Preston Pre-Matching Blogging from Loftus Road

-
Nice, innovative idea from Preston!

Preston Official Site - Pre Match Blogging

1351: Right, off in search of food - and hopefully some early team news.

1349: I always like to rate the ground I visit based on the quality of their musical output, and while I'm not eagerly excitied by The Hooisers, I was heartened by the retro Manic Street Preachers and Lightning Seeds classics that appeared at the start of the playlist.

1347: The North End players have just arrived, with some taking a chance to check out the pitch facilities. Chris Neal and Stephen Elliott seem to be the most interested in the surface itself, with Ross Wallace and Jon Parkin having a good read of the programme while Simon Whaley and Darren Carter chat away on their mobiles. With The Hoosiers blaring out of the PA system at full blast, I can't imagine they're finding it that easy to hold a conversation.

1344: Having just come back from a mini tour of the South Africa Road Stand's facilities, I'm pleased to say that our hosts have done a very good job of modernising the interior of their ageing showpiece stand. The press box seems to have been given a striking re-fit in keeping with the all-black theme that seems to run through many of the rooms in the area, with executive lounges that look very 'Footballers Wives'. There's even a boutique downstairs, selling R's related merchandise to any WAGs or celebs that turn up last minute without the required blue and white hooped gear.

1340: I've just heard that the brand new Westfield Shopping Centre - which is literally round the corner - is the biggest in Europe (London trying to steal our thunder yet again having seen the success of the Trafford Centre?). Having earlier taken a mere 45 minutes to complete the entire circuit (on two main floors with a sort of mezzanine level above) and visit every shop I took an interest in, I am prepared to dispute the accuracy of that particular accolade.

1338: Good afternoon and welcome to all the minute-by-minute action from a mild but breezy Loftus Road. This is a game being described by the man from BBC London as "the battle of the acronyms", which I liked, but he then mentioned that Preston don't travel well, which I didn't like. Let's hope we don't live up to the billing. Well, except the acronym bit. Preston Official Site Minute-by-Minute Pre-Match


Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for additional articles and to read and if interested, to express your own views about any of these posts. Amng recent items posted: - Ben Watson on Transfer Speculation ..... QPR Involvement With"Coaching for Hope" .... Bemoaning Premiership's current lack of "Magicians" (such as Zola or Rodney Marsh) .... Video of Rodney Marsh Hatrick .... Holloway seemingly, Not Getting the Swindon Job.