Over the years, I haven’t really found one particular player that I’ve really admired or liked enough to get his name on the back of my shirt. It’s not that I’m being miserable, but there has been something strangely different with supporting QPR in the last 10-15 years.
I think it was due to the amount we struggled in that time in terms of our financial collapse after relegation from the Premiership. When we pretty much released a whole squad of players and replaced them with new ones, practically three seasons in a row… I sort of found it hard to identify with the players because it takes time to build up that love and loyalty. It takes time to get to know their personality.
But we needed to do what we needed to do in order to survive. So yes, it’s been a while, and Ray Jones’ death was the occasion that prompted me to get his name on the back of my shirts last season. In fact, he was the first name I ever got on my shirt, because as a kid, I couldn’t afford to do it when naming first came out, and I seriously felt spoilt for choice back then too.
This season I had planned to start supporting players and getting names on my back. Rowan Vine was a serious candidate, but his injury meant that it was hard for me to consider. Last season I pondered about whether to get Michael Mancienne’s too, but seeing as he was a loanee, that deterred me, and it’s also why I didn’t get Emanuel Ledesma this season either.
But of course, I had a random moment of inspiration. I realised I didn’t need to restrict myself to the mens team when we’ve got the ladies too, so from this season, I’m wearing their names on my back, starting with club captain Simone Dwyer.
Simone has been a great servant to the QPR Ladies team in the last few years and is the perfect captain to have. She leads by example on and off the pitch as well as on the training ground and is a fitting choice to start with. I shall be getting the home and third kit with other names on too.
