memories of loftus rd

[twranger]

@cross it dave....how do remember all that stuff in such detail?.....amazing!!

[QPR Richard]

@cross it Dave

I take my hat off to you sir.

Well I would if I had one

[Rangers77]

There are too many memories for me to remember after 44 years, but here are a few.

Seeing Gordon Banks in goal when we beat Stoke for a rare victory in 68/69.

Rodney Marsh's juggling the ball before crossing against Hull for Frank Clarke to score against Hull in 69.

Millwall fans walking past the Loft entrance abusing our beloved Rodney,
I had to ask my older brother what they meant, I was only eight, some of those Millwall were as old as 16.

Sitting by the touchline on the cinders behind the School End goal when Terry Venables scored a penalty against Chelsea the same season.

The debut of Stanley against Brian Clough's Forest, he scored they didn't and we won 3-0

Being picked up off the floor by Gerry Francis and Terry Venables outside the Ellerslie Rd players entrance when I tripped over running to get their autographs in 1970.

What seemed like thousands of West Ham fans singing I'm forever blowing bubbles in the Loft.

Billy Hamilton's brace against Man City, coming on as a second half sub.

Dave Thomas's debut against Sunderland, what a player.

Beating Sheffied Wednesday 8-2 in the cup.

Stanley's last minute free kick winner against Coventry in the cup.

1975/76, enough said.

Alan Ball missing a penalty in front of the Loft.

The EUFA cup, beating all comers at home.

Mark Hughes missing a sitter for Man U in front of the Loft and getting showered with loose change, after giving us the ****** sign.

The plastic pitch and two new stands.

Beating the scum 6-0

Drawing with the Geordies 5-5.

Beating Wolves to get promoted.

Beating Palace in the quarter finals with a late goal from Clive Allen.

Beating Burnley 7-0.

Last minute penalty against Millwall in the cup, cooly converted by Clive Wilson

My wife's first game against Blackburn, Les 1 Shearer 0

The list is of course endless, but that'll do for now.

Great post. I hated that plastic pitch, mind.

[LoftusRoadLad]

cross it dave you put a tear in me eye.

[swindonhoop]

Cross it dave. Great memories mate. As a northern irish r's fan i had almost forgot about billly hamilton being at qpr! Inexcusable i know! Thanks for those great memories. Hopefully lots more to come!

[Jogo]

The plastic pitch is one memory I would like to forget.

In recent years we played against Wycombe just after Xmas when the club was on its knees and I think we won 4-3, memorable because there was an American marching band due to perform at the New Years day parade. They came onto the pitch at half time and continued to play throughout the second half on the side lines creating an awe-inspiring atmosphere. It was like playing to war drums.

[loftbalcony]

Night games.
A special mention fit the cup tie v forest mid eighties when the origanum game was abandoned due to floodlight failure and when replayed r's were one up and forest equalized in the last minute if I remember right and their fans were singing will you come to Nottingham ( meaning the replay) and r's replied by sticking another 2 in during injury time , will never forget it.

[SussexR]

My first visit in 1963 as a 5 year old. A reserve game against god knows who. Sat in the old wooden Ellerslie Road Stand right above the tunnel nearest the Loft (there were two tunnels). I still remember smelling the linement the players used on their legs as they ran out. In fact I can still smell it.

Leeds home 75/76, 35,000 with fans up the old floodlights

Losing 4-2 to the scum in the FA Cup, 71ish, Osgood scored, very painfull.

Always being pushed to the front of the Loft as a kid.

The strange bloke with a carrier bag on The Loft who used to dance around and under the crush barriers before games.

When they put up the wire fences, hated it.

Losing 2-0 to Leicester in cup quater final when Joe Waters scored both on his debut. I was gutted. I stood on the South Africa Road terrace under the stand.

Dave Clements testemonial after he died

And so much, much more. Good and bad It brings a tears to my eyes.

[NYRanger]

Of the ones not mentioned already, would have to be beating chelsea 3-1 in a pre-season friendly followed by a pitch invasion and a memorable flying kick by a ginger fella into a chelsea fan's face.

[Factamondo]

those heady european nights.....slovan bratislava(who had 8 of the cechoslavakian euro 76 winners in it) 5-2......fc koln ....aek athens......

[Hitman34]

was 12yo. me and my mate ripping up the astro turf on the last day and had a horse and cop heading straight for us. shat my pants for real and jumped into the loft. proceeded to shake the turd out of my trouser leg and hurled it at the copper. last i remember was it sitting in the six yard box.

[LoftusRoadLad]

second half of that 5-5 with the toons......the atmosphere was astounding

[Factamondo]

second half of that 5-5 with the toons......the atmosphere was astounding

got pinched after n a 250 notes fie from magistrate quinton the *****!

[LoftusRoadLad]

got pinched after n a 250 notes fie from magistrate quinton the *****!

did you try n biff one of the gee gees ?

[lymehoop]

My first visit in 1963 as a 5 year old. A reserve game against god knows who. Sat in the old wooden Ellerslie Road Stand right above the tunnel nearest the Loft (there were two tunnels). I still remember smelling the linement the players used on their legs as they ran out. In fact I can still smell it.

Leeds home 75/76, 35,000 with fans up the old floodlights

Losing 4-2 to the scum in the FA Cup, 71ish, Osgood scored, very painfull.

Always being pushed to the front of the Loft as a kid.

The strange bloke with a carrier bag on The Loft who used to dance around and under the crush barriers before games.

When they put up the wire fences, hated it.

Losing 2-0 to Leicester in cup quater final when Joe Waters scored both on his debut. I was gutted. I stood on the South Africa Road terrace under the stand.

Dave Clements testemonial after he died

And so much, much more. Good and bad It brings a tears to my eyes.

done most of them Sussex, that Leicester game I stood on the SA Road terrace too, frightening, surprised there was'nt a major incident the amount of people there that day. Don't recall wire fencing