QPR Report Twitter Feed

Thursday, September 27, 2012

QPR Report Thursday: Yet Another QPR Cup Loss...Flashbacks: QPR Name Change? QPR Deny Any Discussion...Leon Jeanne Missing...Gregory on Waddock's QPR Future...John Delve Birthday


- Photos from Last Night



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- Ex-QPR, John Delve, Enters His Sixtieth Year!


- 12 Years Ago, Today: QPR Manager, Gerry Francis Discussing the Missing-for-a-week, Leon Jeanne and his questionable QPR Future


- Six Year Flashback: John Gregory Talking about Gary Waddock's Role Under Gregory



- Shaun Derry Prepared to go out on Loan
Four Year Flashback - QPR Name Change? QPR Official Denial

Daily Mail/Charles Sale - September 27, 2008-
QPC is definitely a move too far, Flavio

The super-rich owners of London Championship team QPR have been discussing
changing the name of the club to Queens Park City in order to emphasis its location in the capital.
Renault boss Flavio Briatore, in Singapore preparing his Formula One team for the first night grand prix this weekend, has been openly debating the idea with friends in football and motor racing.
But Rangers fans, already not happy about the huge hike in prices at Loftus Road which has seen the introduction of the first £50 ticket in the Championship this season, won’t be impressed with losing a club name that has been in existence since 1887. The team was called St Jude’s for its first two years.
Nor will Briatore and his billionaire co-owners, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal, whose combined wealth makes QPR currently the second richest club in the country behind Manchester City, find the Football League in agreement. Commercial motives for name changes are not approved in the lower divisions or the Premier League.
Briatore has also made public that the three owners, who easily have the resources to buy their way out of the Championship, would prefer to fine-tune their football vehicle outside the top flight and bide their time in reaching the top flight, especially in the current state of flux with club ownership. Daily Mail


September 27, 2008
QPR Statement - No Name Change Name Even Discussed
QPR Official Site- CLUB STATEMENT
Following a report in one of today's national newspapers, titled 'QPC is definitely a move too far, Flavio,' QPR Holdings Ltd Chairman Flavio Briatore has issued the following statement:
"This is pure fabrication and I don't know where the story has come from. I haven't spoken to anybody about this subject.
"I don't know the journalist, but I know the story is totally untrue and we will be contacting our lawyers to pursue this matter further.
"I can categorically deny that there is any truth in this article."
The Club will be making no further comment. QPR


 Loss to Reading

Reading Official Site -"We found our identity"

23:44 26th September 2012

Brian's reaction to fantastic win
Royals boss Brian McDermott shared in the delight of the 1,495 travelling fans in celebrating a 3-2 cup win over QPR at Loftus Road this evening.

"It was a great night," he began. "We talked a lot about the identity of our team and this week has been a case of stripping us back to what we're about.

"I think you saw what we are about in the very first two or three minutes of the game, the way we closed down, the tempo of our game, everything we did.

"Nicky's goal was terrific, Sean Morrison's block on Cisse's shot at the end was one of the highlights of the night, Jimmy Kebe was exceptional for our team tonight - it was great to have him back.

"All our players worked really, really hard all night and I'm so proud of them.

"We lost our identity a bit in the last two games, but tonight we got it back.

The Royals twice came from behind to secure progression into the last sixteen of the competition; goals from Kaspars Gorkss, Nicky Shorey and Pavel Pogrebnyak earned Reading a home tie against Arsenal in the next round.

"Whatever the outcome of the game tonight, I would have been proud of our players.

"It's about results. I'm not stupid. But having said that, the performances have to be there.

"Whatever team we put out, has to be a 'Reading' team. That's important.

"I feel we've let our fans down a little bit in the last two games and I hate doing that.

"So tonight has been a good night for our fans - and that's who we play for.

"The boys are feeling good now, but We move on quickly after a win, a draw or a loss. So it's all about producing a performance against Newcastle on Saturday." Reading


QPR Official Site - HUGHES: HUGELY DISAPPOINTED


R's gaffer shares his views following Reading defeat ...

We got ourselves into two winning positions and I expected us to take the game away from Reading but we were unable to do that"
Mark Hughes
QPR MANAGER Mark Hughes gave a frank assessment of his team’s performance as the R’s crashed out of the Capital One Cup tonight, losing 3-2 to Reading at Loftus Road.

Rangers twice took the lead, firstly through Junior Hoilett and then Djibril Cisse, but the visitors levelled with a Kaspars Gorkss header and Nicky Shorey free-kick, before Pavel Pogrebnyak grabbed a late winner.

“We are obviously disappointed to go out of the competition because it was one we were keen to progress in,” Hughes told www.qpr.co.uk.
“We got ourselves into two winning positions and I expected us to take the game away from Reading but we were unable to do that.

“They got their first equaliser very quickly after we scored, and it does seem to be a problem at the moment that after we score we find it difficult to react in the appropriate way.

“But even after they got their second equaliser, albeit with a fantastic free-kick, I still felt we were the stronger team. 

“A few of their players were going down with cramp and I think had it gone to extra-time we would have been in the better position to go on and win the game.

“As it was, they were able to benefit from a number of consecutive errors on our part to score their third goal. It should never have happened, we afforded Pogrebnyak far too much space four yards from goal and he took advantage.”

The Royals’ direct approach seemed to cause Rangers difficulty, and Hughes admitted: “Tonight was a different type of test for us, Reading were quite physical and put us under pressure throughout.

“At key moments in the game we didn’t do the right things and it ended up costing us.”

Hughes was able to draw positives from another impressive opening 45 minutes, however, adding: “I was pleased with the first half.

“We were expansive and got the ball out wide but we didn’t get enough crosses into the box when we got into good wide areas.

“Overall, though, we are extremely disappointed because this is a tournament we wanted to progress in.”

Midfielder Ale Faurlin limped out of the action on 88 minutes, but Hughes was quick to dispel fears that the Argentinian could be sidelined for any length of time.

“Ale took a knock but it is nothing serious,” he said. “We had to take him off as a precaution.”
GUARDIAN

Reading hit back to overcome QPR and advance in Capital One Cup

Dominic Fifield at Loftus Road

At first glance Pavel Pogrebnyak can appear a brute of a forward, all muscular presence and awkward upper body strength to batter opponents mercilessly into submission. Yet Queens Park Rangers, a club so craving a victory over top-flight opposition, have now twice fallen victim to his incongruously delicate touch.

The home side were still coming to terms with surrendering a lead late on here when Jay Tabb and Noel Hunt combined in the penalty area and the Russian back-heeled the Irishman's skewed pass subtly, almost casually, beyond Júlio César. It was a cute conversion, the Brazilian aghast and on his knees as the ball dribbled inside the post. The home fans' misery was sustained even after Pogrebnyak's thumped penalty was saved in stoppage time. Perhaps he should have clipped that nonchalantly, too.

The miss did not matter with a home tie against Arsenal secured in the fourth round, an occasion the former Zenit St Petersburg and Stuttgart striker will relish. Pogrebnyak has looked the part in English football since arriving initially with Fulham in January and the 28-year-old Muscovite has already celebrated a winner at Loftus Road after scoring here for the Cottagers back in February. Here was another to cherish.

"It was a terrific finish," acknowledged Brian McDermott after a sequence of three defeats to Premier League teams had been halted and his own side looked more like that which had sprinted to promotion last term. "In the last two games, against Spurs and West Brom, we haven't performed to our level, so we needed to rediscover our 'identity'. We needed to strip the team back to what we're about. Our tempo's been slow, we haven't created chances, but we did that tonight."

Their comeback was startling. QPR had been the more urgent and creative side for long periods, chiselling out two leads amid their profligacy only to surrender each as sloppiness gripped before the home support's celebrations could even recede. Junior Hoilett's opener had been brilliantly crafted, the Canadian scuttling away from Adrian Mariappa and Sam Cummings before fizzing his finish across Alex McCarthy and into the far corner. Djibril Cissé's second was just as spectacular, the Frenchman collecting 20 yards out, fluffing an attempt to pass wide right and, instead, thrashing a shot from distance that flew beyond McCarthy.

Had some of the other good opportunities been taken – McCarthy blocked well from Jamie Mackie and Cissé – QPR might still have forced their way into the fourth round for the second time in 16 years. Yet Kaspars Gorkss, back at the club for whom he had played 124 times, powered home a fine header to secure an equaliser within two minutes of Hoilett's first Rangers goal. Nicky Shorey's glorious late free-kick, arced from 25 yards to clip the bar and bounce in with César flummoxed, was plucked from a tie QPR felt they had already won. "We thought we'd done enough," said Mark Hughes. He was horribly wrong.

His own side will continue to struggle while they remain this prone to implosion, even if he could point to new personnel settling into a makeshift back-line here, the imposing Stéphane Mbia ending his debut by flooring Pogrebnyak for the penalty. Yet their chief regret may be to be denied the fillip their campaign desperately needs. The winning goal rather summed up the chaos that can flare in their back-line. "We're conceding poor goals," added Hughes. "There was too much space and too many errors to allow the lad to back-heel a finish in the six-yard box." The finish was still sublime, with the Royals resplendent. Guardian




Posted by at

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

QPR Report Tuesday: Clubs Unhappy With Their Websites...Flashback: QPR's Beloved Chairman Paladini Vs Fan Magazine AKUTRS...Cisse's Struggle...Dyer's Recovery...Terry's Day of Judgement






- Year Flashback! QPR Played Aston Villa at Loftus Road. Among the Attendees....




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Charles Sale/Daily Mail

Clubs' fury over faulty websites as new platform is beset by problems

There are big issues with the Football League’s faulty umbrella website operation which is used by 86 clubs, including eight in the Barclays Premier League.

Football League Interactive, which manages and develops internet and mobile rights for their clients headed by PL teams Stoke, Wigan, West Bromwich and QPR, launched a new platform in July with a fresh technical partner SapientNitro, a US digital media company,

But there has been a wholesale backlash from clubs up and down the country at the poor service, technical problems and the complicated navigation system of the newly introduced sites that have seven million users.

Problems: QPR's website is one of many using the new platform

Richard Heaselgrave, chief commercial officer of the Football League, faced mass complaints about the website difficulties at a meeting with disgruntled clubs held at Wembley before the England game against Ukraine two weeks ago.

The Football League had held a tender for the website partnership at which SapientNitro, who have set up three templates for clubs to adapt to their individual online requirements, outbid previous operators Perform.

A Football League spokesman said: ‘There have been technical issues with other digital projects on this scale. We are resolving them and the sites are improving. It was a huge exercise to launch more than 80 websites in a matter of weeks.’Daily Mail



Six Year Flashback: "The Club" (ie Gianni Paladini) Versus The Fan Magazine, AKUTRS


QPR Official Site - Monday, September 25, 2006


Official Site-CLUB STATEMENT

Statement by Gianni Paladini on the recent edition of 'A Kick Up The Rs:'

The publication 'A Kick Up The Rs' has recently published a deeply misleading, inaccurate and scandalous article about myself and Queens Park Rangers FC.

A number of serious allegations have been made in that publication which are not true. The publication failed to contact myself or anyone else at the Club to verify their allegations.
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, I have been reluctantly forced to take legal action. The matter is now in the hands of my solicitors.

I expect a comprehensive retraction and apology from the publication for publishing these falsehoods. If they are not prepared to provide that, the matter will be dealt with by the courts.

I am sorry it must come to this, but in order for me to be able to defend myself from such blatant and hurtful untruths, I have no alternative than to take this action.

I shall make no further comment on this matter until either the apology and retraction has been received or legal proceedings are concluded."


A Month Later...

QPR Official Site - October 26, 2006 - QPR Official Site "An Apology"

The Editor and proprietor of the fanzine 'A Kick Up The R's' today agreed to publish the following retraction and apology to QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini:

In the September edition of the newsletter 'A Kick Up the R's', we published a series of articles by Cos Atiolis about Mr Paladini, the Chairman of Queen's Park Rangers football club.
In these articles we falsely suggested that Mr Paladini was involved in fraud, corruption, malpractice and dishonesty, and made a number of other serious false, misleading and defamatory statements about him.
We now fully accept that there is no truth whatsoever in these allegations and we are extremely sorry for the distress and embarrassment caused by the articles.
The newsletter containing the articles has been withdrawn from sale and we have offered Mr Paladini a full right of reply to the articles, which will appear in the next edition.
Paladini said: "I am delighted that the fanzine has withdrawn the untrue and unfair allegations it made against me, and that it was possible to resolve this without legal action.
"Although everyone has a right to free speech, and I welcome constructive criticism, I take my professional reputation very seriously and will not stand by whilst I am accused falsely.
"I find these allegations distressing, not just because they damage me, but also because of the distress they cause to my family and to QPR fans.
"I would never want to fall out with any of our fans. The way to move this club forward is to be united.
"Fortunately, AKUTRs has accepted there was no truth to the serious allegations it published and has retracted them. I will be exercising a full right to reply in the December edition, and I hope that is then the end of the matter."

[NOTE: There ended never being a published Paladini response in AKUTRS
The December issue of AKUTRs (#200) was published - without any reply from Paladini.

In a piece/editorial in the latest AKUTRs (AKUTRs #200), entitled "Gianni Paladini v AKUTRs," editor Dave Thomas reports on the process in which the apology/retraction was demanded and discussions/"negotiations" between Thomas and Paladini (and solicitors) was conducted; and the fact that at AKUTRs publication deadline (November 20), no Paladini response was forthcoming - or in fact any response/communication from Paladini and/or solicitor since the end of October of that time]



Ian Cooper/London 24

The QPR Verdict: Cisse’s struggles threaten to derail Rangers’ steady progress

Ian Cooper Monday, September 24, 2012

Five games into the new season and Mark Hughes is yet to get the best from the French striker

QPR continue to make tentative progress this season but their recent league outings have highlighted a problem in attack which Mark Hughes appears no closer to solving.

Hughes has yet to get the best out of Djibril Cisse this season, and as the Frenchman was restricted to his fourth successive appearance as a late substitute against Tottenham, Hughes’s comments on the former Liverpool and Sunderland man were revealing.

“He started the first two games, then I changed things around with different formations for different challenges we faced playing away from home,” said Hughes.

“We know what Djibril gives us. He is an outstanding finisher and we have to make sure that we are strong and compact enough, and have the quality about us to release him at the right times.

“We haven’t had the solidity to do that as yet, but Djib’s a great impact sub to come on.”

Cisse has become the most high-profile victim of Hughes’s early-season tinkering, as the manager seeks to find his most effective formation after a summer of upheaval.

The 31-year-old is an unpredictable character, capable of moments of brilliance, underlined by his magnificent run of form last season which provided the bedrock to Premier League survival.

But it is that unpredictability – Cisse’s tendency to drift in and out of games – which has made Hughes reluctant to play him in a 4-4-2 system which at times leaves Rangers vulnerable on the counter-attack and in need of strikers who are capable of supporting an under-pressure defence.

In the recent games against Manchester City and Chelsea, in which Hughes needed to strike the right balance between attacking potency and defensive resilience, he opted for Andy Johnson to partner Bobby Zamora, praising Johnson’s energy as QPR performed credibly in both matches.

Had Johnson remained fit, it is likely that he and Zamora would have continued that partnership, particularly at Loftus Road where the need is for Hughes’s side to find the net with regularity.

However, the season-ending injury which Johnson suffered against Chelsea leaves only Cisse and Zamora able to occupy the centre-forward positions. Against Tottenham on Sunday, Hughes placed his faith in Zamora as the lone striker in a familiar 4-2-3-1 line-up.

Zamora is ideally suited to such a role, and he once again underlined his worth to the side with his fourth goal of the season. He was at the heart of easily the best football QPR have played under the Welshman’s guidance, scoring clinically in the first half and giving Spurs’ centre-backs William Gallas and Jan Vertonghen a torrid opening 45 minutes in the pouring rain.

But when Hughes took Zamora off in the 72nd minute, bringing on Cisse but sticking with the same formation, the Frenchman who is yet to score in the league this season again proved that he is ineffective playing as the lone striker.

Hughes was keen to abandon last season’s 4-2-3-1 formation for a more offensive 4-4-2, but Johnson was central to those plans and Hughes appears completely unwilling to let his two other strikers loose in tandem. The only option would be to stick with Zamora up front, and continue with Cisse’s new role as an ‘impact sub’.

But that could yet prove a risky move. Zamora is the only player to score in the league for Rangers this season – two from open play, and one penalty rebound. If Hughes is to persevere with 4-2-3-1 QPR’s supporting midfielders must also start scoring with regularity.

QPR’s next five league matches see them entertain West Ham, Everton and Reading – all games from which, if Rangers have serious ambitions this season – they should target maximum points.

Trips to an impressive West Bromwich Albion side and, more significantly, Arsenal, are the ideal occasions on which Zamora can lead the line when QPR’s priority will be to avoid defeat.

But certainly at home, Hughes needs to find a way to get the best from Cisse, or QPR’s most dangerous attacking weapon will be lost amid a series of appearances from the bench.

Follow me on Twitter @QPRTimes.  London 24




MIRROR - MIRROR

By Darren Lewis

24 Sep 2012 22:30

Queens Park Rangers Here wee go! Kieron Dyer tells how urine tests have ended his injury nightmare

The jinxed England midfielder has started just 16 league games in the past five years, but QPR's sports science department finally have him fit and firing

Fantastic specimen: Dyer played almost the whole game against

Kieron Dyer has revealed that Mark Hughes and his Queens Park Rangers backroom staff have given him a new lease of life - by taking the pee out of him.

The luckless 33-year-old has made just 16 Premier League starts in FIVE YEARS because of injuries.

But he has credited Hughes and QPR for using a unique approach to highlight potential problems before they occur.

After a lengthy run-out as sub in Sunday's loss to Tottenham, Dyer said: “There’s a lot of sports science involved. We take saliva tests, pee tests, everything, in the morning.

”If my saliva test is a bit high, they pull me out of training, or modify it. They’re doing fantastically well for me - and it seems to be working.

”They take a swab and they can tell if you’re feeling stressed, if your body's not 100 per cent. That’s the way the game is going.

”It’s all ifs and buts. We’ll never know what might have happened if I’d had this treatment before. I’m not looking to the past, I’m looking to the future because these are very exciting times for QPR.

"I haven’t played regularly for the last four years, so hopefully I’m still classed as a 28-year-old and not a 33-year-old!”

Kieron Dyer is stretchered off during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Bolton at Loftus Road Trying start: Dyer goes off after being injured minutes into last season
Getty


Rangers have yet to pick up their first Premier League win of the season, and the side has been completed overhauled since that 5-0 thrashing at home to Swansea in their opening game of the season.

Dyer revealed he has been boosted massively by Hughes’ insistence that he is part of the new-look Hoops team.

It is a far cry from last December, when Dyer picked up a knock in his comeback game from an injury suffered minutes into the first game of the season - and subsequently lost his squad number.

He added: “Neil Warnock was the manager at the time and he was devastated for me. He said to give it a few weeks then we’d sit down and talk about the future.

"But then there was a change of manager. Mark Hughes straight away said he wanted to give me another chance. And that’s what’s happened.

Kieron Dyer of Newcastle is attended to by club Physio Kenny Wharton What a pain: Dyer gets treatment in 2005-06, when he played only 13 games for Newcastle
Getty


”I played 60 minutes in midweek and another 90 on Sunday, so I’m getting the minutes under my belt.

”I haven’t missed a training session this season and been available for every game, so things are going great for me.

”We just need to start getting a few points on the board and everything will be falling into place.”

Cynics questioned Hughes' wisdom on Sunday when he sent on Dyer to replace right-back Jose Bosingwa, who injured a hamstring just a minute into the Spurs match.

But the former Ipswich, Newcastle and West Ham man lasted the remainder of the game and was praised by Hughes afterwards.

Dyer went on: “I started my career at Ipswich there and made my England debut at right-back.

”I haven’t played there for a while. I was sitting down there, enjoying a cup of tea, and the next thing I know I’m getting thrown in at right-back against Gareth Bale - so that was a good test for my hamstrings!

"I’m gutted we didn’t get the three points but, from a personal view, it’s going well.

”I feel 100 per cent.

"I felt I was up and down like a young Kyle Walker, especially in the first half. The hamstrings held up well, and playing against one of the best wingers in the world was a good test.”

Kieron Dyer of West Ham is taken off after an injury Not again! Dyer averaged four starts per season for West Ham
Getty


As for the doubters, Dyer went on: “I’ve been called a lot worse than injury-prone, trust me, so I’m very thick skinned when it comes to criticism. It doesn’t bother me.

”As long as you’ve got the right people around you and supporting you, that’s all that matters.

”I got a lot of messages of support from my fellow pros - ‘Head up, we’re all devastated for you’, that kind of thing.

”But not once did I get down. I just thought, If I get another chance then I’m going to prove everyone wrong.'

”I’m getting some minutes under my belt and if I stay on the pitch then I’m going to prove a few doubters wrong.”

Posted by at

Monday, September 24, 2012

QPR Robbed by Spurs...Marking 15 Years of QPR's Official Site...John Terry Whiningly Quits Before His Day of Judgement

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Guardian/David Hytner -

Jermain Defoe pounces to grab Tottenham victory over QPR
André Villas-Boas' frenzied celebration when Jermain Defoe plundered what proved to be the winning goal told its own story. It was from the realms of Stuart Pearce at Euro 96 and the elation could only have been magnified as his Tottenham Hotspur team had been so dismal in the opening 45 minutes.
Jeered off at half-time, it had been easy to fear the worst for the Portuguese. But a half-time reshuffle helped to turn the tide and two quick goals were sufficient to earn the manager a first home victory at the fourth attempt, Defoe's fourth of the season at club level coming hard on the heels of Ale Faurlín's own goal.
Queens Park Rangers will kick themselves all the way back to west London. They had led at the interval through the former Tottenham centre-forward Bobby Zamora's fourth of the season and their supremacy was total. Brad Friedel kept the home team in contention with three fine saves. But the second-half turnaround was remarkable and it allowed Rangers to lament the continuation of their terrible away form.
The relief for Villas-Boas was palpable. While his opposite number Mark Hughes reached for the heavy-duty overcoat as the rain lashed down, he seemed oblivious as his smart suit came to resemble a sponge. At full-time he clenched his fist and gave vent to another wild outpouring. It has been far from smooth sailing but, after the win over Reading and now this, he has something on which to build.
"It's important that people understand we have wanted this home win for quite some time," Villas-Boas said, mindful that no Tottenham manager has ever failed to win one of his first four home games. "You could feel the anxiety when we went 1-0 down and we can be a bit more stable now. Everybody felt emotional at the end."
It was edgy. Tottenham created nothing in the first-half and their lack of cohesion was startling. Friedel was the hero as he marked his 309th consecutive Premier League start with eye-catching saves, tipping over Clint Hill's header and twice denying Junior Hoilett. Hugo Lloris, the £13m goalkeeping signing from Lyon, is set to remain as a substitute. "The situation will carry on," Villas-Boas said. "We are paying respect to a player who is performing very well."
Faurlín and Esteban Granero called the midfield tune in the first half and it was no surprise when Rangers took the lead. It did not work out for Zamora during his six-month spell at White Hart Lane in 2003-04 – he scored only once, in the League Cup – but his finish here bristled with assurance, after he had been released by Faurlín's beautifully disguised through ball.
Villas-Boas admitted that he had erred in the first-half by inviting Rangers to take the initiative in the hope that Tottenham could counter, and he had to change at half-time. He shuffled his side to push Gareth Bale further forward on the left, while he moved Clint Dempsey up with Defoe and asked his defenders to hold a higher line. Bale had started at left-back as Benoît Assou-Ekotto and Kyle Naughton were injured, but it is no good having your best attacking player in defence. Jan Vertonghen moved across from centre-half.
Everything was soon turned on its head. Steven Caulker, the half-time substitute who replaced Vertonghen in central defence, rose to meet a Bale corner and Faurlín, so impressive in the first half, found himself facing the wrong way and, under pressure from Defoe, bundled into his own net.
Tottenham were in front as Rangers reeled. Vertonghen led a fast break, with the QPR manager complaining about what he said were fouls on Granero and Nedum Onuoha. "We are very disappointed with the referee," Hughes said. Vertonghen slipped the ball to Bale, whose shot clipped Júlio César and reared against the bar but Defoe was lurking. He took a touch and scored from close range.
Caulker made a difference on attacking set-pieces while Dempsey also came into the game, threatening with his shooting from distance. Bale marauded and he and Defoe might have added to the lead. The points, though, meant everything.
Man of the match Brad Friedel (Tottenham Hotspur) Guardian





Guardian/David Hytner -

John Terry retires from international football with angry attack on FA

• Former captain announces England retirement

• Attacks FA for making his position 'untenable'

John Terry has announced that he has ended his career as an England ­footballer – and he departed with a rebuke for the Football Association, who he accused of making his position as an international player untenable.

The 31-year-old Chelsea captain, who won 78 caps for his country, is to go before an independent four-man commission on Monday, which was convened under the auspices of the FA, to defend himself against a charge of using racially abusive language towards Anton Ferdinand, the Queens Park Rangers defender.

Terry defended himself successfully against a criminal charge at Westminster magistrates court in July related to the same flashpoint: that he allegedly racially abused Ferdinand in the Premier League fixture between QPR and Chelsea at Loftus Road on 23 October last year.
He was cleared by the chief magistrate, Howard Riddle, because there was not the required weight of evidence to support a conviction – proven beyond reasonable doubt. But the FA, having started an investigation which was halted when the police and the Crown Prosecution Service began their inquiries, reopened their case and, on 27 July, brought its charge, much to Terry's dismay.
Terry said that he was making his statement on Sunday "in advance of the hearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel the FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable".
Terry had been supported by the England manager, Roy Hodgson, who took him to the European Championship in June, while the court trial hung over him. As recently as last month, Hodgson expressed the hope that the independent commission would clear Terry and what has been an unedifying and destructive affair could finally approach closure.

"I'm hoping, and I make no secret of it, that the case will take its course and John, hopefully, will be freed as he was freed in a court of law and will carry on playing for England," Hodgson said. "That's my hope. What will happen, I have no idea. I thought John did well in the Euros and I'd like to keep using him but this is a case which is way out of my hands. John understands that."
Terry called Hodgson before he issued his retirement statement to offer him forewarning and thank him for standing by him. The respect between the pair is clear. There was the sense that nothing could retain the capacity to shock after an 11-month saga that has taken many turns, including Terry being stripped of the England captaincy by the FA and Fabio Capello resigning his post as the manager in protest, but the timing of the player's statement, on the eve of his hearing, was surprising.
Terry's legal advisers are aware the FA requires a lower burden of proof to obtain a guilty verdict. Its commissions judge on what they call the "balance of probability", as opposed to "beyond reasonable doubt" in criminal trials.

Terry's lawyers are also mindful that the FA's success rate in such matters is high, largely because the governing body does not bring charges if it feels that it does not have a winnable case. It is not duty-bound to bring charges, as the police may be.
Terry's international retirement was seen by some as a pre-emptive decision.
The FA made no comment on Sunday night, as it opted to take stock of Terry's statement. The fact that the commission, chaired by an independent QC, is poised to begin examining the evidence, complicated the FA's position.
Terry's words were left to speak for themselves. "Representing and captaining my country is what I dreamed of as a boy and it has been a truly great honour," he said. "I have always given my all and it breaks my heart to make this decision. I want to wish Roy [Hodgson] and the team every success for the future.
"I would like to thank the England managers who have selected me for my 78 caps. I have had great pleasure in sharing that honour with all the players that I've played with. I would like to thank them, the fans and my family for their support and encouragement during my international career. I now look forward to playing for Chelsea FC, and challenging for domestic and European honours."
Chelsea said Terry's decision had been "personal and difficult." Guardian
FIFTEEN YEARS OF THE QPR OFFICIAL SITE

    Fifteen Years Ago Today: Chris Wright was QPR Chairman. Stuart Houston ("assisted" by Bruce Rioch) was QPR Manager.  QPR's team consisted of  Quashie, Murray, Sinclair, Spencer and Sheron - and we STILL couldn't get promoted!... And the QPR Official Site was launched.  And we finally had an additional source of information besides press and rumors and Battletank's path-breaking QPR Board (and a couple of other QPR Boards)

 Some of those early posts from the first days of the QPR Official Site



QPR Official Site - September 24, 1997

- Welcome to the new Official Queens Park Rangers Web Site.
- We're delighted to have an official presence on the Internet and this site will give you the chance to keep up to date with everything that is happening at Loftus Road.
- Now wherever you are in the world - and I receive correspondence from our supporters from as far afield as Australia and Japan - you can know what's happening at the press of a button. Here at Queens Park Rangers we try to keep you informed as much as is practically possible and this site is a great step forward for the club and our supporters.
- It means you'll be able to read match reports of games just seconds after the final whistle has sounded, and very soon you will even be able to listen to live commentaries!
- News stories about the players, events and all aspects of the club will be updated on a daily basis by staff working inside the club.
- You can also order Club Merchandise without leaving your own home and chat with fellow fans in the Official Chat Forum.
- We'd also like you to play your part in further developing our site. You can help us by signing into the online Visitors Book.
- Happy Browsing,
-Chris Wright
Chairman
Queens Park Rangers Football and Athletic Club Limited


On the day of this inaugural post, QPR beat Terry Fenwick's Portsmouth 1-0 at Loftus Road

September 25, 1997 - QPR Official Site - R'S BATTLERS PLEASE BOSS - R's boss Stewart Houston was delighted to pick up all three points, after seeing Rangers battle out a 1-0 win against Pompey, at Loftus Road on Wednesday night.
- Stewart stressed the importance of being able to pick up wins when Rangers are perhaps not playing at their best.
- " I thought that was a really battling performance and although we can play better, I was pleased to pick up the three points. Although we were only one up, their keeper made three outstanding saves, and perhaps we could have had a penalty, the players thought so."
- The boss had to switch things round when an injury to Steve Morrow forced him into bringing on Matthew Rose.
- " Steve's overstretched and straight away he had a problem and we had to take him off. I felt I had to change things a little bit, so I did, and it seemed to tighten things up a little."
- Stewart afterwards cleared up any confusion over who got the Rangers goal and was quick to applaude Sheron's contribution.
- " Mike Sheron received the ball and squared it across the six yard box and Spenny's come in and got the touch. Mike comes alive in the last 25 yards - he was just a bit unlucky - but the goals will come."
- The win lifts Rangers to equal top, but the boss refuses to get too carried away.
- " It's early days yet, eight games into the season, but six wins out of seven gives us a lot of confidence."

Speaking the next Day...

QPR Official Site - ALL SMILES FOR SPENNY 
- JOHN SPENCER fired the bullet that took the R's joint top of the league, and then paid tribute to his striking partner Mike Sheron.
- Spencer's 44th minute strike was enough to beat Portsmouth and to hoist Rangers level with Nottingham Forest at the top. The wee Scotsman was delighted with the outcome of the night.
- ""It was a really tough game. Portsmouth played well for long periods, pinning us back. But justifiably the three points went to us in the end."
- " I can't really remember too much of the build up on the goal. Mike Sheron floated into the box on the left hand side and he cut the ball across. I was actually going to leave it, as I thought the shot was going in, but a defender was coming in on my right hand side, and he might have cleared it off the line. So I slid in, managed to get my studs on it and put it in the net. You can't really take any chances!!"
- Spenny is enjoying the winning run with Rangers, and he feels his new frontline partnership with Mike Sheron, is starting to blossom.
- " I was struggling in the first few games with an ankle injury that I had last year, but I've played through that now and managed to get myself a bit fitter. The ankle seems to have cleared up. and I feel a lot sharper and a lot more confident."
- "Myself and Mike are doing all right together at the moment. We seem to be creating lots of chances and everything seems to be going well. Let's keep our fingers crossed that we'll be talking like this at the end of the season."


Also on the Site opening day...

QPR Official Site - September 24, 1997 - QUASHIE - THE NEW HODDLE ? -

 R's Scottish international striker John Spencer is predicting a big future for QPR's outstanding 19 year old prospect Nigel Quashie.
- Nigel's recent return to the first team picture after 18 months on the sidelines with glandular fever, has been a big boost to manager Stewart Houston and Spencer is sure Nigel can go all the way to the top.
-" For a 19 year old, Nigel is awesome. If he stays fit he will be a full England cap within 12 months. He could go on to beat Alan Shearer's transfer price if he continue's to progress.
-The youngster has already been selected for England at U-19 and U-21 level, and Spencer believes he is the next best thing to hit English football, since current England manager Glenn Hoddle.
- " The lad is as good a player as England have had since Glenn Hoddle. I've seen Hoddle in training when I was with Chelsea. He was the other side of 30 and Nigel is under 20, but they can do the same things."
- " They can both hit long passes and can run games. In training Nigel can hit free-kicks any spot he likes. You have to stand there in amazement."
- Quashie was given his QPR debut at the age of 17, by then manager Ray Wilkins, but glandular fever severely hampered his progress last season and left him often too weak to train. Now back in the first team, Nigel is happy to put those dark days behind him.
- " It was awful. One morning I would feel fine, the next so weak all I wanted to do was go to bed for a week. The illness has made me much more professional. I get plenty of rest before matches and fill up with pasta at the right times.
-All R's fans will be delighted to see Nigel back in the limelight and like the player will be hoping he can help clinch a return to the Premiership.
-" I am taking it a game at a time. The main thing is promotion."


A couple days later:

QPR Official Site -September 26, 1997 IMPEY DEAL GOES THROUGH 

- ANDY IMPEY has finally completed his £1.2M move to West Ham United.
The Hammers wanted to sign Impey in the summer, but then put the deal on ice, whilst the R's wideman recovered from a foot injury.
- West Ham boss Harry Redknapp watched Impey play a full 90 minutes for QPR reserves last night, before completing the deal this morning.
- The 26 year old revealed when he first found out about West Ham's interest.
- " I first found out West Ham wanted me in June. the transfer was sorted out when I was on holiday in Jamaica, but things started to drag on because of the problem with my foot."
- " The injury happened a long time ago. I broke my toe two or three years back and it started to give me pain last season. The toe had bent after healing, so I had an operation to get it straightened. It took four months to fully recover after the operation at the end of last season."
- " I've been training with Rangers this campaign, and playing practice matches and 5-a sides for nearly six weeks. West Ham couldn't take a chance on my fitness, but now I'm perfectly all right."
- " I was worried a little bit about the delay. I didn't know how long West Ham would wait, but the specialist told me my toe would recover, and there is no problem at all now."
- " I had seven years at Rangers, which I enjoyed. But I didn't play very well last season, so I thought it was time for a change and a new challenge."
- Andrew joined Rangers from Yeading FC in August 1990. He made his debut the following year and became a regular under the Gerry Francis regime.
- He won the Player of the Year in 1995 and forced his way into the England squad for a training week. But with his contract set to expire at the end of the current season, the transfer to West Ham ends Impey's days at Loftus Road.
- Andy had his final game in a QPR shirt for the reserves at home to Ipswich, but the side lost 2-1. Paul Bruce grabbed the R's only goal.
- QPR: Sommer, Woolsey, Brazier, Perry, Plummer, Yates,(Whittle 45) Graham, Impey, Charles, Norman, Bruce


QPR Official Site -September 30- BOSMAN SPARKED IMPEY MOVE 

- THE BOSMAN RULING and Daniel Dichio's departure on a free transfer contibuted to Rangers selling Andy Impey to West Ham for £1.2M
- Chairman Chris Wright said: " To some extent, we're disappointed that Andrew has left. He is an extremely good player and had done well here at Rangers over the years."
- " But Andrew was in the last year of his contract and we couldn't get him to discuss new terms. His feeling was that he wanted to move on and didn't want to think about a new contract with Rangers."
- " After what happened with Danny Dichio leaving, the club didn't want that happening again and I don't want players who are not commited to the club. A player who is in the last year of his contract and who has no intention of signing a new one, is not going to be as commited to the club as you would like."
- West Ham came in with an offer for Andrew and it was the right move for everyone. It was the prudent thing for Rangers to do. No one is happy when a talented player leaves the club, but we cannot be in a situation where we have players who are not prepared to commit themselves to us." =- " We tried as hard as we could, but Andrew was not prepared to do that. We were all sad to see him go, but as players go out, others will come in. You cannot keep buying players and not selling."


QPR Official Site - HOUSTON WINS TOP AWARD 

- RANGERS manager Stewart Houston has been awarded the Nationwide Division 1 Manager of the Month award for September
- Stewart guided the R's to a four match winning run, which saw them move into second place in the League. Rangers beat Reading, West Brom, Crewe and Portsmouth before coming unstuck at Port Vale on Saturday.
- Stewart said today: " I'm very pleased to accept this award. The players have made it happen for me. I was a bit surprised to get this accolade, but it's all credit to the players."
- The Division 2 award went to Ian Atkins of Northampton and the Division 3 Award to Sam Allardyce of Notts County.


QPR Official Site - October 2, 1997 - CHAIRMAN WOOS STAYAWAY FANS 
RANGERS chairman Chris Wright is confident that the club can build on its fan base, as we look to return to the Premiership.
- Chris say: " From the standpoint of financial reality, we have quite a job to do to compete with bigger clubs. So we need to build up our support levels. We want to bring all those disenfranchised Rangers fans back into Loftus Road."
- " We had some 14,000 supporters cheering us on at Wimbledon in the FA Cup at Wimbledon last season, so we know the fans are out there. It's up to the booard, the club and the team on the pitch, to get those people out of the woodwork and back in the stands at Loftus Road."


QPR Official Site - October 8, 1997 - MOVE STILL ON CARDS 

- RANGERS are continuing to peruse plans for a possible move away from Loftus Road
- The project is being masterminded by Stephen Oakley, 45, the new chief executive of Loftus Road plc. He feels the options are to expand the existing facilities or to build a new stadium further along the A40 corridor.
- Mr Oakley says: " If the things we want do come to fruition, with Rangers back in the Premiership, we will need a bigger capacity. Building a new stadium is sometimes cheaper than adding to the existing one."
- The Loftus Road group have looked at several possible sites and a decision will be taken at the end of the season. Mr Oakley did say that the group's skills in managing sporting events could lead into a move into basketball and ice-hockey.
- Loftus Road also plans to expand its merchandising operation and develop banqueting and conference facilities to reduce its dependence on success on the field.


And finally on a sad note...

QPR Official Site - September 30, 1997 - R'S MOURN CUP FINAL KEEPER 
- FORMER RANGERS keeper Peter Springett has died at the age of 51, after a four year battle against a crippling illness
- Peter, who was one of Rangers heroes in the 1967 League Cup winning team, was born in Fulham on May 8th 1946 and came through the apprentice ranks.
- He signed as a pro in 1963, making his debut that month against Peterborough. He was capped at England Youth and U-23 level.
- By 1965/6, Peter had made the first team spot his own and the following season he was an ever present in the Rangers side that won the League Cup and Third Division double. He made a total of 160 appearances for QPR.
- In May 1967, Peter joined Sheffield Wednesday in a unique deal that saw his brother Ron move to Rangers. Peter played 180 League games for the Owls and another 191 for Barnsley, before retiring to  become a policeman.
- The Rangers players will wear black armbands against Charlton as a mark of respect.


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