- The Mascot Derby Today (Including Spark) -For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, also check the QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Join in or just read the various QPR and football-only discussions!
- An invitation to QPR Supporters across the globe! Whatever country. Whatever continent. Whatever age. Whatever Perspective: Come post on the growing, truly-International, QPR and football-only QPR Report Messageboard
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- Updated: Series of Championship Previews (Several from QPR Fans)
- Reported Bristol City Interest in Jay Simpson
- QPR and Harrow Draw 1-1
- The Ref for the Opening Game vs Barnsley is James Linington
- Birthday for Lee Cook (and Ossie Ardilles)
- Sol Campbell Rejects Weight Criticism
- Season Ticket Sales Numbers: Up to 6,804
- Current Championship Promotion Odds
- Four Year Flashback: Danny Shittu Sale Deal Announced
- Leader in Business Event: October 6-7 Stamford Bridge
- PFA Helping Ex-Cardiff Players Get Paid by Cardiff
- Maradona Return to Argentina Coach?
- Snippet re Different Forms of Relegation and how it would have changed things in England (In Argentina Average it out over thee seasons)
Slough Express - Slough Town chairman Steve Easterbrook has released a statement regarding Mo Sharif's trial period with Queens Park Rangers.
- The 17-year-old is currently being looked at by the Championship club and could be set for a move to the Loftus Road outfit.
- Easterbrook told the club's official website: "Steve Bateman and the club are and have been in discussions with Mo and his family and the club wishes Mo every success with his trial.
- Slough Town FC sees the development of players and youth football within Slough as a key function of the club and are delighted that Mo has been selected.
- "It is important to understand that at present Mo is on trial and he and his family have remained loyal to Slough Town FC, despite plenty of approaches in the past.
- "This is a marvellous opportunity for Mo and rather than speculate on what might happen, I think it is important that Mo and his family know that they can call upon and have the full support of the club."
- For more on this story, see this week's Slough Express. Slough Express
Daily Mirror - Warnock stealing in for £100k Plymouth defender
QPR boss Neil Warnock has launched a £100,000 bid for Plymouth left-back Onismor Bhasera.
The Zimbabwean, 24, joined Argyle last season but could not prevent their relegation.
He caught Warnock’s eye in a pre-season friendly and the clubs are close to a deal. Mirror
Jamaica Observer/HOward Walker - A Better Deal
Stewart explains switch from QPR to Bristol City in English Championships
- The inability to agree to terms of a contract extension culminated with Reggae Boy Damion 'Stew Peas' Stewart leaving Queens Park Rangers (QPR) for fellow Championship outfit Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.
Stewart, who turns 30 on August 18, told the Observer yesterday that Bristol City came knocking with a three-year deal after he couldn't agree personal terms with QPR.
STEWART... QPR gave me a chance to talk to Bristol and they were more willing to give me what I really wanted
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"It's not like one asked for a transfer, but I was in the last year of my contract with QPR and we were in negotiations... we weren't agreeing terms at the time then Bristol came in with a bid," Stewart explained.
"They (QPR) gave me a chance to go and talk to them, so I spoke to Bristol and they were more willing to give me what I really wanted," he noted.
"The deal was done by a little agent by the name of Romel Wallen... he is our home grown Jamaican agent in England and I just wanted to big him up," praised Stewart.
According to Stewart, he played alongside Wallen for Jamaica at the Under-17 level and wanted to pay his respect to the Wolmer's Boys' past student, who is now a player's agent in England.
Stewart, who played more than 150 times for QPR since 2006 and earned their Player-of-the-Year honours in 2008/09, said the QPR fans have no animosity towards him leaving because they understood his move.
"The fans on Facebook sent me messages saying they didn't want to see me go and wished me all the best. They are really hurt, but at the same time they knew what's going on and this is really an opportunity to push my career forward," Stewart pointed out.
The former Harbour View stopper said he felt welcome at his new club and has settled in well among his new teammates.
"It is alright so far because when you move from one team to another they always try to welcome you and try to make you comfortable."
Stewart, who is entering his sixth year in English football since joining Bradford city in 2005, thinks he has a live shot at qualifying for the premier league under new coach Steve Coppell, who also signed England first choice goalkeeper David James.
Said Stewart: "When I spoke to the gaffer (Coppell) it was like listen, 'we are not really strong at the moment, but we are gonna be strong with some signings'. After we had a sit down talk I liked his plans and he really played a big part in my coming here. A few seasons back he was in the premier league with Reading and he has the know-how to get us out the division."
He continued: "If you look at the Championship, all 24 teams think they have a chance. Look at who got promoted last year, Blackpool! This is a very unpredictable league, so whoever put a good run together will be up there, so hopefully we can start the championship on the right note and keep ourselves at the top part of the table."
Stewart, who will link up with fellow Reggae Boy Jamal Campbell-Ryce, passed his medical last Thursday and played a friendly on Saturday.
In April, Stewart suffered a terrible head injury, but luckily he recovered without the need for surgery and is now fully fit and raring to go.
"That's a thing of the past and in my life I live by the saying... my grandfather always says, forward ever and backward never, so I don't really think about that. I give God thanks that I survived that horrific injury without even doing a surgery. I am back to 100 per cent and ready to go," he emphasised.
But the hard-tackling defender will not be taking anything for granted and will be putting in his hard work to ensure a starting spot.
"Well, he bought me and when a coach comes and gets you, he really wants you to play and he knows what I am about. I think I will get the chance to start, but it is really up to me to keep my position. If I am not performing up to scratch there will be people who want your position, so you have to keep on playing (well)," said Stewart.
The imposing centre half standing at six-feet, three-inches, who was part of the Harbour View team that won the premier league title in 2000 and the Caribbean Football Union crown in 2004, thinks he is a much better player since moving to England in 2005.
"In my eyes, yes I have grown. I used to be erratic, I am not erratic now. I play with more of my brain than my aggression now. I am still aggressive, that will never go, but I think of the game now," he noted.
Stewart played for Jamaica at all levels and made his senior international debut for Jamaica in 1999 against Ghana. He has so far played approximately 55 games and scored three goals.
His most notable performance at club level came when he scored the only goal as QPR knocked premier league outfit Aston Villa out of the 2008/09 Carling Cup with a 1-0 victory at Villa Park. Jamaica Observer
UPDATE: SPARK INJURED AND MISSES MASCOT DERBY!
QPR Official Site - SPARK'S A 'NON-RUNNER'
- It is with much regret that we announce Spark has had to withdraw from this evening's Daffodil Derby mascot race - in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care - at Southwell.
- Spark has been in training with our Community Team for their upcoming Charity Cricket match and last night tripped and hurt his knee.
- He will have some treatment this week to ensure he is in good shape for the big kick-off on Saturday. QPR
Football League - MASCOTS GEAR UP FOR DAFFODIL DERBY
Posted on: 02.08.2010
The final line-up for the Daffodil Derby has been confirmed with 27 Football League mascots due to run at the event on Tuesday 3 August at Southwell Racecourse, Nottinghamshire.
Mascots from up and down the country are competing in the one furlong dash alongside Marie Curie's Daffy the Daffodil to kick-start the fundraising for the charity which was selected by fans to be The Football League's Official Charity Partner for the 2010/11 season.
Forming part of the evening's meet, the race will be started at 7.45pm by TV personality Tim Lovejoy and followed by a presentation for the winner with prizes including a Day for Two with the Red Arrows.
There will also be prizes for the Mascot who can raise the most money for Marie Curie Cancer Care on the JustGiving website at www.justgiving.com/footballleague2010-11, with every £20 raised paying for an hour's nursing care for terminally ill people.
Fans of football and racing and their families are being encouraged to attend the racing and the evening's entertainment which sees five piece band 'Urban Intro' playing live in the grandstand.
For information on tickets in exchange for a donation to the charity, please contact David Hamilton, Corporate Fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care, on 0207 599 7312 or email david.hamilton@mariecurie.org.uk.
To find out more about the partnership between The Football League and Marie Curie Cancer Care please click here
http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/Of....,,10794,00.html
Tim Lovejoy said: "I am honoured to be starting the Daffodil Derby to kick off the new partnership between The Football League and Marie Curie Cancer Care. It's a great line up of Football League Club Mascots from across the country and I'm still deciding who to put my money on. Maybe I'll go for the outsider; Marie Curie Cancer Care's own Daffy the Daffodil.
"Like many people, my family has been affected by Cancer so I know how important the Marie Curie Nursing service is. I'm urging all fans to come together this season to do their bit in any way they can to make this partnership a huge success."
Gavin Megaw, Director of External Affairs at The Football League, said: "The Daffodil Derby is a fantastic way by which to launch our partnership with Marie Curie Cancer Care.
"The support and hard work of all 72 clubs is going to be crucial in our fundraising efforts and it is great to see so many mascots playing such an important role at the start of the partnership.
"The event will provide a fun evening for all the family and I would encourage everyone to head down to Southwell Racecourse, enjoy the race and give as much as they can to Marie Curie."
Competing Mascots:
Club Mascot
Accrington Stanley Winstanley
Brighton & Hove Albion Gully
Burton Albion Billy Brewer
Chesterfield Chester the Field Mouse
Derby County Rammie
Hartlepool United H'Angus the Monkey
Leeds United Lucas the Kop Kat
Leicester City Filbert Fox
Lincoln City Poacher the Imp
Marie Curie Cancer Care Daffy the Daffodil
Millwall Zampa the Lion
Northampton Town Clarence the Dragon
Norwich City Captain Canary
Nottingham Forest Robin Hood
Notts County Mrs Magpie
Notts County Mr Magpie
Oxford United Ollie the Ox
Peterborough United Peter Burrow
Portsmouth Mary Rose
Portsmouth Nelson the Dog
Preston North End Deepdale Duck
Queens Park Rangers Spark the Tiger
Shrewsbury Town Lenny the Lion
Stevenage Boro Bear
Stockport County Animo
Swansea City Cyril the Swan
Tranmere Rovers Rover
Timings for the Daffodil Derby:
3.40pm Gates open
5.55pm Official start of evening's horse racing
7.05pm Mascots parade the ring
7.45pm Mascot race starts
8.00pm Winners presentation at podium
Marie Curie Cancer Care has been selected as the official charity partner of The Football League for the duration of the 20010/11 season click here for more information Football League
The Football League has announced Marie Curie Cancer Care as its Official Charity Partner for the 2010/11 season. The charity, which provides care, free of charge, to terminally ill patients in their own homes and in its hospices, was chosen following a vote of over 25,000 Football League fans last season.
Fundraising activities are set to include bucket collections and fan initiatives, as well as a dedicated week of action from 7th to 13th March 2011 where all 72 League clubs will stage a game in support of Marie Curie. Donation
