We would like to congratulate Chris Ramsey who was awarded and MBE in the Queens honours list.
There is a video interview with Chris on the Club website
https://www.qpr.co.uk/videos/interviews/chris-ramsey-honoured-with-mbe/
QPR1st
An independent Supporters Trust founded on 4th April 2001
Justin Edinburgh R.I.P
We are saddened and shocked to hear of the passing of Justin Edinburgh, aged 49.
Our condolences and thoughts go out to his family and friends as well as everyone that worked alongside Justin at Orient.
One Orient supporter said: “It is hard to explain how much this man lifted our club when it was on its last legs . He made supporting the Os seem like fun again and we all fell back in love with the club.”
Edinburgh led Orient’s promotion back to the Football League in May, less than two years since he became manager at Brisbane Road.
Policing and stewarding
The Football Supporters Federation is asking London football supporters for their views on policing and stewarding. Views gathered will inform the work of a newly established Independent Advisory Group working with the police on football issues in London. The Group includes representatives of supporters’ trusts, including QPR1st. Please fill in the survey, and also let us know if there are issues you would like to be raised with the police or the club on policing and stewarding. The survey link is below:
Statement on McClaren Sacking
Less than a year ago, in May 2018, we thanked Ian Holloway for all his hard work as he was replaced as QPR manager. We said “Supporters have a range of views of his recent time as manager ; but he was tasked with the job of keeping the club in the Championship with a team in transition, and he achieved this. He had to keep the show on the road in an environment where the wage bill had to be cut and experienced players would leave the club.”
Although Steve McClaren does not have the same great history with QPR As Ian Holloway, we could make a similar statement today. We also thank Steve McClaren for doing his best in difficult circumstances.
We hope his successor will be chosen after a clear process, and given clear objectives. The board needs to stop selecting names from England’s footballing past who have no track record in managing in a difficult financial environment such as QPR today faces. We want a manager capable of creating a committed, well-organised team, making the best of the resources we have. We want that manager to be given the time to develop an entertaining, committed QPR style, good enough to keep us in this league and to build on for the future.
QPR1ST
Linford Christie Stadium Council Survey
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
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
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
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
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
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:
- gofundme.com/running-for-stan; or
- gofundme.com/The-QPR-Nr-10-Foundation; or
- gofundme.com/running-for-alzheimers-society
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.
