Lofty Heights... 'Ohhh Bobby Zamooooora!!!'

A look at Queens Park Rangers F.C. through the eyes of the fans - follow us on twitter @loftyheights70, @LoftyQPR and @qprleeroy








Sunday, September 21, 2008

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING QPR v DERBY COUNTY


*Agreed Protest*

The following is an article from the Chairman of the QPR fans group, QPR 1st with regards to an agreed protest against the latest ticket price increase. The protest is supported by various other QPR fans groups and now, has the full support of Lofty Heights.

From QPR 1st

Following discussion between representatives of the main fans groups, organisations and messageboards within the QPR Community, it has been agreed that we should call for ten minutes silence at the start of the Derby match.

This Silence will be symbolic of where our club is heading if fans continue to be priced out. At the end of the ten minute silence, we urge everyone to get behind our team at full volume, again to demonstrate the difference between a full stadium and an empty one.

Should QPR score in that 10-minute period, all fans will be encouraged to celebrate per normal but we hope they will return to silence after play commences for the rest of the ten minutes.

This is not a protest against our Board of Directors and certainly not against our squad but against a policy which we believe is misguided and harmful to our Club and its reputation.

We will be meeting with Ali Russell on Tuesday in the hope that common sense will prevail and this protest will be unnecessary. Nevertheless if he continues to refuse to offer any concessions or guarantees on behalf of the Board then the protest will continue as planned.

We would ask all fans to join in this protest and hopefully encourage Ali Russell on a policy which will eventually ensure that for the majority of the exisiting fan base going to matches becomes a luxury that we and our families can no longer afford.

With the game being selected as the main one on ITV's The Championship, this could really work and help put the message out there and I would like to encourage you all to support this protest.

Thank You

posted by LOFTY @ 9/21/2008  

15 Comments:

  • At 11:04 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    No way should R's fans do that!
    We should be trying to help our boys win by cheering them on and clapping good things! How will this help us win!
    I'm a member of QPR 1st and I might stop being if all they want to do is harm our chances of winning!

     

  • At 11:15 am, Blogger LOFTY said…

    fair enough comment Mr Anonymous and agree with what your saying to a point? But as mentioned, this is not a protest against the squad itself.

    Any suggestions? or are you happy enough to pay these prices?

     

  • At 1:07 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    edgwarerob said.
    anonymous look at the wider picture, if we don`t protest now the board will do whatever they want and how will you support them when you can`t afford to watch the R`s. If and when we get promotion
    what will they do to prices then.
    protest now, not when it`s too late.

     

  • At 5:28 pm, Blogger BAZZER said…

    As I've stated on other message boards - I disagree with any protest against the board of QPR.
    Success costs money and if it means paying a little more then I for one am happy to do so.
    Where would be now without them?
    They are building this club again from scratch PLEASE don't alienate them or we risk losing everything.

     

  • At 5:53 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    it appears that rangers fans are not happy unless they have something to protest about, for the first time in a decade we have a decent team a decent shot at promotion ambitous owners more skillfiul players, 4th in the championship and a minority of fans want to adopt schoolboy antics of being silent for 10mins. if you don't like it don't show up thats a proper protest.
    the message board che guvaras think that they speak for the15000 or so fans that upon average support QPR. they don't. if success is wanted on a sustainable scale then it must be paid for.

     

  • At 6:38 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    bazzer - thanks for your comment. I agree with you, success does cost money! However, the Club have already increased the prices during the close season. Okay, so we have more ST holders, but the paying punter at the door has dwindled if you count the attendances so far. What the club have done by increasing the prices again just weeks into the season is WRONG! Derby themselves are disputing their increase and have yet to take their allocation.
    The protest is not trying to alienate the new regime, but just ask them to be reasonable?

    anonymous - may I ask you the question? Do you go to games? Home and away? I really can't believe that someone who does, will be happy paying 40/50 pounds for a 'Championship' match when they payed much less just weeks before? Personally, I love away games, I attend about 90% per season, but it won't be too long when the other Clubs will follow a tit for tat policy ( and I wouldn't blame them) and charge us 40 pounds to watch a game. Would you be happy to do so in away ends that for example, have wooden seats, are completely open air, have a huge pylon blocking your view or have a seat where you can only fit one arse cheek on? Please answer honestly, personally, I don't think you will. You have come on here, had your rant and are probably sitting there very proud of yourself...

     

  • At 7:43 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Lofty - i do attend games both home and away and have done so for the last 25 years. its not a question of having a rant and feeling proud of myself. its about economics the club has to be self financing and not be some rich mans play thing. the fans have proved that they won't come in numbers the attendences are about the same when we we were watching rubbish the last 5 yrs or so, but the playing staff and facilities have improved the debt has gone so we should have to contribute to that. i am sure had barnsley, and southampton been sell outs then the board would not have put up the prices. but the first to attendances showed them that most rangers fans can't be bothered to attend games and those of us who do have to pay the consequences

     

  • At 8:45 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    Thanks for coming back to me!!

    I have no problem personally with an increase, it was expected. But it was too much too soon. Even the Club lied and stated, in the AGM, that it would be around a 10% increase and it is 5 times that for many!

    The 4/5 year plan keeps being mentioned by those in charge so why are we paying the price for the product now? The Premier League is coming for QPR and the money will be there, that I have no doubt. I just hope that the loyal fans that have stuck through the Club in it's darkest hours, are able to see it and enjoy it!

    Thanks again for replying :o)

     

  • At 9:01 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Lofty is right. But if Board are unhappy with attendances, don't they realise some supporters would have been away on hols for matches 1 & 2, and the Sky game always sees reduced attendance. Reducing prices might be the answer - that increases the crowd which helps the team, and they'll spend more on food and drink. Should have waited until the end of the season before taking any action.

     

  • At 9:17 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    exactly Gerry, thanks for the comment. I think it is such a shame. Personally, it will be very hard for me to bring my family or friends to a game now at these prices. I also know many people who could not afford to renew their ST's and can hardly now warrant paying silly money for one game of football. We should be trying to attract fans to Loftus Road, not force them away. It's not as though the facilities on offer in the majority of the stadium are worthy of such prices...

     

  • At 12:54 pm, Blogger BAZZER said…

    I understand your comments completely Lofty but I still think a public protest is a dangerous game to play. The intention not to alienate is obvious but how will they see it? Ungrateful supporters I suspect and if you succeed how much more investment do you think they'll be? In my opinion it's not a risk worth taking. If you love QPR think very carefully.

     

  • At 1:18 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    This is madness!
    We want to make Loftus Rd a fortress - it almost is one - why put that in jeopardy???? Protest by all means but not at the expense of the team.
    MEN-TAL.

     

  • At 10:47 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    Bazzer - thanks again for coming back, but I must just say, that I am supporting this protest, not organising it. I do hear what your saying, but also firmly believe something needs to be done. I do indeed love QPR, and on a personal note, the thought that one day in the future I may not be able to afford to come and watch them every week, is breaking my heart!

     

  • At 10:50 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    anon - my personal view is that this particular protest is not the best, but as mentioned previously, I am nor organizing it, just supporting it for the fact that something needs to be done.

    Hopefully, someone at QPR may actually see some sense by the end of the week. The FA have already supported Derby's appeal and ordered QPR to reduce the price to the one that was agreed. Whether they will do that with their own fans remains to be seen. The whole sorry episode is an embarrasment

     

  • At 1:20 pm, Blogger Bob said…

    I'm surprised that there has been no reaction by the club yet to the League's ruling on the ticket prices.

    Nobody likes price increases but following one large increase with another so quickly was a rare misstep by a group of new owners that have been pretty adept so far.

    The protest is not against the club or the new owners and I don't think men that savvy would take it that way. This is about one decision in the midst of hundreds of others that they have taken to improve the club.

    Bobo

     

Post a Comment

<< Home