QPR Snippets II: Lee Hendrie on Gregory...Ex-QPR Coke Joins Northampton

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PFA's Give Me Football - Lee Hendrie - unattached
"This season will see a fresh start for Lee Hendrie after 13 years at Aston Villa, as his contract has not been renewed. .... However, as givemefootball's Ian Clarkson discovered, he is not sure where he will be plying his trade....
Q: YOU OFTEN SAID THAT JOHN GREGORY WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANAGER AT VILLA – HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO HIM SINCE HE WAS AT QPR? A: I was playing on loan at Stoke at the end lf last season against QPR and I came off with a small injury. When I came off, John actually locked me in an office and told me to sign a contract with him this season. That's the type of manager he is. John was like that when he took over after Brian Little left.
Q: WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT HIM?
A: He put me straight in the team and gave me a lot of heart and belief. I'm a confidence player and if a manager tells me I'm the bee's knees it lifts my game. John did that with me. I had a good run in the side and scored goals so I thank him for that.... Give Me Football

Still no Announcement on the Shrewsbury Site about the QPR Friendly

BBC - Boy guilty of footballer murder
A teenager has been convicted of murdering a schoolboy footballer by stabbing him in the heart. Kiyan Prince, 15, was killed by Hannad Hasan when he intervened in a mock fight outside the London Academy school in Edgware, north London, in May 2006.... BBC


Ex-QPR - Northampton sign midfielder Coke
Giles CokeCoke rejected Mansfield's offer of a new contract at Field Mill
Northampton Town have signed Mansfield Town midfielder Giles Coke for a fee to be decided by a tribunal.
Coke, 21, has rejected the offer of a new deal at Field Mill and has agreed a two-year contract with the Cobblers.
Having begun his career as a trainee at QPR, had a spell at Kingstonian and then joined Mansfield in March 2005.
Although Coke is out of contract, the Stags are entitled to a fee as he is under 24 - and that will be decided by a Football League tribunal...
He has made 70 league appearances for the Stags.." BBC

BBC-September 2006 - Coke aims to fizz By Mandeep Sanghera
Giles Coke has endured some of the lows football has to offer but his sights are now set on sampling the highs after rescuing his career.
The 20-year-old midfielder saw his dream of playing League football shattered when told by QPR he was not good enough to make the grade at Loftus Road.
But he is now at Mansfield and, after returning to fitness, aiming to build on the impressive form which last season saw the League Two club reject a bid for him from Championship side Wolves.
Coke was also linked to several clubs, including Premiership newcomers Watord, as he was rewarded for the attitude and focus that helped him resurface back into the Football League after falling into the depths of the non-league game.
"I was in pieces after being let go by QPR," Coke told BBC Sport.
"I had a meeting, along with my mum and dad, where QPR's then assistant Tim Breaker and their current manager Gary Waddock told me they weren't going to keep me on.
"It did affect me. I was really upset but you can't let that get to you because it can be bad for your football. You just have to work hard to try and get back up.
I've always wanted to play football so I had to work hard and try and come back - I never thought of giving up
"I trialled at a few clubs but it didn't go my way. I had to drop into non-league and was determined to get back into the League so I just worked hard, had a good attitude and got on with it.
"A lot of young players do let it get to them and they do sack football off completely but there was only one thing in my mind.
"I've always wanted to play football so I had to work hard and try and come back. I never thought of giving up."
Coke's perseverance paid off when he was signed by ex-Mansfield boss Carlton Palmer in March 2005 and, despite being thrown in at the deep end, he rose to the challenge.
....BBC