'98-Chris Wright & Gerry Francis Christms Greetngs

[QPR Report]

From henceforth, this site will be known as "The Official QPR Nostalgia
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QPR Official Site - December 23, 1998 - CHRIS' CHRISTMAS CHEER
RANGERS chairman Chris Wright has a special seasonal message to the supporters.
He says: "I would like to wish all of our wonderful fans a great Christmas. Enjoy your Christmas Day and get to the ground early on Boxing Day - it’s a 12 noon kick-off as everyone knows. So let’s get some atmosphere going for the Norwich game."
"I’m sure we’ll get a bumper crowd. And the best Christmas present will hopefully be three points on Boxing Day. That’s certainly the Christmas present that I want most! Hopefully the lads on the pitch will be able to deliver it for me."
BARNSLEY (Away) - Monday December 28th
Rangers have 1100 uncovered seats at £15 adults, £9 concessions. There are no matchday concessions.
Supporters' coaches will depart at 9am on Monday. The fare is £15 adults, £7.50 concessions. Train tickets have been reserved at £20 on the 9.30am departure from St Pancras


December 23, 1998 MERRY GERRY FRANCIS
RANGERS boss Gerry Francis extends Christmas greetings via the internet to supporters around the globe.
Gerry says: "I’d like to wish Rangers fans all over the world a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
"I thank you for your great support, especially since I’ve been back. You’ve got behind the team and the players have responded."
"We need to keep that going and certainly it’s going to be very important that we get as many points as we can over the Christmas period. With the crowd behind us, it helps the players and it helps me."
"So, have a lovely Christmas, we’ll see you all the Norwich game on Boxing Day and let’s hope we get the three points."

Team news for Rangers' clash with Norwich at Loftus Road on Boxing Day: Lee Harper is ruled out with flu, but overall Rangers expect to be unchanged.

[QPR Report]

And Eight years ago on this day:


Birmingham's hopes of consolidating their strong promotion challenge were thwarted by an outstanding performance from QPR keeper Ludek Miklosko.

The former Czech international defied Birmingham's persistent attack and in the process earned Rangers a valuable away point, although the Londoners find themselves back at the foot of the Division One table.

It was a frustrating performance from Blues in as much as they completely dominated the match without being able to beat the inspired Miklosko.

Rangers' blanket defence earned top marks on the day for a courageous performance against a Birmingham attack which carved out numerous openings.

Clarke Carlisle was stalwart in Rangers defence. His battles with Dele Adebola were indicative of the visitors' backs-to-the-wall fight.

The home side was full of flair but they lacked the finishing touch. It was the third time in seven games that they had failed to score at St Andrews.

Manager Trevor Francis must have rued his inability to persuade teenage striker Mark Burchill to sign for the club in midweek.

Burchill's three-month spell on loan from Celtic had been highly productive with the young Scot producing five goals despite a couple of spells out of the side due to injuries.

In the early stages against Rangers it appeared as if Birmingham would completely overrun the Londoners.

Adebola, in particular, had a glut of opportunities. His first arrived in the opening 10 minutes when he shot straight at Miklosko but it was merely a taster of what was to come.

Miklosko defied Birmingham with his best save of the game on the half hour. Andy Johnson worked his way onto the edge of the area and shot on the turn.

Miklosko, anticipating the shot, moved too far to his left but somehow managed to turn himself back and save with his right hand. The ball then began to move towards an empty net but Miklosko managed to retrieve it.

Late in the first half a frustrated Michel Ngonge produced Rangers' first shot on target in the 35th minute. But then he collected the first booking of the match following some comments made to referee Alan Kaye.

In the second half Birmingham made three substitutions with Trevor Francis demanding a policy of all-out attack which still failed to produce the desired result.

The closest Birmingham came to scoring came in the 67th minute. Danny Sonner produced a cross from the right and Steve Morrow, attempting to clear, sliced the ball goalwards.

But man of the match Miklosko nonchalantly plucked the ball out of the air.

Saturday 23rd December 2000
St Andrews
ATTENDANCE: 24,311
Ref: Alan Kaye
RANGERS 0 BIRMINGHAM 0

Miklosko Bennett
Kulsar Gill
Plummer Purse
Langley Johnson
Carlisle Burrows
Wardley Eaden
Morrow Hughes
Crouch Sonner
Darlington Adebola
Ngonge Johnson
Barraclough Lazaridis
Subs: Subs:
Harper Poole
Perry (73) Bass
Warren (88) O'Connor (76)
Koejoe (79) Robinson (79)
Connolly Horsfield (68)