, to consign the Addicks to yet another season in the Coca Cola Championship.
Rangers - inspired by the excellent Martin Rowlands - were dominant throughout, with Lee Camp a virtual spectator in the R's goal, as Charlton failed to muster a single noteworthy effort on goal throughout the 90 minutes.
With injury ruling out Patrick Agyemang, Luigi De Canio recalled Angelo Balanta to the starting XI.
Matthew Connolly also returned, at the expense of Michael Mancienne, while Akos Buzsaky took his place amongst the R's substitutes, following his recent ankle injury.
Alan Pardew welcomed back goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, in place of Darren Randolph, while former R's favourite Lee Cook, who is currently on loan at the Addicks from Fulham, started on the left flank.
In a typically feisty start, Hogan Ephraim stung the palms of Weaver, while at the other end, Madjid Bougherra headed over the bar.
The R's were enjoying the lion's share of possession in the opening exchanges and when Connolly and Gavin Mahon exchanged passes, Balanta - after a glorious first touch - blasted the ball wide.
Rangers weren't to be denied though, and when Blackstock dispossessed Paddy McCarthy on the quarter hour, the striker cut back inside on his favoured left foot, before slotting a textbook finish into the bottom right hand corner.
Cook's long-awaited return to W12 lasted just 23 minutes, with the midfielder making way with what appeared to be a knee injury.
McCarthy was having an afternoon to forget and it almost got a lot worse for the Addicks defender on the half hour, when his unfortunate ricochet cannoned inches over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
The R's were forced into a change of their own in the 34th minute, as Fitz Hall limped off, and was replaced by Mancienne.
Charlton were struggling to gain any sort of foothold on proceedings and their rather lacklustre display was summed up perfectly five minutes before the break, as Leroy Lita completely missed his kick, as the ball broke to him 18-yards from goal.
Rangers started the second period on the front foot, forcing two early corners; the second of which Balanta headed straight at Weaver.
De Canio introduced fans favourite Buzsaky six minutes into the second half, and when his out-swinging corner was met by the towering Blackstock a minute later, his header faded a yard or so wide of Weaver's left hand upright.
The outstanding Rowlands was the next to fire an effort on goal, as his thunderous 30-yard free-kick flew over, with Weaver seemingly beaten all ends up.
With Charlton fans demanding a change, Pardew did just that on the hour, introducing Chris Iwelumo at the expense of Andy Gray.
The striker almost made the desired impact, only to fire high and wide from close range, after he capitalised on Darren Ambrose's neat cut-back from the by-line.
Play quickly switched to the other end, as Blackstock stung the palms of the overworked Weaver with an opportune effort from the left corner of the six-yard box, before Ephraim glanced a close range header wide.
Four minutes of added time failed to produce any further chances, as the R's claimed bragging rights over their London rivals with yet another home victory.
QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Blackstock, Ainsworth (Buzsaky 51), Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim (Leigertwood 79, Hall (Mancienne 34), Balanta.
Subs: Crowther, Lee.
Goals: Blackstock 14
Bookings: Delaney 37, Stewart 86, Buzsaky 93
Charlton Athletic: Weaver, Thatcher, Zhi (Semedo 74), McCarthy, Cook (Varney 23), Holland, Gray (Iwelumo 60), Ambrose, Bougherra, Halford, Lita.
Subs: Randolph, Wagstaff.
Bookings: McCarthy 52, Bougherra 75, Varney 84, Iwelumo 92
Referee: Mr T Kettle
Attendance: 17, 035
QPR
Also Sporting Life Report
Text Updates and also Text Updates
Teams:QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Blackstock, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim, Hall, Balanta.
Subs: Crowther, Mancienne, Buzsaky, Lee, Leigertwood.
Charlton Athletic: Weaver, Thatcher, Zhi, McCarthy, Cook, Holland, Gray, Ambrose, Bougherra, Halford, Lita.
Subs: Randolph, Varney, Iwelumo, Semedo, Wagstaff
QPR beat Charlton 1-0 - getting their first double of the season - in front of their biggest gate of the season (17,000). QPR's only goal came through a first-half Dexter Blackstock goal. QPR move up to 58 points with two games remaining. Updated Table
QPR Official Site
Dexter Blackstock continued his rich vein of form with the only goal of the game, as the R's completed their first double of the season in front of a season's high Loftus Road crowd of 17, 035.
The R's front-man notched his fourth goal in five matches, to consign the Addicks to yet another season in the Coca Cola Championship.
Rangers - inspired by the excellent Martin Rowlands - were dominant throughout, with Lee Camp a virtual spectator in the R's goal, as Charlton failed to muster a single noteworthy effort on goal throughout the 90 minutes.
With injury ruling out Patrick Agyemang, Luigi De Canio recalled Angelo Balanta to the starting XI.
Matthew Connolly also returned, at the expense of Michael Mancienne, while Akos Buzsaky took his place amongst the R's substitutes, following his recent ankle injury.
Alan Pardew welcomed back goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, in place of Darren Randolph, while former R's favourite Lee Cook, who is currently on loan at the Addicks from Fulham, started on the left flank.
In a typically feisty start, Hogan Ephraim stung the palms of Weaver, while at the other end, Madjid Bougherra headed over the bar.
The R's were enjoying the lion's share of possession in the opening exchanges and when Connolly and Gavin Mahon exchanged passes, Balanta - after a glorious first touch - blasted the ball wide.
Rangers weren't to be denied though, and when Blackstock dispossessed Paddy McCarthy on the quarter hour, the striker cut back inside on his favoured left foot, before slotting a textbook finish into the bottom right hand corner.
Cook's long-awaited return to W12 lasted just 23 minutes, with the midfielder making way with what appeared to be a knee injury.
McCarthy was having an afternoon to forget and it almost got a lot worse for the Addicks defender on the half hour, when his unfortunate ricochet cannoned inches over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
The R's were forced into a change of their own in the 34th minute, as Fitz Hall limped off, and was replaced by Mancienne.
Charlton were struggling to gain any sort of foothold on proceedings and their rather lacklustre display was summed up perfectly five minutes before the break, as Leroy Lita completely missed his kick, as the ball broke to him 18-yards from goal.
Rangers started the second period on the front foot, forcing two early corners; the second of which Balanta headed straight at Weaver.
De Canio introduced fans favourite Buzsaky six minutes into the second half, and when his out-swinging corner was met by the towering Blackstock a minute later, his header faded a yard or so wide of Weaver's left hand upright.
The outstanding Rowlands was the next to fire an effort on goal, as his thunderous 30-yard free-kick flew over, with Weaver seemingly beaten all ends up.
With Charlton fans demanding a change, Pardew did just that on the hour, introducing Chris Iwelumo at the expense of Andy Gray.
The striker almost made the desired impact, only to fire high and wide from close range, after he capitalised on Darren Ambrose's neat cut-back from the by-line.
Play quickly switched to the other end, as Blackstock stung the palms of the overworked Weaver with an opportune effort from the left corner of the six-yard box, before Ephraim glanced a close range header wide.
Four minutes of added time failed to produce any further chances, as the R's claimed bragging rights over their London rivals with yet another home victory.
QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Blackstock, Ainsworth (Buzsaky 51), Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim (Leigertwood 79, Hall (Mancienne 34), Balanta.
Subs: Crowther, Lee.
Goals: Blackstock 14
Bookings: Delaney 37, Stewart 86, Buzsaky 93
Charlton Athletic: Weaver, Thatcher, Zhi (Semedo 74), McCarthy, Cook (Varney 23), Holland, Gray (Iwelumo 60), Ambrose, Bougherra, Halford, Lita.
Subs: Randolph, Wagstaff.
Bookings: McCarthy 52, Bougherra 75, Varney 84, Iwelumo 92
Referee: Mr T Kettle
Attendance: 17, 035
QPR
Also Sporting Life Report
Text Updates and also Text Updates
Teams:QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Blackstock, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim, Hall, Balanta.
Subs: Crowther, Mancienne, Buzsaky, Lee, Leigertwood.
Charlton Athletic: Weaver, Thatcher, Zhi, McCarthy, Cook, Holland, Gray, Ambrose, Bougherra, Halford, Lita.
Subs: Randolph, Varney, Iwelumo, Semedo, Wagstaff
Teams for QPR vs Charlton
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Match Report Updates and Text Updates. Blackstock put QPR 1-0 after 15 minutes....
Teams!
QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Blackstock, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim, Hall, Balanta.
Subs: Crowther, Mancienne, Buzsaky, Lee, Leigertwood.
Charlton Athletic: Weaver, Thatcher, Zhi, McCarthy, Cook, Holland, Gray, Ambrose, Bougherra, Halford, Lita.
Subs: Randolph, Varney, Iwelumo, Semedo, Wagstaff
Charlton Site Yesterday
Young duo in line for Addicks debuts
Jonjo Shelvey could set a new record as Charlton's youngest-ever player after the starlet - and fellow youngster Scott Wagstaff - were named in Alan Pardew's first-team party for the Championship clash with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (3pm).
The current record for Charlton's youngest player is held by Paul Konchesky, now of Fulham, after the defender played against Oxford United on August 16th, 1997, aged 16 years and 93 days.
But central midfielder Shelvey would break that, should he get the nod from Pardew, as he will be aged 16 years and 52 days on Saturday.
Highly-rated winger Wagstaff has been named in first-team squad's on occasion this season but is yet to be included in a final 16. Charlton
Match Report Updates and Text Updates. Blackstock put QPR 1-0 after 15 minutes....
Teams!
QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Blackstock, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim, Hall, Balanta.
Subs: Crowther, Mancienne, Buzsaky, Lee, Leigertwood.
Charlton Athletic: Weaver, Thatcher, Zhi, McCarthy, Cook, Holland, Gray, Ambrose, Bougherra, Halford, Lita.
Subs: Randolph, Varney, Iwelumo, Semedo, Wagstaff
Charlton Site Yesterday
Young duo in line for Addicks debuts
Jonjo Shelvey could set a new record as Charlton's youngest-ever player after the starlet - and fellow youngster Scott Wagstaff - were named in Alan Pardew's first-team party for the Championship clash with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (3pm).
The current record for Charlton's youngest player is held by Paul Konchesky, now of Fulham, after the defender played against Oxford United on August 16th, 1997, aged 16 years and 93 days.
But central midfielder Shelvey would break that, should he get the nod from Pardew, as he will be aged 16 years and 52 days on Saturday.
Highly-rated winger Wagstaff has been named in first-team squad's on occasion this season but is yet to be included in a final 16. Charlton
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