Loftus Road (Queens Park Rangers)

Welcome to the latest installment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.

For this chapter, we travelled to London for some FA Cup action as Championship side Queens Park Rangers took on Premier League side Bournemouth at Loftus Road.

It's All In The Name

The name of the club was derived from the fact that the majority of the players hailed from the Queen's Park district of west London in the early twentieth century. Because of the hue of the team's kit, the club is known as the hoops. QPR began playing in green but switched to blue in 1926 because green was considered unlucky.

Some Notable People From Shepherds Bush:

• Paul Bettany- Actor

• Heston Blumenthal- Chef

• Bel Powley- Actress

• Lawrence Dallaglio- Rugby Player

• Steve Jones- Member of the Sex Pistols

Some Notable Former Players

Rodney Marsh

Les Ferdinand

Park Ji-Sung

Julio Cesar

Rio Ferdinand

Stan Bowles

Terry Venables

Ray Wilkins

Loic Remy

Adel Taarabt

Shaun Wright-Phillips

Yossi Benayoun

A History Lesson From The Gloucester Groundhopper

The club was founded in 1886 when St Jude's (founded in 1884) amalgamated with Christchurch Rangers (founded in 1882). The resulting team was named Queen's Park Rangers, and their formal establishment year is considered to be 1882, the same year as Christchurch Rangers was founded. The name of the club was inspired by the fact that the majority of the players were from the Queen's Park district of west London.

In 1889, QPR became a professional team. In 1899, the club was admitted to the Southern Football League. In 1899-1900, they made a name for themselves by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at home in the first round proper of the FA Cup.

In 1907-08, they won the Southern Football League for the first time. That year, as Southern League champions, they took part in the first Charity Shield match, against Football League champions Manchester United. After a 1-1 tie in the first game, the club was defeated 4-0 in a rematch. Both matches were held at Stamford Bridge. In 1911-12, QPR won the Southern League for the second time.

When the Football League's Third Division was founded in 1920, the club joined, primarily with Southern League clubs. The next season, when the Third Division was divided into North and South, QPR, like the majority of the previous Southern League clubs that had joined the Football League to establish the Third Division, were in the Third Division (South).

QPR played in over 20 different stadiums (a league record) before settling permanently at Loftus Road in 1917, however the team would briefly try to lure larger audiences by playing in the White City Stadium for two short spells: 1931 to 1933, and the 1962-63 season.

In the 1947-48 season, the team was promoted as Division 3 South champions. Dave Mangnall was the manager during the club's four seasons in the Second Division, which ended with relegation in 1951-52. Tony Ingham joined QPR from Leeds United and went on to make the most league appearances for the club (519). Alec Stock, arguably the club's finest manager, joined ahead to the start of the 1959-60 season. QPR's biggest win to date came in the 1960-61 season, when they defeated Tranmere Rovers 9-2 in a Division 3 fixture. Over time, Stock, together with Jim Gregory, who took over as chairman in the mid-1960s, contributed to a complete renovation of the club and its surroundings.

QPR won Division Three in 1966-67 and were the first Third Division team to win the League Cup on Saturday, 4 March 1967, when they defeated West Bromwich Albion 3-2 after coming back from a two-goal deficit. QPR's sole big trophy remains the FA Cup. It was also the first League Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Rangers were relegated after just one season in Division Two after achieving promotion to the top tier for the first time in their history in 1968. Terry Venables came from Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the 1969-70 season, while Rodney Marsh was traded to Manchester City. During this period, new QPR heroes such as Phil Parkes, Don Givens, Dave Thomas, and Stan Bowles arose. These new additions joined homegrown talent such as Dave Clement, Ian Gillard, Mick Leach, and Gerry Francis.

Dave Sexton took over as manager in 1974 and guided QPR to the Second Division runners-up slot in 1975-76, missing out on the championship by one point with a roster that included seven England internationals and internationals from the home nations. After finishing their 42-game season, QPR were one point ahead of Liverpool, who went on to overcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to win the championship. That same season, Wolves were relegated to the Second Division. Rangers reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in the late 1970s and reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in their maiden foray into European football, losing on penalties to AEK Athens. Following Sexton's departure in 1977, the team was demoted to the Second Division in 1979.

Terry Venables took over as manager in 1980, and the club erected an artificial turf surface in 1981. QPR reached the FA Cup final for the first time in the club's history in 1982, when they faced holders Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham won the replay 1-0. The following season, QPR won the Second Division championship and returned to the top flight of English football. Venables left to become manager of Barcelona after a good fifth-place result and UEFA Cup qualification the following year. Richard Thompson, 24, became the club's new chairman in 1988. Various managers came and went from Loftus Road during the next seven years, and the team spent many seasons finishing mid-table but avoiding relegation. The most successful season during this time period was the 1987-88 season, when QPR finished fifth and missed out on a UEFA Cup campaign owing to the ban on English clubs competing in European play imposed by the Heysel Stadium disaster. They also finished second in the 1986 League Cup, losing to Oxford United.

Gerry Francis, a significant player for QPR in the 1970s and a successful manager with Bristol Rovers, was appointed manager in the summer of 1991. They finished mid-table in the First Division in 1991-92 and were founding members of the new Premier League, placing fifth as the highest London team in the 1992-93 inaugural season. Francis oversaw one of QPR's most notable victories, a 4-1 victory over Manchester United on New Year's Day 1992 in front of live television. Midway through the 1994-95 season, Francis resigned and was swiftly replaced as manager of Tottenham Hotspur by Ray Wilkins. Wilkins led QPR to ninth place in the Premier League. Les Ferdinand, the club's leading goalscorer, was sold to Newcastle United for a club record cost of £6 million in July 1995.

The following season, QPR struggled and were relegated at the end of the 1995-96 season. QPR then participated in Division 1 with a succession of managers until 2001. Gerry Francis returned in 1998, but the 2000-2001 season was a flop, and Francis resigned in early 2001.

Former player Ian Holloway took over as manager, but he was unable to prevent Rangers from being relegated to England's third division for the first time in more than 30 years. Following the 2003-04 season, QPR reverted to Division 1 and struggled for consistency over the next two seasons before Holloway was suspended amid rumours of a move to Leicester City. Holloway's successors Gary Waddock and then John Gregory - both former players - failed to keep the manager's job due to a poor run of results and a lack of advancement at the club.

During this time, QPR was mired in financial and boardroom turmoil. Although the club was listed on the Alternative Investment Market in 1991, it went into receivership in 2001. Following a period of financial struggle, the club went into administration after receiving a £10 million high-interest emergency loan, which continued to burden the club. In the 2005-06 season, scandals involving directors, shareholders, and others arose, including charges of blackmail and threats of violence against the club's chairman, Gianni Paladini. In an unrelated event, QPR was shocked by the murder of youth team player Kiyan Prince on 18th May 2006 and the death in a vehicle accident of adolescent and prospective first-team player Ray Jones in August 2007.

Following this low time in the club's history, in which Rangers were also facing rising financial pressure, it was reported in the same month that the club had been purchased by billionaire Formula One industrialists Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone. Rangers competed in the Football League Championship during the 2007-08 season. After a spate of dismal performances put QPR at the bottom of the Championship, John Gregory's time as manager came to an end in October 2007, and he was replaced by Luigi De Canio until the end of the 2007-08 season. Further investment came in early 2008, as the team aimed for promotion to the Premier League within four years, thanks to improved financial stability. On 14th May 2008, Iain Dowie was named manager to spearhead Rangers' return to the top division. However, Dowie was fired on 24th October 2008, following only 15 games in charge of the team.

QPR appointed former Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa as their new first team coach on 19th November 2008. His contract, however, was terminated on 9th April 2009, when he reportedly disclosed secret information without approval. On the same day that Sousa was fired, Gareth Ainsworth was appointed as player/coach for the second time. Jim Magilton was appointed as QPR's new manager in June 2009. Despite leading QPR to a promising start to the 2009-10 season, a slump in form and an alleged head-butting incident with Hungarian midfielder Akos Buzsáky saw the club embroiled in further controversy. Magilton and his assistant John Gorman left the club by mutual consent on 16th December 2009. The following day, they were replaced by Paul Hart and Mick Harford. Hart left QPR on 14th January 2010, less than a month and five games after taking over as manager; the reasons for his departure were not disclosed.

QPR won the Championship with a 2-0 win over Watford on 30th April 2011, securing promotion to the Premier League. A later FA inquiry regarding QPR's acquisition of Alejandro Faurln threatened to withhold points from the team and jeopardise their promotion. The investigation finished on 7th May 2011, with QPR finding guilty of two of the seven allegations and fined £875,000. However, the FA did not deduct any points, ensuring QPR's promotion to the Premier League.

In January 2012, 36 hours after the previous incumbent, Neil Warnock, was fired, club chairman Tony Fernandes hired Mark Hughes as team manager. Hughes and QPR avoided relegation despite a stunning 3-2 defeat against Manchester City on the final day of the season, despite a difficult start to his Loftus Road career.

Mark Hughes was fired on 23rd November 2012, following a terrible start to the 2012-13 season, with the club languishing at the bottom of the Premier League despite massive financial investment in new players during Hughes' 11-month tenure. The following day, Harry Redknapp was named manager. QPR were demoted from the Premier League to the Championship on 28th April 2013, after two seasons in the top division, following a 0-0 draw against fellow relegation rivals Reading.

QPR finished fourth in the Championship in 2013-14, qualifying for the play-offs, where they defeated Wigan Athletic in the semi-finals. On 24th May 2014, QPR defeated Derby County 1-0 in the final, with Bobby Zamora scoring in the 90th minute to reclaim their place in the Premier League.

QPR had a rough 2014-15 season after being promoted to the Premier League. After dismal results and mutual unhappiness with the board, Harry Redknapp left in February. Chris Ramsey took his position. After finishing the season in last place with only 30 points, the team was relegated to the Championship after only one season. Ramsey was fired in November 2015 after a dismal start to the following season, and former manager Neil Warnock took over as temporary manager. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was hired as the club's new manager on a rolling contract on 4th December 2015. Hasselbaink was fired on 5th November 2016, only 11 months after taking over. Six days later, QPR reappointed Ian Holloway, who had been in command ten years earlier. Holloway departed the club at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season.

QPR named former England manager Steve McClaren as manager on 17th May 2018. Despite a successful first half of the season that had the squad as high as seventh by Christmas, performances suddenly dipped after the turn of the year, and McClaren was fired in April 2019 after a 2-1 loss to Bolton.

Mark Warburton was selected as McClaren's successor on a two-year contract on 8th May 2019. He agreed to a new deal ahead of the 2021-22 season. In each of Warburton's three seasons as manager, the team battled for promotion but failed to make the play-offs. Warburton's contract was not renewed after the 2021-22 season, when Rangers finished 11th after falling out of the play-offs, where they had spent the bulk of the season.

Michael Beale, a former Aston Villa assistant manager and Rangers first-team coach, was appointed manager on a three-year contract on 1st June 2022, ahead of the 2022-23 season. Beale was approached by Scottish team Rangers, who appointed him manager in November 2022, a fortnight after vowing his commitment to the club. Neil Critchley, a former Blackpool manager and Aston Villa assistant, was named QPR manager on 11th December 2022, after signing a three-and-a-half-year contract. However, after a poor run of play and a drop to 20th in the EFL Championship, Neil Critchley was terminated after only 46 days in command, departing with the lowest win percentage of any manager in the club's history, winning one of twelve matches. Former Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth was brought in to replace him.

Gareth Ainsworth was fired after a terrible start to the 2023-24 season, with the club in 23rd place in the Championship, and was replaced by Martí Cifuentes.

Honours

🏆 First Division (Runners-up: 1975–76)

🏆 Second Division / Championship (Champions: 1982–83, 2010–11) (2nd Place Promotion: 1967–68, 1972–73) (Play-off Winners: 2014)

🏆 Third Division South / Third Division / League One (Champions: 1947–48, 1966–67) (2nd Place Promotion: 2003–04)

🏆 Southern League (Champions: 1907–08, 1911–12)

🏆 Western League (Champions: 1905–06)

🏆 FA Cup (Runners-up: 1981–82)

🏆 League Cup (Winners: 1966–67) (Runners-up: 1985–86)

🏆 FA Charity Shield (Runners-up: 1908, 1912)

🏆 Division Three South (North Region) (Winners: 1945–46)

🏆 Wartime League South B (Winners: 1939–40)

🏆 West London Observer Cup (Winners: 1891–92, 1892–93)

🏆 London Cup (Winners: 1895)

🏆 Southern Charity Cup (Winners: 1913)

🏆 Copa De Ibiza (Winners: 2005)

🏆 Trofeo Bortolotti (Winners: 2011)

🏆 Dryworld Cup (Winners: 2016)

Matchday: Queens Park Rangers 2-3 AFC Bournemouth

We travelled to London on a bitterly cold Saturday as we look to enjoy our annual tradition of watching some FA Cup Third Round action. We did our usual thing of parking at Hillingdon Station (despite the protests of Finners who was desperate for me to park at Westfield) and then catching the tube into London.

We took the tube, via the Piccadilly and Central lines, to White City, which around a fifteen minute walk to the ground. We had a succulent breakfast at a nearby cafe called 'The Embassy Cafe' which was lovely in terms of food, but the lady who was serving us could do with some charm lessons.

Arriving at the ground, it must be said, it became clear that the stadium needed a lick of paint, and some TLC. We went to the club shop, which was selling pin badges for £3.50, then went to enter the ground. Buying tickets was fairly simple, as they were sent straight to our phones, we scanned our phones, and hey presto, we were inside.

Going to our seats, it became clear that we had gone for the wrong seats when we picked them. For example, a lot of the seats were labelled 'restricted view' so I avoided them, and picked a seat that was just simply labelled 'platinum.' The assumption was that because it was not labelled 'restricted view' like the others- the view was not restricted. Unfortunately this wasn't the case. Around the entire ground, there are pillars that come down from the roof that restrict your view, either massively, or slightly, but it does restrict your view.

Secondly, where we chose to sit, it seems that we chose the epicentre where people like to enter the ground. There were A LOT of people who came to sit down aroujd 10 minutes after the game had kicked off, and then they left again 10 minutes before half time, then again they came 10 minutes after half time, and left again with 15 minutes to go. I understand the need to beat the queue, but they missed an accumulated total of 45 minutes of the match, it just makes me wonder what the point of attending actually was, especially when you're disrupting everyone else.

There are a few food stands selling your standard food and drink, including £3.40 bottles of coke (rip off). The atmosphere was lacking to say the least. Other than a few intermittent chants, the ground was silent (other than the Bournemouth fans). That being said, the Bournemouth fan who threw a flare after a third round victory at a championship side- fairplay you made us laugh.

Teamsheet

Queens Park Rangers

Manager: Martí Cifuentes

Asmir Begovic (c)

Aaron Drewe

Jimmy Dunne

Morgan Fox

Ziyad Larkeche

Dixon-Bonner

Sam Field

Andre Dozzell

Paul Smyth

Sinclair Armstrong ⚽️

Lyndon Dykes ⚽️

Substitutes

Osman Kakay

Kenneth Paal

Rafferty Pedder

Albert Adomah

Lorent Talla

Clarke-Salter

Reggie Cannon

Matteo Salamon

Stephen Duke-McKenna

AFC Bournemouth

Manager: Andoni Iraola

Mark Travers

Max Aarons

Chris Mepham (c)

Marcos Senesi

Marcus Tavernier

Alex Scott

Lewis Cook

David Brooks

Phillip Billing ⚽️

Luis Sinisterra

Kieffer Moore ⚽️

Substitutes

Ryan Christie

Justin Kluivert ⚽️

Ilya Zabarnyi

Daniel Adu-Adjei

Joe Rothwell

Emiliano Marcondes

Ionut Radu

Gavin Kilkenny

Ben Greenwood

It was a pretty even first half, with the Championship team scoring first after 40 minutes. On midway, a searching pass forward found Armstrong with his back to Bournemouth's goal. The attacker easily turned Marcos Senesi and skated in on goal, finishing with a placed shot into the bottom right corner.

Lyndon Dykes scored just after the restart in the 42nd minute, giving Rangers a 2-0 lead. The attacker cut inside from the left, and his long-range effort deflected off Max Aarons, whose poor positioning caused the ball to loop over Travers and into the net.

Bournemouth sprung into life in the second half, with Tavernier scoring in the 48th minute. Both teams fought for the loose ball in QPR's box following a set-piece, but it fell sweetly to Tavernier, whose attempt took another hard deflection before bouncing beyond Asmir Begovic.

Bournemouth equalised in the 58th minute with Moore. Alex Scott's inswinging corner was whipped into the danger zone, and Moore beat Begovic in the air from six yards out to get his team back into the game.

The visitors completed the reversal through Kluivert in 69 minutes. Billing, who had been brilliant throughout the game, turned the ball over in QPR's defensive third before setting up Kluivert at the back post to seal the win for Bournemouth. 

Scores On The Doors

Atmosphere: 4/10

Food and Drink: 5/10

Stadium: 5/10

Welcome: 6/10

Overall Experience: 5.5/10

GG

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