QPR were crowned London Masters Champions at Wembley Arena last night. Tracy Stent was LFW representative on the night and has brought us an excellent review of what was an exciting night's football. Thanks very much, Tracy!

London Masters – Wembley Arena Saturday 20^th June 2009. 8pm kick off.

This was the first Masters event I had been to in donkey’s years, and what a cracker of a night it was too. All four of us went and we started off by parking at nearby Kingsbury where a hop on the jubilee line would have taken us to Wembley Park, a mere one stop along. However, this is London Transport we are talking about and we had no idea that Kingsbury station is currently shut (for the weekend I assume) and so we dashed back to the car where I made the quick 10 minute journey over to Wembley. I decided to park on the road just outside the arena box office and instructed Leon that if any wardens came along he should move the car down the road. It was only as I was standing in the queue, waiting to pick our tickets up in the box office that I realised out of sheer habit, I had taken the key with me which gave them all a laugh when I got back to the car, thankfully a warden free zone.

I then decided to find out how much the main car park would be (had seen other car parks along the way charging £10 for the night) next to the arena and when the chap at the gate told us that would be £18, I muttered no chance, and turned the car around, whilst at the same time shouting out the window to other fellow motorists to not pay it. There is one road along there (opposite one of the hotels) which I was aware is a pay and display at certain times, and after checking the sign, put enough money in to cover for two hours (after 9pm charges do not apply).

By now, time was getting on, and by the time we’d walked to the arena; got inside; and then found the area where we were sitting, it was virtually time for the first game to start. I didn’t even have enough time to find a programme, but luckily enough had printed off the teams from the website earlier on, which I had in my bag. Basically there were six London sides taking part, ourselves, Chelsea, Fulham, West Ham, Spurs and Arsenal. Each team would play two games each, and whoever won the most/gained most points, would go through to the final.

The first game was QPR v Fulham. Our squad comprised of: Tony Roberts, Danny Maddix; Karl Connolly; Andy Tillson; Steve Palmer; Bradley Allen; Michael Meaker; Tony Thorpe and Andy Sinton. I didn’t know many on the Fulham side bar Robert Herrera and Barry Hayles. It is a six-a-side tournament and at first our outfield players comprised of Palmer, Maddix, Meaker, Thorpe and Tillson, then as the game went on they chopped and changed a bit. Each game was 10 minutes (or it might have been eight!) per half and we started off well with Allen and Maddix chancing their luck, whilst down the other end, Hayles shot wide for Fulham. Then just as the first half was coming to a close Andy Sinton put us ahead and when he scored it became apparent just how many Rs fans there were scattered around the arena. As the whistle blew for half time, we noticed Steve Palmer hobbling off (he seemed to stub his toe at one stage during the half). The next 10 minutes started off with Roberts having to make a good save and shortly after this Meaker put us two goals up. He was really enjoying himself and went on to score another, which gave us a 3-0 lead. Bradley Allen did a touch of show-boating and then it was the final 10 seconds count down. Yay, we had won 3-0, and bar any disasters in our next match, we were looking quite good for a place in the final!

The second game was between Spurs and West Ham. Spurs had a ropey looking team out there and when I say that Vinny Samways was probably the most eye catching out there, I think that says it all! West Ham had a strong team including ex R’s Trevor Sinclair, Rufus Brevett and Keith Rowland. It wasn’t long before the Hammers had taken the lead, which was then followed by Sinclair blasting over wide. Spurs levelled soon after, but then literally the ball went down the other end and was netted home by Keith Rowland. They finished the first half 3-1 up which soon became 4-1 after Ian Pearce slotted in quite nicely. Spurs then scored a second goal but I didn’t really notice much about it because we were more interested in watching Steve Palmer being stretchered off and through to one of the exits. Rufus and Tricky then linked up well towards the end of this game but Sinclair blasted high and wide. The game finished 4-2 to West Ham and we commented on how strong the Hammers had looked.

Before I go onto the next game, I must just mention a couple of other things. We were seated in the end where most of the players were stretching and watching the games when they weren’t playing. Our players were all happily mingling and it was a pleasure to see Rufus and Danny having a good old chat. The Fulham, Spurs and Arsenal players were all mingling in this area behind one of the goals, and there were exercise bikes there for any of the players should they have felt the need for a bit of exercise. The only ones that appeared to be missing were Chelsea. I don’t know why this irritated me, it just did, and then when the next game (the third match) was announced between Chelsea and Fulham, the Chelsea players emerged from a different side of the arena (as if there were something special about them) and so if there were not already enough reasons to not want Chelsea to win/progress, then this could be added to the list. The Chelsea team comprised of Tore Andre Flo, Mark Stein and Ken Monkou, and there was a nice surprise when Barry Hayles scored towards the end of the first half to put Fulham 1-0 up. The ball went straight down the other end with a shot hitting one post, rolling across and hitting the other before bouncing away. As the ref blew for half time, the Chelsea players only all went surrounding the ref in protest that it should have been a goal. Isn’t that just typical them, all whingey?!

At the start of the next half, they brought Mark Stein on and he straight away scored for them only for Fulham to then go straight down the other end and score courtesy of Barry Hayles, who now had a brace. We were laughing our heads off when Hayles scored again to gain his hat trick but Chelsea fought back in the last 4 minutes or so and gained a point. It had been an enjoyable match ending in 3-3 though it meant that as Fulham now only had one point out of their two games, they were off to pack their bags home. Didn’t seem that many Fulham fans there either.

Match 4 was Arsenal v Spurs. On paper the Gunners looked to have a good side out there with players including Ray Parlour, Nigel Winterburn and Michael Thomas. They’d also been mingling beforehand and Winterburn had been having lengthy chats with some of our players. It looked at first as though Arsenal were going on a rout as they were 2-0 up within a couple of minutes, though Spurs scored right on half time making it 2-1. Arsenal went 3-1 up shortly after the second half started but Spurs fought back with a couple of goals in the last few minutes and the game ended 3-3. It did mean though, that like Fulham, Spurs were now out of the competition. Again, it had been a good game but I hadn’t paid too much attention to this particular match as was watching our players on the sidelines. It was during this game that some of the Chelsea players actually came out and started mingling, having a go on the cycles etc, and so we guessed that they were next up. And lo and behold, the fifth game was announced as QPR v Chelsea.

It was funny actually as just before the game started, chants of Stand up if you hate Chelsea rang out, we all stood up, and on looking around all the various shirts comprising of Arsenal and West Ham were all standing as well. The game started with Tony Roberts making two particularly good saves and then after Michael Meaker had put Thorpe through clean he could only shoot straight at Dearden in goal. Sinton then had a chance himself but blasted over and then right at the end of the first half Chelsea scored. Roberts had probably come out a bit too far than maybe he should have and we found ourselves a goal down right on the stroke of half time. It wasn’t long though in the second period before we leveled thanks to Andy Tillson and shortly afterwards we thought we were going 2-1 up but Maddix missed an open chance. They then hit the post which was followed by a good body stop by Roberts and then Sinton tried his luck down our end to no avail. Time was ticking down, there was one minute to go and we were defending like crazy, Roberts made another good save and then it was time for the 10 seconds count down. However the ref added another 4 seconds on to give Chelsea time to take a corner. The 4 seconds countdown finished and Chelsea were out as 2 points from two games was not enough. If that wasn’t sweet enough, QPR were in the final! Yes folks I will repeat that. Chelsea out. QPR in the final. We were going mad and there were fine celebrations going on all around the arena, none more so than by our players on the arena floor.

The sixth game, and final match of the heats, was against Arsenal and West Ham. Basically whoever won this game would be in the final against us. We couldn’t make up our minds who we wanted as we kind of wanted Arsenal as they were possibly the weaker side in comparison to West Ham, but the Hammers did have some old QPR boys in their side too which would have been a good final. So in the end we decided to plump for West Ham. Arsenal took the lead via a fine goal by Parlour but the lead didn’t last long as the Hammers leveled and then Trevor Sinclair put them 2-1 up. The Hammers then went 3-1 up towards the end of game, much to the dismay of some of the Gunners fans around us and with the game finishing 3-1 to them, it meant the final was going to be between QPR and West Ham.

The final started off with Roberts making a good save to prevent Sinclair from putting West Ham a goal up and then Rufus Brevett missed a chance. Danny Maddix shot wide for us and then before we knew it, the ref had blown for half time. West Ham then went on to take the lead early in the second half but we fought back and following some good work by Meaker, he put Tony Thorpe clear and he slammed the ball home. We went mad, and the R’s fans around us all chanted “we’ve got Tony Thorpe”. There were no real clear cut chances for either side for the remaining minutes and the game finished 1-1 which meant it was going to penalties to decide who would walk away with the London Masters cup, and also a place in the grand final in September.

The penalties were taken down the other end from where we were sitting and West Ham were first up to take the first one. No idea who took it for them but whoever it was was slightly unlucky as he hit the bar. Our first penalty was taken by Karl Connolly but Ilic in goal for them saved. The second penalty for West Ham was taken by Sinclair who scored with ease and then Danny Maddix stepped up to take our second pen and cool as a cucumber slotted home. 1-1 at the moment. The third penalty for West Ham was taken by Keith Rowland and he shot wide but Tony Thorpe couldn’t take advantage for us as again, Ilic saved for the Hammers. Still 1-1, and whilst I couldn’t tell you who took the fourth penalty for West Ham, I can say with pride that Roberts pulled off a good save thus giving us the advantage, and up next for us was Andy Tillson who slotted home in the left corner. 2-1 to us and with the last of the initial five coming up it was Rufus Brevett who stepped up and scored for West Ham making the score 2-2 but with us just needing to score with our last penalty to secure the win. Up stepped Michael Meaker who slammed the ball home, 3-2 to us, thus meaning he had just given us the title of London Masters Champs 2009; a piece of silverware for us; a place in the grand final in September, and also gave him the coveted QPR top scorer of the night! The whole thing sparked off great celebrations amongst all the Rs fans scattered around the arena, and of course amongst the players. They were presented with the cup and then Maddix sprayed them all with champagne. It really was fantastic entertainment and I am now tempted to go to the grand final at Liverpool in September!

Our man of the match was Tony Roberts and he was given the honour of being named player of the competition too. The atmosphere in the arena was great fun, the organisers had given out those clapper things which ordinarily we scoff about, but they added to the atmosphere in the indoor arena, and coupled with sudden bursts every now and then with different bits of music during games, to those that were not there it might all sound quite corny, but it really was a fantastic night. The only shame was that there were a few empty seats around the arena and I suspect it was that old chestnut about pricing which put some people off (along with the fact that the competition hadn’t been very well advertised). £18 for adults and £12 for kids is, in my opinion, too much to ask the paying public for during a period of recession in this country. A flat tenner for adults and fiver for kids would have seen the place full, and I’m sure more monies would have been recuperated via refreshments etc. In fact, the only reason why we could afford to go last night is because our much esteemed editor of this site secured us free tickets via the organizers on behalf of this website. It’s been a long time since I have done a report on anything QPR, and it’s been a great privilege doing so regarding this event.

Regarding the players on the night, as I say, Tony Roberts pulled out all the stops and is still a top bloke off the pitch. Michael Meaker really enjoyed himself out there as did Bradley Allen (the little bit that we saw of him). Danny Maddix was still his organised self in defence, whilst Andy Sinton and Tony Thorpe were rolling back the years. It was just a shame that Steve Palmer was taken out of the arena on a stretcher, though I have to admit we couldn’t help saying how it was just typical that it was one of our players to be the only one to get an injury in such a competition!

The only sour note was on reaching the car, discovering a parking ticket had been slapped on the windscreen, apparently for not displaying a pay and display ticket on the dash! Which is ridiculous because it was as clear as anything displayed in the middle of the dash. I will of course be disputing it but it does make me wonder of the sad existence of such people who put their uniforms on and walk up and down streets of a late evening time (Saturday night) hoping to slap £60 tickets on fellow citizens cars.

I hope this report has captured the essence and entertainment of the night as I cannot stress enough how much we all enjoyed the event. And here’s to us maybe even winning the grand final later on in September at Liverpool.

U Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

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