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I bumped into Neil Roberts yesterday before the game, just outside 'The Springbok'. Neil for those of you who don't know, was the chairman of the Offical QPR supporters club back in the early 1990's, for maybe 4 or 5 years, he's been a good friend of mine from the old days .... early 70's, you know up the back of The Loft, singing 'Knees up Mother Brown' and the 'Golden gates of Loftus Road' and many more that dont get sung now!
Anyway, Neil called to me and at first glance, because he'd got a shaven head I couldn't make him out, it's been a good 9 years since I've seen him, but the voice was the same, and within seconds I placed the face.
Neils moved down to Herne Bay with his new wife, he's got a very young baby son, and also told me that he doesn't get to Rangers as often as he'd like to.
I called my wife over, and at first she was like me .... couldn't place the face, so I said "Kath, it's Neil Roberts" ... and off we all went into deep conversation with plenty of laughs.
After a few minutes, Neil hit me with a shocker .... he told us that he'd been diagnosed with a terminal cancer back in May. He told us that he didn't want to know how long he had, it was a case of taking each day as it comes.
All I could do was hug him, his words sent me numb!
The day before Neil had been through 14 hours of 'chemo' everything that went into his mouth now just tasted of metal. He told me that since the Dr had told him just looking at his little boy made him very emotional for days on end.
Neil Roberts is just a nice decent person, no better than you or I - I'm lost for words .... I just wanted to relate this sad story about a good Rangers fan who's fallen foul of this nasty-thing, a thing that that affects so many of our friends and familys in everyday life.
Anyway, Neil called to me and at first glance, because he'd got a shaven head I couldn't make him out, it's been a good 9 years since I've seen him, but the voice was the same, and within seconds I placed the face.
Neils moved down to Herne Bay with his new wife, he's got a very young baby son, and also told me that he doesn't get to Rangers as often as he'd like to.
I called my wife over, and at first she was like me .... couldn't place the face, so I said "Kath, it's Neil Roberts" ... and off we all went into deep conversation with plenty of laughs.
After a few minutes, Neil hit me with a shocker .... he told us that he'd been diagnosed with a terminal cancer back in May. He told us that he didn't want to know how long he had, it was a case of taking each day as it comes.
All I could do was hug him, his words sent me numb!
The day before Neil had been through 14 hours of 'chemo' everything that went into his mouth now just tasted of metal. He told me that since the Dr had told him just looking at his little boy made him very emotional for days on end.
Neil Roberts is just a nice decent person, no better than you or I - I'm lost for words .... I just wanted to relate this sad story about a good Rangers fan who's fallen foul of this nasty-thing, a thing that that affects so many of our friends and familys in everyday life.
dont know if he looks in on this site but if he does he will laugh at that memory.
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