Deadline Day, 2005: Langley and Lomas Join QPR

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One year ago, today, "Deadline Day, 2005" (August 31, 2005): Richard Langley and Steve Lomas join QPR. One year later, Langley has moved on (to Luton) and Lomas is available if someone would just take him.

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - AUGUST 31, 2005 ON LANGLEY'S RETURN
HE'S BACK!

Rangers today swooped to re-sign former midfield favourite Richard Langley from Cardiff City.

The 25-year-old returns to Loftus Road, and the club where he began his professional career, after almost exactly two years at Ninian Park.

Langley has put pen to paper on an initial one-year deal, with an option to extend it for a further year, this afternoon, having passed a medical at Rangers' Harlington training ground.

And now, after a weekend break from football, he will be available for the Superhoops' next game at Southampton on September 10th.

Langley has long been rated one of the very best of Rangers' youth products, having burst in to the first team as an 18-year-old in 1998.

A serious knee injury interrupted his progress in 2001 and he missed 12 months of football - by which time Rangers had been relegated to Division Two.

He then missed the play-off final in 2003 through suspension before signing for the very side that defeated the Superhoops at the Millennium Stadium in the first weeks of the 2003-04 season.

His last act in a Rangers shirt was to score a fantastic last-gasp winner at Cheltenham in the League Cup before heading to south Wales.

He made 148 appearances in total for Rangers scoring 21 goals, before racking up a further 63 starts and eight goals for the Bluebirds.

Speculation had linked Langley with a return to Loftus Road ever since Rangers' promotion back to the Championship. Meanwhile, Cardiff's well-documented financial problems only added weight to the rumours.

But the rumours have now become fact and one of Rangers' best-loved and most talented players of recent years is back where he belongs.

QPR

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - AUGUST 31, 2005
LOMAS SIGNS

Rangers have completed their second deal of the day with the signing of the hugely experienced Northern Ireland midfielder Steve Lomas.

The 31-year-old leaves West Ham for Loftus Road on a free transfer after eight years with the East London club.

In his time at the Boleyn Ground he has made 227 appearances and his first class total is well over 300 having begun his league career with Manchester City.

He made 25 appearances in West ham's promotion season last year, including both league games against Rangers.

Lomas has also played 45 times for Northern Ireland, scoring three times.

He becomes Rangers' second signing of the day following the arrival of Richard Langley from Cardiff City and the player himself is excited by the prospect.

"I know both Ian Holloway and Tim Breacker and they both had excellent things to say about the club. They both know what type of player I am and I'm delighted that its happened.

"This is a challenge that I need after such a long time at West Ham, you find yourself having to prove yourself all over again.

"Sometimes if you stay at one club for too long you can get a bit stale. Now I've got to prove myself to Ian Holloway.

"I think this year the play-offs are what the manager wants and I'm sure that's what everyone here wants to be able to achieve."
QPR

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - August 31, 2005
HOME AGAIN

Richard Langley is delighted to be back 'home' after signing at Loftus Road today.

The 25-year-old midfielder returns after two years at Cardiff and told qpr.co.uk that it was the move he always wanted.

"It's really nice to be back and to see all the familiar faces.

"I've kept in contact with quite a few of the lads. Now I just can't wait to pull on a shirt and start playing.

"There has been talk about a move back almost since I moved to Cardiff! But I'm just delighted to be back here at Loftus Road."

Nevertheless, plenty has changed in the two years Langley has been away from QPR and as far as the player himself is concerned - all of it for the good.

"The club has moved on, the squad is bigger and the training facilites are excellent.

"There is a lot of talent in the squad. But I'd also like to think I have improved as a player.

" I have the same attributes but I've added a few touches to my game."

And now Langley's attentions turn to repaying Ian Holloway's faith and settling back in to life with his home town club.

"QPR has always been a big part of my life. I used to come back and visit when I was at Cardiff.

"I just hope that the fans welcome me back. I'm sure there may be a few sceptics but it is up to me to win them over."
QPR