My Dad grew up in Notting Hill and loosely followed the R's. When I came along (Wandsworth) I was verging dangerously to following my mates in their support of Liverpool or God forbid Chelsea and although he was by no means passionate he was not having a Chelsea supporter for a son and started to take me down.
Found one other QPR supporter in Grand Cayman. Only the Queen's representative... The Governor. Still haven't got an invite to watch the game on Monday at the Governors residence, though. Still there's time yet.
It depends how far back you want to take the witch hunt QPAAAAAH. I’m a glory hunter. By geography I should be a Palace supporter, but my Dad supports Arsenal and so I did to for a while, but then I was, like Belfast, converted by the Big Match. This would have been in the early 70s. There was this stylish team playing in an extraordinary hooped kit playing great football. This team was governed by a midfield general who seemed to be complete control of the match. The team played with imagination and flair, excitement was guaranteed. I’ve posted on previous occasions that the innovation employed for free kicks around the box was what finally hooked me. Venables never, never just blasted the ball at the wall. I can still clearly remember one match where Venables was booked and had to correct the ref’s spelling of his name. Venables clearly said “ab” to the ref, pointing at his pad. He probably be sent off for that now. Am I allowed in QPRAAAAGH???
Born Du Cane road hospital, lived Hadyn Park road Went to Christopher Wren school,me old fella was Rangers thru & thru, 1st game brentford at home 1961 cant remember the score,stood at the school end then loftus road in the section for kids,wembley 67 cried me eyes out,wembley 82 we wuz robbed,wembley 86 (dont go there the pain is still raw), chucking money in buckets and now the promise land,i guess that makes me Rangers born and bred.
I always enjoy reading threads like these on other boards. I personally agree with what some are saying in that you don't choose the team, the team chooses you, thats certainly how I feel in most cases anyway.
Nothing to do with geography Roller as proved by the comment from a fellow R in the Caymen Islands of all places. Loyalty is the big thing for me and it sounds like you have more than earned your stripes in that respect. Loads of people have a time as youngsters when they are soring out their preferences and football club is often one of these (although being as the scum were the other option locally when I was growing up QPR was the only real choice for people with half a brain).
As I've said before I was born in Liverpool every male member of the family supported Everton and my late father took me to a mid week match at Goodison in the 69/70 season I was only young and had no interest in Everton, I later chose the R's much to the disgust of my family & school mates (who all suported either Liverpool, Leeds, Man City, Everton, Stoke City a few even whispered that they followed manu. Took a lot of stick at school because I didn't support a big successful club, but I supported the best team going and I'm proud to say that I will follow them whatever. Comeon uuurrrss.
But what constitutes a true R? From what we see here, anyone from the land of the rising sun to the Rockies / Andes who privately or publicly goes through those familiar irreligious prayer sessions and similar agonies every time there's a game on, promising their God all manner of improbable favours just as long as them Rs win today. That's an R... people who pick up a newspaper and scan the back pages in search of something about QPR regardless of what tragedy has befallen our planet of late! True fans are those so hooked on the Rs that not even the manic whims of Briatore nor the cold air of Ecclestone could whither their affections. In short, whether to the Rs born or adopted, anyone who bothers to use their time chipping in on here on a reg has to be considered a helpless addict and thereby a true R at the end of the day. My sympathies to my fellow sufferers, one and all!
****, I just excluded the Alaskans, Hawaians and South Sea Islanders. Come back lads, we need your support!
...not suffering at the moment though Brixton. The thread does show a lot of differences of how and why we support the Rs but the consistency through time (some go a lot further back than the likes of me) is there for all to see. The buzz and excitement within the club at the moment - from the fans to the players to the management - is just reward for all the tears.
i've got him to blame! wore my first shirt, the influence one, with pride, even though i was the only R at my school in norwich and everyone took the piss!
Born a R definately and i have made my daughter the same she has been saying qpr since she was about 15 months old ! i was born in latimer rd but now reside in epsom way funny one of the other posters said he had a flat in Ewell well thats where i live and they are all cfc round here. I remember as a kid in latimer rd you could here the noise from the ground years ago , i had a season ticket all my child life from about 5 to 17 years old but have always been a die hard and make more than my fair share home or away. I love QPR because we will always make people stand up and notice us whether thats good or bad. In this new Fernandez era i think we have won the lottery because we have never flirted in this kind of territory of the playboys play ground. Once a ranger always a ranger i have met fans all round the country and world and have to say we are just one of those clubs a bit like a Band who have an ecclectic set of supporters. Great thread and hello peruvian ranger i am sure we are friends on twitter but anyway what a story you have my friend urssssssssssssssssss
Goods questions Brixton, but not going to get a good answer from me. District Line spends most of his life here, does that make him a true R????
In entering the Ranger zone, DL's throwing caution to the wind. Could well catch the bug imo. We'll start seeing faint white lines growing across his Chelsea soon, you mark my words now!
Was born in Oxford, but moved to Bromyard Ave, in between Uxbridge Rd and Westway when I was 5, and my Dad started taking me to games - got stuck with the Rs bug ever since. Moved out to Northolt for my teens, when most kids were Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal or Hammers fans, but stuck with being an R, receiving a fair amount of stick for my choice - am so glad that I didn't buckle under the pressure. Been living in Scotland for last ten years, and have fully converted my 8 year old, and we're now working on all his school mates (not difficult when you see how poor Scottish football is these days!!)
