I got a lot of replies when asked for Q.P.R. fans to help when I posted on Qpr.org, Guy Whitehouse (GW), John Barton (JB), Chris Bounds (CB) and Nic Cheeseman (NC) all replied. Here is what they had to say.
1) Who are you; where are you from and how long have you supported your club?
GW: My name is Guy Whitehouse, I live in Ascot Berks, I am 28 years old I have been going to Loftus Road since I was 12, so 16 years.
JB: John Barton I'm 59 born and bred in the "flats" by the Rangers ground, moved all over the country with work, now settled in Buxton, Derbyshire. My 2 "kids2 one of each are both fans despite being born in Grimsby and Cleethorpes respectively. Son Nick and I are both season ticket holders and travel to most games.
CB: Chris, 34 years old, formerly of Shepherds Bush but now living about 10 miles from Wigan.
NC: Nic Cheeseman, Student, London, 10 years.
2) What was your first game?
GW: First game was QPR vs Arsenal I think the game was a draw.
JB: 1st game was so long ago I can't be sure! But I do remember as a very young boy being at the then local derby with Brentford - pouring rain, sliding down the muddy bank where the current main stand is, we lost.
CB: Not sure who it was against but a home game in the Venables era. It was before the plastic pitch arrived so must have been 1980?
NC: QPR vs Wimbledon, boring friendly (1-1 i think)
3) Describe the most memorable and worst game you've seen and why?
GW: Most memorable and worst game was of course the play off final vs Cardiff a couple of seasons ago. Most memorable because of the enormity of the day, the trip to the milennium stadium, the worst game because of the result, loosing 1-0 in the last seconds of extra time.
To worst game was loosing to Vauxhall Motors in the FA Cup a few seasons ago. That really was the lowpoint in the Clubs History that I can remember. Loosing to a non league team, being in the old second division, club going into administration. Thankfully that was the turning point and we have now moved on from there.
The most memorable game was the 4-4 draw with Port Vale about 8 or so seasons ago. We were 4-0 down at half time. When John Spencer scored the equaliser in the 91 minute I ended up getting carried from the back of the terrace all the way on the pitch in about 3 seconds. The place was going mental, there were people running round on the pitch, John Spencer was buried under about 30 bodies, unbelievable. The Vale fans were not amused.
JB: The League cup win in 67 - the first non 1st div team to win the trophy. The loss to Oxford in the same competition years later - took my old Dad and the 2 kids to their first Wembley match and as hot favourites we just blew it.
CB: Most memorable: Playoff semifinal 2nd leg v Oldham, 2003. When Furlong scored the winner, the noise was like nothing I have ever heard. Worst game: Losing to Vauxhall Motors in the FA Cup first round. Don't remind me.
NC: Most memorable: vs oldham in the play off final two years ago. although not our great success (that was last season away at sheff wed) the pride and emotion on show was higher as we beat oldham (1-0) to make the play offs and feel that really 'rangers are back'
Worst: losing a last minute (well, 5 minutes into non existent extra time) goal against man utd to leave the match 1-1 after we had been 1-0 up. we deserved to win, and if we had i think we would have stayed up. again, it was the disapointment that made it so painful - it was worse in a way that losing away to coventry a week later and the news when beating west ham 3-0 that we were down. i remember as soon as we heard the news the whole crowd started singing 'next year we'll be champions' - it was a great moment.
4) If Q.P.R. were a Celebrity, who would they be and why?
GW: Could not say. Would you classify Ian holloway as a celebrity? He is QPR through and through.
JB: Tommy Cooper - sometimes his tricks worked and some times they didnt - but you never knew which was meant and which wasn't but you always had a laugh.
CB: ?!?!?!
NC: I think traditionally maybe stephen fry - kind of mainstream with a bit more dignity and intelligence than most ;) probably now we'd be david brent, what with ollies quotes!
5) Who do you consider as your current local rivals, and why?
GW: All the songs are about Chelsea, but realistically they are leagues above us at the moment. Fulham and Brentford are only down the Road and are local rivals but neither are in the coca cola championship. Watford, Millwall, West Ham are always interesting games, they are all no more than a stones throw away, there is also alot of animosity between QPR and Luton Town who are goming up next year, that should be fun.
JB: Millwall or Reading I suppose but only because they are nearest and we dont have Chelsea or Fulham any more!
CB: Traditionally it would be that hotel team the Russian bloke runs. We had a couple of years in the same division as Fulham which is probably more realistic for both teams. Brentford like to think they're our rivals but nobody at QPR gives a hoot bout them.
NC: I guess we dream it is chelsea, but right now that doesn't make much sense. Historically probably brentford... and probably still now given the league proximity (they had a clock on their website counting down to the first qpr vs brentford match a couple of seasons ago) - in the run up to the play offs bircham scored a last minute 25 yard volley to give us a win at their place which was one of the sweetest goals scored for qpr in the last 10 years!
6) Who are the best and worst players you have seen?
GW: Best, Les Ferdinand and David Bardsley before his injury. Going back a few years Stan bowles, Gerry Francis, rodney Marsh - never saw them play though.
In this team Shittu, Furlong, Cook.
Worst: Michael Beck, (think he was on loan from Forest) and a lad we had on loan from Fulham up front, cant remember his name but he is now playing for Peterborough I think, he was rubbish.
JB: Rodney Marsh - I played with him at schoolboy level and this just gives him the edge for me over Stan Bowles. Worst Dominic Iorfa - he was terrible.
CB: Best: Les Ferdinand, Gerry Francis, Ray Wilkins. Worst: Karl Ready, Steve Morrow, Sammy Koejoe.
NC: Best: les ferdinand. Incredible, week in week out. never got the respect he deserved. scored great goals, against great teams, scored with his feet and head, made a good % of them himself. We used to have great games against man utd (beat them 4-1, then they'd come down and beat us 3-2). I remember seeing paul scholes scoring two on his debut (or thereabouts) and an amazing goal from giggs at loftus road.
Recently paul furlong has convinced me he is one of the best players outside the premier league. This season he has scored a good 6-8 goals from outside the area, and another 10 inside. An absolute legend and qpr fans totally love him.
7) Which current or former Latics player impressed you most?
GW: Very impressed with Jimmy Bullard and although he has been off colour last few games Nathan Ellington. Wish we could have signed Bullard from Peterborough I really rate him he would be great in our midfied. You cant take your eyes off Nathan Ellington for 2 seconds, his pace is electric, looking forward to seeing him in the premiership next year, I think your boys will make it.
JB: Ellington - he drags defenders around.
CB: Roberts is a great striker in this division and good enough for the next if you go up.
NC: I think your keeper is class - he had a great game at loftus road. I guess i was impressed by your forward set up until you came down and missed enough chances to have won 10-0! But i think you have a very solid midfield - mahon has impressed me, although i see that he has not played that often.
8) What do you think of The Latics?
GW: Have only seen them play 3 times live, probably a few more on sky. They impressed me when we played them in the old second division, they were by far the best team that season, and along with Sunderland and Sheffield United were the most impressive teams down at QPR this season. They look a solid well organised team who can knock the ball round a bit, although they look as if they rely on the front two a little too much. They were unlucky not to come away with at least a point from the QPR game earlier in the season, Jason Roerts missed a sitter. Seem to be a little short of fans though which is a suprise for a team in their position.
JB: Good well run club who play decent football and most people think have earned their try in the top flight.
CB: QPR seem to have a pretty good record against you in recent years. When you got promoted in 2003, our manager used Wigan as an example of what he wanted to achieve at QPR and when you beat us at Loftus Road that season I knew what he meant. Great team effort, fantastic closing down and defending as a unit. And a sharp goalscorer up front (Ellington) even if his goal was a little lucky that day. Living fairly locally, it seems a great shame that I don't meet more Latics fans as bigger crowds would help you to step up to the next level.
NC: Great team very few fans? Always seems very hard on the manager and fans as you don't seem to have a great away support. I remember being disapointed by your support this season. Still, great achievement to be up there and i think you have done it sensibly and with dignity - good investment, intelligent signings, not going mad etc - well done.
9) How did you fare last season?
GW: Last season, promotion from the old second division we needed to equal Bristol City's result on the day to gain promotion on the last day of the season. We took 7,000 fans to Sheffield Wednesday and won 3-1. Awesome. Last season was good fun, we really needed to get out of that league.
JB: Second place - auto promotion.
CB: We got promoted on the last day away with a win away at Hillsborough. We were in the top 3 or 4 for just about the whole season I think but Bristol City pushed us all the way to the finish line.
NC: Bloody great! some of the best days of my life! especially 7000 rs fans at sheff wed to watch us go up, and as many watching on a big screen at loftus road. After so many false dawns real pride!
10) How did you expect to fair this season?
GW: Beginning of the season I would have bitten your hand off for mid table. Very happy with the way the season has gone over all, we cartainly are not out of our depth at this level, looking forward to next season.
JB: We all just wanted to hold our own and stay in the division as the clubs finances needed this more than anything - so 4th bottom would have been acceptable.
CB: I expected a long old season of relegation six pointers and a finish just above the drop zone.
NC: I thought we might stay in the league by the skin of our teeth!
11) 12th place, is that a success for a first season in the Championship?
GW: Absolutely, we will finish above the other two clubs which came up last season, (Brighton, Plymouth).
JB: The midtable finish is more than acceptable really although at one time - before injuries and suspensions bit us - the playoffs looked possible.
CB: Fantastic. We're well above the other two promoted teams and we've been ahead of the 3 teams relegated from the Premiership for almost the whole season. It's just a shame that an injury crisis combined with an understandable lack of motivation that comes from having nothing to really play for looks like making us finish a lot lower than we have been for most of the season.
NC: That would be fine! Before the season we all thought we were going down!! But when we do well we get ahead of ourselves, and so we all started believing and now we are down about it, but 12th is just fine by me.
12) What's going on with your season ticket prices for next season?
GW: Problem is we have a £10 Million loan outstanding on the stadium which is costing us. Also we sold 10,000 season tickets last season and then recieved all the money up front and then had hardly any gate revenue through out the rest of the season. Because so many ST were sold we also did not recieve the revenue we would if the tickets were sold on the door as they work out much more expensive on the day.
Yes prices have gone up. My ticket has gone up from £395 to £442, I think some of the other tickets have gone up more. Problem is the club is a little short of funds and prices must go up. Not saying I am for the steep rise but I understand where they are coming from.
JB: The club needs the dough and are really gambling that the season tickets sales hold up - we sold almost 11000 this season.
CB: They've gone up loads but to put it in perspective the prices were very low for last year because most people, including me, took advantage of the 'early bird' prices and got them for Division 2 prices. We've got big financial worries looming in the background in the shape of a 10 milion pound loan at 10% interest per year (thanks to the previous board). That debt and the need to build up the squad to improve our league position next year explains the
price rise but still won't be enough to convince many.
NC: We need the money to stay afloat. We owe £10m, we lose £4m a year.
it is sad but to convince investors we are a going concern and to keep strengthening the squad (for a recent game we had no one with 1st team experience on the bench) then we need to increase revenue.
13) Which Rangers player should we watch out for?
GW: Definately Paul Furlong (striker), you know about him from your trip to Loftus Road earlier in the season! He won Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year in last nights awards. Also young player of the year Lee Cook who is my favourite player, nipy left winger, good crosser of the ball.
JB: With the missing list we currently have I could only say Dan Shittu.
CB: Hard to know who's going to be playing and some of our stars (Furlong, Rowlands) will be missing. Speedy teenage striker Shabazz Baidoo made his debut last week and looked impressive. You can't miss Big Dan Shittu at centreback. And captain Kevin Gallen is probably our best known player. He has a good footballing brain and still scores a few goals.
NC: Dan Shittu: best centre back in this division and soon to be in the premier league with or without us. A man mountain, wins 90% of headers in our box.
Of the youngsters: Bailey, central midfielder. Only played once at home but i thought he looked great in a tough midfield last week against leeds.
14) Is your manager barking mad?
GW: Yes, absolutely!! Nice bloke though, have met him a few times, wears his heart on his sleeve and is 100% committed to Rangers.
JB: Most of the time but boy is he passionate about the club.
CB: Oh yes. And we wouldn't have him any other way.
NC: Nope, he's great! Ii think its brilliant because if you look what he's achieved, he would have been poached by now by a prem team if it wasn't for him being a bit different! Did you know that you can get books of his sayings from the brisol rovers website? Genius. Seriously, he does need a right hand man (right now he has no assistant after kenny jacket left to get swansea promoted).
15) Are you happy with your Chairman/Backroom staff?
GW: Yes I am. The club seems to be going in the right direction and some of the directors seem to be willing to put their hands in their pockets for certain new players. Hopefully we will be able to sign Andrew Davies from Boro at the end of the season, he is a great young prospect. Think your chaps were looking at him as well, keep your hands off!
JB: Yes.
CB: Our chairman Bill Power is a good bloke, just a normal fan like you or I. He's a frequent visitor to the various fan websites and he loves to speak his mind and he doesn't care who he upsets. He gets his share of flak for that but personally I think it's great.
NC: Well, not so much in view of the season ticket prices! But yes, i think they are fans of the club and we are being run propperly. There is a great sense of team spirit - the fans payed for shittu and cureton to come in, which shows real commitment. I think more transparency would be good.
16) Which team do you want to beat the most this season and why?
GW: Personally Cardiff and Leeds, Cardiff because they are the scum of the earth and Leeds because my flat mate is a Leeds supporter and wont shut up about them. I was a bit gutted to say the least when they beat us 6-1 at Elland Road, I never heard the end of it.
I think QPR fans would like to most like to beat Cardiff and West Ham in this league.
JB: Cardiff because their fans are animals and the treatment our team got at the hotel before the playoff final.
CB: Loads of them. Any of them in fact. But particularly Leicester (big time charlies), Cardiff (recent playoff history), Reading (the fake hoops), West Ham (see Leicester), Leeds (to avenge the 6-1 thrashing they gave us at Elland Road).
NC: Right now, leeds because we are close to them in the league and we need to get ahead of the buggers! Other than that i was really happy to beat west ham at home - a sign of how far we have come in recent years.
17) What sort of line-up can we expect from you?
GW: 4-4-2: Day, Padula, Shittu, Rose, Cook, Bircham, Ainsworth (if fit), Gallen, Furlong (if fit), Cureton.
JB: Wish I could tell you - I think we may have only 16 to pick from including youth teamers!
CB: A pretty unfamiliar one I should think with all the injuries and suspensions. I wouldn't be surprised to see more youngsters making their debuts (Kanyuka for example). Given the limited squad we may well switch from our usual 4-4-2 and play 4-5-1 with Gallen up front on his own.
NC: A poor one. We have picked up about 10 injuries in recent weeks. However we have some good kids and a good spirit. We deserved to beat gillingham and leeds, and by all accounts (wasn't there) we didn't deserve to go down 2-0 to burnley.
18) Predicted score and scorers?
GW: 2-1 Wigan Ellington, Roberts, Furlong
JB: You'll sneek it by a goal.
CB: 2-1 to Wigan. Shittu for us and 2 for Roberts.
NC: 2-1 wigan. I think you're midfielders will probably get a goal, as we don't pick up runners from midfield and we have no fit players! Gallen will get a late consolation for us.
19) Who's going up?
GW: Sunderland and Wigan (Automatic), Preston (Playoff)
JB: Sunderland, you and I think PNE from the playoff.
CB: Well it's 2 out of Wigan, Sunderland & Ipswich isn't it. I wouldn't like to predict which two but from their games against QPR this season I'd say that
Ipswich are the least likely to survive in the Premiership should they go up.
It would be great if the team that comes 3rd and misses out wins the playoffs but it doesn't usually work like that does it. Of the others teams that I expect to be in the playoffs Derby looked the best to me.
NC: I am afraid that ipswich and sunderland are. You just have too many tough games against teams that have great need of points. Sorry!
In the play offs i think you and derby are the best team - i expect you to go up in a tough final. Preston are pants!
20) Who's going down with Rotherham?
GW: Nottingham Forrest and we will send Cardiff down on the last day of the season.
JB: Brighton and Cardiff - I hope.
CB: Forest and hopefully Cardiff. We're playing them last game of the season and it would be great to send them back down after they beat us in the playoff final two years ago. Failing that I'd be quite happy to see whinging Mark McGhee's team go down.
NC: Forest and crewe. I just have a feeling crewe will go, which is sad but their form has been terrible.
Thanks Guys!