Youth teamers Danny Maguire, Matt O'Brien, Chris Arthur, Ramone Rose, Josh Ford and Lee Brown have all signed one year professional contracts at Loftus Road.
All six youngsters featured in the QPR youth side that has won the title for the past two season running fuirst under Joe gallen and then Steve Brown. Captain of that side Danny Maguire has been with the R’s since he was eight and kindly took time out to talk to LFW after signing his first ever professional football contract.
Danny, congratulations on signing your first pro deal at QPR. How does it feel to be stepping up to the first team?
It feels great, it’s a massive step towards what I want to be at QPR, but all the hard work starts here. I just can’t wait for the season to start.
What are you looking forward to the most?
I’m most looking forward to making my first team debut. Hopefully, when I get my chance, I will take it and then go on to play regularly for Rangers. It would be something to run out at Loftus Road in front of a full house.
What are your aims for the coming season?
My main aim for next season is to stay injury free, a bad injury last season was a pain because it held me back at a time when the first team were short on midfield players and I always thought if I was fit, and in good form, maybe I would get the nod.
How did you come to join QPR in the first place?
I joined QPR when I was 8 years old, I was playing in a tournament in the west London area for my local side (Fisher Athletic), I was spotted by a scout called Micky Waldron. When I joined, it was the first season clubs introduced the Academy system, and I remember looking at my fixture list and seeing the likes of, Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham, Man Utd, Chelsea, Aston Villa, I just couldn’t believe it.
You spent some time with AFC Wimbledon last season, how did you find that? Will you be looking to go out on loan again and pick up more experience?
It was a big shock and a big learning curve playing for AFC Wimbledon last season, I played a game against Hornchurch at the back end of the season and I think I headed the ball more then I kicked it. Although the style didn’t suit me, I learned how to look after myself and it showed me the difference in class from playing in that game and training with the first team. It gives you that extra hunger to make it at this level.<
I gather you suffered a nasty foot injury last season, what was the nature of that and how has your recovery gone?
I felt a pain in my left foot in the warm up before the game away to Brentford at the start of the season, I told the physio, so he strapped it- it didn’t feel anything major. I played through the slight pain for a couple of weeks, then a couple of days after the Millwall reserve game, the pain was getting bad so I was sent to get an MRI scan. The scan showed I suffered a stress fracture to my Navicular, which ment I initially had to non-weight bear for 6 weeks in a cast. After the 6 weeks there was no real improvement, so I had to rest for another six weeks. After about another 2 months, I stared walking and then progressively after nearly six months on the sidelines and tough rehabilitation, I came on for 5 minutes against Colchester in the cup. Now it feels good, and fingers crossed the same problem doesn’t arise again.
The youth team you skippered has won the title for the last two seasons, what do you put the success down to?
The first year we won the league I would have put it down to us being fitter, faster and stronger then every other side in our league, but last year it was different, I feel we won the league due to the football we played, we passed the ball a lot better then any other team in the league, and played a system 4-3-3, which most teams couldn’t cope with.
Apart from your good self, who else should Rangers fans be watching for coming through the ranks?
There is a lot of players coming through the ranks- Danny Davenport, who also suffered a couple of nasty injuries filled in for me last season when I was out and did a brilliant job. Obviously Antonio German, who played the whole season for us last season, and scored plenty of goals whilst still at school, and also George Stollery looks like a good centre half.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Who knows? But I would like to see myself playing for QPR in the Premier League.
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