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Post by Budgies Mullett on Aug 13, 2010 17:45:16 GMT
Really interesting posts, funny to read that players haven't really changed over the years.
You mention Michael Wale, who as many will remember, had a regular piece in the programme that was consistently a good read. I think he also used to introduce some pieces on us for the nightly Thames news. Anyone know of his whereabouts these days?
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davemc
Gerry Francis
Posts: 32
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Post by davemc on Aug 13, 2010 20:31:04 GMT
Travelling to away games on the coach in the early 1990s was my happiest time supporting Rangers. Pub stops, QPR videos, even karoke on the coach - great, great days. Robbo was very good to me and my mates and we still talk about those days and the day we found out he was leaving the club and the supporters club was effectively being scrapped. It was an away game at Aston Villa on a Sunday.
Yes Robbo encountered some now familar problems but Rangers was still a fine club in those days and totally unrecognisable to the club it is now.
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Post by superckat on Aug 21, 2010 2:52:25 GMT
Robbo great read. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by qprrobbo on Aug 21, 2010 8:04:23 GMT
April78; Michael and I were close friends for many years, and in fact he and I were Bowls partners for several years in the Bowls section of Shepherds Bush Cricket Club. I could tell you some really funny stories about MW but this forum isn't really the place for some of them! I lost contact with Michael in about 2002 when I got divorced and moved from west London down to Kent, and the last I knew of him he was living just off the Askew Road, with his other half and their baby girl.
Davemc; Are the fond memories of the away games. The mad scramble to get every on board the coaches at LR, making sure that the non-smokers were allocated the correct coaches, checking everyone had their match tickets etc, contacting the LSA coach to see if they had any spare seats, or if the needed extra places with us.
Then the mad rush up the motorway to which-ever pub stop I had arranged, invading the pub and sinkinf a couple whilst checking with the landlord/s that they were happy with our group of brilliant fans so we could stp there again in the future, then rounding up our happy group and trying to get the stragglers away from their full glasses!
Back on the coaches for a sing-song on board and videos of our recent matches. Happy days!
Davemc is correcet about my last official away game with the club. Aston Villa away was an incredibly emotional day for me. I had been told that Richard Thompson was travelling with us on the coaches to try to show that all was cool about my redundancy. I never understood why he felt he would be accepted on the coach, and it was really funny when he got on board and everyone booed and hissed at him - and the big minder he had with him.
He asked me where we would be stopping en route for the pub stop, and I said as I was no longer required in his employ, I would leave it to him to tell the driver where we were going to stop! Thompson of course had no idea. I refused to tell him the destination but told the supporters not to worry as I would ensure the stop was completed anyway. Mate.. you should have seen him squirming as the supporters made it clear that thanks to him being on board they would miss out on the popular bevvy pre-match.
Anyhow, I told the driver/s discreetly that we were to stop off at a pub I had arranged in Coventry, and you should have seen the relief on Thompson's face when he suddenly realised we were pulling into the pub car park.
Funniest thing of all though was when a group of supporters (un-beknown to me) went round with the hat to start a collection for me, and a large group approached Thompson and asked him to put in too! One particular fan - who shall remain nameless, but was a big old lump - said to RT "you're a effing millionaire, get your effing wallet out and help our mate out you tight git", at which point RT got the minder to step in, whilst he walked away!!
When we got to Villa Park the West Midlands police were waiting for me and escorted me into the police control room where I was informed that a large section of our wonderful travelling army were planning an on-pitch demo against Thompson, and that I had to go onto the pitch and address our fans asking them through a load hailer, to show restraint and to keep any demos for LR, otherwise they would not allow the game to take place!
I was stunned that this had happened but did as I was asked anyway, and through tears of pride, I duly addressed our fans from the penalty area and the game went on.
Some of you will recall that shortly after the on-pitch demo took place anyway at home to Ledds United, where the game was held up at the start of the second half, and made all the national papers.
It should be said that the demo was not all about me. By this time RT had also got rid of Brian Bedford (an all-time QPR legend) who used to be the head groundsman, and several QPR stalwarts, and had started to cause problems between Gerry Francis and Rodney Marsh, by trying to "play them off" against each other.
Shortly after this I had a meeting with RT to discuss my severance pay, and asked if I could have a complimentary season ticket in future as part of my settlement, for every season he remained at the club.
My dad was present at this meeting and said in front of RT "don't waste your breath son.. he wont be here long enough".
Anyhow, I have to go now cos it's a 100 mile drive up to LR for today's game (and another three points) against Sc**thorpe.
I wonder if Thompson will be there!!! ;D
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Post by Lonegunmen on Aug 21, 2010 8:13:13 GMT
We know you will be and that's more important.
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