Memories - QPR v Preston Thursday, 3rd Apr 2008 09:12 QPR welcome Preston North End to Loftus Road on Saturday, Ashleigh Rose looks back at a classic meeting between the two and players who have played for both clubs. In this feature we take a look back at some past memories of the R’s against their forthcoming opponents and looks at the players to grace both clubs. This week Rangers play host to Preston North End, who are currently in their best run of the season and have successfully pulled away from the bottom three under Alan Irvine. There haven’t been too many games involving these clubs over the years, in fact when the clubs met in 2000 it was the first game between the two sides for two decades. Preston first visited the Loft in 1949 in a game that ended in a goalless draw but there have been a few more goals since then as we take a walk down the blue and white hoped path of memory lane. Memorable Match The ground went into rapture’s and the crowd sang Blackstock’s name to the tune of Pigbag, the R’s top scorer had done it again. The last half an hour Rangers survived a barrage of North End attacks as they threw on Dichico and Agyemang in a four prong attack. But with the crowd acting as a twelfth man and some dogged Rangers defending the Superhoops clung onto a vital three points that went a low way in securing their status in the Championship. The fans stayed back after the game to salute their heroes, in one of those nights that only seem to happen at Loftus Road. A month later, Dexter’s stunning volley was voted QPR goal of the season by fans on the official website. Thanks Dex! QPR: Camp, Mancienne (Kanyuka) Stewart, Cullip, Bignot, Ainsworth, Lomas, Bolder, Cook (Ricketts (Smith)) Blackstock, Nygaard Preston: Lonergan, Alexander, Ledger, Chilvers, Hill (Wilson) Songo'o (Agyemang) Whaley (Dichio) Sedgwick, Pugh, Nugent, Ricketts Player Connections Wild Thing first spread his wings at Preston, beginning his career at Deepdale. Like at many of the clubs Ains has played for he was a big fans favourite at North End in two different spells at the club. After scoring fourteen goals in just under four seasons at Preston, Gareth moved to Lincoln where he was such a cult hero he came fourth in a poll to find the 100 best players to play for the Imps. Two seasons at Port Vale followed before Ains got his big move to the Premier League with a £2 million transfer to Wimbledon. Unfortunately injuries hampered his career with the Dons and found himself struggling for a first team place. Craig Brown brought him back to Preston on loan and it looked like a permanent transfer was on the horizon until Gareth chose Cardiff instead. He only lasted one season in Wales and in 2003 signed for QPR and he got off to the perfect start with two goals in an opening day 5-0 romp against Blackpool. That was followed up a month later with two of the greatest goals to ever come off a QPR boot in the 3-3 draw with Rushden and Diamonds. Five years on and Ainsworth is still on the R’s books and was recently made club captain after providing a helpful role between players and gaffer Luigi Di Canio. A huge cult hero at Loftus Road, there really is only one Gareth Ainsworth. Patrick Agyemang Danny Dichio Others: Fans’ Memories The big thing about that match was it was our game in hand on all the sides around us, was meant to be played on a Saturday earlier in the season but Preston had FA Cup commitments. I remember the second half being a real backs to the wall effort with several of the QPR players playing injured and Preston coming at us with a front four of Nugent, Agyemang, Dichio and Ricketts. I don't think we actually went out of our penalty area for nearly half an hour, then right at the end Blackstock should have made it two when Smith broke away. Nerve jangling stuff, great atmosphere, everybody was standing up by the end because we just couldn't stand to sit any more - Northernr Typically, I'll go back a long way to 1967/8 when we played Preston in the cup. Top of the division, we looked certain to win but a certain Archie Gemmell scored a wonder goal against us and we lost, I think, 2-0. He later went on to international fame scoring a similar goal for Scotland against Holland in 1978 (?) World Cup – Old Nick We’ve hardly played Preston since then in 67 apart from the past three or four seasons. This was in my first season following QPR. We played them in the cup then the following Saturday at home again in the league. We won the first but lost the second from memory - Enfieldargh Talk about your Preston memories on the Message Board Click here and be the first user to comment on this article Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
You need to login in order to post your comments |
Swansea City Polls[ Vote here ] |