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Queens Park Rangers F.C.

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For other uses of QPR, see QPR (disambiguation).
Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers crest
Full nameQueens Park Rangers Football Club
Nickname(s)QPR, Rangers, The Hoops, R's, The Super Hoops
Founded1882
GroundLoftus Road
Capacity20,000
OwnerQPR Holdings, Ltd.
ChairmanIndia Ishan Saksena
ManagerEngland Neil Warnock
LeagueThe Championship
2008–09The Championship, 11th
Current season

Queens Park Rangers Football Club (Template:Pron-en) (usually referred to as QPR, also known as The Rs or The Hoops) are an English professional football club, based in Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham, West London. They currently play in the Football League Championship, and their honours include winning the League Cup in 1967, and being runners-up in the old First Division in 1975–76 and FA Cup in 1982.

Queens Park Rangers Football Club was founded in 1882 ), and its traditional colours are blue and white. In the early years after the club's formation in its original home of Queen's Park, games were played at many different grounds until finally the club settled into its current location at Loftus Road. Owing to its proximity to other west London clubs, QPR maintains long-standing rivalries with several other clubs in the area, the most notable of these being Chelsea, Brentford and Fulham with whom they contest what are known as West London derbies. In 2007 QPR was taken over by Italian tycoon Flavio Briatore. Other major shareholders include Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The current chairman of the club is Indian businessman Ishan Saksena, and the manager is former Hartlepool(s) United and Scunthorpe United player Neil Warnock, who has also managed teams such as Sheffield United and, most recently, Crystal Palace FC in a very successful footballing career spanning nearly five decades.

History

Main article: History of Queens Park Rangers F.C.
For the current season see Queens Park Rangers F.C. season 2009-10

QPR was formed in 1882, when a team known as St Jude's merged with Christchurch Rangers. The resulting team was called Queens Park Rangers, because most of the players came from the Queen's Park area of North-West London. QPR became a professional team in 1889 and played their home games in nearly 20 different stadia (a league record), before permanently settling at Loftus Road in 1917 (although the team would briefly attempt to attract larger crowds by playing at the White City Stadium for two short spells: 1931 to 1933 and the 1962–63 season).[1] QPR were promoted as champions of Division 3 South in the 1947–48 season. Dave Mangnall was the manager as Rangers enjoyed four seasons in the Second Division, being relegated in 1951–52. Tony Ingham was signed from Leeds United and went on to make most ever league appearances for QPR (519). QPR were one of the best sides in West London in 1992-1994, better than locals big names such as Chelsea and Fulham.

Prior to the start of the 1959-60 season saw the arrival of arguably the club's greatest ever manager,[2] Alec Stock. The 1960–61 season saw QPR achieve their biggest win to date: 9–2 vs Tranmere Rovers in a Division 3 match. In time, Stock, with the advent as Chairman in the mid-60s of Jim Gregory helped to achieve a total transformation of the club and its surroundings.

In 1966–67, QPR won the Division Three championship and became the first Third Division club to win the League Cup on Saturday, 4 March 1967, beating West Bromwich Albion 3–2, (coming back from a two goal deficit). 42 years on, it is still the only major trophy that QPR have won. The final was also the first League Cup Final to be held at Wembley Stadium. After winning promotion in 1968 to the top flight for the first time in their history, Rangers were relegated after just one season and spent the next four years in Division 2. Terry Venables joined from Spurs at the beginning of the 1969–70 season and Rodney Marsh was sold to Manchester City. During this time, new QPR heroes emerged including Phil Parkes, Don Givens, Dave Thomas and Stan Bowles. These new signings were in addition to home-grown talent such as Dave Clement, Ian Gillard, Mick Leach and Gerry Francis.

In 1974 Dave Sexton joined as manager and, in 1975–76 led QPR to the runners-up spot in the First Division, missing out on the Championship by a single point with a squad containing seven England internationals and internationals from the home nations and Morocco. After completing their 42-game season, QPR sat at the top of the league, one point ahead of Liverpool who went on to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers to clinch the title. Wolves were relegated to the Second Division that same season. The late 1970s also saw some cup success with Rangers reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup and in their first entry into European football reached the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup losing to AEK Athens on penalties. Following Sexton's departure in 1977 the club eventually slipped into the Second Division in 1979.

In 1980 Terry Venables took over as manager and the club installed a 'plastic pitch'. In 1982 QPR, still playing in the Second Division, reached the FA Cup Final for the only time in the club's history, facing holders Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham won 1–0 in a replay. The following season 1982–83 QPR went on to win the Second Division championship and returned to English football's top division. After a respectable fifth place finish, and UEFA Cup qualification, the following year, Venables departed to become manager of Barcelona. Over the next seven years, various managers came and went from Loftus Road and the club spent many seasons finishing mid table but avoided relegation. The most successful season during this period was the 1987–88 season in which QPR finished fifth, missing out on a UEFA Cup campaign due to the ban on English clubs in European competition as a result of the Heysel Stadium disaster. They were also runners up in the 1986 League Cup, losing to Oxford United.

Old logo used from the 1980s until 2008

Gerry Francis, a key player in the 1970s QPR side who had proved himself as a successful manager with Bristol Rovers, was appointed manager in the summer of 1991. In the 1991–92 First Division campaign they finished mid-table in the league and were founder members of the new Premier League which began in 1992. Francis oversaw one of QPR's most famous victories, the 4–1 win at Old Trafford in front of live TV on New Years Day 1992. Midway through the 1994–95 season Francis resigned and very quickly became manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Ray Wilkins was installed as player-manager. Wilkins led QPR to an eighth place finish in the Premiership. In July 1995 the club's top goalscorer, Les Ferdinand, was sold for a club record fee of £6 million to Newcastle United.

QPR's struggled in the following season and were relegated at the end of the 1995–96 season. QPR then competed in Division 1 until 2001 under a succession of managers. Gerry Francis returned in 1998, however the 2000–2001 season proved to be a disaster, and Francis resigned in early 2001. Charismatic former player Ian Holloway became manager but was unable to stop Rangers from being relegated to England's third tier for the first time for more than thirty years. Following the 2003–2004 season QPR returned to Division 1 and struggled for consistent form over the next two campaigns before Holloway was suspended amidst rumours of his departure for Leicester City. A poor series of results and lack of progress at the club saw Holloway's successors Gary Waddock and later John Gregory (both former players) fail to hold on to the manager's job.

During this same period QPR became embroiled in financial and boardroom controversy. Although the club had floated on the Alternative Investment Market in 1991, in 2001 it entered administration. A period of financial hardship followed and the club left administration after receiving a £10m high-interest emergency loan which continued to burden the club.[3] Scandals involving the directors, shareholders and others emerged in 2005–06 season and included allegations of blackmail and threats of violence against the club's chairman Gianni Paladini. In an unrelated incident QPR were further rocked by the murder of Youth Team footballer Kiyan Prince on 18 May 2006[4] and, in August 2007, the death of promising teenager and first-team player Ray Jones in a car crash.[5] Following this low point in the club's history as Rangers also faced mounting financial pressure, in the same month it was announced that the club had been bought by wealthy Formula One businessmen Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone (see Ownership and finances below). During the 2007–08 season, Rangers competed in the Football League Championship (see also: Queens Park Rangers F.C. season 2007-08). John Gregory's reign as manager came to an end in October 2007 after a string of poor results left QPR at the bottom of the Championship and he was replaced by Luigi De Canio until the end of the 2007–08 season. Further investment followed in early 2008 as the club looked to push for promotion to the Premier League within four years, on the back of greater financial stability.[6] On 14 May 2008 Iain Dowie was announced as the manager to begin the campaign to return Rangers to the top flight.[7][8] However, on 24 October 2008 Iain Dowie was sacked after just fifteen games in charge of the club.[9]

On Wednesday, 19 November 2008, QPR named former Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa as their new first team coach.[10] However, on 9 April 2009, His contract was terminated after he allegedly divulged confidential information without authority.[11] On the same day as Paulo Sousa sacking as QPR Manager Player/Coach Gareth Ainsworth was appointed as Player/Caretaker Manager of QPR for a second time. On the 3rd June 2009 Jim Magilton was named as new manager of Queens Park Rangers. Rangers chairman Briatore said: "We had an incredibly high number of applicants, but Jim was the stand-out candidate for the role". However, despite leading QPR to a good start to the 2009/2010 season, a loss of form combined with an alleged head-butting incident[citation needed] with Hungarian midfielder Akos Buszaky saw the club further embroiled in controversy. Jim Magilton left the club by mutual consent on the 16th December 2009, along with his assistant John Gorman. They were replaced by Paul Hart and Mick Harford on the next day.

Less than a month and only 5 games after becoming manager at QPR, Paul Hart parted with the club on 14th January 2010. The reasons for his leaving the club are unstated at this time.

On 1st March 2010 Neil Warnock was appointed Manager on a three and a half year contract.

Stadia

Rangers have had a somewhat nomadic existence, having played in nearly 20 different locations throughout North West London since their formation. The several grounds before 1886 are unknown but were probably in the Queens Park area (the first being The Queens Park itself). Along with having the title of most home grounds in football league history:[12]

Ownership and finances

See also: List of English football club owners

After a number of years of financial difficulties which included a period in financial administration, QPR was bought by Formula One tycoons and multi-millionaires Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore in a £14 million takeover in August 2007. In spending £690,000 to acquire a 69 per cent majority stake in the club, Ecclestone spent £150,000 on his 15 per cent, while Briatore bought 54 per cent for £540,000 through a British Virgin Islands registered company, Sarita Capital. In addition, Briatore and Ecclestone are believed to have promised £5 million in convertible loan facilities to help buy players and have covered £13 million of debt, in a total commitment to the club of around £20 million. At the time of purchase the remaining 31 per cent of shareholders turned down the offer of 1p a share.[13] Four months later, on 20 December 2007, it was announced that the family of billionaire Lakshmi Mittal had purchased a 20 per cent shareholding in the club from Briatore. The purchase price of the 20 per cent stake was just £200,000. As part of the investment Lakshmi Mittal's son-in-law Amit Bhatia took a place on the board of directors.[14] While Gianni Paladini remains chairman of the football club, Alejandro Agag, as chairman of QPR Holdings (the parent company) was the de facto chairman,[13] until he was replaced by Flavio Briatore in early February 2008.[15] Agag moved into the role of managing director, supported by a deputy managing director, Ali Russell, who moved from Hearts in the Scottish Premier League.[15]

Despite QPR's perilous financial condition, the combined personal wealth of the club's new owners (which included the world's then 8th richest man Lakshmi Mittal) sparked speculation that QPR would receive significant further investment from their new benefactors drawing parallels to their wealthy West London neighbours Chelsea and Fulham.[6] However, to date no significant further funds are believed to have been made available to the club other than those injected as part of the purchase of its share capital. Indeed it was reported in January 2008 that the investors had not discharged the £10 million loan from ABC Corporation together with its £1 million annual interest burden—despite the club's prospective annual turnover of between £10 million and £15 million a year. Furthermore around £2 million was still owed to a former director and major shareholder, Antonio Caliendo, who waived £4.5 million of loans when Briatore and Ecclestone bought the club. It was expected that the ABC loan would be discharged in June 2008 on its maturity and that the debt owed to Antonio Caliendo would be paid off "in early 2008" in line with a funding strategy which Ecclestone has publicly stated would not result in the wealthy owners simply bankrolling the club.[6] In fact the ABC loan was discharged on or around 31 July 2008.[16] Mittal's investment is thought to be primarily motivated by his son-in-law's interests and that Mittal himself will remain a silent investor while Briatore, Ecclestone and Bhatia work together to implement the strategy of slowly building the club up ahead of a push for promotion to the Premier League in 2009. The new owners have also pledged to refurbish Loftus Road and use their experience in Formula One to increase sponsorship revenues.[13] On 25 March 2008, QPR confirmed that, from the 2008–09 season and for five seasons, their kits will be supplied by Lotto Sport Italia as part of a number of new partnerships formed by Flavio Briatore.[17] The investment potential of the club's new backers resulted in a number of wildly speculative storylines in the football press throughout the 2007–08 season including rumoured signings of former World Player of the Year winners Luís Figo and Zinedine Zidane (the latter as a possible manager).[18]

In May 2008, billionaire Vijay Mallya was linked with buying into the club, as part of the Ecclestone, Briatore and Mittal consortium.[19] Following the termination of the club's sponsorship deals with Car Giant, Le Coq Sportif, and Sellotape at the end of the 2007-08 season, in early July 2008 it was expected to be announced that Gulf Air would be the new shirt sponsors.[20] Further sponsorship packages were also announced including Abbey Financial Services and Lotto Sport Italia.[21]

Flavio Briatore's future as QPR chairman came under question in September 2009 after he left the Renault F1 team in the midst of race fixing allegations.[22][23] The Football League board discussed the matter on 8 October 2009 and declared that they would be awaiting a response from Briatore to various questions before commenting further.[24]

The BBC TV series Bottom featured the character Edward Hitler played by Adrian Edmondson as a supporter of the team. He once asked the barman of his local, "The Lamb and Flag," if it was true he had a trial with the team only for Dick Head the landlord to reply, that he was decked by Les Ferdinand for kicking the ball in his own net expecting to get applause from his team mates, when he was actually unaware he scored an own goal. Also, in the BBC sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, Holly the computer make a gag about QPR's away fixtures. Kryten, upon seeing a group of people frozen by time, comments "I've never seen such a thing! A group of people who show all the normal life signs, but seem totally incapable of movement!" to which Holly quips, "Never seen QPR play away then?!". Reference was also made to QPR in the BBC series Tucker. In the January 17, 1978 episode of M*A*S*H (Tea and Empathy) a group of soldiers is lying around reading letters from home and a conversation develops around football. One of the characters says "You're barmy mate, It's Queens Park Rangers all the way".

Musicians Nick Midson (formerly of Threshold), Ian Gillan, of Deep Purple, Mick Jones, of punk band The Clash, and Pete Doherty, of The Libertines and Babyshambles, are all fans of the club. Doherty used to run a club fanzine, "All Quiet On The Western Avenue", and has made reference to them in his music and videos. Musician and Comedian Bill Bailey is also a fan of Queens Park Rangers.

Statistics and records

Further information: QPR records

Players

As of 18 March 2010.[25]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF England ENG Peter Ramage
3 DF Jamaica JAM Damion Stewart
4 MF England ENG Gavin Mahon (vice-captain)
6 MF Antigua and Barbuda ATG Mikele Leigertwood
7 FW England ENG Marcus Bent (on loan from Birmingham City)
8 FW England ENG Rowan Vine
10 MF Hungary HUN Ákos Buzsáky
13 DF Latvia LVA Kaspars Gorkšs
14 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Martin Rowlands (captain)
15 MF Scotland SCO Nigel Quashie
16 DF England ENG Matthew Connolly
17 MF England ENG Lee Cook
18 MF Argentina ARG Alejandro Faurlín
19 FW England ENG Angelo Balanta
20 DF England ENG Matt Hill (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF Italy ITA Matteo Alberti
22 GK Nigeria NGA Carl Ikeme (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
23 FW England ENG Jay Simpson (on loan from Arsenal)
24 GK Czech Republic CZE Radek Černý
25 MF England ENG Hogan Ephraim
26 DF Serbia SRB Duško Tošić (on loan from Portmouth)
27 DF England ENG Lee Brown
28 DF England ENG Joe Oastler
30 MF England ENG Romone Rose
32 GK Latvia LVA Elvijs Putniņs
33 FW England ENG Antonio German
35 DF England ENG Josh Parker
36 FW Hungary HUN Tamás Priskin (on loan from Ipswich Town)
37 GK England ENG Shane McWeeney
39 MF Morocco MAR Adel Taarabt (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 DF England ENG Fitz Hall (at Newcastle United until the end of the 2009–10 season)
9 FW Iceland ISL Heiðar Helguson (at Watford until the end of the 2009–10 season)
11 FW Ghana GHA Patrick Agyemang (at Bristol City until the end of the 2009–10 season)
12 FW Italy ITA Alessandro Pellicori (at Mantova until the end of the 2009–10 season)
29 DF England ENG Gary Borrowdale (at Charlton Athletic until 15 April 2010)
34 DF England ENG Ed Harris (at Hayes & Yeading United until the end of the 2009–10 season)

Retired numbers

Main article: Retired numbers in football

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
31 FW England ENG Ray Jones (posthumous honour)

Current coaching staff

As of 3 March 2010.[26]
Position Name Nationality
Manager Neil Warnock  English
Assistant Manager Mick Jones  English
First Team Coach Keith Curle  English
Reserve Team Manager Keith Ryan  English
Coach David Rouse  English
Kit Man Gary Doyle  English
Physiotherapist Paul Hunter  English
Assistant Physiotherapist Shane Annun  Italian
Centre of Excellence Manager Steve Gallen  English
Centre of Excellence Assistant Manager Marc Bircham  Canadian

Managers

Name Nat From To G W D L Win %
James Cowan Scotland August 1907 May 1913 296 128 85 83 43.2
James Howie Scotland August 1913 April 1920 236 85 48 103 36.0
Ned Liddell England April 1920 May 1925 177 71 42 64 40.1
Robert Hewison England August 1925 May 1931 219 80 53 86 36.5
Archie Mitchell England November 1931 May 1933 79 32 18 29 40.5
Mick O'Brien Republic of Ireland May 1933 April 1935 84 40 16 28 47.6
Billy Birrell Scotland April 1935 May 1939 184 85 42 57 46.2
Ted Vizard Wales May 1939 April 1944 186 95 29 62 51.1
Dave Mangnall England April 1944 May 1952 280 112 74 94 40.0
Jack Taylor England June 1952 May 1959 341 118 89 134 34.6
Alec Stock England August 1959 June 1968 439 206 104 129 46.9
Bill Dodgin England June 1968 November 1968 16 2 5 9 12.5
Tommy Docherty Scotland November 1968 November 1968 4 1 0 3 25.0
Les Allen England December 1969 January 1970 4 2 1 1 50.0
Gordon Jago England January 1971 October 1974 161 71 55 35 44.1
Dave Sexton England October 1974 July 1977 130 57 32 41 43.8
Frank Sibley England July 1977 July 1978 45 9 17 19 20.0
Steve Burtenshaw England July 1978 May 1979 41 6 13 22 14.6
Tommy Docherty Scotland May 1979 October 1980 51 20 16 15 39.2
Terry Venables England October 1980 May 1984 166 84 33 49 50.6
Alan Mullery England June 1984 December 1984 26 11 8 7 42.3
Frank Sibley (Caretaker) England December 1984 June 1985 28 8 6 14 28.6
Jim Smith England June 1985 December 1988 167 67 38 62 40.1
Trevor Francis England December 1988 November 1989 93 31 30 32 33.3
Don Howe England November 1989 May 1991 75 27 21 27 36.0
Gerry Francis England May 1991 November 1994 158 59 47 52 37.3
Ray Wilkins England November 1994 September 1996 80 31 13 36 38.8
Stewart Houston Scotland September 1996 November 1997 63 25 15 23 39.7
John Hollins (Caretaker) England November 1997 December 1997 4 1 2 1 25.0
Ray Harford England December 1997 September 1998 41 5 18 18 12.2
Iain Dowie (Caretaker) Northern Ireland September 1998 October 1998 2 1 0 1 50.0
Gerry Francis England October 1998 February 2001 125 36 42 47 28.8
Ian Holloway England February 2001 February 2006 252 100 71 81 39.7
Gary Waddock Republic of Ireland February 2006 September 2006 23 4 8 11 17.4
John Gregory England September 2006 October 2007 48 13 12 23 27.1
Mick Harford (Caretaker) England October 2007 October 2007 5 2 2 1 40.2
Luigi De Canio Italy October 2007 May 2008 35 12 11 12 34.3
Iain Dowie Northern Ireland May 2008 October 2008 15 8 3 4 53.3
Gareth Ainsworth (Caretaker) England October 2008 November 2008 7 2 1 4 28.6
Paulo Sousa Portugal November 2008 April 2009 26 7 12 7 26.9
Gareth Ainsworth (Caretaker) England April 2009 June 2009 5 1 1 3 20.0
Jim Magilton Northern Ireland June 2009 December 2009 24 9 8 7 37.5
Steve Gallen & Marc Bircham (Caretaker) England & Canada December 2009 December 2009 1 0 1 0 0
Paul Hart England December 2009 January 2010 5 1 2 2 20.0
Mick Harford (Caretaker) England January 2010 March 2010 7 1 0 6
Neil Warnock England March 2010 -

Honours

League

Cup

References

  1. ^ Inglis, Simon: Football Grounds of Britain, page 305-6. ISBN 0-00-218426-5
  2. ^ Alec Stock Obituary at QueensParkRangersFC.com
  3. ^ The Independent
  4. ^ The Independent
  5. ^ QPR's Ray Jones dies in car crash BBC Sport, 25 August 2007
  6. ^ a b c "QPR fans give thanks a billion times over". The Times. Retrieved 2008-02-25. Cite error: The named reference "telegraph2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ "QPR bring in Dowie as new coach". BBC Sport!. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  8. ^ "Dowie targets the Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  9. ^ "QPR part company with boss Dowie". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  10. ^ "Sousa is new QPR first team coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  11. ^ "CLUB STATEMENT". QPR Official Website. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  12. ^ VitalFootball.co.uk
  13. ^ a b c "QPR tycoons hesitate on spending spree". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  14. ^ "QPR secure huge investment boost". BBC. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  15. ^ a b "Briatore is QPR Holdings chairman". BBC. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  16. ^ "QPR complete payment of £10m loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  17. ^ "CLUB STATEMENT: QPR & LOTTO SPORT ITALIA". QPR Official Website. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  18. ^ "Figo dismisses QPR move rumours". BBC. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  19. ^ "Indian Formula One high roller joins Ecclestone and Briatore's party at Queens Park Rangers". Daily Mail. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  20. ^ New soccer strip, Gulf Daily News, 3 July
  21. ^ QPR signs Abbey as its financial partner, Marketing Week, 19 June 2008
  22. ^ "Briatore's QPR role in spotlight". BBC Sport. 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  23. ^ "'Crashgate' could force QPR to find new owner". The Times. 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  24. ^ "Briatore's QPR fate put on hold". BBC Sport. 2009-10-08. Archived from the original on 2009-10-08. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  25. ^ "Player Profiles". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  26. ^ "Staff directory". QPR.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-07.

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