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Post by Daedalus on Jul 15, 2011 18:14:35 GMT
Pre-Season Friendly -
St. Albans City v QPR XI,
Monday 18th July 2011, KO 19:15
No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/stalbans.jpg v No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/QPR_Logo.png
Clarence Park, St. Albans
No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/StAlbansMainStandII-1.jpg
QPR Quick Guide:Club founded: 1882 Nickname: The Super-Hoops, The Hoops, Rs, Rangers Club colours: Blue and white. 10 year record: | 01-02 | 02-03 | 03-04 | 04-05 | 05-06 | 06-07 | 07-08 | 08-09 | 09-10 | 10-11 | FL-2
8th | FL-2
4th | FL-2
2nd | FL-Ch
11th | FL-Ch
21st | FL-Ch
18th | FL-Ch
14th | FL-Ch
11th | FL-Ch
13th | FL-Ch
1st |
Read more about QPR's history by clicking here. Visit the official QPR website by clicking here. See the Herts Advertiser preview by clicking here. Saints fan Jake Ellacott gives us his thoughts on the first pre-season friendly below.Another pre-season is upon us, and it begins with Premier League newboys Queens Park Rangers sending a side to Clarence Park on Monday evening for a 7:15pm kick-off to play the Saints. It's been a very busy summer off the pitch for City, with new owners John McGowan and Lawrence Levy taking over the club. The club also has a new chairman in the shape of Ian Ridley. One of the first choices the trio had to make was over the future of the manager's position. It was decided that Steve Castle would be replaced by ex-Harrow Borough manager David Howell. On the pitch, it has been rather quiet, with only the signing of midfielder Danny Hart from Howell's old club Harrow being announced so far. At the first pre-season training session last week, 25-30 players turned up. However, only six players who played some part for City last season attended the training session. It is not known how many of the players who were at the training session last week will be retained by the club or will be given a chance in the upcoming pre-season fixtures. City's opponents, the R's, were promoted from the Championship last term, winning the league by four points. However, it could have been all so different if the club had been hit with a points deduction from the investigation into the illegal transfer of Alejandro Faurlin. Luckily for the West London Club, they were only found guilty on two minor charges, and were given a large fine but no points deduction. Just like the Saints, QPR will be facing a tough challenge in a league that they have not been in for several years this coming season. The side being sent to Clarence Park is expected to be a side made up of players from the Loftus Road bench, along with reserve and youth squad players. Of course some big names may well be given a run out! This will be the first opportunity for fans to pop down to Clarence Park and see some football since the changes at the club, so why not come along on Monday evening to see a fresh, and exciting new City side take on Premier League outfit Queen park Rangers? Don't forget that the game begins at an earlier kick off time of 7:15pm. COYS! No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/gialloblu.gif |
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Post by Saint on Jul 16, 2011 19:45:05 GMT
QPR sent an 'XI' to Hampton and Richmond today, and these were some of the more known names which went: Cook, Rowlands, Balanta, Clarke, Ramage, Putins, German, Borrowdale.
So I think we'll be seeing those sorts of names on Monday. Which isn't too bad considering some for those players played several times last season for the R's, and it is only an 'XI' being sent.
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Post by Daedalus on Jul 16, 2011 23:02:19 GMT
Sounds good Saint. I'll be interested to see what sort of side they bring.
More interested to see who City will be fielding though!
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Post by bushthesaint on Jul 17, 2011 11:58:05 GMT
Correction: Alejandro Faurlin
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Post by proudsalopian on Jul 17, 2011 12:44:45 GMT
Looked everywhere for an admission price but cannot find one, can anyone shed any light?
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Post by Saint on Jul 17, 2011 12:48:30 GMT
Looked everywhere for an admission price but cannot find one, can anyone shed any light? Adults: £8 Concessions: £4 Family Ticket: (2 parents/guardians+2 children) £12 |
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Post by Saint on Jul 17, 2011 12:49:36 GMT
Correction: Alejandro Faurlin Ooops, thanks for pointing that mistake out BushtheSaint!  |
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Post by Boomer on Jul 17, 2011 12:52:17 GMT
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Post by proudsalopian on Jul 17, 2011 13:22:15 GMT
Cheers Saint and Boomer.
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Post by Daedalus on Jul 18, 2011 9:44:36 GMT
Looking forward to getting back to Clarence Park this evening and seeing some football.
The start of a new era! Hoping for a much more positive mood around the Park and also looking forward to seeing the hard work that has gone into the ground over the summer.
COYS! No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/gialloblu.gif
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Post by Saint on Jul 18, 2011 11:32:36 GMT
If anyone cannot make it to the game today, I will try and post goal updates live from the match in this thread.
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Post by Saint on Jul 18, 2011 18:27:26 GMT
QPR 1-0 Saints . 13th minute, Leon Clarke.
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Post by Saint on Jul 18, 2011 19:05:38 GMT
HT: QPR 1-0 Saints.
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Post by Saint on Jul 18, 2011 19:22:46 GMT
3-0. Leon Clarke and Antonio German.
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Post by Saint on Jul 18, 2011 19:40:33 GMT
4-0. 75th minute.
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Post by Saint on Jul 18, 2011 19:56:23 GMT
FT: 4-0. Att: 551.
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Post by newton45 on Jul 19, 2011 11:37:24 GMT
Now then chaps, who went last night, thoughts? opinions? Decent crowd to, mostly QPR fans or mostly new Saints fans?
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Post by Daedalus on Jul 19, 2011 13:51:32 GMT
Hope you don't mind that I've moved your post to the QPR match thread Newton. Thought it might as well go in here. I went along last night. Seemed a positive atmosphere. A good crowd, I thought, and I overheard quite a few 'returning' Saints fans who seemed to be coming along to see what all the fuss was about regarding the new owners/chairman. The atmosphere at the Park was quite positive, which makes a great change from the last few years. Regarding the on the pitch stuff, it was difficult to reach any conclusions at this stage. Good to see some returning faces. I thought first-half the performance was quite decent seeing as the side had so many new faces. Second-half, things got a bit sloppy and it was more or less a training match for QPR but then the whole team was changed at half-time so it was bound to happen that way. Among the returning faces from more recent seasons, Sean Shields looked pretty sharp at times in the first-half. Also, Sol Shields came on for a little cameo appearances for maybe 10 mins or so. I hope that maybe his injury problems are behind him because I really rate him and would love to see him back to his best in the middle of the park. As the two online reports suggest, Nick Jupp had a good game. Someone I spoke to at the match was saying that he could be a good signing and I have to agree based on this display. He looked very solid and made some good saves. That's a few brief impressions for you. Check out the online reports from the local papers at the following links: www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/9146232.Jupp_stars_but_Rangers_dominate_at_Clarence_Park/?ref=rsswww.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/jupp_stars_but_premier_league_new_boys_qpr_run_out_comfortable_winners_1_967753 |
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Post by saints17mad on Jul 19, 2011 15:53:01 GMT
It was a good crowd last night and was an even mix of supporters I thought, however there was quite a few young kids there which was good to see, a few of them with saints scarfs. The goalkeeper impressed me along with Rob Haworth who I though was extremely unlucky not to score to make it 1-1 in the first half. For his age he really did lead by example and if he can stay injury free he will be a big asset to the team I feel. Other than that no players really stood out for me but I noticed Adam Fry played for us who I beleive is Barry Frys son and played for The Posh.
The mood was positive which made a nice change, the clubhouse had a couple of new tv's, a new burger van was there, the terraces had been repainted apart from the direct fence around the pitch. Apparently now we have a coffee bar as well but I did not see or visit this. The toilets behind the saints city trust shop had also been repainted. The pitch surface looked very good with new turf being laid in the goulmouth. A very good thing to see was a gazebo infront of the board room with lots of business men and women there. I can only presume that this was an initiative to attract some local business interest and sponsors. A very good idea in my eyes. Despite all this I still managed to count 11 floodlights out (the game didn't quite grip me in the second half!).
Overall I was impressed and am extremely excited about the coming season! It would be a shame to lose Effiong as i think he could learn alot from Ken Charlery and develop into a great player for us. Remember Rome (verulamium) wasn't built in a day!
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Post by Daedalus on Jul 19, 2011 16:02:27 GMT
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Post by Daedalus on Jul 19, 2011 16:08:09 GMT
Apparently now we have a coffee bar as well but I did not see or visit this. I think it was behind the gazebo next to the board room. I didn't visit it either. There was also a new burger van. Does anyone know if they do chips! ;D Pitch and goalmouths looked really good to me. No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/thup.gif Totally agree. This was pleasing to see! |
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oldgeezer
Saints Youth Team Player
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Post by oldgeezer on Jul 19, 2011 17:30:19 GMT
I spoke to the St Albans City Tourism manager after the match. (he was one of the business men there)
He was talking of advertising the mighty saints at the tourist information centre - selling tickets, and selling supporters club stuff.
All sounds positive - I hope it comes to fruition.
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Post by bushthesaint on Jul 19, 2011 18:32:02 GMT
Did anyone hear that group of about 5 people at the St Albans vs QPR game last night blowing those vuvuzelas?
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Post by Mick the Mike on Jul 20, 2011 5:53:12 GMT
Prior to the match on Monday, the misgivings had started to set in. Was I doing the right thing in going back? Were elements of the back biting, the negativity, the bickering and indeed the poor football, so prevalent under the previous regime, still seeping from the pores of the Park? Did I need the hastle? I am busy enough without it.
I had been unable to attend the Forum in early June as I was on holiday.I knew Ian Ridley well of course, but had not met Lawrence Levy or John McGowan. True, Lawrence Levy had telephoned me at home from Amsterdam to say how delighted he was that I had agreed to return and to tell me of his hopes and plans for the club in the future. I had appreciated that. I had gone down to the Park last week to check out the P A system and ensure that everything was working correctly. The place was a hive of activity. Eamesie was on the mower. The sprinklers were going. The pitch looked great. John McGowan's people were everywhere painting everything that didn't move. Apparently they had been there for some weeks. The boss of the club shop showed me the newly decorated retail premises that he was filling with stock. Old pitch side advertising had been removed and new, sparkling banners were being put up in their place. Geoffrey was helping Eamesie "do" the lines. Cobby was there. As was Dave Willacy. Even the York Road gents looked better for some TLC. And the terraces had been weeded and Eamsie had sprayed the terraces to delay the return of said weeds.
Anyway, back to Monday. During my 15 month absence, I had received many emails, texts and telephone calls of encouragement and the thought of these, my commitment to Ian Ridley and the calls from Lawrence Levy prompted me to bite the bullet and I went down to Clarence Park at 3.00pm. Again, the place was a hive of activity despite the torrential rain. A pitch side marquee had been erected as Lawrence Levy (LL) had invited 125 people from the Chamber of Commerce. John McGowan's (JM) people were sprucing up the place still, cutting down weeds along the bank behind the Hatfield Road end. I met Lee Page for the first time in a long while. He hasn't been well but he had been helping Eamsie out on the pitch despite the rain. I rigged up the computer to the P A system and all was well. But I was not home and dry. John McGowan had purchased a set of "roving" mics - two handheld jobs, a head set and a mic that clips onto clothing. How did these work and where did they plug into? Despite his obvious fatigue, Lee Page came to the rescue and sorted things out. One mic didn't work and Lee decided that it needed new batteries.
LL came to introduce himself. Very smartly attired in a suit, a human dynamo, he was on the go all day. He showed me the prototype new shirt for the forthcoming season. The hamburger stand gentleman had informed LL that he was no longer going to attend matches so LL was on the phone calling all sorts of people to get a replacement. Talk about the eleventh hour! Was I going to give some airtime to the new commercial partners? I showed him my script. (Some of you will know that following a motorbike accident a couple of years ago, I have lost some memory and if I have to utter anything beyond a few words, I need a script otherwise I get into all sorts of trouble. No middle of the pitch interviews for me!) He didn't stop. What a change from his predecessor who didn't utter a syllable to me for a year!
The rain started easing. In shuffled Knockie with his usual kind words of encouragement. Other friends and acquaintances followed over the next hour. Lots of words of encouragement. Ignore the negative posting on the forum they said. You'll always get one. I even received texts saying much the same thing! James from the Advertiser turned up early. He'd seen Hitchin in a couple of pre-seasons and they had looked good. I spoke with David Howell. What a nice, quietly spoken man he is. He went through the team names and I wrote the more difficult ones out phonetically. I urged him to sign players with easy-to-pronounce names like Smith, Brown, Jones etc. I don't think I convinced him. I went over to the Hatfield Road turnstile and JM introduced himself. What a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-on-with-it man he is. A perfect match for LL, I would think. Avoid the publicity, leave that to LL. He's good at that. Get on with things quietly.
A message came. Could I turn down the music? LL was going to make a speech to the Chamber of Commerce group. Lots of enthusiasm. We'd like you to get involved with the club. Sponsorship opportunities. I spoke with one of them during the match. He was going to get involved.
Eamesie was being pulled in every which way. More than usual I would guess because of the guests from the Chamber of Commerce. Where were the team sheets? QPR hadn't put theirs in (and never did. One of their coaches wrote the names of the squad on my sheet which I shared with Tavs and James).
The match? Oh yes. A bit chaotic from my viewpoint due to the huge number of substitutuions. We didn't recognise players and I spent a fair amount of time pitchside getting details of substitutions from the managers. Oh yes, that roving mic was so, so handy! The commercial partners were given good airtime. A car was blocking others in the car park. Would the driver of the QPR coach please move it. Franco Sidoli introduced himself and we had quite a long chat. We have a few things in common. He was in the youth team at Charlton. The team that David Howell fielded in the first half held their own well, going in 1 - 0 at half time. It would be fair to say that the second half team were outplayed.
Full time. Loads of P A thanks. To QPR for coming along. To the fans who came along. Don't forget Sunday. To the Commercial partners. To the Indian restaurant who supplied the nosh for the Marquee. Nothing to eat for me. Blood test first thing Tuesday - another aftermath of the motorcycle accident - so only water or black coffee allowed.
Tavs mischievously asked if I was coming on Sunday. "I think I'll give it another try", I replied.
I went into the boardroom. Warm handshake from Nick Archer who said "I'm still here" with a smile. Spoke to a few other people I knew.
And LL? Very busy talking. But when he saw me, he shook hands once again and said "Thank you for tonight, I'll see you on Sunday".
I'm not used to that from a boss of the club. Thank you? Well there we go. Things have certainly changed. And on another positive note, one person "in the know" at the club said that he would be dissapointed if the Saints were not in the play off zone at the end of the season.
Let's hope so.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2011 6:14:46 GMT
cheers for the excellent post, great stuff to hear from an 'insiders' viewpoint
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Post by Daedalus on Jul 20, 2011 9:01:24 GMT
Yeah, great post MtM! Enjoyed reading that.
Great to hear that familiar voice across the PA system again! Plus it's really good to hear about the positive attitude behind the scenes.
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Post by Boomer on Jul 20, 2011 10:26:14 GMT
One of the best posts I have read in a long long time, MtM. You could just smell the 'feel good' factor in the air on Monday night and long may it continue. .... And on another positive note, one person "in the know" at the club said that he would be dissapointed if the Saints were not in the play off zone at the end of the season. Let's hope so. Most fans that I spoke to on Monday evening were sensible enough to realise that we are only just at the start of the long road back, at this present time. Clearly, a very large amount of both time and money have been invested in the club over the past few weeks and I am certain that supporters are very grateful for all that has been done. Personally, if we can make the play offs, I think it would be a fantastic achievement but we really must not expect too much, too soon. There is a long way to go; we need long term stability and even if we were to finish, say, top 10 this coming season, I think most supporters would see that as a positive step in the right direction and be more than pleased. |
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Post by newton45 on Jul 20, 2011 10:56:04 GMT
Finishing top ten and a decent cup run would suit me! Anything more would be fantastic!
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Post by moaner on Aug 1, 2011 16:32:58 GMT
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