On 6th January 1962, a party of 19 R’s fans (plus a journalist), flew from London Airport to Manchester. The group then continued their journey by coach to Turf Moor, for the FA Cup 3rd round-tie against Burnley. The 4th April 1981 home match programme (v Grimsby Town) included a photo of five R’s fans preparing Continue reading
Category: Fanzone
Watching Football again……after a very Long Wait – Part 2
In part 1 of this piece posted on 17th November 2020, I wrote about the first Rangers match that my father, Frank Percival, attended after he arrived home after the war at Barnet in the FA Cup. However, his first match back home was not to see Rangers play. That first match had been four Continue reading
Watching Football again……after a very Long Wait
November 1945 For most of us, the nine months since we last saw a live match in a stadium have been pretty excruciating. Back in 1945 however, many fans had to wait over six long years. 75 years ago, World War Two had just ended and football fans who had been in the Armed Services Continue reading
In Memory of our Friend, Mark Thornhill
I first met Mark around 1991 or so after I’d got married and moved out to Luton. Quite soon after I set up the Luton R’s and Mark was the first to respond. Then, after a few games it soon became clear that we had many things in common. One difference was the way we Continue reading
In Memory of Gerry Higgins
Last week ‘north poler’ posted the very sad news on the Indy’s website forum that Gerry Higgins had passed away. Gerry was originally from Galway and became the Guvnor of the ‘Crown & Sceptre’ in Melina Road, Shepherd’s Bush for a number of years. Pat Harrison summed up what many felt about him on the Continue reading
Life & Times of a Legendary R’s Fan, Thomas Matthews
When Barry Thompkins put up a photo of his Great-Grandfather recently on the: ‘You’re Probably from W12 if…’ Facebook group page, I just had to contact him. A moment captured in time, from the late 1920’s in fact. Barry added that it showed his Great-Grandfather walking down the Uxbridge Road en route to Loftus Road Continue reading
QPR Secretary Ron Phillips responds to Bill Hodge’s 1976 Letter in the Local Gazette
Earlier this month I published Bill Hodge’s 1976 letter to the local Gazette, titled: ‘Rangers – Don’t let Greed Ruin your chances of being a Great Club’. This prompted the following response on 1st April from Club Secretary, Ron Phillips: ‘I hope you will allow Queen’s Park Rangers to reply to the letter recently published Continue reading
‘Rangers – Don’t let Greed Ruin your chances of being a Great Club’
QPR topped the First Division table in March 1976. Bill Hodge of Stanleycroft Close in Isleworth raised a number of issues, which he put together in a letter that month to the Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush Gazette: ‘I have been a loyal supporter of Queen’s Park Rangers for more than 35 years, and have stood Continue reading
When QPR Fans Planned a Petition to find out why: ‘Diabolical Referees are being sent to Loftus Road’
The following article appeared in the local press on 11th December 1959: ‘Two Shepherd’s Bush brothers, supporters of Queen’s Park Rangers since they were youngsters, told a Gazette and Post reporter this week of a petition they plan to send to the Football Association, signed by QPR Supporters’ Club members, to find out why “diabolical” Continue reading
Was it time for a Name Change? – Queen’s Park Rangers to Hammersmith Rangers?
The QPR board of directors decided in 1931 to move the Club a stone’s throw away to the White City Stadium. The R’s opening league game on 5th September against Bournemouth in front of nearly 19,000 resulted in a 0-3 defeat. Reginald Bacchus of 59, Hammersmith Bridge Road wrote to the West London Observer suggesting Continue reading