As with many other (north) west London brats over decades, I grew towards adolescence under huge amounts of peer pressure pointing towards the Chelseas and ManUs of this world. In those days the influence was probably even greater than now. United had recovered from the Munich air disaster, produced timeless icons like Sir Matt, Bobby Charlton, Georgie Best and Denis Law - and subsequently won the European Cup at Wembley (just a couple of years after the national team's great but only similar triumph). Chelsea were THE vogue club with almost equally iconic players like Osgood, Tambling, Cookie, Baldwin, the Harrises, Hollins etc. etc.. Both clubs absolutely A-mazing and hugely influential on an impressionable little 13 year old football obsessed dreamer like me! Then one Saturday, the neighbours came a-knocking with a chance of going to a football match. Didn't say who or where. Didn't have to, I was in the back of their motor before you coukd say 'bye Mum'! But the mud heap with cattle shed stands was nothing like the Wembley or Stamford Bridge stadiums I already visited. I'd never heard of Queens Park Rangers, much less the Scunthorpes (or was it Colchester or Darlington?) they were playing at the time. Never even heard of Rodney Marsh, the master striker I'd come to idolise within weeks of hearing that immortal chant of 'ROD-NEE, ROD-NEE, RODNEE' raise the rafters over LR... But this experience was something altogether different and altogether real. So in answer to the question, what's so special about our Rangers? Then, as now, the sudden realisation that somewhere under the crust of all them headline clubs we'd laud in the playground, there's the real bread. Might not feature in the photos but once buttered, goes down an absolute treat! It's a matter of taste - not the shiney golden stuff round the outside that appeals to all from a distance but the satisfying reality at core when you get the chance to get in deep. Proof of the pudding is in the eating - as I'm sure all Rs will agree!
Stamford Bridge wasn't all that back then. Shed by name, shed by nature. Highbury was probably the best of the old grounds I visited with the Old Den the worst.
Agree. But I know you started at the same time as me - and at Stamford Bridge you didn't have to climb a mud bank to get on to the terraces like those on the SAR side of LR did - nor get through the quite the same eye of the smallest needle to get out of the Loft end!
A team, the underdog who always played sweet composed on the deck football that grew from the seventies, great viewing on TV and won over many admirers as the countries favourite second team. We have always been associated with skill, have a unique football stadium and a distinctive football kit. Many neutrals i have known in my life have always been interested in QPR because of these factors. The pride of London for many years won us our special tag if we have one. We have also had many ups and downs. Today however at this moment our club is a sandcastle and the new evil tide is coming in fast ... We maybe be eaten and this forum is a great snapshot of exactly what is going wrong with our attitude to our great club. Money came and I preach again as i have done ... some have no idea what is happening and are left numb,twitching and cross. Soon we will maybe have a chorus of good lets re discover our soul back in the lower league ... for me that makes no difference as they will always be special as they should be ... saying that I will bound to feel really sick if and when we move into a shiny new ground. More recently and more worryingly is that my mates are know saying they hope we go down as we are everything wrong with today's football. I pray we ride this out and learn our lesson and build then next year. We will change from being a special club into a London brand that is certain now regardless who backs us with the evil loot. We are being sold continuously as a brilliant little project in West London as will always have people ready to play with us ... why we are special: always in the news, perfect location, great name of three letters ... it will happen as the top fixtures in the British have to have QPR in them Today Taarabt thank god preserves our soul for us .. like Bowles, Marsh etc people still watch us and for Taarabt is key regardless that he could play today in any top superstar team Need a refresher on how to play special football: [video=youtube;biNzeUMZbTQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biNzeUMZbTQ[/video]
Looking back much was muddy and damp back in those days. The first time I was in an Italian stadium it seemed completely weird with running track, uncovered concrete stands and hardly any crush barriers. People sat on the concrete steps which were steep compared to the old shallow terracing we had in the old days.
