Team: Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Hollins, McLintock, Webb, Thomas, Francis, Masson, Bowles, Givens Sub: Leach Attendance: 31,002 On this day in 1976, the R’s took on Leeds in their final game of an historic season. Ron Phillips’ ‘Bush Telegraph’ programme notes included the following: ‘In any normal season Rangers’ superb winning run from January to April Continue reading
The Sounds of West London: No.1 – Portobello Road, W11
Released in the UK on 7th October 1971, ‘Bedknobs & Broomsticks’ is a Walt Disney production set during WW2 and involves three kids who are evacuated from London. Charlie, Carrie and Paul Rawlins end up at the home of a witch, Miss Eglantine Price, who is played by Angela Lansbury. She eventually tells them that Continue reading
‘Just Call Me Susan’, Says this Francis Whizz-Kid
The following article was written by Eric Nicholls and appeared in ‘Goal’ magazine on 4th August 1973: ‘When your brother is a well-known footballer, it’s difficult not to attract attention when you go out to show off your own Soccer skills. That’s the problem Susan Francis faces every time she pulls on the No.3 jersey Continue reading
From 1923: FA Cup Round Two – Wigan Borough (2) – QPR (4)
Team: Hill, Marsden, Bain, John, Vigrass, Gregory (J), Edgley, Birch, Parker, Davis, Chandler Attendance: 23,454 Rangers defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 in the FA Cup 1st Round on the 13th January 1923. For the 2nd Round, the R’s travelled to Wigan for the very first time. Ahead of the match the Daily Herald reported: ‘Thirteen players Continue reading
QPR‘s 1896 Friendly at Harrow Athletic: ‘By Brakes, Carts, Bicycles, Trains & the Humble Shanks’, they swarmed down’
Team: A. J. Kips, H. Teagle, F. Tyler, A. Knight, T. Harvey, A. McKenzie, C. Davies, A. Gilmour, B. Carr, W. Ward, E. Wallington. QPR’s 1895/96 season was made up of various cup competitions and a number of friendlies. On 15th February, Rangers travelled to Harrow Athletic. A comprehensive match report, (and interesting references to 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
Securing Ravenscourt Park for the Public
Growing up in the Bush, Ravenscourt Park holds many childhood memories for me, and my family. The following article appeared in the Framlingham Weekly News on 1st August 1885: ‘Travellers to Kew Gardens and Richmond must have noticed, immediately after passing the Shaftesbury-road Railway Station, a very beautiful park with a fine avenue of trees. Continue reading
QPR’s first Overseas Tour was to Belgium in 1908
I had thought that QPR’s first overseas tour had been to France and Germany in 1912, but it has now come to light that the Rangers travelled to Belgium four years earlier. A Reuters telegram was circulated to the Press on Sunday 3rd May reporting that QPR had defeated Brussels Racing Club 5-2: ‘The excellent Continue reading
In 1986 QPR pulled in nearly 1,500 to light-up Ruislip
A few days after the friendly match at Ruislip’s Breakspear Road ground on the 10th March 1986, the Hayes & Harlington Gazette reported that: ‘First Division Queen’s Park Rangers drew a bumper crowd of 1,500 to Breakspear Road on Monday evening for a special match against Ruislip to officially switch on the local club’s new Continue reading
QPR’s New £150,000 Stand in 1968
The following article appeared in the Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush Gazette on 11th April 1968: ‘Home matches are recognised throughout sport to be beneficial to the host club, where they are considered to have a better chance of coming out on top. Queen’s Park Rangers have shown how much “home” means to them by their Continue reading