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EXCLUSIVE: ENGLAND ACE SIGNS
Posted on: Wed 13 Jul 2011 Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of England international Jay Bothroyd.
The 29 year-old, who was called up to Fabio Capello's Three Lions squad last season following an incredible campaign with Cardiff City, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Loftus Road.
Bothroyd's move to QPR caps a return to W12 for the talented attacker, who was with the Club's Centre of Excellence from the age of nine before moving to Arsenal's youth set-up.
Islington-born Bothroyd, who left the Bluebirds upon the expiration of his contract at the end of last season, scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Welsh outfit last term, as Dave Jones' men narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to the top-flight.
Speaking exclusively to
www.qpr.co.uk about his first piece of business this summer, a delighted Neil Warnock said: "In bringing Jay in, we have managed to secure an excellent player which augers well for the forthcoming campaign.
"We have been chasing him for a number of weeks and it has been frustrating at times.
"We have had to have a lot of patience with this but, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.
"We are now working hard to add another new face to the squad and we hope to have that done very soon."
Bothroyd, who will join up with his new team-mates for pre-season training later today (Wednesday), becomes the first full current England international to sign for QPR since Tony Currie in 1979.
"I spoke to the Manager and he told me how much he wanted me," Bothroyd told
www.qpr.co.uk.
"He convinced me that this was the right place to be.
"He told me the direction that he wants to go in and the way he wants to play.
"I think this Club is heading in the right direction and has got a lot of ambition."
Bothroyd added: "I want to be playing against the best players in the world.
"I got a taste of that when I joined up with the England squad, and hopefully I can do well for QPR and get back into the squad.
"People say that I'm a 'one-cap wonder' and I want to get that second cap to put that to bed.
"You want to play at the highest level and the only way to do that is by producing for your Club week in, week out.
"That's what I'm looking to do."
*The deal is subject to the approval of the relevant paperwork by the FA, FWA and Premier League.
www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2390364,00.html
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BOTHROYD: ‘START OF SOMETHING SPECIAL’
Posted on: Wed 13 Jul 2011
Although the ink has hardly had time to dry on Jay Bothroyd's
three-year contract with the R's, the gifted front-man feels that 'this could be the start of something special,' as Neil Warnock's men prepare for life amongst England's elite for the first time in 15 years.
Bothroyd, 29, put pen to paper in W12 this morning (Wednesday) and will train with his new team-mates at Hampton School later today.
In an exclusive interview with
www.qpr.co.uk, the striker revealed that he can't get wait to get started.
Bothroyd said: "I'm sure all the lads will welcome me and I can't wait to be involved.
"QPR's a great Club with a lot of history.
"I was here as a boy when I was nine years old - this was my first Club before I went to Arsenal. Twenty years later, I'm back and it's good to be here!
"Coming back to London played a big part for me too. I can be around my family, which is great.
"The last time I played in London was six years ago. I can't wait to get going."
The former Cardiff City striker saw Rangers at first hand last year, having twice played for the Bluebirds against Warnock's charges.
Bothroyd even netted a spectacular opener in QPR's thrilling 2-2 draw in South Wales back in April.
And he believes that, from what he saw, the R's have a fighting chance of doing well on their return to the top-flight next season - especially in front of a partisan Loftus Road crowd.
"QPR were resilient last season and scored a lot of goals," Bothroyd said, "We've definitely got a chance of staying in the Premier League next year.
"There are some talented players at the Club and I can't see why not.
"When I came to Loftus Road with Cardiff last season, it was like a cauldron.
"It was a great atmosphere, very intimidating. We need to carry that on next season.
"Home form is always key - especially in your first season back in the Premier League.
"Teams never really know what to expect when they come to Loftus Road.
"When I came here last year, I got a bit of abuse and the fans made it a bit tough for me!
"But now hopefully they can get behind me."
And there can be little doubt about that.
Under Warnock, the Loftus Road crowd have backed their team from the first kick until the last, and Bothroyd will be hoping that the support from the R's faithful can aid his - and QPR's - objectives next term.
He added: "Last year I scored 20 goals.
"I'm a forward, I like to assist and I like to be involved in build-up play and help others.
"As long as I'm contributing week in, week out, then I'm happy.
"
The aim as a Club is to stay in the Premier League.
"I think it's very important to do that in your first season and build on that.
"This could be the start of something special."
www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2391157,00.html
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
JAY BOTHROYD: IN PROFILE
Posted on: Wed 13 Jul 2011Born in Islington, London on August 21st 1982, Jay Bothroyd rose to prominence at Arsenal, where he was a product of his local side's academy.
A technically gifted striker with bags of pace, Bothroyd left the Gunners the age of 18, opting for a move to Coventry City for a reported fee of £1million.
He made his debut in the Sky Blues' home defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League in November 2000.
The attacker went on to score 17 goals during his time with City, his first coming against Bradford City in 2001, and Bothroyd was the Club's top scorer for 2002/03 with 11 goals.
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Bothroyd's form for the Sky Blues caught the eye of Italian outfit Perugia and, in the summer of 2003, he made the move to Mediterranean shores, after his contract with Coventry expired.
But the front-man failed to settle in Italy, moving to Blackburn Rovers in August 2004 and returning to Perugia at the end of the season.
Having then been released by 'Grifoni,' Bothroyd joined Charlton Athletic in August 2005, before securing a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers the following summer, becoming Mick McCarthy's first full signing as Old Gold boss.
The striker flourished early on in his Wolves career, scoring three goals for his new Club in their opening six fixtures - which included a blockbuster 25-yard strike in injury time away at Leeds United to grab all three points.
Bothroyd's goalscoring antics ground to a halt when he suffered an injury in December 2006, but he returned the following February and scored the Old Gold's winning goal against Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion in a 1-0 win over the Baggies.
McCarthy made further signings during the course of the 2007/08 season and, with the likes of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake largely keeping Bothroyd out of the side, he moved to Stoke City in March 2008 on an initial month's loan, before extending his stay until the end of the season.
Bothroyd joined Cardiff City in August 2008 on a three-year deal.
It proved to be the most fruitful spell of the talented striker's professional career to date, with Bothroyd finding the net 45 times in 136 appearances for the Bluebirds in all competitions.
His form for Cardiff even caught the eye of England boss Fabio Capello, with the Italian calling Bothroyd up to the senior Three Lions squad in November 2010 for their clash with France.
The hot-shot appeared as a second-half substitute against Les Bleus in a 2-1 defeat.
www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2390360,00.html
But how I repressed that is beyond me. San Marino comes back to me but the rest?. 
