Whilst I am really excited about all that is going on with our wonderful club, I can't help feeling a little sad. It's all happeneing so quickly.. I have been watching the R's since the early 70's and have seen the highs and lows. I love the stadium and love the fans and the fact that we have achieved so much for a club with a small ground and not much money. A few things have changed, but I can still sit in the ground and look at the spot in the Ellerslie where I saw my first match. I well remember the plastic pitch, the old end stands and the SA stand before the corporate boxes. I remember nearly getting crushed by Arsenal fans in the eighties and getting bounced off a car outside White City tube (after a match!) I will miss the old place and the times of dreadful uncertainty. I won't be able to point and say "I was sat up there when George Best played his last match" or "I was over in that corner when Kevin Gallen miscued and hit me in the face!" Now we have moved on. There seems to be money aplenty and soon, hopefully, I will be able to watch the Rs in a new stadium with at least twice the capacity. If all goes well, we will be able to attract some of the world's better players and welcome them with open arms. It won't be the same ... but I'm not saying it won't be better.
Yes I feel a bit similar to that Eamon. I have been going since 1975 when I was 11 years old. I should have supported Palace really living here but have always felt a bit different supporting QPR and every proper fan knows you can never change your team. It is all going so fast but nothing can ever take away the memories we have and how do you put a value on that? One thing is for sure - you and I are in no position to influence what will happen over the next 30-40 years so we may as well sit tight and enjoy the ride!
I know what you mean Eamon ... what ever happened to Spangles?, When they stopped building the SAAB 9-3 HOT AERO COUPE ... things may not get better. I did mention this earlier last season about branding etc ... It will be tough but you can borrow my teddy. If and when we look back I am sure we won't believe we used to play at LR ... it will be burgers at Byron in the Westfield and then a walk on marble to the ground to watch us destroy Barcelona again in the EEL Europe Elite League. We are all dying anyway so lets open a nice bottle St Chinian Rose and party
totally agree Eamon been there since early sixties & will miss it, seen the mud heaps of pitch & ground but its so well compact & everyone loves it especially the atmosphere well almost everyone, thing i won't miss is the leg room well lack of it, i hope the planners of new stadium can get that right!
I played against QPR and Bradley Allen in a pre season friendly for my local team. I was a good player ... as I stand now I can't see my cock
I know what you mean. I remember the ground when all there was was the old wooden stand on Ellerslie and the old Loft. I'm not looking forward to visiting Loftus Road for the last time, its like a family member to me. I rmemebr Lazarus running up the wing, the mud, the plastic, the fans. Great memories, but we must look forward I suppose, we just need to keep those memories alive. Up the R'sssss. Onwards and upwards (hopefully)
I know I have just brought another 2002 Coupe to put in the bank ... in fact that s a great thread what car do you drive and why? We know yours Swords ... A Pink Nissan Micra Convertible
You are so close its not funny! (Seriously though, I loved the part about Gallen mis-skewing and hitting you in the face Eamo. Brilliant.)
Is this the nostalgic old gits thread? I've found my spiritual home st last. Great post and totally agree Eamon. I'll struggle to keep a dry eye when it finally comes to leaving LR, way too much invested in the place, for all my moaning about leg room. Still, at least a few of us who started going in the early 70s will still be around in 30 years, by which time we might have won something. But we will always have the pleasure of telling young whippersnappers how much better it was in the old days, when we had proper caramac, not the 100% sugar crap they sell now.
I see your point but for me nothing has really happened yet. We've signed some very good players but we've not actually achieved anything yet. I'd say we're at the second stage of about 5 or 6 stages to come.
Things are always moving on. If you want to reminisce I already miss: The letter boards that told you the half time scores The golden goal tickets A programme with chequer board cover design and weird matchstick men footballers Daphne The Hammersmith & Fulham badge The one constant through my years as a QPR fan has been the health hazard otherwise known as the Ellerslie Road bogs (both old and 'new' stands). They will stand forever.
Not just the nostalgic old gits, I've been a qpr fan for only 8yrs (am only 21) and its such a special place I'm sad that I'll be leaving it without nearly as many memories as everyone older. Does have the upside of being able to be part of the upheaval to LR2 and not missing any of those memories though. Has an odd feeling like a good friend has been given 6 months to live...
