Random QPR Stuff

Great news on Eze. Hope Southgate gives him his first run out in one of the easy games coming up (and gets us a contract payment at the same time )

 

I predicted a couple years ago that Eze would make it to the England squad. He may not get a cap this time but it is only a matter of time.

 

I live at entrance to major football stadium - fans queue up outside my front door but not for the reason you’d expect | The Sun

WANDERING along Ellerslie Road, the attractive Victorian terrace homes are typical for this affluent area of west London.

But halfway down the street, sandwiched between grand entrances to end-of-terrace properties, lies the entrance to Championship side Queens Park Rangers' football ground.

please log in to view this image

9
The stadium is sat behind a row of Victorian terrace houses in West LondonCredit: JOHN McLELLAN

please log in to view this image

9
Donna's dog Misty is loved by fans who like to stop and take pictures of her on match dayCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
The bright blue gates provide access to the Stanley Bowles Stand within the Loftus Road Stadium, with a huge sign reading "Welcome to the Loft".

While it might be a football fan's dream to live a stone's throw from a major ground, locals have mixed feelings about the 18,000 fans who descend on their street every week.

But one resident who loves match days is two-year-old German Shepherd Misty - who has become the club's unofficial mascot.

Owner Donna Fitzgerald, whose garden backs onto the stadium, says her pooch enjoys watching the crowds of fans from the window or the front garden.

She tells us when we visit: "Everybody stops to say hello to Misty. She loves a match day.

"She's famous among the fans, they all stop to take photographs of her in the doorway."

There is one issue that drives residents who live next door to the football ground mad - literally.

"It's s*** living here sometimes," Donna admits. "I often can't take my car out on match days, which is a joke because I pay for a parking permit and council tax, so I should be able to come and go as I please.

please log in to view this image

9
Houses on the street can sell for up to £1millionCredit: JOHN McLELLAN

please log in to view this image

9
The main entrance to the Loftus Road stadiumCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
"The fans can be awful. I've had fellas wee outside my door, and they all drop rubbish.

"That said, I'm a Chelsea supporter, so I'm not QPR's biggest fan."

The parking issue is a gripe shared by many Ellerslie Road residents - especially given they have to fork out £119 a year to park their car on the road. If they have two vehicles, that shoots up to £497.

Council tax for the properties starts from £870 and can go up to £2,612 according to the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority's website.

On match days the road is closed to traffic to allow fans to be corralled into the stadium - which holds up to 18,439 supporters - by police.


Residents at one end are not allowed to leave their cars on the road outside their homes, as it's needed for a control marquee to manage fans.

Fines

please log in to view this image

9
Greg has been fined several times for leaving his car on the road by his houseCredit: JOHN McLELLAN

please log in to view this image

9
Greg lives close to one of the stadium entrances which fans use to access the standCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
It's left a sour taste in local resident Greg's mouth, as he has been hit with fines for not moving his motor.

The 41-year-old, who did not wish to give his surname, said: "The stadium is not fit for purpose any more, and [the council] know that.

"If I leave my car outside my house on match day, I get fined up to £130 a time.


"I pay council tax and for my permit, so I don't see why I have to move it. It's ridiculous.

If I leave my car outside my house on match day, I get fined up to £130 a time. I pay council tax and for my permit, so I don't see why I have to move it. It's ridiculous

Greg, Ellerslie Road Resident
"They set up a chicken coop style thing in the bays outside my house to control the fans, but I don't think they do it that well.

"Once upon a time we used to get a free ticket through the letterbox to a game, but that's not happened in years. It would be nice to get it back."

The stadium was built in 1904 and later The Stanley Bowles stand, accessed from Ellerslie Road, was opened in 1972 to replace the old tin-roof grandstand.


It is said to be the loudest stand, as it has 237 rail seats that allow club supporters to stand up during the game.

'Nice atmosphere'
Not all residents resent the football ground; Judith, who has lived on the street for 40 years, likes the bustling atmosphere it creates.

She says: "I think the club manage it all pretty well. They clean the street after any home games, and I've never had a problem with any of the fans wandering down the road.

"It's quite a nice atmosphere, and I don't mind hearing them shout when their team score."


It's quite a nice atmosphere, and I don't mind hearing them shout when their team score

Judith, Ellerslie Road Resident
Houses on the normally quiet road sell for upwards of £1million and flats regularly go for £500,000 – despite being next to the roaring stadium.

New homeowner Cleo admitted the stadium was a concern for her and her boyfriend when they purchased their, flat but say they've not had many issues.

The social worker, 31, says: "We've been here for eight months and have never really had an issue living next to the stadium.

"We did have reservations about buying the flat knowing where it was, but the flat is just so lovely.


"It's a bit annoying that we have to move the car sometimes, but when we've left it on the street there hasn't been any damage done to it or anything.

"We've also been very kindly let out the barrier on match day by the police, which was really nice of them."

Cleo adds that when the trees are bare in winter, they can see a section of the pitch, but not enough to watch a full game.

'Bring back free tickets'

please log in to view this image

9
Anin is a big fan of football and wishes the club would start giving out free tickets againCredit: JOHN McLELLAN

please log in to view this image

9
The stadium is surrounded by houses in West LondonCredit: Google Earth
At the other end of the road Anin, 72, is a big fan of living by the stadium.


He says: "Parking used to be a problem, but now they've put in restrictions it isn't.

"We used to get free tickets, but they stopped about 15 years ago, which is a shame. I'd like them to start again.

"The fans are alright, and it's only about two and a half hours, and then it's quiet again.

"It's a really nice family friendly atmosphere around a home match."

Another fan of the stadium being just behind their home is student Fahim, 26.


He and his flatmates live on the end of a row, right next to an entrance for the stand.

He says: "My flatmates and I try to support QPR, as they're right behind us.

"Living next to the stadium, it doesn't really make that much of a difference to us generally.

"The road gets closed twice a week during the season, but it doesn't bother me much as I don't drive, and we can get in and out on foot."

please log in to view this image

9
Fahim tries to support his local teamCredit: JOHN McLELLAN

 

18,000 fans every week? Lee Hoos can only dream of such gates!

 

Plenty of room to chuck a few tickers at residents

 

Supporting the Mighty Rs gives you a dodgy ticker anyway.

 

Guess this is based on the small number of ‘blue’ season tickets. Over £90 a win for me with the added bonus of the insufferable **** in MU who spends the entire game loudly abusing the referee.

£111 per Loft End goal. A bargain at twice the price.

 

A proper sh*tpinger...

 

I have no recollection of Pizanti at all. The goal deserved a bit more excitement from the commentator

 

Didn't make many appearances, back up defender in late 80s as I recall. I've seen that video a few times, sweet strike...

 

Could be useful for any of our Welsh resident followers…

https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/become-an-official-qpr-international-fan-group-300523/

 

There’s lovely.

 

Finally got round to going through some boxes that have been hanging around since house move in January. First out of the box a couple of things which I thought I’d lost…..



I’ve got my original QPR scarf (simple blue and white bands) from 1972 somewhere as well.

 

Another £13 million written off, club is hemorrhaging money...

 

For those that want rid of our owners, this is the reason why we need them. Continually writing off debts instead of asset stripping the club....they are paying for their own mistakes, but there's plenty of clubs out there whose owners wouldn't be taking the share option route and be plummeting the club into further debt

 

Aye, they have made a lot of mistakes over the years, but they're really not the worst we could have. We should be careful what we wish for.

 

Agreed, but surely this lunacy can’t go on forever? Chucking money away, almost literally, for zero return and only grudging thanks. If it wasn’t football, and our club, we’d be laughing at them for such idiocy. I’m glad they are doing this but have the feeling it’s a stay of execution at best.