Post by Macmoish on Apr 13, 2013 8:22:06 GMT
QPR Official Site - April 12, 2000
CHAIRMAN'S PRAISE
RANGERS chairman Chris Wright was in appreciative mood when he spoke to the fans at the Player of the Year Dinner and Dance.
Mr Wright said: "Obviously we are meeting in much better circumstances this year than in the previous two years. The recovery from last season has been quite remarkable, so it has been a great season.
"I would like to thank all the fans for sticking with the team for the last two or three years when we haven't had that much to cheer about. I would also like to praise all the players who have made it such a great season for us.
"Also, there are a lot of people who are involved with the whole process at Rangers who I would like to thank. Obviously all of Gerry's coaching staff from Iain Dowie, Des Bulpin down to everyone else behind the scenes and working in the offices. They have had a remarkable season as well.
"Last, but not least, we do have a guy who is a great manager for us, a brilliant person for me to work with and for everybody to be associated with at the club. Gerry Francis - well done!
"I think we've made a lot of progress this season. We certainly hope we can continue that progress next year. If we can perhaps strengthen the team a little bit during the course of the summer, then who knows where we might end up. We are working as hard as we can to achieve long term success for Rangers.
QPR Official Site - April 13, 2000
FRANCIS' FANS CRY
BOSS Gerry Francis gave a rousing rallying cry to the supporters in his speech at the Player of the Year Dinner and Dance.
Gerry said: "In my near 20 year association with this football club, I have been to quite a few Player of the Year evenings. I've got to say that last year - although the dinner went o.k. - was a very sombre evening for me personally.
"We only had Port Vale away and Crystal Palace at home to go as we fought against relegation.
"Having rejoined Rangers with the team bottom of the table, the last thing in the world I wanted was to take this club down to the Second Division. Fortunately, as you all know, we didn't go down.
"I remember saying to the players at the time that it was the last time that I ever wanted to go through that experience of staying up on the last day.
"We've certainly changed it around this season. The team have done a hell of a lot better with primarily the same players. We've worked very hard on the training pitch. We've not been beaten at home too much. Perhaps we have had too many draws in games we should have won.
"But certainly we have a much better base to work on for next season. If we can hang on to one or two players and if we can strengthen the squad, which we hope to do in the summer, we will get better and we will keep learning.
"And you never know what next season might bring. Perhaps we can get back in the Premiership where we belong.
"Thank you very much for your support. As my two year old son Jake would say 'Come on You R's!!'"
QPR Official Site - April 2000
SUPER STUART SUPPORTERS' NO.1
CONGRATULATIONS to Stuart Wardley on being named QPR Supporters' Club Player of the Year.
Lee Harper is the runner-up
Jermaine Darlington is Players' Player of the Year
Richard Langley is the Young Player of the Year
Kevin Gallen's last minute equaliser at Stockport was voted QPR goal of the season
QPR Official Site - April 10, 2000
STUART'S SURPRISE
STUART WARDLEY was surprised and delighted to be named as Queens Park Rangers Supporters' Club Player of the Year.
Stuart says: "All this is a bit new for me, having come from non-League. I'd like to thank Gerry, Iain and the staff as well as the other players for making me feel welcome at Rangers.
"I'd also like to thank the fans for sticking behind me. It's been a very enjoyable season for me. It's just a learning curve. Everyday I learn things as I pick up the pro game.
"I've been pleased with the goals I've scored. Gerry keeps telling me to get in the box and get across people to create myself some chances.
"Even when I was with Saffron Walden last season I scored 17 goals from centre-half, so I hope I have an eye for goal. When I get a goalscoring chance, I try to take it.
"The full-time training and professional coaching at Rangers has helped me so much. It is so different compared to the non-League game, because there you only train twice a week. You can only get better when you train every day as a pro.
"I can feel myself getting fitter and stronger. It's a lot more physical in this league and you have to be more clinical as well.
"I hope that I can continue to improve my game. We'll see how it goes. I'll get my head down and work hard in pre-season. Hopefully I can come back next season fighting fit and score a few more goals."
CHAIRMAN'S PRAISE
RANGERS chairman Chris Wright was in appreciative mood when he spoke to the fans at the Player of the Year Dinner and Dance.
Mr Wright said: "Obviously we are meeting in much better circumstances this year than in the previous two years. The recovery from last season has been quite remarkable, so it has been a great season.
"I would like to thank all the fans for sticking with the team for the last two or three years when we haven't had that much to cheer about. I would also like to praise all the players who have made it such a great season for us.
"Also, there are a lot of people who are involved with the whole process at Rangers who I would like to thank. Obviously all of Gerry's coaching staff from Iain Dowie, Des Bulpin down to everyone else behind the scenes and working in the offices. They have had a remarkable season as well.
"Last, but not least, we do have a guy who is a great manager for us, a brilliant person for me to work with and for everybody to be associated with at the club. Gerry Francis - well done!
"I think we've made a lot of progress this season. We certainly hope we can continue that progress next year. If we can perhaps strengthen the team a little bit during the course of the summer, then who knows where we might end up. We are working as hard as we can to achieve long term success for Rangers.
QPR Official Site - April 13, 2000
FRANCIS' FANS CRY
BOSS Gerry Francis gave a rousing rallying cry to the supporters in his speech at the Player of the Year Dinner and Dance.
Gerry said: "In my near 20 year association with this football club, I have been to quite a few Player of the Year evenings. I've got to say that last year - although the dinner went o.k. - was a very sombre evening for me personally.
"We only had Port Vale away and Crystal Palace at home to go as we fought against relegation.
"Having rejoined Rangers with the team bottom of the table, the last thing in the world I wanted was to take this club down to the Second Division. Fortunately, as you all know, we didn't go down.
"I remember saying to the players at the time that it was the last time that I ever wanted to go through that experience of staying up on the last day.
"We've certainly changed it around this season. The team have done a hell of a lot better with primarily the same players. We've worked very hard on the training pitch. We've not been beaten at home too much. Perhaps we have had too many draws in games we should have won.
"But certainly we have a much better base to work on for next season. If we can hang on to one or two players and if we can strengthen the squad, which we hope to do in the summer, we will get better and we will keep learning.
"And you never know what next season might bring. Perhaps we can get back in the Premiership where we belong.
"Thank you very much for your support. As my two year old son Jake would say 'Come on You R's!!'"
QPR Official Site - April 2000
SUPER STUART SUPPORTERS' NO.1
CONGRATULATIONS to Stuart Wardley on being named QPR Supporters' Club Player of the Year.
Lee Harper is the runner-up
Jermaine Darlington is Players' Player of the Year
Richard Langley is the Young Player of the Year
Kevin Gallen's last minute equaliser at Stockport was voted QPR goal of the season
QPR Official Site - April 10, 2000
STUART'S SURPRISE
STUART WARDLEY was surprised and delighted to be named as Queens Park Rangers Supporters' Club Player of the Year.
Stuart says: "All this is a bit new for me, having come from non-League. I'd like to thank Gerry, Iain and the staff as well as the other players for making me feel welcome at Rangers.
"I'd also like to thank the fans for sticking behind me. It's been a very enjoyable season for me. It's just a learning curve. Everyday I learn things as I pick up the pro game.
"I've been pleased with the goals I've scored. Gerry keeps telling me to get in the box and get across people to create myself some chances.
"Even when I was with Saffron Walden last season I scored 17 goals from centre-half, so I hope I have an eye for goal. When I get a goalscoring chance, I try to take it.
"The full-time training and professional coaching at Rangers has helped me so much. It is so different compared to the non-League game, because there you only train twice a week. You can only get better when you train every day as a pro.
"I can feel myself getting fitter and stronger. It's a lot more physical in this league and you have to be more clinical as well.
"I hope that I can continue to improve my game. We'll see how it goes. I'll get my head down and work hard in pre-season. Hopefully I can come back next season fighting fit and score a few more goals."