Queens Park Rangers (My Visits)

I had moved to live and work in London in April 1999 and watched football at many stadiums, without watching any one particular side regularly. However, while working at Lord's Cricket Ground I met the acquaintance of Jeff Cards who was also a sports nut. 

Rangers is Jeff's team so I got to know what was going on at the club as we went for beers after work talking about the good old days of our respective clubs and life and sport in general. I was given several invites to join him and his brother, John down at QPR.

Eventually after several maybes I was having a poor day at work and badly needed a release. I managed to negotiate an early get away from the thoroughly depressing County Championship match between Middlesex and Northamptonshire. I even got a lift to Shepherd's Bush!

The whole day suited me perfectly. I liked the pubs, the atmosphere in the stadium and the fans. They were passionate but also friendly.

While not been totally hooked, I went down to Loftus Road when I was at a loose end. I went to the Play Off Final at Cardiff with Rangers and started to look for their results. I have had many good times down there, and although I don't make it as often as I once did, I still look forward to match days at Rangers in the company of some really good people.

Many players have given plenty of pleasure at Loftus Road, but many thanks to the following for brightening up match days: Kevin Gallen, Richard Langley, Jamie Cureton, Marc Bircham, Gareth Ainsworth, Adel Taarabt and Shaun Derry.

Below is a list of the matches I've seen, with a few memories thrown in for good measure. You R's!

Queens Park Rangers 3 Hull City 0 (Tuesday 24th September 1985) Football League Cup Round Two First Leg (att: 7,021)

To read all about my first ever trip to Loftus Road, click here.

QPR 3 Chesterfield 1 (Saturday 10th August 2002) Division Two (att: 12,603) - South Africa Road Stand

I'd been as an away fan many years previously, but in the company of Jeff and his brother John, plus my pal from Willesden, Colm, I went down to Shepherd's Bush and had a cracking day out.

The match was the seasons opener against Chesterfield. I had talked my Irish mate Colm into going and I got us tickets in the South Africa Road Upper Tier as they were the only seats available for non members. 

By now the ground was all seated and had a capacity of 18,200. We had an excellent view as Rangers came from behind to win 3-1. I really enjoyed myself as Richard Langley caught my eye with his skill in midfield against opponents including Sean Dyche.

The fans were friendly and talkative, Rangers played some lovely football, the atmosphere was brilliant to say there was only around 12,000 there and the pubs were good before and after. 

QPR 2 Plymouth Argyle 2 (Saturday 31st August 2002) Division Two (att: 14,001) - Lower Loft

Goals from David Friio and Lee Hodges looked to have won the day for the visitors but Ian Holloway's side fought back. The exciting Jermone Thomas on loan from Arsenal latched on to a Kevin Gallen to pull one back before Richard Pacquette scored the equaliser deep into stoppage time.

QPR 1 Oldham Athletic 2 (Saturday 26th October 2002) Division Two (att: 15,491) - Lower Loft

Matty Rose had given Rangers a lead on two minutes before the visiting Latics bounced back with goals from Josh Low and then Scott Duxbury before the break to take the points.

QPR 1 Barnsley 0 (Saturday 11th January 2003) Division Two (att: 11,217) - Lower Loft

I decided to go to this game the day after returning from Australia watching England in The Ashes. I was struggling badly with jetlag so I thought fresh air and beer would assist! I bumped into my mate Jeff in Shepherd's Bush Market before adjourning to the Bushranger.

Pacquette struck in the eleventh minute to seal the game. I remember struggling to stay awake at times but manage a couple of post match beers.

QPR 0 Crewe Alexandra 0 (Saturday 26th April 2003) Division Two (att: 16,921) - Lower Loft

A huge game which Rangers needed to win to try and secure automatic promotion, but unfortunately a draw led to the play offs and eventual defeat in the final to Cardiff City.

Crewe went up with the point as the R's ended the match with nine men after seeing Clarke Carlisle and then Stephen Kelly receive their marching orders.

QPR 1 Brentford 0 (Tuesday 11th November 2003) Division Two (att: 15,865) - South Africa Road Stand

I met Jeff for beers after work at Lord's and wandered down to Baker Street with him. I put on a four team bet and ended up heading down to the Bush with him and buy a ticket.

I hadn't realised that there was such feeling between the two sets of fans as I encountered a passionate derby with plenty moments outside the ground. Tony Thorpe won the game with a near post header as the interval approached.

Ex Bee Martin Rowlands wasn't exactly flavour of the month as he taunted the away fans. I was happy boarding the train on the way home as I realised my bet had come in while a senior Brentford fan explained why he hated QPR. 

QPR 3 Plymouth Argyle 0 (Saturday 15th November 2003) Division Two (att: 17,049) - Lower Loft

A top of the table clash as Holloway's side continued their momentum, with a massive away following who had caused mayhem pre match in The William Morris pub at Hammersmith.  A great passionate atmosphere saw Rangers go top of the league.

The superb Kevin Gallen opened the scoring before the break before he and Thorpe both netted in three second half minutes. 

QPR 2 Colchester United 0 (Sunday 28th December 2003) Division Two (att: 15,720) - Lower Loft

We met and had a wander to a few pubs before watching the duo of Gallen and Thorpe score the goals, in between of with the U's had Carl Duguid sent off for stamping on Marc Bircham with just over thirty minutes on the clock.

QPR 1 Swindon Town 0 (Saturday 1st May 2004) Division Two (att: 18,396)

I had the day off so went down early to the stadium. I tried and tried to get a ticket. I went to the pub and then back hoping any touts would give in and let the tickets go at a sensible price just after kick off. Unfortunately there was at least a hundred other Hoops on the lookout. 

Keith Rowlands scored after two minutes and the noise outside was loud enough. I can only imagine what it was like inside. The following week Rangers went to Hillsborough and defeated Sheffield Wednesday to clinch promotion.

QPR 1 Rotherham United 1 (Saturday 7th August 2004) The Championship (att: 4,547) - Ellerslie Road Stand

The opening day of the season and it was absolutely scorching hot. The game was an anti climax as I sat cramped in down the side before meeting the gang after the game for a most pleasant couple of hours in O'Neills. 

QPR 3 Leicester City 2 (Saturday 25th September 2004) The Championship (att: 15,535) - Lower Loft

Jeff went on holiday to Australia so he left me his season ticket for a few matches so I could go with his brother John. We started off with an absolute cracker as Rangers came back from two goals down scored by David Connolly and Jamie Scowcroft.

Connolly got himself sent off for a silly second yellow card, before Lee Cook and Paul Furlong levelled things up before the same man headed home a Rowlands cross.

QPR 1 West Ham United 0 (Saturday 16th October 2004) The Championship (att: 18,363) - Lower Loft

I'm glad I was with John. We went to the Wetherspoons on The Green for a change where we met some Hammers fans he knew. Let's just say I'm glad they were our friends! In fairness they knew their football and were decent company but I didn't want to fall out.

It was Rose who settled the match when he finished neatly past keeper Stephen Bywater after getting onto Cook's pass. Rangers were full value for the win, although the West Ham lads didn't seem convinced when we briefly saw them after the game. Who was I to argue?

QPR 3 Burnley 0 (Saturday 30th October 2004) The Championship (att: 15,638) - Lower Loft

It was 3-0 in the first half hour after Gallen had slotted home a penalty before George Santos headed a goal. Clarets keeper Danny Coyne dropping a real clanger for the third when he completely missed a clearance outside his area allowing Furlong to score before being helped off injured with acute embarrassment.

QPR 1 Millwall 1 (Tuesday 2nd November 2004) The Championship (att: 16,685) - Lower Loft

I was very pleased that we drank in Hammersmith back in the day as it turned out to be quite a fearsome atmosphere around Shepherd's Bush inside and out of the ground.

Ex Lion Bircham took some fearful stick throughout as Barry Hayles put Millwall ahead before Adrian Serioux was sent off for throwing the ball into the face of Cook from close range. Furlong rescued a point with four minutes remaining with a twenty yard shot.

QPR 2 Ipswich Town 4 (Saturday 11th December 2004) The Championship (att: 18,231) - Lower Loft

Rangers came behind from a Jason De Vos goal with two long range efforts from Furlong to lead before Ipswich awoke with debutante Darren Currie running the midfield. 

Darren Bent equalised before scoring with a deflected shot past keeper Chris Day before Shefki Kuqi made sure of the points.

QPR 1 Preston North End 2 (Saturday 12th February 2005) The Championship (att: 15,620) - Lower Loft

The visiting Lancastrian fans came dressed in 70's wear with a few going for the Clockwork Orange look; others with bowler hats. Jamie Cureton hot the bar for QPR before Furlong scored. Paul McKenna set up David Nugent for the equaliser.

The winner was scored by Chris Lucketti. We had beers in the nice but expensive Brook Green Hotel.

QPR 1 Sunderland 3 (Saturday 2nd April 2005) The Championship (att: 18,198) - South Africa Road Stand

The visiting Mackems ended up being far too good on their way to the title. The home fans were getting impatient with manager Ian Holloway. I was sat in the very end seat of the stand, a structure ideal for dwarfs with its limited leg room.

At least it gave me the opportunity to catch up with my former Lord's colleague, Terry Dodd who was a regular for many years and an absolute gentleman helping me no end in our time alongside each other.

Danny Shittu had given the Hoops the lead before the break but Sunderland bounced back to a seventh consecutive win thanks to goals from Andy Welsh, Chris Brown and Julio Arca.

QPR 1 Leeds United 1 (Saturday 16th April 2005) The Championship (att: 18,182) - Lower Loft

Leeds led through Seth Johnson before future Rangers favourite Shaun Derry was sent off for violent conduct with twenty minutes remaining. Shabazz Baidoo set up Gallen to score before Adam Miller was sent to the stand as both teams ended with ten men.

QPR 2 Hull City 2 (Saturday 26th November 2005) The Championship (att: 13,185) - Lower Loft

This was a difficult one for me as City went two up before the game ended as a draw, which was a perfect result for me at the time. I'd grown an affinity to Rangers and made some good friends while I hadn't seen the Tigers for some time.

Ryan France and Billy Painter put the visitors 2-0 up before Gareth Ainsworth netted twice in little time. City were reduced to ten men when keeper Boaz Myhill was sent off for deliberate handball.

QPR 1 Watford 2 (Saturday 22nd April 2006) The Championship (att: 16,152) - Lower Loft

A big away following were making plenty of noise in the Walkabout before kick off. They went on to the play offs and promotion after beating Leeds United in the final, so I was willing to forgive them anything!

QPR went ahead through a Marc Nygaard penalty before Ashley Young equalised. Nygaard was dismissed and then Santos put through his own goal after a mix up with keeper Paul Jones.

QPR 2 Leeds United 2 (Tuesday 8th August 2006) The Championship (att: 13,996) - Lower Loft

A great night out at the football in lovely weather. Eddie Lewis had put Leeds ahead before Rowlands slotted home a penalty. Geoff Horsfield restored the visitors lead a minute later. Baidoo scored the equaliser in stoppage time. I was happy!

To see my handy work on you tube of the penalty, click here:

QPR 1 Ipswich Town 3 (Friday 25th August 2006) The Championship (att: 10,918) - Lower Loft

A poor crowd and performance under Garry Waddock's team. A Rangers fan amazingly had a go at one of the Sky staff in a van outside as he reckoned they were a jinx because the team had a poor record while chosen for live TV games!

Gallen had put Rangers ahead with Simon Walton restoring parity from the penalty spot. De Vos put Ipswich ahead leaving Simon Bowditch to seal the win with a fine comeback.

QPR 2 Hull City 0 (Saturday 23rd September 2006) The Championship (att: 11,381) - Lower Loft

Two poor teams played out the match with Carl Ellis also in attendance having come down for the weekend to see two concerts by The Boys at The Barfly in Camden. It was the first game as Rangers boss for Luigi Di Canio as Hogan Ephraim and Mikele Leigertwood scored the goals. 

QPR 3 Burnley 1 (Saturday 3rd February 2007) The Championship (att: 10,811) - Lower Loft

A poor gate witnessed a home win set up by an opener from Lee Cook. Chris McCann scored a leveller for the Clarets before Dexter Blackstock and Steve Lomas secured the three points for the hosts.

QPR 3 Middlesbrough 0 (Saturday 11th September 2010) The Championship (att: 14,784) - Upper Loft

This was my first visit for some time owing to my new shifts as a Station Supervisor for London Underground and my devotion to the birth of Scarborough Athletic as I helped out wherever I could offering support. It was apt that Neil Warnock was now QPR manager.

It was great to be back, with an even better view. The game was 0-0 at half time before Rangers turned on the style against a very lacklustre Boro team. The midfield Derry and the brilliant Adel Taarabt controlled the game for table topping Rangers.

Heider Helguson opened the scoring with a penalty which was added to by Ephraim and Jamie Mackie. A quality day was rounded off by going to see a superb Muse at Wembley afterwards with Colm.

QPR 3 Reading 1 (Saturday 6th November 2010) The Championship (att: 15,692) - Upper Loft

A superb game of football and a great atmosphere. Reading simply couldn't contain the majestic Taarabt who was a pleasure to watch, this despite Rangers playing much of the game with ten men after Bradley Orr was given his marching orders after a Taarabt penalty. 

I also enjoyed the graft and guile of Derry. Warnock had them playing all right! Alejandro Faurlin doubled the lead prior to Shane Long halving the lead. Tommy Smith made the game safe as he followed up a Taarabt free kick that was too much for goalie Adam Federici.

QPR 2 Bristol City 2 (Monday 3rd January 2011) The Championship (att: 15,618) - Upper Loft

Another excellent game with City very much the underdogs. They went one up through Brett Pitman until Rangers equalised through Faurlin and then went ahead with a Taarabt penalty just five minutes from time. 

The visitors stole a point in stoppage time with a Steven Caulker header. The home fans went away unhappy but I thought it had been most entertaining.

QPR 1 Norwich City 2 (Monday 2nd January 2012) Premier League (att: 18,033)

Joey Barton put Rangers one up and was then harshly sent off. City filled both tiers of the School End. Their side were organised but nothing outstanding. Derry, Faulin and Taarabt had excellent games for QPR. 

Anthony Pilkington capitalised on Barton's dismissal to equalise before Steve Morison scored a late winner. Lovely to use a proper pub, The White Horse before kick off, after the earlier abomination of The Bull in the Westfield Shopping Centre!

QPR 1 Milton Keynes Dons (Tuesday 17th January 2012) FA Cup Round Three Replay (att: 10,855)

Warnock had been sacked and replaced by Mark Hughes. It was a turgid game decided by a Danny Gabbidon header. The White Horse had admitted some franchise Dons fans who I found it difficult to even acknowledge. 

The atmosphere inside the stadium was also poor owing to many tourist fans attending with a rare opportunity to get in to a Premier League ground, and carrying very little football nous.

QPR 0 Sheffield United 3 (Sunday 4th January 2014) FA Cup Round Three (att: 12,972) - Upper Loft

Harry Redknapp fielded a relatively strong Rangers line up against the third tiered Blades. It was difficult to tell. The visitors with a large following were faster, hungrier and by far the better team. 

I thought poor Jeff next to me was going to pop at one point. We sat on the second row of the Loft Upper with a great view but extremely limited leg room. The Blades goals were scored by Marc McNulty prior to Jamal Campbell-Ryce bagging a brace for Nigel Clough's impressive outfit. 

Queens Park Rangers U23 2 Hull City U23 1 (Friday 1^st March 2019) Under 23 Professional Development League (att: 103) - South Africa Road Stand

With the day off work I was keen to fill in my time with something worthwhile and to get some exercise. This fixture stood out for personal reasons above the other home game under age options for Watford and Charlton Athletic.

The intention was to kill two birds with one stone and collect a package from the caller’s office at the Royal Mail depot on Edgware Road. Unfortunately, the queue was long and service slow. I left it for another day.

Frustrated, I jumped on the 32 bus down to Kilburn; alighting at Brondesbury station. A train was due imminently that took me directly to Shepherd’s Bush an hour or so before the 2pm kick-off.

The plan was to find something to eat once I’d used the facilities inside the ginormous Westfield Shopping Centre. Finding nothing I considered value for money I headed out onto the multi-cultural Uxbridge Road.

My radar was out, going the wrong way towards the options of McDonalds or Greggs. Instead I headed west finding nothing to take my fancy. I’d only walked down the road on a first team matchday and didn’t take too much notice of the surroundings.

I’m someone who can take positives from most places, but it really wasn’t too pleasant; at least the stretch near the stadium. I certainly didn’t see many English faces, and little gangs hung around. While not exactly intimidated, I did feel a stranger.

I arrived on South Africa Road just behind a gaggle of football tourists taking photos. Admission into the ground was free with just the Main Stand open. Donations were being taken for the Rangers Trust, so I tipped in my loose change.

Upstairs a refreshment counter was open, so I bit the bullet. I know catering isn’t cheap inside sports stadia, but I was taken aback that a tea and Pukka Pie came to £6.40. I instantly regretted my shocking earlier orientation.

Even more so when I spotted Chick, a Silver Jubilee Park regular and fellow groundhopper who I’d seen the evening before at the Barnet v Brentford Middlesex Cup tie. He told me he’d been to a good value café just around the corner from the ground for bacon sarnies and a cuppa!

Gathered with new information I went upstairs with my pal and found a couple of seats offering a decent view around one of the roof supports. The lack of a crowd allowed us to stretch out in a seating area that made Ryanair legroom feel generous.

Before kick-off I had made QPR favourites, but after an even start City began to put some fine moves together. They took the lead on thirteen minutes when Dan Hawkins hammered in a cross from the right at the back post.

It took a goal line clearance just a minute later to deny Jacob Greaves from doubling the lead. Rangers responded well, with Callum Burton in the Tigers goal being called into action to keep out three efforts from the tricky Amrit Bansal-McNulty and one from Faysal Bettache.

The game was certainly not short on full blooded tackles, but I thought the referee handles it excellently. Instead of showing a flurry of yellow cards he’d have a word with the perpetrator as well as the skipper if required. Well done Mr Dean S!

At the interval Chic got the teas in before we retook our places with the afternoon getting chillier. Three minutes after the break Rangers got back on level terms when a fierce drive from Lewis Walker flew in to the far top corner across Burton.

Rangers cranked up the pressure with Burton having to keep out another Bansal-McNulty effort at his near post after a jinking run before also making a good stop from Chay Tilt. City responded with Callum Smith forcing QPR keeper Marcin Brzozowski into a superb stop.

Elliot Holmes was also denied by the stopper after firing in a half volley. Tilt came close with a free kick that dipped just over the bar with three minutes of normal time remaining. The match looked destined to finish level, but the hosts had other ideas.

Tilt took a free kick in stoppage time. It dipped with Burton only able to parry it, where Nathan Carlyle followed up to score. The goal was greeting by cheers, in contrast to the rest of the action that was greeted with polite applause.

At full time I decided that I required some exercise so set off walking. I’d just downloaded the Talk Talk album Spirit of Eden after being prompted by the death earlier in the week of lead singer Mark Hollis.

My walk took me to Wood Lane and under the Westway before continuing up Scrubs Lane to Harlesden. The scenery became grimmer, but the deep mind blowing music fitted the ambience and cold grey skies perfectly.

I’d walked through Harlesden several times in the past, but there was something making me wary on this occasion. I visited Argos for some new bedding and then caught a bus containing some harsh looking characters and one bloke obviously smashed through some high or another and trying to strike up loud conversation. I looked out of the window.

I revisited my old station at Dollis Hill and then manoeuvred my way through the pavement alterations back in Kingsbury. I wasn’t sure exactly why, perhaps tiredness, but I really didn’t want to be there anymore.

Fortunately, a good sleep and meal sorted me out in better form to head off to work the following morning.

Queens Park Rangers U23 1 Coventry City U23 2 (Friday 15^th November 2019) Under 23 Professional Development League (att: c150) - South Africa Road Stand

The afternoon after watching England defeat Montenegro 7-0 to qualify for the 2020 Euros I set out to hopefully spot some stars of tomorrow. The train from Wembley Central dropped me at Shepherds Bush after a good late breakfast.

My pal Tony Marshall was already there on arrival and we were joined by R’s and Hendon fan Neil Gregory in the seats as the hosts got off to a promising start with Lewis Walker and Amrit Bansal-McNulty making City keeper Tom Billson earn his keep.

Coventry went ahead thanks to some awful defending which enforced Dillon Barnes to make a good stop from Jonny Ngandu at close range. Max Biamou was on hand to nod into the empty net.

Bansal-McNulty was QPR’s liveliest striker and was brought down in the box on the half hour mark. Lewis Walker stepped up to score from the spot. Joe Gubbins and then Deshane Dalling went close for the hosts before the half time whistle.

During the break we had a nice chat about all things local non-league with a Rangers and Hayes & Yeading United fan in front of us. It’s always good to hear the views of fans of other teams who’d been at the same games as yourself.

Rangers were in the ascendency after the interval with Billson saving from Dalling before Walker set up Bansal-McNulty who dragged his effort wide. The home side had appeals for a penalty turned down when Walker claimed he’d been tripped by Billson.

The mood of the R’s fraternity was not eased when the ref awarded a spot kick at the other end after adjudging that Ngandu had been tripped. Biamou stepped up to convert his and his teams’ second goal.

Dalling was denied by Billson in the closing stages as City held on to claim the three points. At full time I headed home back to the warm rather than being tempted to go for a beer.

Queens Park Rangers 1 Hull City 2 (Sunday 29^th December 2019) EFL Championship (Att: 13,814) – School End Upper

I returned to the same stand and similar position as my first ever visit to Loftus Road, over twenty four years previously; also to support Hull City. The fixtures dropped nicely for me; despite being on night shift.

Jeff Cards kindly sorted me a ticket through one of his contacts, so I arranged to meet my pal at the Wetherspoons Central Bar in the W12 Shopping Centre. The beer choice wasn’t the best and they’d run out of the food I wanted, so we looked elsewhere.

I’d talked the bouncers at Belushi’s into letting me in by feigning that I was just out shopping; only for Jeff to be knocked back as a Rangers fan. It turns out that it was an away fans pub for the day. Oh, the irony!

Jeff thought that the old O’Neill’s place, now called Sindercombe Social was pretty naff, so we bit the bullet and went in the BrewDog pub. While not the biggest fan of craft ale or the company in question, I must admit to enjoying this latest experience.

The beer was a sensible strength and tasty; despite being a bit gassy for my usual taste. The sweet and regular chips were very good and the chicken wings spicy. The background music was good and the staff friendly.

The only slight criticism was that the pin ball machines; yes seriously, were louder than the music and the décor was all a bit pretentious. It’s no doubt a sign of my age but I couldn’t get me head around how metal furniture purposely dinted could be fashionable?

As I joked to my brother in a message; I was going to have to head back home because I’d forgotten my beard. Whatever, it did the job. I may be slightly more inclined to use one of their pubs in the future, so all was good.

We said our farewells as I headed round to the entrance for the away seats. My pal warned me that it may have been a restricted view seat. The mind boggled as to how clear a view I’d get as I’d read and seen evidence of some real horror stories from visiting supporters.

There was no need for any concern. The city section was far from full, with 775 cheering on the Amber and Black, and the only obstruction was caused by the stewards stood by the vomitory. Even that was a minor inconvenience.

The R’s had early dominance in possession with Nahki Wells heading at George Long in the early stages. Ebere Eze was pulling the strings for the hosts who took the lead on twenty minutes when slack defending gave Ilias Chair too much time to rifle in a low shot from the edge of the area.

Chair was blocked when a second looked on the cards as the impressive Bright Osayi-Samuel was causing problems on the right. City were struggling to get a foothold into the game and keep possession for any length of time. The midfield was also missing bite.

Hull were thrown a lifeline just past the half hour mark. Josh Bowler fired in a chest high cross from the right. Keeper Joe Lumley inexplicably spilled the ball to allow George Honeyman to convert from close range in front of the travelling fans.

Lumley made amends shortly after with a fine save to deny Bowler before Long flicked a rasping Chair shot over the bar to send the sides down the tunnel level at the break. I’d have settled for that score before kick off.

A fella in front of me did enjoy criticising. I wasn’t full of the joys of the world myself, but I like to think I’m fair in my assessments. City couldn’t do a thing right for this fan. It hadn’t been very impressive, but that’s why the players were playing at that level.

That said, I was becoming frustrated at the lack of closing down and pressure by City for the fifteen minutes after the restart. The Rangers players were afforded far too much time. A second goal was looking inevitable.

Eze shot over with Luke Amos and Dominic Ball both firing just wide. It was almost as though the R’s players were thrown into confusion at having so much time and weren’t sure what to do with it? The home support was becoming a little tetchy towards their side.

Referee Gavin Ward wasn’t the most popular man in our section as he tended to give most fifty fifty decisions Rangers way. City also picked up a couple of contentious bookings, including the excellent centre back Jordy de Wijs. Long produced a good save to keep out a cross shot from Ryan Manning.

In my opinion the game changed when Grant McCann introduced big forward Tom Eaves after an hour. Suddenly the ball was being retained and the home centre backs realised that they were in a scrap. He went close to scoring with a header from a Kamil Grosicki cross.

QPR came tantalisingly close to regaining the lead in the closing stages as Jordan Hugill couldn’t quite get on the end of a hard and low diagonal cross from Wells who’d been cleverly put in by the continued quality of Eze.

The winner came in the final minute of normal time when a free kick from Jarrod Bowen evaded all but was forced home on the volley by Jackson Irvine coming in at the back post; who'd had an indifferent game to say the lease. It's a stupid old game!

At full time I weaved through the crowds to take the train at Wood Lane. I’d bought the programme for £3.50 and enjoyed reading some interesting articles on the way home. It was nice to be back and have a kip before night shift by 6pm.

Monday 30th November 2020

Click here to read about a further visit as part of my 100 mile Sawasdee Cup Charity Walk late in 2020 as I called in on all the clubs in the top five tiers within Greater London to raise money for Junior Cricket Development in Thailand.