In his final column of the season Ash takes a look back at one of his all time favourite QPR games and some of the players he has most enjoyed watching at Loftus Road during his lifetime.

So here we are 45 matches, 23 games without a goal, three different managers, and an eleventh place finish in what only begins to tell the story of another eventful season at Queens Park Rangers. The anticipation with the bookies at the start of the season was sky high but as already mentioned on Clive’s season preview we all knew that this side would probably just fall short of a play-off place. Yes, there were times this season that I really believed a top six place was possible but there is only so far a team can go in this league without an out and out goal scorer and missing three of the clubs best players through injury. And when you look at it like that, a mid-table finish doesn’t seem too bad, that is if it wasn’t set against the back-drop of managerial partings, board room interfering, questionable transfers and extortionate ticket prices. As many of us have already said this summer is crucial in the future of this club, and Flavio and his gang must get the next managerial appointment right as we head into the third year of his grand plan of taking the R’s into the promise land of the Premier League.



Before we look to next season though, there’s one more game to contest and one that means much more to our opponents then it will do to the eleven Gareth Ainsworth puts out. Preston will be looking for the three points whilst hoping Burnley and Cardiff slip which would see them sneak a play-off place. For Rangers one can only hope that after all the bashings the players have taken this week thanks to their ‘efforts’ at the player of the year dinner, they do themselves justice before they swan off for the summer break.



At this point I usually start comparing the two teams and the games that have linked them over the years. But as I’ve already covered Preston twice and there really isn’t much more material to stretch out, I thought as it’s the last day of the season I would do something slightly different. So for the last memories and connections column of the campaign I thought I’d look at some of my own personal favourite memories of Rangers. So excusing the self-indulgence, let’s take our last walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane to recall an action-packed game from the early nineties and the players who I for one reason or another I haven’t been able to cover thus far…



I also just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to both the columns and thread in the lead up to games this season. I’ve really enjoyed doing the piece every week, even on occasions it’s beaten me – you try and get some decent memories out of games with Doncaster , it’s not easy! But none the less I hope everyone has enjoyed the input and I’m sure the column will appear sporadically next season too. Also thanks to Clive for letting me ramble on every week and contribute to what has now become the definitive site for everything QPR. Here’s hoping for even more successful season next year for both the club and Loft for Words.




Memorable Match

QPR 4-2 Everton

28 December 1992

Premier League


To many this may not really seem to be a stand-out game, just another high-scoring action packed game from Gerry Francis’ exciting Rangers team from the early 1990’s. But for me this will forever hold a special place in my heart because it was the first time I travelled to Loftus Road. I was nine years old at the time and despite living on the other side of London in Charlton country I had been influenced by a Rangers supporting family who were originally from the area (a street away from HQ in fact) and the likes of Andy Sinton, Ray Wilkins and my hero to this day Roy Wegerle. So there I was in my replica shirt, tracksuit and scarf on a cold December afternoon finally ready to cement my self to being a true Super Hoop.



That season saw the birth of a new era for English football with the inaugural season of the Premier League, Sky, alive and kicking and all that. Despite making an encouraging start to the season, Rangers went into the game with only one victory in their last five and off the back of a London derby defeat to Crystal Palace. Everton were in slightly better form earning four points from their previous two games and were in confident mood going into the game at Loftus Road.



It was Rangers, attacking the School End as I sat watching for the first time in the centre of Elleslie Road who started the better. Les Ferdinand and Ian Holloway tested Neville Southall early on before the game swung even further in Rangers’ favour with the early dismissal of the Everton keeper. Darren Peacock’s long headed ball was chased down by Ferdinand only for Southall to get there first - unfortunately for the Wales number one he picked up the ball outside the box and was given a straight red card. Advantage Rangers. David Bardsley went close with the resulting free-kick but Rangers eventually broke the deadlock minutes before the break. A perfect cross was put in the box from Bardsley that was met by Simon Barker, who’s header was saved by Jason Kearton but followed up by Andy Sinton to put the R’s one up.



A minute into the second half Rangers pressed their one man advantage and quickly doubled their lead. Again Bardsley was the provider, when his long ball down field took the Everton defence and keeper by surprise and Gary Penrice nipped into round the keeper and make it 2-0. Things got from bad to worse for Everton when Paul Rideout was shown his marching orders after receiving two bookings and it was no shock when Rangers netted a third. Another Bardsley cross was missed by Ferdinand but Sinton was on hand at the back post to slot home and the game look buried.



With nothing to lose the Toffees then rallied and got a goal back through sub Stuart Barlow. Beating the Rangers offside trap and neatly finishing past Tony Roberts. All of a sudden Howard Kendall’s men found a second wind and Barlow got his second with a deflected shot, and the nine year old me started to panic.



Until two minutes from time when Ray Wilkins corner was headed on by Alan McDonald and finished by Andy Sinton for his hat-trick and Rangers fourth.



Six goals, two sending’s off and a hat-trick? Not a bad first game eh?



QPR: Roberts, Bardsley, Wilson, Wilkins, Peacock, McDonald, Barker, Holloway, Ferdinand, Penrice, Sinton



Everton: Southall, Jenkins, Ablett, Horne, Watson, Keown, Warzycha (Kearton), Beardsley, Rideout, Kenny, Beagrie (Barlow)



Post script: Rangers finished the season in fifth place, as London’s top team and their highest place finish since the 70’s. Everton finished in a respectable thirteenth.



Memorable Players


Here some of the players who I haven’t had the pleasure to write about this season due to one reason or another who I personally loved watching in an R’s shirt.



Jan Stejskal

1990-94

It speaks volumes about the standard of Rangers keepers over the past two decades that only Lee Camp has come close to being as good as the big Czech goalie since the departure of David Seaman. After starring for Czechoslovakia in the 1990 World Cup, Don Howe brought Jan to Loftus Road that autumn to provide competition for Tony Roberts. He was thrown right into the action at Elland Road and got off to a nightmare start conceding two goals and Stejskal at fault for both - luckily his team-mates got him off the hook rallying back to win 3-2 (including THAT goal from Roy). His bad luck continued that season as he struggled with the new league and language that he spoke very little of and by the end of the season fans were questioning the decision to bring him to W12. But Jan dug in worked hard on his game and his English and won over the doubters with a sustained period of superb displays for the club over the next three seasons - including memorable performances against the likes Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool that earned him the reputation as one of the most impressive goalkeepers in the top flight. After he left Rangers in 1994, Jan went to Czechoslovakia and is now goalkeeping coach for the national side and hometown team Sparta Praha.

Magic R’s moment: Other then wearing that memorable neon green and yellow goalie kit, the last minute penalty save at St James Park.



Clive Wilson

1990-95

Probably the best left-back to never play for England, Wilson was one of the most consistent players of Gerry Francis reign and an excellent penalty taker to boot. After successful spells with Manchester City and Chelsea, Wilson was signed by Don Howe for Rangers in the summer of 1990, Wilson quickly established himself on Rangers left-flank and was a near ever-present in the five seasons he spent with the club. He was a key member of the Rangers side that finished fifth in the Premier League’s debut season and went on to play nearly 200 games for QPR scoring 14 goals along the way with all but one coming from the penalty spot. He left Rangers on a free transfer in 1995 to join Francis at Tottenham before winding his career down at Cambridge and is now a secondary school teacher in Epping - he could certainly teach our left back a thing or two.

Magic R’s moment: After Millwall had knocked out Arsenal and Chelsea it was Wilson’s last minute penalty that halted the Lions FA Cup giant killing run.



John Spencer

1996-1998

He may have only graced a hooped shirt for less then two years but in a short space of time the little striker made a big impression on Rangers fans. An established top-flight goal scorer with Chelsea, Rangers splashed out £2.5 million to bring the Scottish international to Loftus Road in a deal with still makes him R’s second highest ever purchase. He marked his debut in typically predatory fashion by getting on the score sheet in a 2-1 defeat at Reading and would go onto to score 18 goals that season including a hat-trick against Barnsley. But unfortunately Rangers under Stewart Houston failed to make the top six and promotion back to the Premier League. The following campaign started slower for Spencer, and had to wait until the sixth game of the season to find the net. A further seven strikes saw the Premier League come calling and with Rangers struggling in the league it was no surprise when Spencer joined Everton initially on loan before a £1.5 million transfer in March 1998. Further spells at Motherwell and Colorado Rapids of the MLS followed and is now enjoying his fourth year as assistant manager at Houston Dynamo.

Magic R’s moment: The equaliser in the amazing 4-4 draw with Port Vale. I could watch his celebration over and over again.




Marc Bircham

2002-07

Say what you want about Marc Bircham but the one thing that he had above everyone else on a football pitch and something that some of today’s first-team could do with, passion for this football club. Having impressed in the centre of Millwall’s midfield Ian Holloway pulled off a masterstroke by convincing to drop a division and join QPR in the summer of 2002. But truthfully Birch didn’t need much convincing as was and still is a self-confessed Rangers fan along with the whole of his family. On his debut for Rangers against Chesterfield he turned out with his hair dyed blue and white! His all action displays and colourful hairstyles quickly made him a cult hero among the Loftus Road faithful and spawned the now famous ‘We Love You Bircham’ song. In his first season Birch helped Rangers reach the play-off final only to lose to a sucker punch in extra-time against Cardiff. A year later however he led the R’s to promotion after a memorable last day win over Sheffield Wednesday. Birch continued to be part of the Rangers midfield in the Championship until niggling injuries started to take toll on the R’s skipper. When Ian Holloway left the club in 2006, Gary Waddock placed him on the transfer list, but Bircham being Bircham refused to quit the club he loved and worked is way back into the side under once Waddock had been replaced by John Gregory. Once again though consistent injury problems meant his contract wasn’t renewed and left the club for Yeovil in 2006. His injuries problems continued at Yeovil though and earlier this year Birch announced his retirement from the game.

Magic R’s moment: It’s hard to ignore his goals against Brentford, but his sweet strike at home to Sheff Utd was a moment of brilliance.

Photo: Action Images

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