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Post by terryb on Oct 7, 2011 17:53:17 GMT
I have just read a very nice tribute to Paul Harford on Clive's FansNetwork site.
I don't know if any of you knew Paul but he was a Rangers man through & through that sadly passed away on September 23rd.
For the past few years I have had a ST in the seat next to Paul's in the Upper Loft. In that time, due to ill health, he was absent more times than he could attend games. However, when he was well enough to be there it was always a pleasure to talk to Paul & he was always jovial.
I think the last match I saw him was at home to Barnsley last season. A hell of an expensive ST when you can only go to one game all season!
I have met a couple of his sons & would just like say RIP Paul. My condolences & best wishes are with all his family.
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Post by maudesfishnchips on Oct 7, 2011 18:16:53 GMT
condolences to his family and friends
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Post by Bushman on Oct 7, 2011 18:22:23 GMT
Very sad news.
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Oct 7, 2011 19:40:09 GMT
This was the tribute on LFW.Paul Harford RIP by Keith56 on 20:04 - Oct 6 with 844 views www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_mb.php?m=v&t=37998#17Having cleared this with Paul’s wife Eileen, I am deeply saddened to tell supporters that Paul Harford died Friday 23rd September. Older supporters who especially travelled away with the Rangers should remember him. With his big beard and girth, I always described Paul as being like Henry VIII in modern clothes. There have been some well known Rangers supporters. I first met ‘Effin’ Fred Perry back in the sixties in the newsagents at the top of Mordaunt Road, Harlesden, owned by wonderful friends of my family. I played football with Steve Edwards for ten years. But it is Paul that I am moved to write about and would like to use this fans web site please. Paul was a big R’s fan in more ways than one – dating back to Division 3 South days in the 50’s. He followed R’s all over the country and hardly missed a game for many, many years – Saturdays, midweek, cups, league – Paul was there. Firstly on his own then with his boys as they grew up. At one time he was a steward on away coaches and trains for the supporters club and the LSA at sometime I do believe. Paul certainly enjoyed a drink it could be said and his choice was Guinness. He told me of one midweek away game at a far flung far northern team in sixties Division 3 days. Paul missed the last train home. Instead he blagged a ride home on a goods train. The porter opened the wagon when it got back to London only for Paul to roll out. It was in the early hours of the morning so Paul went straight into his office in Victoria with Eileen not seeing him until the following evening. I first met Paul on Monday 13th December 1976 at the offices of Legal & General in Pall Mall. Our respective offices had just been closed down due to the recession with everyone transferred to Pall Mall. Waiting for our desks to turn up, I was talking to my friends about having seen Rangers at Anfield the previous Saturday. Paul overheard this and said: ‘You a Rangers fan? I was there too’. A friendship sealed for life – Rangers fans – nuff said. The next thing he did was ask me if I wanted to buy any Rangers Bingo tickets! You see Paul was an agent for our commercial department for many years, selling the Bingo tickets printed on that hairy paper from the past. You tore off 3 of the perforated sides and checked off the numbers against the sheet you got each week. Paul was a gregarious, friendly man who had one hell of a clientele at the various establishments he frequented. He raised thousands for QPR when this type of income was very important to football clubs. ‘Keith- me old pal, me old beauty. How many tickets do you want?’ Because you could get closer to players years ago, Paul got to know a few. In the seventies we had a player by the name of Mike Ferguson or ‘Coat Hanger’ as some called him because of his rounded shoulders. Paul used to meet Mike in the Smuts before a game for a couple of pints of Guinness. At 2.30 Mike would say: ‘Better be off now to get changed for the game’. Paul also told a story about Stan Bowles taking a bollocking from Dave Sexton – for a change. In the middle of the dressing down the phone rings and Dave answers it. Sexton then hands it over to Stan. It was Don Shanks in the café over the road wanting to know what Stan wanted for breakfast so Stan didn’t have to wait when he eventually got away from the manager. Paul really was a lovely friendly man - highly principled and straight in my opinion. But if he felt someone was taking advantage of him he would explode like a volcano. There was one time when we were in the upstairs office in Pall Mall. Vesuvius exploded because someone tried to pull the wool over Paul’s eyes. Paul was ranting away and threw this file across the office intending it to land on his desk. Unfortunately for Paul the cleaner had been over zelous with the Pledge the night before. The file hit the desk, skidded across it and flew straight out of the open window, down two floors into the street below. ‘Oh my gawd’ he was heard to shut as he ran off. Paul’s huge frame was last seen to be holding up the traffic in Pall Mall as he retrieved this guy’s personal information. I’m not sure if it made the radio reports that night. Paul used to be a member of a quiz team I organised – chipping in with the horse racing answers. One evening at Harrow Borough football club can you believe in walked Tony Blair and Gordon Brown who were canvassing in the area for the up coming General Election. Blair tried to tour the tables pressing the flesh. Jacket off – man of the people - in shirt sleeves– half pint of beer strategically placed – getting down with the riff raff photo opportunity. He was as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit on our table. Anyway Paul jumps to his feet as Blair comes to our table. Surely not to deck him? ‘Gareth me old pal. Been down the Rangers lately?’ It turns out that Gareth Thomas the local Labour MP is a Rangers fan and Paul knew him. Paul then proceeded to talk excitedly to Gareth about the R’s right over Blair’s head. Blair was trapped between Paul’s huge body and the entourage behind him– and was ignored. He did not like it. Hilarious. Paul was a lovely friendly man (I can never say that enough times) who would let fly with his famous booming laugh at the drop of a hat. In the last few years Paul did not enjoy the best of health. He manfully travelled from his home in South Harrow to his hospital at Denmark Hill for treatment every week by public transport - which was a testimony to his charactor. He spent the last four months of his life in Northwick Park Hospital. Paul leaves his wife Eileen and sons Desmond, Peter and Neil and his grandchildren – all Rangers fans – of course.
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Post by maudesfishnchips on Oct 7, 2011 19:44:58 GMT
blessed be the QPR fan
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Post by Lonegunmen on Oct 8, 2011 9:26:05 GMT
Thanks for that piece Zed. An interesting read. RIP and condolences to his family and friends.
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Post by desorchid on Oct 8, 2011 21:47:23 GMT
Evening all, thanks for all the kind messages. I've attached a picture, which i hope works as i suspect that more people would have known him by sight than name. Here is a bit of the Eulogy i did at his funeral about his involvement with the Rangers. Des Harford. As well as rugby and racing, Paul loved cricket and speedway. But above all, since following them in the Kilburn Times as a boy, first catching the bus to Shepherds Bush in 1958, his biggest sporting passion was Queens Park Rangers. When he first went down ?The Bush?, Rangers were little more than a ramshackle outfit plying their trade in the middle and lower reaches of the Third Division. Paul made many friends watching the Rangers. Before long he was helping to fund raise for this small family club. He was proud that this humble little club reached the heights of the First Division, beating the best in the land as well as playing European football. After a decline over recent years for the Rangers, Paul declared that he?d never see the Rrs back in the top flight in his lifetime. He, as well as many of us here today, were delighted to be proved wrong in August this year.
Attachments:
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Oct 9, 2011 18:37:22 GMT
Condolences Des. I didn't know your old man but I do recognise him from the photo. They were really lovely words by Keith.
My thoughts are with you at this time.
Z
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Post by harlowranger on Oct 9, 2011 19:04:17 GMT
Thanks for putting the LFW piece up Zed , very nice i thought. Sorry to hear of your loss Des , condolences to all your family at this terrible time.
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Post by Bushman on Oct 9, 2011 19:16:22 GMT
I knew Paul more from going to away games through the years. I'm sure I have a couple of pics of him in his younger days at away games. I will see if I can find them. Very sad news as I said in an earlier post.
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Post by Macmoish on Oct 9, 2011 19:30:10 GMT
I apologize that I didn't read this thread earlier.. Adding my deepest sympathies. Very nice things said about him. He sounds like the kind of person one would like to have known.
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Post by desorchid on Oct 9, 2011 22:31:06 GMT
once again, thanks guys.
me and my brother watched the Villa game in my dads front room and had a laugh (after we'd calmed down a bit) at how my dad would have given that referee some stick!
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Post by Lonegunmen on Oct 10, 2011 9:50:17 GMT
That you were able to see the R's back in the EPL must have been a great and proud moment for you guys and your father. a "last" dream realised? I sincerely hope so.
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Post by 21yearsnhadenuf on Oct 10, 2011 11:36:29 GMT
i remember him well by sight especially at away days in my younger years.rest in peace paul.
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Post by Bushman on Oct 10, 2011 12:06:27 GMT
On the train to Carlisle. Paul is 2nd From the right.
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Post by desorchid on Oct 10, 2011 13:25:54 GMT
Thanks Bushman, superb. Dad (Paul) showed me a programme with this picture in, I think it was entitled 'The Faithfull Band' though I stand to be corrected on that one.
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Post by Bushman on Oct 10, 2011 13:31:00 GMT
Thanks Bushman, superb. Dad (Paul) showed me a programme with this picture in, I think it was entitled 'The Faithfull Band' though I stand to be corrected on that one. That is right Des. I will post another pic of your father today.
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Post by Bushman on Oct 10, 2011 13:57:55 GMT
This was at Blackpool Oct 1971 Paul is standing 3rd left.
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Post by terryb on Oct 10, 2011 17:02:43 GMT
Thanks Des for your postings.
I can well imagine Paul's reaction to the ref against Villa. He may even have tried to jump up from his seat!
As you know, sitting next to Paul in the loft did seriously reduce my leg room (yes, it is just about possible) but I would love to still be sat next to him.
Strangely enough, I thought of you while celebrating at Vicaridge Road in April. What wouldn't you have given for that day when you lived in the Watford area!
And Bushman, what can one say? Your collection of all things Rangers are an absolute joy.
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Post by rousdonhoops on Oct 11, 2011 18:35:50 GMT
rest in peace Paul, sitting next to Paul on the train and standing next to him at Blackpool is another fan sadly no longer with us . . .Paul Gooch
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Post by Bushman on Oct 11, 2011 18:43:31 GMT
rest in peace Paul, sitting next to Paul on the train and standing next to him at Blackpool is another fan sadly no longer with us . . .Paul Gooch Paul "Goochy" Gooch passed away in 2008. Another great QPR supporter.
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Post by Lonegunmen on Oct 12, 2011 23:15:37 GMT
Although not great that fans have passed on, this is exactly why we are such a good club, fans know each other, know their names and where they are from. You are not just 'another fan", you are not just a number. Real club, real fans.
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