| Jimmy Dunne 18:57 - Dec 7 with 11296 views | numptydumpty |
What a man !!
Awful family circumstances - his dad passing away this week..
Could not have been that old ie Jimmy is mid 20s I assume.
Perfectly reasonable not to play today but a man of the match performance.
Not only scored - it had to be - but shortly after made a wonder challenge with a Norwich forward through on goal.
Was also up against their star man and he was well controlled.
Definitely deserves to be a fans favourite but that performance today, especially given his circumstances was iconic.
A true Ranger.
Well done Jimmy. You did your old man proud today..
Incredible.... [Post edited 7 Dec 19:00]
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| Jimmy Dunne on 09:26 - Dec 8 with 4354 views | gazza1 |
Another 'top man' & important player for the Team & Club, proper player, not always got the quality but never shirks his responsibilities......one of the first on the team-sheet.
As for his Father.....my deepest condolences to him. |  | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 12:00 - Dec 8 with 4197 views | Noelmc |
When you read that article about his dad, you realise why Jimmy is the type of character he is.
A very impressive young man and a real chip off the old block. One of those players you are proud to have on our team.
Thanks for posting qprmeath21. |  | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 12:20 - Dec 8 with 4133 views | OxfordHoops |
A brilliant performance today, given the circumstances. You won’t see many better tackles than his today, we were looking across the pitch and thought Saiinz was through, unbelievable recovery and tackle. He may not be the most gifted player, but you can never question his commitment to the cause.
My grandson’s favourite player, a top man!
Cmon u rssss | | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 14:14 - Dec 8 with 4002 views | LazyFan |
He made a mistake that lead to goal a few games ago. Stopped doing that and corrected his game. This means he's learned and is more intelligent than he looks.
I call this being a first-class professional.
Consistently, he wins headers from decent corners, meaning he must be one of the best headers of the ball in the Champ. Despite limited attacking skills, he tries to impact the game by dribbling, playing 1-2s, through balls, overlapping runs (don't laugh at the back; it's true he does these), headers on from goal kicks, and sometimes, he even crosses the ball!
Yet despite his limited attacking skills, when he does these moves, he actually impacts the game better than many so-called flair players.
Hes pro.
My worry is what about his contract?
I would rather keep Dunne than Paal. |  |
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| Jimmy Dunne on 14:29 - Dec 8 with 3943 views | johnhoop |
| Jimmy Dunne on 14:14 - Dec 8 by LazyFan |
He made a mistake that lead to goal a few games ago. Stopped doing that and corrected his game. This means he's learned and is more intelligent than he looks.
I call this being a first-class professional.
Consistently, he wins headers from decent corners, meaning he must be one of the best headers of the ball in the Champ. Despite limited attacking skills, he tries to impact the game by dribbling, playing 1-2s, through balls, overlapping runs (don't laugh at the back; it's true he does these), headers on from goal kicks, and sometimes, he even crosses the ball!
Yet despite his limited attacking skills, when he does these moves, he actually impacts the game better than many so-called flair players.
Hes pro.
My worry is what about his contract?
I would rather keep Dunne than Paal. |
Sorry, downvoted by mistake when I meant to do the opposite. I agree with everything you’ve written and would be very disappointed if we lose him when his contract expires. | | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 14:29 - Dec 8 with 3869 views | stainrods_elbow |
He's got guts, commitment and plays with beauty in his own way. Deserves a new contract, and I hope he gets one.
As for prostate cancer, having been through a bit of a palaver with it, guys, do get checked annually - regular PSA tests, biopsy if needed. My grandpa died of it, and it's a serious killer, but usually treatable if caught early. |  |
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| Jimmy Dunne on 16:59 - Dec 8 with 3803 views | westberksr |
An honest player, and appears to be a decent and honest human being.
Also seems to truly relish what we'd all love to do; being a professional footballer. That is one of the first things i look for in players and has developed his game to become an effective, if not conventional, right back.
brilliant effort to play this week in such difficult and emotional times. Sincere condolences to him and his family. |  | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 17:39 - Dec 8 with 3760 views | BushRanger82 |
Absolutely love Jimmy Dunne. Honest as the day is long. Reliable. Weighs in with much needed goals.
And plays the way he did, despite his sad personal circumstances.
May God Rest The Poor Soul of Mr. Dunne senior. |  | | |
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| Jimmy Dunne on 06:51 - Dec 9 with 3486 views | dmm |
According to WLS, the club has yet to discuss a new contract for Dunne https://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/no-conversations-with-qpr-star-about-new-con
I wouldn't think that's unusual and there are a dozen or so players in the same boat. But even if Dunne isn't quite the type of player Marti would choose at RB/CB, he must still be wanted for everything he brings to the side. |  | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:15 - Dec 9 with 3306 views | BklynRanger |
Thought he did really well to hold it together on Saturday. A measure of the man.
RIP Eamonn Dunne |  | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:39 - Dec 9 with 3253 views | daveB |
I'm sure he'll get a new deal, been a really important player for us since January |  | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:44 - Dec 9 with 3239 views | sprocket |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:39 - Dec 9 by daveB |
I'm sure he'll get a new deal, been a really important player for us since January |
I agree Dave. Not sure why the delay though. Jimmy seems to like it at QPR, is happy, the fans love him, he's an important player for us... [Post edited 9 Dec 10:44]
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| Jimmy Dunne on 10:57 - Dec 9 with 3207 views | ParkRoyalR |
| Jimmy Dunne on 23:38 - Dec 7 by hoops_legend |
I like Dunne - I still have doubts about his abilities and pace but his commitment can’t be questioned and that slide challenge was perfect
Btw what was varane thinking in build up to that?!?? |
If you have doubts about his pace watch how quick he is chasing down Cooks man for that goal saving tackle,
I've always thought he had pace over distance after he chased down Dembele away @ Peterboro,
Given his size likely not the quickest over 5 yards but was up against their best player on Saturday, got tight and used his physicality to nullify the Norwich wingers 5 yard pace advantage. | | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:40 - Dec 14 with 2546 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Nice article.
Thanks Spen. Appreciated. |  |
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| Jimmy Dunne on 10:50 - Dec 14 with 2485 views | hubble |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:40 - Dec 14 by BrianMcCarthy |
Nice article.
Thanks Spen. Appreciated. |
Except it's behind a paywall..... Any chance of a precis? |  |
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| Jimmy Dunne on 01:16 - Dec 15 with 2278 views | bob566 |
Full page article in today's Irish Times on him. Haven't read it yet | | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:51 - Dec 15 with 1932 views | Watford_Ranger |
Another very decent performance yesterday. They didn’t get much joy down their left and as ever he won the first contact on the rare balls we got into their box. Just a proper bloke to have in the team when you’re under the cosh. | | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 14:21 - Dec 15 with 1753 views | extratimeR |
I Jimmy has made major contribution to our attacking set pieces, I'm noticing he is getting picked up first by opposition defenders, ( even ahead of Cook), it's a big help to our forward players, I think Jimmy has genuine pace as wingers don't push it round him and run him,( like they would with someone who has pace issue) plus you are likely to get wrapped around a floodlight!
Great man to get through the week and play so well. | | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:02 - Dec 16 with 1420 views | qprmeath21 |
From the Irish Times Article
"But at QPR, it's all about QPR. I don't know anything else, I can't imagine being anywhere else. I'm QPR through and through, I love west London, the connection with the people here.
"I live nearby, in an area where you're in amongst QPR fans. My postman is a big QPR fan, we've a massive Irish Rs community. If you look around Loftus Road on a matchday, there's Tricolours everywhere. There's an Irish connection to west London anyway - my Nana, Breda, was a nurse in Richmond. A lot of Irish nurses would come to work. There's a few Irish bars. I've never been in any of them." You could hear the smile.
Dunne was speaking on Thursday morning. On Wednesdav night OPR had | | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 11:01 - Dec 16 with 1264 views | GaryHaddock |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:02 - Dec 16 by qprmeath21 |
From the Irish Times Article
"But at QPR, it's all about QPR. I don't know anything else, I can't imagine being anywhere else. I'm QPR through and through, I love west London, the connection with the people here.
"I live nearby, in an area where you're in amongst QPR fans. My postman is a big QPR fan, we've a massive Irish Rs community. If you look around Loftus Road on a matchday, there's Tricolours everywhere. There's an Irish connection to west London anyway - my Nana, Breda, was a nurse in Richmond. A lot of Irish nurses would come to work. There's a few Irish bars. I've never been in any of them." You could hear the smile.
Dunne was speaking on Thursday morning. On Wednesdav night OPR had |
Genuinely gladdened my heart this. |  | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 14:54 - Dec 16 with 1002 views | QPunkR |
| Jimmy Dunne on 10:50 - Dec 14 by hubble |
Except it's behind a paywall..... Any chance of a precis? |
Here ya go:
At the end of a day near the end of a week he will never forget, Jimmy Dunne sat out on the runway at Dublin Airport and waited. And waited.
Storm Darragh had arrived, adding logistical complexity to Dunne’s emotional turbulence. That morning Jimmy had said farewell to his father Eamonn at his funeral near Dundalk. The next day Jimmy was due to play for Queen’s Park Rangers at Loftus Road in west London.
And now the plane wasn’t moving.
The storm raged on. Flights were cancelled. Jimmy and his fellow passengers were on the tarmac for an hour. Then Aer Lingus made the decision and after many airborne bumps, the plane was landed safely at Heathrow. QPR v Norwich City: it was on for Jimmy Dunne.
Dunne is a centre-half playing at right-back for Rangers and primarily thinks of goals as something you do not concede. He is therefore not among the favourites to be a game’s first scorer on any given Saturday. But midway through the first half against Norwich, Dunne moved himself forward for a corner. There was a melee, some ricochet football and eventually the ball fell to Dunne. From six yards he poked the ball into the net. He had made it on time. Tight, old Loftus Road bellowed its approval.
QPR, close to bottom of the Championship, kept pushing. It ended 3-0, a first home win of the season and some said Dunne’s goal was fate.
It wasn’t. As Eamonn Dunne would have recognised, it was determination. There was Jimmy’s desire to reach the ball ahead of others. There was the effort to get to the game in the first place. Above all that, as Dunne’s father knew more than anyone, was Jimmy’s drive to secure a professional football career.
It had taken him from Louth to trials all across England, to St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin and to Manchester United. Eamonn travelled, too, ferrying Jimmy to United’s academy in Belfast (and back) from 10-years-old, then to St Kevin’s (and back) and those trials (and back). From Eamonn and his mother Sharon, Jimmy understood commitment.
Now four days after his father’s death, 24 hours after the funeral, Jimmy was scoring a season-shaping goal in front of 16,000 spectators and his family watching from home. How did they feel?
“Overwhelmed,” Jimmy says. “Yeah, overwhelmed.
“They gave me a lot of credit for playing, but I didn’t feel that way. It’s what I wanted to do. It was a nice way to end a difficult week.”
Making kick-off, playing the game, Dunne says, was his way of coping. The week had been more than difficult, but not playing on Saturday would have made it worse.
‘Primary focus’
“It was the best therapy for me,” Dunne says. “Football is the only way I know how to deal with things. It’s been my primary focus my whole life and whenever things have gone wrong, I’ve always found myself wanting to play football. That’s how I deal with it, anything.
“So not playing probably wouldn’t have been good for me. I would have been just sat there thinking about everything and the week we’d been through. For a lot of footballers, as difficult and uncomfortable as football can be – because it comes with a lot of pressure and criticism – when something off the pitch happens, you’re just grateful to be able to get back and do what you love again. These things off the pitch are much, much more uncomfortable.”
By the sounds of it – and there is a lovely interview involving the father and son on RTÉ’s archive shortly before Jimmy departed for Old Trafford – Eamonn would have approved.
“Me and my father had a professional relationship as much as we had a father and son relationship,” Dunne says. “He was a sportsman, a player himself, represented Louth.
“He was a manager to me as well as my Dad, my coach at GAA, coach at my soccer club. He managed a lot of Gaelic teams and eventually took Louth minors. He managed the Geraldines – we won a lot at underage with him as manager.
“I looked at him as my teenage peers did – when he spoke we paid attention. It’s definitely made me the attentive player I am. I listen, I try to learn as much as I can. I definitely got that from him.
“My mother, she’s my number one fan. She works for Cross Border Orchestra Ireland, she’s the founder and director. It was founded 20 years ago to bring kids from both sides of the border to play music together. It’s an unbelievable Foundation, they travel the world spreading the word of peace. I’m so, so proud of her.”
Convinced
Having just turned 27, what Jimmy got from both his parents is fresh in his mind. Having had trials with Chelsea, Newcastle United and Aston Villa “to name a few”, he says Manchester United convinced them due to their school programme.
“The reason I signed for Man United was because of the education they promised alongside football,” Dunne says. “My father being a science teacher and my mother being an English teacher, they were hugely keen on me not missing out on education, because the percentages of success at that age are so slim.”
He was 15 when he left, pre-Brexit. He wishes he had gone sooner, finding English boys ahead of him “technically and tactically”. He moved to Burnley, went on loan to different clubs in different leagues and in 2021 signed for QPR. The inner drive to “make it” meant he was not overly concerned whether he was playing for Accrington Stanley in League Two or Hearts in Scotland, but at QPR it has become about more than just Jimmy Dunne. “I love QPR,” he says.
The feeling is mutual. Dunne is a popular figure at a club where staff, manager and player turnover has been constant in their post-Premier League decade waving from the bottom half of the Championship.
Then there was “the Birmingham goal”.
At the end of March last season, having been 1-0 down at home to Birmingham City and already embroiled in a relegation battle, Dunne chested down a loose ball and volleyed it in with his left foot from 20 yards – in injury-time – to win the game. Loftus Road erupted. It was spectacular and in a different way mattered as much as last Saturday’s goal.
Afterwards we listened as Spanish head coach Marti Cifuentes declared Dunne “a quality human being”, not an everyday compliment in football.
‘Connection’
Still, the industry is brutal and Dunne’s contract expires next June. As yet there have been no talks. He sounds relaxed. There are bigger things.
“I’ve tried to have a career, tried to succeed,” he explains. “The club didn’t matter so much, I just wanted to get to the next level in the most efficient way possible. But at QPR, it’s all about QPR. I don’t know anything else, I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I’m QPR through and through, I love west London, the connection with the people here.
“I live nearby, in an area where you’re in amongst QPR fans. My postman is a big QPR fan, we’ve a massive Irish Rs community. If you look around Loftus Road on a matchday, there’s Tricolours everywhere. There’s an Irish connection to west London anyway – my Nana, Breda, was a nurse in Richmond. A lot of Irish nurses would come to work. There’s a few Irish bars. I’ve never been in any of them.”
You could hear the smile.
Dunne was speaking on Thursday morning. On Wednesday night QPR had won again, against Oxford United. He didn’t score but there was a fourth consecutive clean sheet. Defenders like those.
Today it’s Bristol City away. Next Saturday it’s Preston North End at home and if you’re in west London under-18s get in for £1. You will see Jimmy Dunne, or at least that fraction of his and every other player’s life that exists in front of us on a Saturday afternoon. |  |
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| Jimmy Dunne on 18:00 - Dec 16 with 770 views | ParkRoyalR |
| Jimmy Dunne on 14:54 - Dec 16 by QPunkR |
Here ya go:
At the end of a day near the end of a week he will never forget, Jimmy Dunne sat out on the runway at Dublin Airport and waited. And waited.
Storm Darragh had arrived, adding logistical complexity to Dunne’s emotional turbulence. That morning Jimmy had said farewell to his father Eamonn at his funeral near Dundalk. The next day Jimmy was due to play for Queen’s Park Rangers at Loftus Road in west London.
And now the plane wasn’t moving.
The storm raged on. Flights were cancelled. Jimmy and his fellow passengers were on the tarmac for an hour. Then Aer Lingus made the decision and after many airborne bumps, the plane was landed safely at Heathrow. QPR v Norwich City: it was on for Jimmy Dunne.
Dunne is a centre-half playing at right-back for Rangers and primarily thinks of goals as something you do not concede. He is therefore not among the favourites to be a game’s first scorer on any given Saturday. But midway through the first half against Norwich, Dunne moved himself forward for a corner. There was a melee, some ricochet football and eventually the ball fell to Dunne. From six yards he poked the ball into the net. He had made it on time. Tight, old Loftus Road bellowed its approval.
QPR, close to bottom of the Championship, kept pushing. It ended 3-0, a first home win of the season and some said Dunne’s goal was fate.
It wasn’t. As Eamonn Dunne would have recognised, it was determination. There was Jimmy’s desire to reach the ball ahead of others. There was the effort to get to the game in the first place. Above all that, as Dunne’s father knew more than anyone, was Jimmy’s drive to secure a professional football career.
It had taken him from Louth to trials all across England, to St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin and to Manchester United. Eamonn travelled, too, ferrying Jimmy to United’s academy in Belfast (and back) from 10-years-old, then to St Kevin’s (and back) and those trials (and back). From Eamonn and his mother Sharon, Jimmy understood commitment.
Now four days after his father’s death, 24 hours after the funeral, Jimmy was scoring a season-shaping goal in front of 16,000 spectators and his family watching from home. How did they feel?
“Overwhelmed,” Jimmy says. “Yeah, overwhelmed.
“They gave me a lot of credit for playing, but I didn’t feel that way. It’s what I wanted to do. It was a nice way to end a difficult week.”
Making kick-off, playing the game, Dunne says, was his way of coping. The week had been more than difficult, but not playing on Saturday would have made it worse.
‘Primary focus’
“It was the best therapy for me,” Dunne says. “Football is the only way I know how to deal with things. It’s been my primary focus my whole life and whenever things have gone wrong, I’ve always found myself wanting to play football. That’s how I deal with it, anything.
“So not playing probably wouldn’t have been good for me. I would have been just sat there thinking about everything and the week we’d been through. For a lot of footballers, as difficult and uncomfortable as football can be – because it comes with a lot of pressure and criticism – when something off the pitch happens, you’re just grateful to be able to get back and do what you love again. These things off the pitch are much, much more uncomfortable.”
By the sounds of it – and there is a lovely interview involving the father and son on RTÉ’s archive shortly before Jimmy departed for Old Trafford – Eamonn would have approved.
“Me and my father had a professional relationship as much as we had a father and son relationship,” Dunne says. “He was a sportsman, a player himself, represented Louth.
“He was a manager to me as well as my Dad, my coach at GAA, coach at my soccer club. He managed a lot of Gaelic teams and eventually took Louth minors. He managed the Geraldines – we won a lot at underage with him as manager.
“I looked at him as my teenage peers did – when he spoke we paid attention. It’s definitely made me the attentive player I am. I listen, I try to learn as much as I can. I definitely got that from him.
“My mother, she’s my number one fan. She works for Cross Border Orchestra Ireland, she’s the founder and director. It was founded 20 years ago to bring kids from both sides of the border to play music together. It’s an unbelievable Foundation, they travel the world spreading the word of peace. I’m so, so proud of her.”
Convinced
Having just turned 27, what Jimmy got from both his parents is fresh in his mind. Having had trials with Chelsea, Newcastle United and Aston Villa “to name a few”, he says Manchester United convinced them due to their school programme.
“The reason I signed for Man United was because of the education they promised alongside football,” Dunne says. “My father being a science teacher and my mother being an English teacher, they were hugely keen on me not missing out on education, because the percentages of success at that age are so slim.”
He was 15 when he left, pre-Brexit. He wishes he had gone sooner, finding English boys ahead of him “technically and tactically”. He moved to Burnley, went on loan to different clubs in different leagues and in 2021 signed for QPR. The inner drive to “make it” meant he was not overly concerned whether he was playing for Accrington Stanley in League Two or Hearts in Scotland, but at QPR it has become about more than just Jimmy Dunne. “I love QPR,” he says.
The feeling is mutual. Dunne is a popular figure at a club where staff, manager and player turnover has been constant in their post-Premier League decade waving from the bottom half of the Championship.
Then there was “the Birmingham goal”.
At the end of March last season, having been 1-0 down at home to Birmingham City and already embroiled in a relegation battle, Dunne chested down a loose ball and volleyed it in with his left foot from 20 yards – in injury-time – to win the game. Loftus Road erupted. It was spectacular and in a different way mattered as much as last Saturday’s goal.
Afterwards we listened as Spanish head coach Marti Cifuentes declared Dunne “a quality human being”, not an everyday compliment in football.
‘Connection’
Still, the industry is brutal and Dunne’s contract expires next June. As yet there have been no talks. He sounds relaxed. There are bigger things.
“I’ve tried to have a career, tried to succeed,” he explains. “The club didn’t matter so much, I just wanted to get to the next level in the most efficient way possible. But at QPR, it’s all about QPR. I don’t know anything else, I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I’m QPR through and through, I love west London, the connection with the people here.
“I live nearby, in an area where you’re in amongst QPR fans. My postman is a big QPR fan, we’ve a massive Irish Rs community. If you look around Loftus Road on a matchday, there’s Tricolours everywhere. There’s an Irish connection to west London anyway – my Nana, Breda, was a nurse in Richmond. A lot of Irish nurses would come to work. There’s a few Irish bars. I’ve never been in any of them.”
You could hear the smile.
Dunne was speaking on Thursday morning. On Wednesday night QPR had won again, against Oxford United. He didn’t score but there was a fourth consecutive clean sheet. Defenders like those.
Today it’s Bristol City away. Next Saturday it’s Preston North End at home and if you’re in west London under-18s get in for £1. You will see Jimmy Dunne, or at least that fraction of his and every other player’s life that exists in front of us on a Saturday afternoon. |
It's the Dunnes & Fields who give this team its identity,
The Andersen & Madsens will come & go, brief cameos, a light jog now and again,
With Cook, Morrison & Varane as a poster mentioned briefly we have a core suited to the rigours of this division,
I just hope Nourry doesn't make a complete hash of Dunnes contract negotiations,
Like Barbet, a committed player who is ever-present and can play in a few positions should not be short-changed. | | | |
| Jimmy Dunne on 18:12 - Dec 16 with 750 views | Lblock |
SIGN UP JIMMY DUNNE FOR LIFE
Agree with the above post so much; you need these lads that are the fabric of the club and just “get it”
Love the fella even more reading that article |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
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| Jimmy Dunne on 18:30 - Dec 16 with 715 views | Paddyhoops |
| Jimmy Dunne on 18:00 - Dec 16 by ParkRoyalR |
It's the Dunnes & Fields who give this team its identity,
The Andersen & Madsens will come & go, brief cameos, a light jog now and again,
With Cook, Morrison & Varane as a poster mentioned briefly we have a core suited to the rigours of this division,
I just hope Nourry doesn't make a complete hash of Dunnes contract negotiations,
Like Barbet, a committed player who is ever-present and can play in a few positions should not be short-changed. |
Jimmy is right about the Irish connections . Lots of Irish voices in the away end Saturday and walking into the city centre after the gameI heard a familiar Norn Ireland lilt . It was Finney of course .
Sounded in decent form so hopefully he’s on his way to recovery. | | | |
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