As the current crop of QPR players dig out their hats and gloves for tonight's trip to Hillsborough Ash takes his usual look back at a memorable meeting between the two sides and at players that have played for both clubs.

The small steps taken by Rangers under Paulo Sosa have slowly started to turn into strides after a richly deserved victory over the league leaders on Saturday evening. It was easily Rangers’ best performance of the season making Wolves, a team unbeaten in their last nine games and six points clear going into the weekend, look distinctively ordinary - especially their much heralded front two. Now Sousa’s next mission is to solve is what is looking like missing impossible at the moment and that’s score an away goal.

On Tuesday evening the R’s travel up to Sheffield looking for their first goal on the road since Damion Stewart’s header knocked Villa out the Carling Cup. The signs were there on Saturday that with a little bit more composure in front of goal, the goals will start to flow and hopefully at least one will hit the back of the net at what will be a freezing cold Hillsborough tonight. Wednesday currently sit 12th in the Championship table which pretty much sums up their season so far which has lacked any consistency, but are now unbeaten in three games after Saturday’s useful point at St Mary’s.

Our first away day at Wednesday was a 2-0 defeat in November 1948 in the old Second Division. And last season also somehow finished in defeat despite Rangers taking the lead through Damien Delaney then out playing the hosts until goals from Kavanagh and Burton either side of the break won the game for the Owls. So lets take another walk down the blue and white hooped path of memory lane and remember that day at Hillsborough and two showboating attackers who played for both clubs.

Memorable Match
Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 QPR
8th May 2004
Second Division
I’ve been looking forward to doing the column for this match for a few weeks now just because it gives me the opportunity to reflect on what was one of the greatest days in Rangers’ recent history. I unfortunately am not old enough to remember the cup finals of 67 and 82 or the league run of 76 – in fact I was only ten years old when we finished fifth in the Premier League’s debut season. So for me, this was thus far my favourite moment as a QPR fan.

Rangers had been in the promotion race all season, but been pipped to top spot weeks earlier by Plymouth and now had Bristol City breathing down their necks going into the last day of the season away at Sheffield Wednesday. The job was simple, win and we’d gain automatic promotion a year after play-off final defeat to Cardiff. Drop points and City were on hand to take advantage and send us down the play off lottery a second season running. I along with nearly 10,000 other nervous Rangers fans made the trip to Hillsborough hoping to celebrate what would be Rangers first promotion for 21 years. I have to confess that on the way up there I was totally convinced it would be a draw and that we would be hoping Blackpool did us a favour at Ashton Gate.

Inside the ground there was a tense atmosphere but the Rangers fans were in good voice and determined to give the team decked out in their black and blue a resounding reception. A scrappy first half hour saw Rangers shading it, then a ball from Gareth Ainsworth on he right hand side was met by Furlong who’s attempt could only be blocked by the defender but Mr QPR, Kevin Gallen was on hand to smash the ball home and put the R’s 1-0 up. With Bristol City already 2-0 up, and the Wednesday fans cheering that fact as it flashed across the scoreboard, the goal was greeted with an outpouring of relief in the away end.

It stayed that way until the break and we were 45 minutes away from promotion, even though I was still convinced that Wednesday would come back, this was Rangers after all. Three minutes after halftime though, QPR had breathing space. Marc Bircham’s cross was controlled on the chest by Furlong, before the R’s striker brought it down and slotted home the second right in front of the R’s faithful. We were almost there, but Rangers being Rangers let the Owls back in the game and they pulled one back through Paul Shaw on the hour. It was looking like it was going to a nervy last thirty minutes until Rowlands went on a mazy down run the left hand side got free of his marker and his cross was turned into his own net by Chris Carr, 3-1 QPR, get the champagne ready.

The last fifteen minutes are still a blur to me as all we were already celebrating and when the final whistle went I along with thousands of R’s went mental. Cue the celebrations, cue the Gino dancing and cue the singing. After celebrating with the players on the pitch, my Dad I rushed back home to a QPR supporting relatives pub and partied the night away with blue and white hooped cocktails, which to this day I have no idea what was in them and every time Sky Sports News showed the goals the whole pub was singing “Ian Holloway’s Blue and White army!” What a day, any chance of a repeat come May Mr Sousa?

Sheff Wed: Pressman ,Geary ,Barry-Murphy ,Dean Smith (Carr ,45 ) ,Wood ,McLaren ,McMahon ,Cooke ,Brunt ,Robins ,Shaw

QPR: Camp ,Padula ,Carlisle (Gnohere ,45 ) ,Rose ,Edghill ,Ainsworth ,Bircham ,Johnson ,Rowlands (Cureton ,81 ) ,Furlong ,Gallen 

Postscript: QPR started the following season slowly but a seven game winning run lifted them into the promotion battle. They eventually finished mid-table. Sheff Wed also started the next season badly and sacked manager Chris Turner before charging to promotion via the play offs under his successor Paul Sturrock.

Connections
Andy Sinton
QPR 1989-93
Sheff Weds 1993-96
Another reason I was looking forward to this week’s column was the opportunity to talk about a Rangers player who is very dear to my heart; Andy Sinton. The reason being on my very first visit to Loftus Road in December 1992, it was the R’s lethal left winger who stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Everton. And you never forget your first time do you?

Ten year’s earlier Sinton began his footballing career at Cambridge United. Signing for United straight after leaving school he became the club’s youngest ever player when he made his debut aged 16 years and 288 days and is still the only Cambridge player to come out their youth team and go on to be a full international. Despite his young age, Andy was a bright spark in what was a poor Cambridge team that suffered successive relegations in 1984 and ‘85 so it was no surprise when Sinton was snapped up Brentford for just £25,000. He became a big crowd favourite at Griffin Park and gained a reputation as one of the most talented players outside the topflight.

After four seasons with the Bees, Trevor Francis swooped to bring the wide man just a few miles down the road to Queens Park Rangers, much to the displeasure of the Brentford fans. It was at Loftus Road Sinton enjoyed arguably the best football of his career, first under Don Howe then Gerry Francis as key member of the team that would finish as top London club in the first season of the Premier League. Sinton also memorably notched in Rangers 4-1 victory over Manchester United in January 1992. His displays for the Superhoops earned him a call-up to the full England squad and Graham Taylor gave him his debut in a 1-1 draw with Poland in 1991. He would go on to win 12 caps and play at Euro 92 in Sweden.

Sinton left Rangers in the summer of 1993, allegedly turning down Arsenal to sign for Sheffield Wednesday for a then club record £2.75 million. In his and a bit seasons at Hillsborough, Sinton helped the Owls reach two cup finals losing both ironically to Arsenal before rejoining Gerry Francis now in charge at Spurs. He picked up a Worthing Cup winners medal at Tottenham then moved on to Wolves followed by a spell at Burton Albion. Now currently into his fourth season as manger of Isthmian League side Fleet Town.
Magic R’s moment: For me it has to be that hat-trick against Everton, but could also mention the goal against Man City on the first ever Monday Night Football.

Simon Stainrod
QPR 1980-85
Sheff Weds 1985
In the history of great Rangers number tens, the name Simon Stainrod is up there with the best of them. Born in Sheffield, Stainrod began life at the red and white half of the Steel City with the Blades. After three seasons with United the raw striker moved on to Oldham where is 20 goals in a season half caught the attention of Terry Venables who forked out £275,000 to bring the front man to Loftus Road. West London and QPR seemed to suit Stainrod and is best remembered for his time in a hooped shirt. Showing a touch of class that suited the Rangers number 10 shirt that he failed to show at any one his previous clubs and was the perfect foil for the predator like Clive Allen. He played a key part in Venables Rangers side that went all the way to the FA Cup Final in 1982, narrowly losing out to Tottenham after a replay as well as the team that secured promotion to the First Division a season later. Stainrod spent five happy seasons at Rangers scoring 48 goals until Venables left the club and Simon moved on to his boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday. Unfortunately it was a sour homecoming for Stainrod and his stay at Hillsborough only lasted six months after falling out with manager Howard Wilkinson and he joined Aston Villa. Spells at Stoke, Strasbourg, Rouen and time in Scotland before hanging up his boots 1995. Now a licensed football agent based in France.
Magic R’s moment: A stunning hat-trick against boyhood club Wednesday in November 1991.

Others:
Peter Baker Sheff Weds 1954-61 QPR 1961-63. Now retired
Ron Spingett QPR 1953-58, 1967-70, Sheff Weds 1958-67. Now runs a Sports shop
Mike Pinner Sheff Weds 1957-59, QPR 1959-60. Now unknown
Peter Springett QPR 1963-67, Sheff Weds 1967-70. Passed away in 1997
Vic Mobley Sheff Weds 1964-69, QPR 1969-73. Now unknown
Chris Woods QPR 1979-81, Sheff Weds 1991-96. Now goalkeeping coach at Everton
Gary Bannister Sheff Weds 1981-84, QPR 1984-88. Now runs a Holiday accommodation business
Garry Thompson Sheff Weds 1985-86, QPR 1991-93. Now unemployed
Danny Maddix QPR 1987-2001, Sheff Weds 2001-03. Now manages Sunday League Colbrook Royals
Trevor Francis QPR 1988-89, Sheff Weds 1989-94. Now TV pundit for Al Jazeera Sports
Junior Agogo Sheff Weds 1997-2000, QPR 2002. Now at El Zamelek
Leon Knight QPR (loan) 2001, Sheff Weds (loan) 2002-03, now with Rushden
Frankie Simek QPR (loan) 2004, Sheff Weds 2005-present
Leon Best QPR (loan) 2004-05, Sheff Weds (loan) 2005-06. Now at Coventry
Leon Clarke QPR (loan) 2006, Sheff Weds 2007-present
Jimmy Smith QPR (loan) 2006-07, Sheff Weds (loan) 2008-present
Adam Bolder QPR 2007-present, Sheff Weds (loan) 2008 currently on loan at Millwall
Ben Sahar QPR (loan) 2007, Sheff Weds (loan) 2008. Now on loan at Portsmouth

Fans’ Memories
My ex wife was from Sheffield, and all her immediate family were Wednesday supporters. Best away memory? Winning for promotion. No question. Plus seeing Hillsborough under all that water after the summer flooding, struggling to dry out the pitch in time for the start of the season. Seeing the groundsmen in boats in the stadium. Made a great image.Rangers69

Thinking that they should have kept the huge pitch they used to have(Big Ron?) and noticing the home end now looks out of alignment where they built the new big stand.Then I concentrated on celebrating promotion. EDIT:A cracking chippy near the away end as well. -Metallica

I remember winning there in the mid- 80's with Martin Allen scoring from 25 yards. Went there loads of times and apart from the obvious one nothing else stands out. -loftboy

After my first visit in 1987 when we lost 7-1 I promised I would never set foot in that miserable dump again...2004 What a way to break a promise! -zranger

Losing 5-2 in the season we were relegated to League 1. From memory it was absolutely freezing and Peter Crouch came of age scoring both our goals. -WestminsterR

In our relegation from the prem season. We went up there expecting defeat and quite simply, played some superb stuff and tore them apart. Gregory Goodridge scored from a corner. We won 3 1 that day and on the way home, really thought we could stay up-Charlie

Remember going up there after the disaster (no not the 7-1, the deaths) and singing "Murderers" to the old bill. They were itching to give us a kicking. -hayesender

Not only Gregory Goodridge scoring from a corner but ol' Mavis Barker got the two other goals in that game as well! One of them was a nicely taken chip from 20 yards out if I remember correctly. -TheChef

First visit to Hillsborough was in 2000/2001 when we got battered 5-2....absolutely atrocious team that was. But then I was there in 2003/2004....my best day EVER as QPR fan. Yet.... -Mr Foxy

My worst ever away trip was there. Got two punctures before leaving London, just avoided an accident. Got it fixed then missed the junction to pick up a mate so had to go all the way to next one and then back. Got there, nowhere to park, eventually parked on a verge. It was freezing cold, we lost 5-2 and then had a parking ticket when we eventually found the car after the game. Thinking I may give this one a miss. -blacky200

To add your memories use the commenting facility below, e-mail us loftforwords@yahoo.co.uk or post on the message board thread.

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