40 years of (mostly) hurt....never stopped me dreaming! 06:31 - Oct 26 with 1375 views | ThaiHoop | Well, 40 years ago today my late Dad took me to my first game at Loftus Road (irresponsible really as we lived in Dorking, I was 9 years old and I had school the next day....gotta love 80s parenting!) 2nd leg in the milk cup against Rotherham, 2-1 down from the first leg and a 0-0 draw saw us knocked out.... you'd think that may have put me off but to me the result was irrelevant......the lights, the noise and even that plastic pitch just made me fall in love with the place and the club. 40 years on, and more than 17 years after deciding to leave England behind and start a new life here in Thailand, that love and passion for our unique and crazy football club has never dimmed. I love living here and have never regretted my move, but there are three things I really miss....family, friends and Loftus Road. Apart from my Dad's passing in 2008 I've never felt so far from home as I did in 2011 when we lifted the championship trophy and 2014 for THAT day at Wembley. Yeah they drive me nuts, make me angry, lead me to do things like stay awake till 5am for the privilege of watching us get stuffed 5-0 by Southend (a particular low!!)......but by God, when it goes well they can still light up my week like nothing else.....crazy for an almost 50 year old bloke who should know better!! And unlike all the United, Liverpool, Chelsea (spit!) fans living over here......I still love the fact that meeting a fellow Hoop in this far flung part of the globe will lead to immediate recognition, conversation and kinship. So here's to my Rangers, thanks for the ride so far and, though I doubt I have another 40 in me, here's to however many more years I have following this fantastic club. | | | | |
40 years of (mostly) hurt....never stopped me dreaming! on 07:11 - Oct 26 with 1315 views | Kiwi76 | Nice post & can echo much of it from Nz - approaching 50yrs for me which is sobering. The Beale rumours last week affected me far more than it should. This board has connected few of us down here & get the odd Sunday lunch in to get some QPR chat in - most positive one in years the other week. Longest relationship in my life. Long may it continue | | | |
40 years of (mostly) hurt....never stopped me dreaming! on 09:58 - Oct 26 with 1194 views | terryb | Thank you for the post, it was a joy to read. Why is it crazy for a 50 year old to feel this way about our club? This 70 year old still feels the same! I'm excited as to what we can achieve this season, even though experience tries to dampen my expectations! Perhaps I'm still trying to make up for my early years when I wasn't a Rangers supporter, or for the 20 years my children were growing up & watching my team was a very rare event. | | | |
40 years of (mostly) hurt....never stopped me dreaming! on 16:04 - Oct 26 with 1012 views | PlanetHonneywood | Nice OP. I started to leave London and progressively the UK since 1990. I feel that no matter how long you reside somewhere other than the town/country of your birth, you're never totally, 100% of that place and, whether you like it, accept it or not, there will always be a part of you that is where you come from. I have wandered a lot, too much if I am honest. But I seem - hope - that I am dunroamin' and during my time away, QPR and my QPR chums I've gone to games with over the years, provide an easy bridge to where I've come from and wherever I am on the planet. It's something I think far flung Rfosi cherish more. I have also been very lucky and loved meeting other Rfosi all around the Planet. There's just something reassuring that no matter where you are or what ever you are doing, you have found a soulmate and often, instant friend. | |
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