Former R's - Waddock on brink of title
Monday, 31st Mar 2008 20:11

In the world of former QPR stars it's Gary Waddock enjoying the most success as he prepares to lead Aldershot back to the Football League.

We start this round up with news of Gary Waddock who has done a magnificent job at Aldershot this season and is about to take them into the football league for the first time since they reformed in 1992. The Shots sit seventeen points clear of Torquay and although the Gulls have two games in hand it will take a miracle for them to be overhauled now with just five games remaining.

Speaking after a frustrating draw with lowly Droylesden last week Waddock urged patience among fans desperate to celebrate a return to the league. Waddock said: “Everybody expects us to win in every game, and that's not possible. We cannot maintain the outstanding standards and performances that the players have set. It's impossible. Up until this point the players have been absolutely fantastic in the way they've gone about their business. It's all about what we do and our preparation will continue to be the same for every single game until the end.”

Aldershot have former QPR youth teamer Nikki Bull between the sticks and hefty midfielder Scott Donnelly on their books, though rarely in the side.

Elsewhere Scott Sinclair made his third debut of the season on Saturday, playing in Crystal Palace’s 0-0 home draw with Blackpool. This is the fourth London club the Chelsea youngster has played for this season after unsuccessful loan spells with QPR and Charlton and things didn’t start very well for him at Selhurst Park as he was booked for diving trying to win a deadlock breaking penalty. Back at The Valley, where manager Alan Pardew has bemoaned the quality of his loan signings and pointed the finger at them as their play off bid has faltered, Lee Cook played the final 25 minutes of their thrilling 3-2 defeat by Wolves. Charlton are four points outside the play off zone now and Palace two but Wolves in sixth have a game in hand on both. Rangers will welcome Charlton, and Cook, back to Loftus Road in three weeks time.

Gino Padula still waits for his Columbus debut after a delay in getting his visa following a move from Montpellier. Coach Sigi Schmid said: "He is a very good passing outside back. He is very good with the ball, very calm on the ball and he doesn't panic. He'll get forward, but he picks and chooses the times to get forward a little more than (most). At this stage in his career, I think he's looking to settle in. Hopefully, he'll be our left back for a number of years."

Leroy Griffiths rolled back the years and brought back memories of a fine strike in QPR colours in a 2-2 draw at Blackpool a few years ago with a karate kick style goal for Gillingham at Port Vale at the weekend. Griffiths said: "That karate kick shot was going top bins. I thought to myself the ball is coming down so go for it. Normally, they work as I've scored two at home, one of which was disallowed even though I was miles onside and timed my run to perfection! I'm about scoring goals. Get into the position in the box and when they fall for me, I will take them."

Adam Miller set the goal up and Dennis Oli also featured but the number of ex-QPR players in the Gillingham team seems to be falling week on week with Danny Cullip, Simon Royce and Steve Lomas all injured, out of favour or moved on.

Dominic Shimmin has left Crawley after, wouldn’t you just know it, an injury hit few months there. The former Arsenal centre half made just four appearances in three seasons at Loftus Road and has only played twice for Crawley since joining earlier this season.

Finally it is with great sadness that we note the passing of former QPR goalkeeper Ray Drinkwater who died last week aged 76. He made 214 appearances for Rangers over five years in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

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