Racism at QPR

Just watching the great programme that’s been on ITV called ‘Out Of Their Skin’, which looks at the lives and careers of black players from the 70’s, 80’s onwards and the abuse they used to suffer.
Seems a million years from where we are now but I remember someone telling me that our own QPR had a bit of a racist following back in those dark times. I started going in ‘85 and can’t recall anything but does anyone remember such behaviour ? All I recall is seeing National Front News being sold during visits to Chelsea and a few Leeds knobs singing a few racist songs.

 

no doubt every team had a few

 

I'm afraid so. In the '70s, some people standing on SAR (opposite the Loftus Rd penalty spot) used to give monkey chants when certain players came near the touchline. It never felt like they were actually trying to be nasty, though - just misplaced humour. I expect the players on the receiving end felt differently.

Times and standards change.

 

I can remember seeing a black QPR fan in the early 80's give John Barnes the monkey chant and thinking he was extremely funny

 

Definite issues about the time of the 86 Milk Cup Final. Fighting at Wembley amongst our own fans seemed gang/colour related and stabbings where people being passed over our heads as too crowded.

 

Who was our first black player. We had the formidable Bob Hazell in 1979 who I remember.

 

That was Northolt v Hayes (I think), didn’t think it was anything to do with colour but could be wrong.

 

Was Tommy Best in 1949 mate.
Used to love Bob Hazell (his brother is in my profile pic)

 

Thanks for the update, definitely before my time

 

I remember Ian Wright coping some racist abuse when he was watching his boy on a couple of occasions.

 

That was probably normal abuse, because his boy was just pure ****e (apart from the goal v Scum )

 

Ah ha!

 

Yes. I saw it regularly. First time I heard monkey chants by our supporters was against Fulham in Jago promotion season.1972-3. Have been in Court when some of our little racists were prosecuted and know form some work colleagues that the Club did have a bit of a reputation for it. Even now it happens when we play away although it tends to be towns with large Asian populations such as Preston that encourage them to show their true colours and join in. Has always been there - probably no more than anywhere else

 

Just being reading a little more on Tommy Best. He believed that he missed out on a Welsh cap because of his colour which if true is disgraceful but unfortunately a sign of the times back then.

He only passed way in September of this year, did that get marked in anyway.

 

There was a short piece on the official site but don’t know if it got mentioned at a match.

 

When I first met my future father in law 15 years ago we started talking about football and even though he is meant to be a Man U supporter he told me the first football match he went to was a QPR game....the 1967 cup final !!
He did say he might of been one of only a few black faces at the match

 

The whole tribal element of football in the 70s was hate-filled and black players inevitably were targeted. There was definitely an element of that at home games, perhaps not as bad as at other clubs but just as inexcusable. I lived in Brixton until I was almost 30 and many friends I grew up with were black so I was acutely aware of how horrible the chanting and abuse was. We've come a long way since then but certainly amongst those of that era there are still those with such prejudice and I doubt it will ever totally cease...

 

I remember a banana being thrown at Barnes when he was taking a corner. I also remember Wimbledon away 1987 and monkey chants to fashanu and Rangers were throwing coins at him. He picked them up and said thanks to the fans.

 

How about Donkey Adams and the carrots?

 

Yes I was there that day mate.
He also got stick for having a gay brother.
Didn't he get the last laugh by scoring though?