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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory 19:52 - Oct 19 with 5978 viewsBrianMcCarthy

Lovely article, this.
Well done to thepeople involved for all their hard work, and to WLS for a very positive article.

https://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/how-fans-are-returning-qprs-loft-to-its-past

"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 20:04 - Oct 19 with 4523 viewsNorthernr

And to do it all as successfully as they have when we've won one home game in a year... Fcking fair play.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 20:14 - Oct 19 with 4484 viewsPaddyhoops

I know Simon. Good lad.
They deserve a lot of credit.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 21:25 - Oct 19 with 4346 viewsdaveB

I admire their efforts but in truth the atmosphere is exactly the same as it was before the change and pretty much how it was before it was a family stand. Very good when we're winning, crap the rest of the time. Always said Family stand was never the problem, a crap team was and that's still the case now
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 21:33 - Oct 19 with 4315 viewskitkev

this is not football a choregraphed episode of come dancing.

football is spontaneous on the terraces a hard tackle a near miss this is football the bond between the players and crowd cannot be replicatedc with pre rehearesd chants
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 22:06 - Oct 19 with 4230 viewsstowmarketrange

As a regular in the safe standing area I like the idea of a few flags and especially the bigger ones at the start of the games.
My only problem with it is that the lads take the flags away at halftime,just as we’re normally attacking the loft end for the 2nd half.I guess they don’t want to stay behind after the games collecting them all in,but I reckon the atmosphere falls flat just when we need it to be at its best.
Being level at ht might make a difference too if it ever happens.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 02:03 - Oct 20 with 4001 viewsSydneyRs

Excellent stuff and its a real shame they don't have some better performances to enjoy.

I was a Loft regular through most of the 80s and early 90s. Back then I didn't think our atmosphere was anything out of the ordinary, but looking back at old videos you can really see the passion. What they refer to as "limbs" these days isn't even close.

Watching any games from that era, including non QPR, you can see the atmosphere was more intense and just better. One of the great things back then was being able to just decide to take in a game anywhere on the day. Went to some great games with a Spurs mate and also a Spurs v Arsenal semi final at white hart lane where I was in the Arsenal end with a workmate and Arsenal scored two late goals to win it from 1-0 down. The atmosphere was incredible that night and absolute mayhem in the away end when Arsenal won it.

Being in the loft for the Chelsea 6-0, Newcastle 5-5 and the 1990 cup game v Arsenal in torrential rain are standout memories, but there are many more. Even after it became seated it was still pretty good initially. The Millwall and West Ham FA cup games in 95 stand out. Just watch that handball appeal and the goal celebrations in the Millwall game.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 07:02 - Oct 20 with 3899 viewsMetallica_Hoop

I remember those mosh pit celebrations and in the days before mobiles you'd just have to go find your mates after the game.

A mosh pit at the Brixton Academy is like that as they have the old Football barriers there and instead of steps the infamous slope.

I've hit them several times, 'kin 'urts! even drunkie.

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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 07:14 - Oct 20 with 3889 viewsGaryBannister86

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 21:25 - Oct 19 by daveB

I admire their efforts but in truth the atmosphere is exactly the same as it was before the change and pretty much how it was before it was a family stand. Very good when we're winning, crap the rest of the time. Always said Family stand was never the problem, a crap team was and that's still the case now


I know you passionately believe this Dave, but I don't agree. The acoustics may not reveal it, but when the Loft was all seating and almost entirely a creche, I used to sit there with my youngster and the only time there was any noise at all was if we were winning handsomely. Now there has been serious vocal effort even with nothing to back it up.

I'll say it again, get rid of the creche, make the whole Loft safe standing. Keep the flags going, give it a year or so to get atmosphere - make the end cheaper (prices ridiculous still) and watch it go.

Then kids that go there will be impressed and want to come back. Not because they shook hands with a furry mascot.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 07:26 - Oct 20 with 3863 viewsSydneyRs

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 07:02 - Oct 20 by Metallica_Hoop

I remember those mosh pit celebrations and in the days before mobiles you'd just have to go find your mates after the game.

A mosh pit at the Brixton Academy is like that as they have the old Football barriers there and instead of steps the infamous slope.

I've hit them several times, 'kin 'urts! even drunkie.


Spot on about Brixton Academy. Very football terrace like.

Carter USM gigs there in the early 90s had a very football match type atmosphere with the expected "limbs". They used to start gigs with a tune that began with the "you fat b@stard" chant and in the early days had a fat guy (known as John Beast) come on the stage to introduce them and get it going.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 08:11 - Oct 20 with 3794 viewsHayesender

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 02:03 - Oct 20 by SydneyRs

Excellent stuff and its a real shame they don't have some better performances to enjoy.

I was a Loft regular through most of the 80s and early 90s. Back then I didn't think our atmosphere was anything out of the ordinary, but looking back at old videos you can really see the passion. What they refer to as "limbs" these days isn't even close.

Watching any games from that era, including non QPR, you can see the atmosphere was more intense and just better. One of the great things back then was being able to just decide to take in a game anywhere on the day. Went to some great games with a Spurs mate and also a Spurs v Arsenal semi final at white hart lane where I was in the Arsenal end with a workmate and Arsenal scored two late goals to win it from 1-0 down. The atmosphere was incredible that night and absolute mayhem in the away end when Arsenal won it.

Being in the loft for the Chelsea 6-0, Newcastle 5-5 and the 1990 cup game v Arsenal in torrential rain are standout memories, but there are many more. Even after it became seated it was still pretty good initially. The Millwall and West Ham FA cup games in 95 stand out. Just watch that handball appeal and the goal celebrations in the Millwall game.


I was also in the away end at white Hart Lane that night with my brother. Think it was Ian Alinson who got the winner for Arsenal. Pure unadulterated bedlam

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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 08:31 - Oct 20 with 3774 viewsTheChef

Been absolute dogsh1t at home since we brought in safe standing and this lot turned up

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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 08:51 - Oct 20 with 3722 viewsdaveB

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 07:14 - Oct 20 by GaryBannister86

I know you passionately believe this Dave, but I don't agree. The acoustics may not reveal it, but when the Loft was all seating and almost entirely a creche, I used to sit there with my youngster and the only time there was any noise at all was if we were winning handsomely. Now there has been serious vocal effort even with nothing to back it up.

I'll say it again, get rid of the creche, make the whole Loft safe standing. Keep the flags going, give it a year or so to get atmosphere - make the end cheaper (prices ridiculous still) and watch it go.

Then kids that go there will be impressed and want to come back. Not because they shook hands with a furry mascot.


There is no noise at all now either. I sit 2 blocks away from the safe standing and never hear anything after the first 5 minutes and on the rare occasion we're not losing. The noise continues to come from the P, Q and R blocks as it always has
The flags look great but it's still a morgue.

I'm all in favour of safe standing, always have been but lets not pretend it was ever going to improve the atmosphere, that was a myth from the start and still is
[Post edited 20 Oct 2023 8:53]
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 08:59 - Oct 20 with 3693 viewsBrianMcCarthy

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 08:11 - Oct 20 by Hayesender

I was also in the away end at white Hart Lane that night with my brother. Think it was Ian Alinson who got the winner for Arsenal. Pure unadulterated bedlam


Me too.
Brother abandoned Rangers for Arsenal so went with him.

"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:01 - Oct 20 with 3683 viewsGaryBannister86

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 08:51 - Oct 20 by daveB

There is no noise at all now either. I sit 2 blocks away from the safe standing and never hear anything after the first 5 minutes and on the rare occasion we're not losing. The noise continues to come from the P, Q and R blocks as it always has
The flags look great but it's still a morgue.

I'm all in favour of safe standing, always have been but lets not pretend it was ever going to improve the atmosphere, that was a myth from the start and still is
[Post edited 20 Oct 2023 8:53]


I respectfully disagree. Fine, you can't hear it from where you are. That doesn't mean that there isn't more noise. Before there was no noise, which you couldn't hear. Now there is noise, that you can't hear. That is a difference. It is only a small pocket that is safe standing, make it the whole end and it will get better and better. The right people, those who want to sing, will go there.

You can't make a sweeping comment that safe standing does nothing to improve atmosphere. It may need work, and may depend on acoustics, but surely it will do.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:22 - Oct 20 with 3587 viewsTheChef

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:01 - Oct 20 by GaryBannister86

I respectfully disagree. Fine, you can't hear it from where you are. That doesn't mean that there isn't more noise. Before there was no noise, which you couldn't hear. Now there is noise, that you can't hear. That is a difference. It is only a small pocket that is safe standing, make it the whole end and it will get better and better. The right people, those who want to sing, will go there.

You can't make a sweeping comment that safe standing does nothing to improve atmosphere. It may need work, and may depend on acoustics, but surely it will do.


Clearly done nothing to improve results!

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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:29 - Oct 20 with 3569 viewsdaveB

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:01 - Oct 20 by GaryBannister86

I respectfully disagree. Fine, you can't hear it from where you are. That doesn't mean that there isn't more noise. Before there was no noise, which you couldn't hear. Now there is noise, that you can't hear. That is a difference. It is only a small pocket that is safe standing, make it the whole end and it will get better and better. The right people, those who want to sing, will go there.

You can't make a sweeping comment that safe standing does nothing to improve atmosphere. It may need work, and may depend on acoustics, but surely it will do.


So there is lots of noise but sitting 2 blocks away from it is too far to hear it all, fair enough. it's weird because I can hear the R block singing which is further away

It's going over old ground but always said the lower loft was not the right place for this as acoustics are terrible and noise never carries.

I get that you want the right people in and not the current lot but not sure where these right people are and why they are not making loads of noise already

For me it doesn't matter if you are sitting down standing up, in one stand or another the atmosphere improves when we are doing well and when we are dreadful the atmosphere is crap. It's been that way since I started going in the 80's and is pretty much the same at every other club as well with the odd exception.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:45 - Oct 20 with 3531 viewsGaryBannister86

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:29 - Oct 20 by daveB

So there is lots of noise but sitting 2 blocks away from it is too far to hear it all, fair enough. it's weird because I can hear the R block singing which is further away

It's going over old ground but always said the lower loft was not the right place for this as acoustics are terrible and noise never carries.

I get that you want the right people in and not the current lot but not sure where these right people are and why they are not making loads of noise already

For me it doesn't matter if you are sitting down standing up, in one stand or another the atmosphere improves when we are doing well and when we are dreadful the atmosphere is crap. It's been that way since I started going in the 80's and is pretty much the same at every other club as well with the odd exception.


I respect your opinion and you are definitely right that atmosphere comes with performances and results. Bang on.

However, like with the flags, we have precious little to hold onto to try and play our part. Giving the youngsters a vibrant home end that they can SnapBook / YouFace / Twixxer is really important.

Especially as now, with the other West London Teams pumping up prices, picking up plastic fans, losing atmosphere, this is the chance to attract the kids to us with passion and verve and "real club" stuff.

I think you give up too soon on the acoustics. It was always rubbish, but when the old Loft was in full voice you could definitely hear it. Two standing blocks is not enough. Give it a whole Loft standing, a proper game / cup tie, no family area....full......flags.....surely even your old ears are gonna hear something :-)
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:48 - Oct 20 with 3513 viewsGaryBannister86

And final point - family stand, speaking as someone who went to it for ages - it isn't important. Why do youngsters have to be grouped in one place? It hasn't worked to attract a young support, is almost always half empty anyway. The only thing that will really attract a young support is an exciting experience. Not Judas Sinton shaking your hand or Jude wiggling his tail.

If my boy was five again now I would just sit in the Ellerslie or SA stand.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:01 - Oct 20 with 3475 viewsdaveB

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:45 - Oct 20 by GaryBannister86

I respect your opinion and you are definitely right that atmosphere comes with performances and results. Bang on.

However, like with the flags, we have precious little to hold onto to try and play our part. Giving the youngsters a vibrant home end that they can SnapBook / YouFace / Twixxer is really important.

Especially as now, with the other West London Teams pumping up prices, picking up plastic fans, losing atmosphere, this is the chance to attract the kids to us with passion and verve and "real club" stuff.

I think you give up too soon on the acoustics. It was always rubbish, but when the old Loft was in full voice you could definitely hear it. Two standing blocks is not enough. Give it a whole Loft standing, a proper game / cup tie, no family area....full......flags.....surely even your old ears are gonna hear something :-)


I agree the flags are great not a problem with them at all, they look great and it's an incredible effort to get that all done.

The whole family stand thing has always been more about getting the parents in the door who spend the money, have some activities for the kids and a bar for the adults, get them to come back with or without the kids, that's where the club have messed up with the insane ticketing policy in the last 10 years. That should have been scrapped years ago

This is where I can see why Hoos laughs at us though. It's always if we had one more thing the atmosphere would be great. Safe standing will fix it well Ok it hasn't fixed it so we need more safe standing. Open the bars earlier get a DJ in or former players, Ok you've done that but it's again made no difference

For me this has always been about just getting rid of the family stand and moving all of us sat in the stand out of it when in truth the majority of us were there long before it was a family stand anyway in 2008 and the atmosphere was still not all that then either.

That's fine and eventually it will all be safe standing and we'll all have to move somewhere else for these real fans to come in from somewhere. I can guarantee you though that if the whole stadium was safe standing and the team was playing as it is at the moment you are not getting any extra noise from the crowd other than people moaning they can't sit down. Maybe they can start on SA Road next as the atmosphere a bit crap in there as well so move all of those lot out and get noisy people in.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:14 - Oct 20 with 3434 viewsGaryBannister86

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:01 - Oct 20 by daveB

I agree the flags are great not a problem with them at all, they look great and it's an incredible effort to get that all done.

The whole family stand thing has always been more about getting the parents in the door who spend the money, have some activities for the kids and a bar for the adults, get them to come back with or without the kids, that's where the club have messed up with the insane ticketing policy in the last 10 years. That should have been scrapped years ago

This is where I can see why Hoos laughs at us though. It's always if we had one more thing the atmosphere would be great. Safe standing will fix it well Ok it hasn't fixed it so we need more safe standing. Open the bars earlier get a DJ in or former players, Ok you've done that but it's again made no difference

For me this has always been about just getting rid of the family stand and moving all of us sat in the stand out of it when in truth the majority of us were there long before it was a family stand anyway in 2008 and the atmosphere was still not all that then either.

That's fine and eventually it will all be safe standing and we'll all have to move somewhere else for these real fans to come in from somewhere. I can guarantee you though that if the whole stadium was safe standing and the team was playing as it is at the moment you are not getting any extra noise from the crowd other than people moaning they can't sit down. Maybe they can start on SA Road next as the atmosphere a bit crap in there as well so move all of those lot out and get noisy people in.


I think you are putting words in my mouth that I didn't utter there, David.

I don't think people who are noisy are "real fans" or any better than those who sit quietly. In fact, between you me and the message board, most are really annoying. I've seen these types sing "f*** off Les Ferdinand" so that sums them up for me. But that has always been the case, you need your nutters and lunatics mixed in with the Guardian types in order to get atmosphere going.

I don't think everyone else should be moved, I just think the family area is rubbish / pointless / waste of time.

I believe that if all the Loft was standing, more of the yoof / 20 year olds etc would want to gather (gradually) in the home end and finally we would have a home end worthy of the name again.

I am not saying any of this will stop Ainsworth playing hoofball, or even that it will improve the atmosphere if we are playing like we are at the moment.

But, if we are staying at Loftus Road, trying to improve it is not a crime. Just shrugging our shoulders and saying "acoustics" "never hear anything anyway" is just giving up, in my opinion. Obviously it will take time, yes Hoos will say on a podcast you guys always tell me this will work and it doesn't, but these things take time and buy-in.

I agree standing doesn't guarantee atmosphere. People brought their mates the other week who support other clubs to show them what the Loft could be like. It lasted 2 minutes until we started playing abysmally and then it was morgue time. I agree on that.

But what is the harm in trying to improve matters over time? I think you are settled in little ol' Loftus Road being as it is and that it will all magically changed when HoofballHaka gets sacked and we finally play football and win.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:23 - Oct 20 with 3405 viewsTheChef

All well and good, but the bottom line is a team that wins more than it loses has a much more positive impact on crowd engagement/noise.

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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:24 - Oct 20 with 3395 viewsHayesender

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 09:48 - Oct 20 by GaryBannister86

And final point - family stand, speaking as someone who went to it for ages - it isn't important. Why do youngsters have to be grouped in one place? It hasn't worked to attract a young support, is almost always half empty anyway. The only thing that will really attract a young support is an exciting experience. Not Judas Sinton shaking your hand or Jude wiggling his tail.

If my boy was five again now I would just sit in the Ellerslie or SA stand.


When I first started going with my dad to football, me and my brother used to stand down the front of the clock end at Arsenal and then dad would find us after.

When I saw the light and started going to Loftus Road on my own in 82, I soon found my favourite spot in the west paddock which I stamped as mine till I moved to the loft around 87.

We certainly didn't need games rooms and face painting. Maybe kids these days just have a shite concentration span

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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:28 - Oct 20 with 3391 viewsNorthernr

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:24 - Oct 20 by Hayesender

When I first started going with my dad to football, me and my brother used to stand down the front of the clock end at Arsenal and then dad would find us after.

When I saw the light and started going to Loftus Road on my own in 82, I soon found my favourite spot in the west paddock which I stamped as mine till I moved to the loft around 87.

We certainly didn't need games rooms and face painting. Maybe kids these days just have a shite concentration span


The actual big thing for me when I started going was being able to hang round with my dad and his mates, feeling like a grown up, being on the trains to the away games, not like you say playing table football with the other kids.
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:30 - Oct 20 with 3382 viewsdaveB

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:24 - Oct 20 by Hayesender

When I first started going with my dad to football, me and my brother used to stand down the front of the clock end at Arsenal and then dad would find us after.

When I saw the light and started going to Loftus Road on my own in 82, I soon found my favourite spot in the west paddock which I stamped as mine till I moved to the loft around 87.

We certainly didn't need games rooms and face painting. Maybe kids these days just have a shite concentration span


Nail on the head with the concentration span, they have a million other things to do now it's a different world to when we were kids and starting going so you have to adapt
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How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:30 - Oct 20 with 3382 viewsGaryBannister86

How fans are returning QPR’s Loft to its past glory on 10:28 - Oct 20 by Northernr

The actual big thing for me when I started going was being able to hang round with my dad and his mates, feeling like a grown up, being on the trains to the away games, not like you say playing table football with the other kids.


Hallelujah. Correct. Make it a grown up experience and you will get the desired results. If they want a Kidzania experience, there's one down the road.
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