The following article appeared in the Marylebone Mercury on 13th August 1938:
‘After enduring a season of thrills, high expectancy and then the final disappointment of just being behind at the winning post, it was interesting to visit Loftus Road to see what reactions the close season had brought.
One found, however, just a bunch of good boys getting on with the job of preparing for the season which commences on Saturday with the first public practice match.
One fact remains that last season was one of the most successful in the history of the club and as foreshadowed, the directors have looked to their one shilling supporters by the erection of new covered accommodation costing £7,000 at the Loftus Road end of the ground, which will shelter another 6,000 spectators.
The terracing will be ready by the 27th and the roofing a fortnight later. The ground has also been lengthened and widened, and these improvements will be appreciated by the Rangers’ loyal supporters and the visitors, too.
Secretary/Manager Billy Birrell was quietly confident, without undue optimism, of his boys, who impressed one with a sense of team spirit and good fellowship in a scratch game on Wednesday morning.
The list of retained players should give satisfaction to most of us, and the new acquisitions will be watched with interest.
The retained players are: S. Abel, W. Bott, J. Cape, T. Cheetham, A. Farmer, A. Fitzgerald, H. Gilmore, N. James, A. Jefferson, H. Lowe, R. March, L. McCarthy, W. Mason, J. Pattison, I. Powell, E. Reay, J. Reid, A. Ridyard, N. Smith, A. Stock, R. Swinfen.
The retained players are well-known, but it will be well to watch Bill Mason in goal this season. He is brimful of confidence, and a better keeper will want some finding.
Red-headed March is being watched; Millwall seem to be interested, I am given to understand.
The new players are: R. Allen, goalkeeper; J. Devine, inside-forward, from Aberdeen; W. McEwan, Petershill FC; H. Pearson, outside-right, Coventry; A. Warburton, inside-forward, Fulham.
Allen, a local product from Corona FC, who plays in the Hanwell and District League, should do well in his more exalted sphere when he has had a little more experience. We wish him well.
New accommodation and players are all the acquisitions of the Rangers since last season.
Mr Stewart Calderwood, who has played for Partick Thistle until this season, has been appointed trainer. His knowledge of the game combined with his modern ideas on training should be of inestimable value to the club and the players themselves.
Mr Birrell, his assistant, Jackie Crawford (ex-international and Chelsea winger), trainer Calderwood and the backing of Mr Fielding and his co-directors, are therefore looking with confidence to even improving last season’s performance. We wish you luck.
Reserves Progress:
The most significant feature about the Rangers has been the continued success of the reserves.
For the third season in succession, they have topped the table of the 3rd Division Southern reserve sides, and last season came fifth in the London Combination League against such sides as the Arsenal, Chelsea, Brentford & Charlton, etc., reserves.
A meritorious performance which had its reward in a 60 per-cent increase in gate receipts last season.
A club with such a reserve upon which to call, if necessary is indeed fortunate and it also proves the wise and steady progressive policy of the QPR Club.’
Rangers went on to finish the season in sixth position, behind the likes of Reading, Watford, Brighton, Crystal Palace and the league champions, Newport County.
As for the London Combination, the R’s achieved a commendable second spot, four points behind Arsenal, and scoring 112 goals.
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley for unearthing the newspaper article. The above image was taken from the 1939/40 Handbook)