Statement on the club’s 2012/13 accounts

Posted on by QPR1st

QPR1st Supporters’ Trust is concerned about QPR’s rapidly growing debt and how this will affect the future of the club.

The latest financial statement by the club shows that, in 2012/13, it made losses of £65 million – much higher than the losses of any comparable club. That brought the club’s overall deficit to £127.8 million.

Supporters want to see their club successful, but run financially stable. We ask the Board to call an Emergency General Meeting to which both majority and minority shareholders are invited. This will provide an appropriate platform for the Board to make a clear, detailed and coherent statement on how they plan to reduce the debt and place the club on a firm financial footing.

We regret the decision made by the previous owners to cease Annual General Meetings, which were once an annual event at QPR and open to all shareholders. Whilst we understand the Board is not legally obliged to hold them, we believe they should be restored as a means of enabling effective consultation between the Board and the fan base on financial governance.

The club have made some progress in terms of consultation and brought back regular consultation meetings with supporter groups and Fans Forums, and we hope the club acknowledges it now needs to do the same with shareholder AGMs.

We appreciate the current owners have tried to ensure success of the club, but it is obvious that this is not sustainable at the current level of spending.

We believe the board has a duty to ensure that the club will be in good financial order should they decide to move on in due course. QPR supporters have seen what happens when high spending owners fall out of love with the club. We do not want to see it again.

Club boards change. Supporters are for life.

Posted in All News, Boardroom, QPR1st

Hoops Fund Supports Story of QPR

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QPR 1st Supporters Trust back historic community project

QPR 1st Supporters Trust is donating £8,000 in support of QPR in the Community Trust’s intergenerational media project engaging fans, young people and the local community to chart the history of QPR FC.

The Story of QPR, being produced by QPR in The Community Trust in partnership with the Octavia Foundation, takes a historical look at the club from the point of view of the R’s fans.

The project will provide opportunities for fans and volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to contribute and be involved throughout the research and planning stages. A further 40 young people will be recruited and trained in film-making, media, research and heritage skills as part of the production of the film and other accompanying materials, including a podcast, soundtrack and website.

Hoops Fund Cheque Presentation

Left to Right – Andy Evans, Stephen Dedridge, Neil Jackson, Serena Williamson

Andy Evans, CEO of QPR in the Community Trust, said: “QPR in the Community Trust wants to involve young people and fans. We are delighted to be working with QPR 1st in a project that will give the opportunity to local young people to produce their own DVD, interviewing fans about their relationship with QPR and their history of the club.

“This project is particularly relevant as the club prepares to move away from Loftus Road and will provide an important record of the club, staff, players, and fans alike as the club begins a new chapter.”

The cheque was presented prior to Saturday’s Championship clash with Burnley at Loftus Road as part of the Trust’s 20 year anniversary celebrations.

It follows an award made by the Premier League Charitable Fund and the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) to QPR in the Community Trust to support the costs of the project.

“This is a project that will celebrate the close relationship between QPR and its supporters,” Chair of QPR 1st Supporters Trust, Stephen Dedridge, added.

“At a time of planned change it is particularly important to look at the heritage of QPR, and what makes us a very special club. That link between the club, its supporters and the communities of west London is an important part of its heritage and vital for the future too.

“QPR 1st has been looking after the Hoops Fund since it was raised by supporters at a time of dire financial crisis for the club ten years ago. Now some of that money is being used to give something back to supporters with what should be an excellent record of the club and its fans.”

The film will receive a preview screening at Loftus Road this summer, before beginning a screening tour of cinemas, schools and community centres across London. 

A DVD will be available for sale later.

Want to get involved in The Story of QPR? Email qprfilm@octaviafoundation.org.uk for more information.

Posted in All News, Community, QPR1st

The Transfer Window

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QPR1st Supporters Trust welcomes players who have joined the club during the January transfer window.

Trust chair Stephen Dedridge said “two of our new loan players made an impact straightaway and we welcome all the new players to the club and wish good luck in their time with QPR.”

While most Of the January additions were loan players, one was 18-year-old Coll Donaldson who signed a two and a half year contract.  Stephen said: “loan signings can be important, but we are particularly pleased to see the club make a signing with the longer-term future development of the club in mind too.”

Posted in All News, Media, QPR1st

Statement on the Hull City naming situation

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QPR 1st, the supporters’ trust for Queens Park Rangers supporters, opposes the intention of the owner of Hull City AFC, Dr Assem Allam, to change the name of the Club without consultation with fans, and in opposition to a strong local campaign.

Football clubs are a part of their communities. The names of the clubs are part of the history and tradition of communities and of football itself.  English football will be the poorer if the names of its clubs are changed without good reason and the support of fans.

We urge the football authorities to listen to the views of Hull supporters and to reject this name change. We believe a dangerous precedent would be set if this change was agreed in the teeth of local supporter opposition.

We call for The FA to ensure that no such changes take place without proper, meaningful consultation with supporters.

Posted in Media, QPR1st

Meeting with the Club December 18 2013

Posted on by QPR1st

Meeting of QPR Club Representatives with QPR Fans Reps Representatives

18th December 2013 

Attending from the Club:

Mark Donnelly – Chief Operating Officer
Jenny Winstanley Operations Manager
Jim McNeill – Safety Officer
Alex Fish – Deputy Safety Officer
Blair Hughes – Intern
Andy Rees – Supporter Liaison / Customer Services Officer

Attending from Fans groups:

Steve Burkett – Disabled Supporters Association
Stephen Dedridge – QPR1st
Micky Fitzgerald – LSA

The primary purpose of this meeting was for fans representatives to meet with the matchday operations team. Mark Donnelly, QPR’s Chief Operating Officer attended the first half of the meeting to briefly discuss the Club’s recent unveiling of plans to build a new 40,000 capacity stadium as part of the Old Oak area regeneration project. Read more ›

Posted in All News, Boardroom, QPR1st

Statement regarding the New Stadium

Posted on by QPR1st

Generations of fans have grown up knowing Loftus Road as the home of QPR, and as much as its dated facilities and lack of leg room can cause us to moan the day we move out will be an emotional one as many fond memories will be recalled not just of great moments on the pitch but of time spent with friends and family.

Yet many fans will welcome the prospect of us moving to a new purpose built stadium with better amenities and indeed there is much about the Old Oak proposal which is innovative and exciting, Certainly it is consistent with the ambition of the Club to restore us to a stable position within the top flight of English football. Read more ›

Posted in Boardroom, Community, QPR1st

Meeting with the club

Posted on by QPR1st

QPR1st will be meeting with Club representatives next week along with representatives from other fans groups. The focus of the meeting will be match-day operations and safety issues. If you have any question for the Club on this issue please email us at info@qpr1st.com.

Posted in Boardroom, QPR1st

QPR1st Committee 2014

Posted on by QPR1st

Following the AGM, the people listed below have been identified as wishing to form the new QPR1st Committee 2014. Any objections to any of these individuals being on the Committee needs to be logged as an email to info@qpr1st.com by Sunday 22nd December 2013.

  • Tony Binks
  • Stephen Dedridge
  • Neil Dejyothin
  • Jeremy Gardner
  • Geoff Gibbs
  • Peter Gridneff
  • Neil Jackson
  • Michael Lewis
  • Tina Poyntz
  • James Wright
Posted in Media, QPR1st

QPR1st AGM 2013

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Members of QPR1st are invited to attend the QPR1st AGM which is to be held on Thursday 5th December at 7.30pm.  It will be held at the function room of the Pavilion Pub which is located in Pavilion Parade, Wood Lane, London, W12.

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Please bring your membership card with you as you will need to show it in order to gain entry to the AGM.

If you do not attend the meeting and you do not request a proxy form then this is taken as consent to the chairman acting as proxy on your behalf.

To request a proxy form please submit your request to info@qpr1st.com with the subject line “Proxy request” and include your name and membership number

We look forward to seeing you on the 5th.

Posted in Community, Events, QPR1st

Opportunity for Trust member to attend the Fans Forum

Posted on by QPR1st

We will be holding a draw to offer members of QPR1st who are also adult season ticket holders the chance to attend the QPR Fans’ Forum on Thursday 3rd October 2013. The event will be held in the W12 Suite at Loftus Road Stadium with doors opening at 7 pm, with Harry Redknapp and two members of the current First Team squad on the Panel

If you wish to be included in the draw you must email info@qpr1st.com by midnight on Wednesday 25th September. Clearly mark your email subject line  as ‘FANS FORUM TICKET’ and include the full information:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Client Reference Number (as it appears on your season ticket).
  • Contact Telephone Number
  • Question for Panel (questions will also be taken from the audience on the evening)

Please note- in order to take part you MUST be listed on our current full adult membership register as of Friday 20th September 2013. This means that we have received your subscription fee for this season either through direct debit or other means. Any names which do not appear on our register will not be considered for the draw.

Posted in All News, Community, Events

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