| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 22:02 - Feb 20 with 803 views | stainrods_elbow |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 21:59 - Feb 20 by Northernr |
QPR sounds great. It sounds right.
WBA...doesn't. |
I think I know what you mean, but why? |  |
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 22:22 - Feb 20 with 782 views | TwoHalves |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 22:02 - Feb 20 by stainrods_elbow |
I think I know what you mean, but why? |
Too many syllables? Doesn’t roll off the tongue like QPR. Plus, QPR just looks right.
Mind you, Sergio Agüero referred to us as ‘Koo Peh Err-eh’ (Spanish pronunciation) in the post match interview after the 2012 game at the Etihad! [Post edited 20 Feb 22:32]
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 22:32 - Feb 20 with 770 views | colinallcars |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 22:22 - Feb 20 by TwoHalves |
Too many syllables? Doesn’t roll off the tongue like QPR. Plus, QPR just looks right.
Mind you, Sergio Agüero referred to us as ‘Koo Peh Err-eh’ (Spanish pronunciation) in the post match interview after the 2012 game at the Etihad! [Post edited 20 Feb 22:32]
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And of course the letters Q, P and R are together in the alphabet. |  | | |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 23:07 - Feb 20 with 723 views | TwoHalves |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 21:58 - Feb 20 by stainrods_elbow |
Does anyone know when 'QPR' became a thing?
Also, why are we QPR but West Brom never WBA, except in writing?
These things keep me awake in night. |
I think it’s a really interesting question, Stainrod. There was obviously a first ever ‘QPR’ mention in print, but when? I wonder if any programme collectors might be called upon to assist? And didn’t there used to be a newspaper library at Colindale? I vaguely recall seeing a book of QPR newspaper reports from 1914 too. Who fancies doing a bit of research?! | | | |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 23:16 - Feb 20 with 708 views | charmr |
Always be Rangers and meet a Glaswegian one and they are a bit put out. | | | |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 01:18 - Feb 21 with 653 views | Boston |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 21:59 - Feb 20 by Northernr |
QPR sounds great. It sounds right.
WBA...doesn't. |
I believe that West Brom, team and fans, prefer to refer to themselves as 'Baggies'. | |
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 06:53 - Feb 21 with 545 views | Gus_iom |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 10:38 - Feb 19 by BrianMcCarthy |
Same here, Terry.
I've always called us 'Rangers'. |
Tbf.., I've heard you call us other things when we're losing. | |
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 21:34 - Feb 21 with 417 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 06:53 - Feb 21 by Gus_iom |
Tbf.., I've heard you call us other things when we're losing. |
I've called you other things when we're losing. |  |
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 12:00 - Feb 22 with 308 views | Rsole |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 21:59 - Feb 20 by Northernr |
QPR sounds great. It sounds right.
WBA...doesn't. |
I must be getting a little dyslexic because when I see WBA, I read LBW and when I see QPR I want to read LFW. |  |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 13:42 - Feb 22 with 267 views | connell10 |
Rangers for me, as in I'm just going down the Rangers, or who are Rangers playing tomorrow. Also the stadium is and always will be Loftus Road to me. |  |
| AND WHEN I DREAM , I DREAM ABOUT YOU AND WHEN I SCREAM I SCREAM ABOUT YOU!!!!! | | Poll: | best number 10 ever? |
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 13:50 - Feb 22 with 254 views | numptydumpty |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 13:42 - Feb 22 by connell10 |
Rangers for me, as in I'm just going down the Rangers, or who are Rangers playing tomorrow. Also the stadium is and always will be Loftus Road to me. |
Generally Rangers for me too, if cjatting generally
If someone ask me who i follow, then its QPR. |  |
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 13:52 - Feb 22 with 240 views | stainrods_elbow |
To answer my question, Chat GPT was interesting and helpful:
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1️⃣ QPR works because of how the letters sound
“QPR” is said as: cue – pee – ar
Phonetically, that flows very smoothly:
It alternates between consonant and vowel sounds.
It doesn’t create awkward mouth movements.
The rhythm is clean and punchy.
It almost sounds like a single branded word rather than three separate letters.
2️⃣ WBA is awkward to say
“WBA” would be:
double-you – bee – ay
The problem is “double-you.”
It’s long (three syllables).
It’s clunky.
It disrupts rhythm.
It front-loads the abbreviation with a heavy sound.
So instead of a neat 3-beat rhythm like QPR (1–1–1 syllables), WBA becomes:
3 syllables – 1 – 1
It feels bulky and inelegant in speech.
3️⃣ English speech patterns matter
In spoken English, we prefer:
Short, punchy initials (QPR, PSG, LAFC) or shortened names (West Brom, Man Utd).
Because “W” is such a long letter name, English speakers tend to avoid starting abbreviations with it in speech unless the abbreviation is very established (e.g., BBC works because it’s symmetrical and rhythmic).
4️⃣ There’s also a historical factor
“West Brom” became the natural spoken shorthand early on. Once that sticks in football culture, there’s no need for the initialism to take hold verbally, whereas QPR didn’t have a natural two-word shortening like that. You wouldn’t really say “Queens Park” on its own — so the initials filled that space.
The same logic explains why we say “PSG” but not “SBV” or similar combinations. English speakers subconsciously optimise for flow.
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PS I'd still like to know when QPR was first written down, though, assuming the spoken name followed this and not vice-versa. [Post edited 22 Feb 13:55]
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| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 14:03 - Feb 22 with 228 views | colinallcars |
My English teacher told me to mind my P's and Q's if I wanted a life of E's. | | | |
| I quite like the name - "LOFTUS" on 15:46 - Feb 22 with 188 views | charmr |
Walk around Rome and end up spending the day doing double takes as the letters SPQR adorn the place. | | | |
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