The caption on the back of the photo shown below is dated 28th January 1977 and reads as follows:
‘The waterlogged state of the ground at Loftus Road is causing Queen’s Park Rangers F.C. severe problems. Five matches have had to be postponed because of the state of the ground and unless something can be done now it may be necessary to again put off the already postponed League Cup Semi-Final against Aston Villa due to be played there on Tuesday evening.
This afternoon the club started to lay a new type of cover on the pitch in an effort to dry it out. It consists of three hot-air “sausages” laid the length of the ground, and these are being covered with wide strips of polyphene. Hot air will be pumped through the “sausages” and it is hoped that this method will prove successful.
The photo shows Mr Terry Hunter, who suggested and organised the cover, crossing his fingers at Loftus Road this afternoon as the work in laying the new cover is underway..’
The match was eventually played a few days later and ended goalless. The 2-2 draw at Villa Park two weeks later resulted in a replay at Highbury on 22nd February. A Brian Little hat-trick denied us a trip to Wembley.
Steve Russell
(The above pic is from my collection)