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
From 1949: Brentford (0) – QPR (2)
Team: Allen, Dudley, Jefferson, Pattison, Woodward, Hill, Duggan, Ramscar, Pointon, Hatton, Hudson. Attendance: 29,411 The R’s made a decent start to their 1949/50 Second Division campaign. Following a 1-1 draw at Elland Road, Rangers then shared six goals with Brentford at Loftus Road and went on to beat Southampton 1-0. Next up was a trip Continue reading
VJ Day – Wednesday, 15th August 1945
Today marks the 75th anniversary of VJ Day in 1945. Emperor Hirohito had announced the surrender of Imperial Japan to the Allies and on the following Friday the West London Observer reported that: Celebrations commenced before midnight on Tuesday as soon as the radio announced that Japan had accepted the United Nations peace terms. All Continue reading
In August 1936, ‘Bushranger’ finds New Faces & Confidence at Loftus Road
Ahead of a new season, the following article titled: ‘Bushranger Finds New Faces and Confidence at Loftus Road’, appeared in the Middlesex County Times on 22ndAugust 1936: ‘There is an atmosphere of quiet confidence down at the Queen’s Park Rangers’ ground in Loftus Road. I looked in one morning this week (writes “Bushranger”) and found Continue reading
When Andy Townsend provoked a response from Alan McDonald!
Rangers started off their 1990/91 campaign with a 1-1 draw at Forest, which was followed by a 0-1 home defeat against Wimbledon and next up were Chelsea. The R’s took an early lead following David Lee’s handball in the box. Roy Wegerle stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot. Later, the visitors Continue reading
Richard ‘Dicky’ March’s Benefit Match against Brentford in 1937
‘Dicky’ March arrived at Queen’s Park Rangers in 1931 from Crawcrook Albion and made his first team debut the following year on Christmas Eve against Torquay. The ‘Ranger’s Notes’ in the Fulham reserve programme dated 17th April 1937 announced that: ‘Thursday next is Dicky March’s BIG DAY (against Brentford). For five-and-a-half years he has looked Continue reading
Remembering Willie Clark who passed away on this Day in 2006
William Clark was born in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, on 25th February 1932. Following a recommendation from QPR’s Scottish scout, Johnny Barr, the ‘Daily Mirror’ reported on 2nd February 1954: ‘Queen’s Park Rangers – no goals in seven of their last eight league games, bring down from Scotland a 13-stone, 6ft tall, twenty-one-year-old centre-forward, Willie Clark, Continue reading
Drilling Outside “The Devil’s Cave” at White City in 1914
The following image and caption appeared in the Illustrated War News on 16th December 1914: ‘The Exhibition grounds at the White City at Shepherd’s Bush are no longer a haunt of light-hearted Londoners in search of amusement but are devoted to the sterner tasks of military training. Some of the large show-cases have been fitted Continue reading
John Bloom – Entrepreneur & would-be Chairman of QPR F.C.
In January 1963 as a 14-year-old schoolboy, during our White City season, John Bloom the Rolls Razor and washing machine magnate, wanted to take control and become the R’s chairman. I was all for it at the time…Rangers backed with wealth…new quality players…promotion out of the Division 3 mire… fame…what a prospect! Obviously with hindsight Continue reading
‘They’re Pulling Down the Palais!’
Steve Still wrote the following article, which appeared in the local Gazette on 22nd December 2006: ‘The historic Hammersmith Palais dance hall looks set to be the latest London music venue to be demolished. The Marquee is long gone and the 2,000 capacity Astoria in Charing Cross Road, which has been sold by the owners, Continue reading