Kevin Bond - Best Feeling Of My Career

QPR’s assistant boss Kevin Bond admits he is still getting over the excitement of our Wembley win …

WHEN Bobby Zamora’s shot hit the back of the net in the 90th minute at Wembley stadium last month, it created bedlam behind the goal as 40,000 QPR fans celebrated an immediate return to the Premier League.

All over the country – and in different corners of the world – Rangers fans rejoiced at a remarkable end to a nerve-jangling game against Derby County.

But one celebration is well worth looking at – that of Kevin Bond.

QPR’s assistant manager, stood alongside Harry Redknapp in the technical area, held his arms aloft, and then seemed to stagger away in a state of absolute shock as the club’s backroom staff and substitutes jumped on each other.

After arriving at the Harlington training ground this week – to continue the club’s preparations for pre-season – Bond is reminded of the moment, one he remembers well.

“I put my arms in the air, and then I was convinced it wasn’t going to stand,” he tells www.qpr.co.uk, with a smile.

“I don’t know why, but I just expected the referee or the linesman to rule it out. I was just waiting for it to be disallowed. I kept thinking, ‘It won’t stand, it won’t stand.’ I was just absolutely convinced.

“And when the fourth official said there would be three minutes’ added time, I was just as convinced that Derby would equalise!

“I never get on to the fourth official because they’ve got an impossible job. I don’t even think they should be positioned by the dugouts because they become an attraction, so I leave them alone.

“But I must admit that as soon as they kicked off to re-start the game, I was saying to him: ‘That’s got to be three minutes.’ And I was on to him every 15 seconds after that!

“When that final whistle did go, I had the biggest feeling of elation that I have ever had from a professional point of view. I won’t ever feel anything like that again. My God, it was just amazing.”

Quite a statement from a man who has been involved in the game for more than 40 years!

Despite that wealth of experience, Bond admits he is still getting over the excitement of it all.

“I’ve been away on holiday, and got back last weekend,” he explains. “I turned the TV on and had the game recorded – so I sat and watched the last half-hour again! I was sat there with a big smile on my face because I knew the outcome.

“It was what turned out to be a fantastic day, but it didn’t feel like that when we were going through it.”

Despite the incredible feeling of joy that was brought about by our victory over the Rams, Bond doesn’t seem to be a particular fan of the play-offs, owing to what’s at stake and the pressure that brings.

“You couldn’t enjoy the Final, you could only enjoy it afterwards if you were lucky enough to win it,” he adds.

“It is such an important match that it makes it impossible to enjoy, and you’re very aware of that in the lead up to the game. You know the result is the be-all and end-all.”

While Bond – along with thousands of QPR fans – works to get over the emotional rollercoaster of our play-off campaign, he has already turned his focus towards our return to the top flight.

“This season has gone on so late, almost into June, that we have to start thinking about the new season straight away, and about what we have to do,” he adds.

“Our aim has to be to stay in the league. Our aim when we came to the club was to keep in the Premier League, which we couldn’t do. Now we’ve got back there, and first and foremost we’ve got to get to 38 or 40 points, whatever is needed to keep us up.

“It’s a completely different mind-set for us now. This season we needed to win a lot of matches to get to where we wanted to get to. Next season we may well lose a lot of matches, but we can do that and still get to where we want to get to.

“You have to accept that you’re likely to lose more than you win next season. It can’t be the end of the world when we lose, we will have to take it on the chin. We must remain upbeat and positive.”

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