Linford Christie Stadium Council Survey

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Hammersmith and Fulham Council has launched a survey on the future of the Linford Christie stadium – which could include a new stadium for QPR if there is local support for a major redevelopment of the site.

The survey is very short and asks for views on three options for the stadium – do nothing, a modest improvement, and redevelopment of the site.  If QPR are to keep alive the hope of moving to a new stadium then support for the major redevelopment will be important.

This survey does not deal with the detail of a major redevelopment – a 45,000 stadium is just one idea produced by consultants working for the council and not by the club.  Support for the principle of major development would mean more detailed options would be drawn up.

It will be inevitable that the council will regard comments from users of Linford Christie Stadium and from people who live nearby as the most important, but it is also important that the voices of QPR supporters are heard, whether they live locally or not.  A stadium for the club at the Linford Christie could be good for the club, and benefit the community with community-focused projects based there, including the work of the QPR in the Community Trust.

The council survey is here: https://lbhf.citizenspace.com/growth-and-place/linford-christie/

Fans’ Fare Petition

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Too many games have their dates changed to suit the TV companies. The Football Supporters Federation is supporting a petition started by Tooting MP  Rosena Allin-Khan calling for a scheme to ensure supporters  would not have to pay more for train tickets if their fixture was changed.
That sounds like a good initiative . you can support the initiative by signing the petition at the link below:

R.I.P Matthew Brazier

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It is with sadness that we learned today that Matthew Brazier passed away yesterday following a battle against Non-Hodgkin Follicular Lymphoma.

Matthew made 49 appearances for QPR between 1994 and 1998 before moving on to Fulham, Cardiff City and finally Leyton Orient. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Rainbow Laces Initiative

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The Supporters Trust believes that QPR should be an inclusive environment for all fans. We therefore back the Rainbow Laces initative as a now annual event raising awareness of continued homophobic behaviour and attitudes within the football world.

Emma Miller McCaffrey from the Rainbow Rangers, QPR’s LGBT+  Fans group has confirmed that our players will be wearing rainbow laces at the Hull game and our captain a rainbow armband.  

Andy Evans, QPR in the Community Trust CEO, added: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign.

“QPR welcome all supporters, regardless of race, religion, sexuality or gender, and the Rainbow Rangers LGBT+ Fan Group is further evidence of that. We are also raising awareness in local Schools with the Rainbow Laces campaign.

“We look forward to Saturday’s match v Hull City where the QPR Community including its players, staff & supporters can further ensure football & Loftus Road is welcoming to all”

Statement regarding the economic impact report and LBHF response

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QPR1st Supporters’ Trust supports the aim of developing a modern stadium as part of safeguarding the future of QPR.  We are concerned that the recent publication by the club of a report on QPR’s economic and social value and proposals for Linford Christie stadium has resulted in a highly critical response from Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

We urge the club and council to reduce the temperature of the discussion and to work together to find solutions in the best interests of the community.  We urge a measured approach to discussing and consulting on the need to improve Linford Christie facilities for athletics and the community, to safeguard green spaces, and on how QPR might support this.

Opportunities to build a new stadium in the borough which could be a hub and focus for community well-being should be fully explored.

Don Shanks running for Stan

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Don Shanks is running the New York marathon this weekend, to support three causes – Stan Bowles, who is living with Alzheimer’s, The QPR Number 10 Foundation (in support of former players falling on hardship) and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Supporters can donate to any of these three causes via:

 

Sixty-six year old Don told the official QPR website “The harsh reality is it won’t be long before Stan has to go into full-time care. His family are doing an incredible job for him but despite their best efforts it just won’t be realistic for them to look after him at the family home for much longer.

“Every donation received will make a difference.”

The marathon is taking place on Sunday, November 4. You can follow Don on Twitter via @DonShanksQPR or on the Facebook here.

R.I.P Ron Hunt

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QPR1st joins with all supporters in expressing our deepest sympathy to the family of Ron Hunt.

Ron came through the academy at QPR playing 255 games in a career that spanned 10 years between 1963 and 1973 playing a crucial role in the famous 1967 league cup victory. Queens Park Rangers was the only club he played for with his career sadly cut short by injury.

Ron was something of a crowd favourite and will continue to be remembered with fondness by all of us who saw him play.

Amit Bhatia appointed QPR Chairman

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QPR Supporters’ Trust congratulates Amit Bhatia on his appointment as chairman of the club.

We hope this appointment will be a move towards a new relationship of partnership between the club and its supporters.

Amit Bhatia was chair of QPR in the Community Trust from 2009 to 2016. Under his chairmanship the Community Trust thrived – it became a registered charity and developed innovative and wide-ranging projects to change people’s lives.  It is now one of QPR’s great achievements.

Tony Fernandes’ time as chair and co-chair of the club has been controversial and led to the current financial constraints facing the club.  He was happy to tweet – which did not always clarify issues – and occasionally chatted with supporters, but was rarely able to take part in any form of structured dialogue with supporters.

We would welcome more genuine dialogue between supporters and the new chairman – including meetings so all the challenges and opportunities facing the club can be discussed freely and honestly.

FFP Settlement

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“QPR1st, the QPR Supporters Trust notes the joint QPR-English Football League statement on the settlement which entails: A fine of £17m, QPR to pay the EFL’s costs of £3 million. A transfer embargo in the 2019 January transfer window. The club’s shareholders will capitalise £21.965m of outstanding loans. A payment schedule has been agreed between the parties which will avoid endangering the financial stability of the club, with the fine being paid over 10 years.

No part of the payments to the EFL will be taken into account when calculating QPR’s future profitability and sustainability results.”

https://www.efl.com/news/2018/july/efl-statement-queens-park-rangers/

QPR 1st is glad that this sad and extended saga has finally come to a close. The bottom line is that QPR broke the Financial Fair Play rules. Whether or not the fine was excessive and unfair, or too small (as some may say) we will leave to others. But QPR is now living in a new era of small transfer and wage budgets and living within its means.

Over the past three seasons, under the leadership of CEO, Lee Hoos, QPR has indeed been cutting back. With the end of parachute payments, and no big transfer sales seemingly on the horizon, this now must continue.

 

We truly hope that for Tony Fernandes and the rest of the QPR Board, it truly is a case of “lessons learned!”

Mark Bircham

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QPR 1st Supporters’ Trust echoes the voices of all QPR supporters in wishing Mark Bircham all the best for the future and thanking him for his hard work at the club. His departure from the club has been announced.

A supporter of QPR “through and through” Marc has has served the club as a player; giving 100 per cent on the pitch. And, whether as youth coach or as part of the first-team coaching staff he gives 100% pitch side and on the training ground too.

We are pleased the club offered him a position – helping to bring young players through from the academy to the first team – but we absolutely respect his desire to move on in order to continue working at first team level.

We love you Bircham!

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