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When we signed him, my Geordie father in law ripped the pis out of me for us signing The Crab. I suspected he was right, and struggled to come up with a retort.
Ray, of course, delivered the perfect retort in that famous 2-1 win at SJP. Les terrorised them so much Keegan decided on the spot he had to sign him...Bradley Allen was the perfect foil...Stejksal saved an injury time penno...but it was Ray who absolutely ran the show.
In my top 5 awaydays, especially post match in the pub with aforementioned F-in-L.
One of the best away days.
We sold our allocation, which, if memory serves, was 1,800: top turnout.
That day Ray put in a display that was arguably one of the finest by anyone I've seen before or after in a Rangers shirt. He bossed it from start to finish.
After the game, we met up with some Toon mates who were effusive in their respect for Ray, and certain that SLF would be joining them.
What a shame the Wednesday prior: SLF was injured and Ray not considered for the qualifier against Holland.
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
The concourse before where Ferdinand wasn't on the coupon and some inexperienced bookie offered him at 8s (might have been less, gets more every time the story is told) prompting a siege. I think the whole away end was on him.
Some steward tried to throw Grandad Tom out for calling Keith Hackett a "bstard". This was immediately after the infamous John Major quote and the poor little minimum wage jobsworth found himself on the end of a long lecture along the duel theme of "if it's good enough for our prime minister..." and "you and who's army?"
Wilkins was sensational. What a privilege to watch him as a kid, my first ever QPR team.
The concourse before where Ferdinand wasn't on the coupon and some inexperienced bookie offered him at 8s (might have been less, gets more every time the story is told) prompting a siege. I think the whole away end was on him.
Some steward tried to throw Grandad Tom out for calling Keith Hackett a "bstard". This was immediately after the infamous John Major quote and the poor little minimum wage jobsworth found himself on the end of a long lecture along the duel theme of "if it's good enough for our prime minister..." and "you and who's army?"
Wilkins was sensational. What a privilege to watch him as a kid, my first ever QPR team.
And he hates the Custis Scum brothers as well...
"The concourse before where Ferdinand wasn't on the coupon and some inexperienced bookie offered him at 8s (might have been less, gets more every time the story is told) prompting a siege. I think the whole away end was on him."
I'd forgotten that! But 8s does sound familiar.
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
"The concourse before where Ferdinand wasn't on the coupon and some inexperienced bookie offered him at 8s (might have been less, gets more every time the story is told) prompting a siege. I think the whole away end was on him."
I'd forgotten that! But 8s does sound familiar.
I remember there being a rush on whatever the price was!
Chaos! Our travelling gang were all on it, and early.
That poor lad in the bookie's booth - he stood as much chance as a Rangers fan working in an airport Up North on a Saturday.
It was one of my first Big Away Days with my dad's group as a little lad. Previously been restricted to the London-ish games. Cov and Ipswich was as far as I'd been by that point I think.
Was soon standing with a group of 30 rattling the doors of a pub at Stockport at 930am to wake the landlord up ahead of the FA Cup tie. "What do you want?" says bleary eyed man in dressing gown. "We want to drink." Says large group with money to spend. Pause... "Give me five minutes."
Later that night "Robert, this is no way to bring up a child."
"The concourse before where Ferdinand wasn't on the coupon and some inexperienced bookie offered him at 8s (might have been less, gets more every time the story is told) prompting a siege. I think the whole away end was on him."
I'd forgotten that! But 8s does sound familiar.
It was deffo 8/1.
Great game, the only thing was: I missed both our goals due to having a gypsies at the crucial points in the game. Travelled all the way from Brighton, where I was living at the time, to have my cock in my hand when the Rangers scored!
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
Great game, the only thing was: I missed both our goals due to having a gypsies at the crucial points in the game. Travelled all the way from Brighton, where I was living at the time, to have my cock in my hand when the Rangers scored!
You had an in-game piss twice? And missed two goals?
How are you not one of the Loft's 10 QPR Legends!
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
You had an in-game piss twice? And missed two goals?
How are you not one of the Loft's 10 QPR Legends!
Another one of grandad Tom's moments was going for a piss at Highbury and he (and therefore I, they sent me to make sure he made it back to the stand afterwards) missed both the Impey and Allen goals.
You had an in-game piss twice? And missed two goals?
How are you not one of the Loft's 10 QPR Legends!
Brian, a tour-de-force!
I'd got in at 3am the night before. Woke up somewhat violently - thank God - fully dressed around 7.30am, then after throwing water on my face, squirt of deo, and a tooth brushing, ran for the station. If you know Brighton, I was living high up in the Hannover part; downhill was ok...ish, but the run up hill to the station was purgatory.
Consequently, I spent the journey to Victoria and taxi to Kings Cross with my head out the window convinced I was going to hurl. On the train, we had to sit in the smoking carriage as my chums were smokers, and one went off to get brekky. My instructions were clear: water and OJ. instead, the f....r comes back with lager and cider: snakebite all the way north!
Then into the Hotspur pub before and after for a rake of Newky Browns, before heading to the station and, what I hoped, safety.
A modest pint was interrupted when a Geordie in the bar comes up to us and says: 'Are yiz QPR fans like?' Whereupon the well meaning barsteward promptly buys three whiskies, which wasn't really needed at that point.
What was definitely not needed, was our response. My mate feels the need to reciprocate, for which I also felt compelled to round the circle and order three more.
I don't drink spirits and instinctively knew what was most definitely needed pre-boarding, was a trip to the khasi and that which I had so gallantly avoided earlier in the day: a reet good effing hurl man! I chundered for England, Ireland and the Toon Nation.
Sorted me right out! Few snakebites southward, and aside of feeling truly awful the next day, missing the goals, and failing to get on Les at 8/1 because I had to get fresh air, a cracking day...apparently.
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
Steve and Silly Jim travelled to Oldham once on the LSA coach and played shove ha'penny at the back of the terrace for the entire game. Didn't see one minute of it. Oldham! Which is freezing. And in Scotland.
But you...you win the prize.
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
I couldn't tell you the match, the year or the score but in one game, Bardsley's radar was slightly off and those raking long balls along the SAR touchline were going out almost every time rather than just hugging the line. After yet another ball was curled into touch, Ray came haring back to Bardsley and blistered his ears with "60 fücking yards, 60 fücking yards, every fücking time, just give it someone in a hooped shirt". Side note; and a flex, I played one season with Ray in the Hayes & District U16's league when he was still 14... and still the best player on the pitch no matter who we played. CFC stopped him after that season. He also went to the same school as Glenn Hoddle.
I couldn't tell you the match, the year or the score but in one game, Bardsley's radar was slightly off and those raking long balls along the SAR touchline were going out almost every time rather than just hugging the line. After yet another ball was curled into touch, Ray came haring back to Bardsley and blistered his ears with "60 fücking yards, 60 fücking yards, every fücking time, just give it someone in a hooped shirt". Side note; and a flex, I played one season with Ray in the Hayes & District U16's league when he was still 14... and still the best player on the pitch no matter who we played. CFC stopped him after that season. He also went to the same school as Glenn Hoddle.
I remember another mate heard that as well. He didn't mess about, Ray.
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
Ray Wilkins once blessed my shellsuit which prompted a long unbeaten run
Went into the club shop and bought a QPR shellsuit, It was the early 90s and I thought they were cool although this one was a top too big for me so looked like Barry Bethell in those slimfast ads and the trousers were so tight It left nothing to the imagination.
Ray Wilkins popped in and was chatting with a few people, he asked me what I had got and I showed him, maybe it will bring us some luck, he said and he touched it with his magical hands. We hadn't won for 6 games going back to the New Years day win at Man Utd
That's it I thought Ray Wilkins had blessed my shellsuit, I must wear this every time QPR play despite Mum telling me to go back and get one that fits me.
I wasn't at the next game, Sheffield United away and wore it at home listening to clubcall, a 0-0 draw I think. Week later was that mad week where we beat Man City 4-0, Leeds 4-1 and Villa 1-0 and we were off the shellsuit was lucky all thanks to Super Ray. We were 6 unbeaten before disaster struck. Away to Southampton rather than a trip down to the Dell i was on a double date with Joanna and Vicky from school, my mate Matthew brought a f cking bowling ball with him, like something out of Kingpin before that was even made. For some reason me in a QPR shell suit and my mate carrying a bowling ball did not do much for the 2 girls who sacked us off and went home, needing something to do we went to watch Brentford play, went home to get changed although Matthew took the bowling ball into the ground and got a ball in the face second half as well which was quite funny. Anyway QPR lost 2-1 and almost certainly down to me not wearing the shellsuit all day.
Week after we went on holiday to Florida, great time but Mum and Dad were not keen on me taking the shellsuit as I looked like a prick apparently. I couldn't tell them it was lucky as anyone knows if you admit to the lucky clothes the luck instantly ends. Whilst away we lost to Chelsea and Spurs, many fans blame Gurnham Singh, they are wrong we lost due to me not wearing Super rays Lucky shellsuit.
I returned from florida jetlagged on Easter Monday morning and headed to QPR wearing my blue and white monstrosity, we beat Luton 2-1 relegating them and the luck was back, wore it for 9 games that season, won 5 drew 4
Following season still wearing it a great start, top of the league after 4 games still unbeaten which included a Monday night football wearing the shellsuit in a bar in Spain with 2 parents looking at me Like i'm some sort of prick.
Saturday 29th August, at home listening to Capital radio as we draw 0-0 at Chelsea but at half time Dad comes in and says i have to get changed as we're going to watch Summerslam at Wembley and in his words "I'm not taking you out looking like that"
Summerslam was great but QPR lost 1-0. That was our only loss in the first 12 games of the season, shelly the shellsuit was working, we were going to win the league.
After we beat Spurs 4-1 at home I was euphoric, Dad was away in Paris watching the Arc Racing and his mate Neil walked back with me after the game saying how this could be our year and how good Francis was as a manager. "No No" I told him, nothing to do with Gerry and like a prat I told him this story and how my shellsuit was clearly lucky as everytime i didn't wear it we lost. Just like that dark clouds hovered in the sky and the Ray Wilkins spell was gone, the luck ran out.
We lost to Norwich next league game as I wore this thing and one of the unluckiest defeats I've ever seen when Liverpool beat us 1-0 was the final straw and the shell suit went into the wardrobe to not be worn again.
Whenever i see goals from that time I think about that shellsuit, happy and simpler times.
Ray Wilkins and Alan Mcdonald were two leaders that had no equals in their positions in my living memories of following the Rs.
Ray Wilkins prior to coming to us, I had no respect, and was happy when he got sent off for throwing ball in direction of referee during a world cup game at Mexico 86 for England.
But he completely changed my mind about him during his years with us.
What a passer of the ball. Cross field balls from the middle of the park to players out wide in advanced positions, sensational.
Knew what was going on before it happened and such a leader and time for the tea lady, the binman and the chief executive.
well known for treating everyone with great respect and decency, whoever they were.
If you could bottle "setting an example in football", Wilkins was that man.
I thought myself he would have also had a stellar career in management and was surprised by his faiilings around that. Seemed he could have had all the right attributes but was not the case.
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