The journey up seemed to fly by and we were in Sheffield just after 10am but we needed two attempts to drive around the one way system and find the hotel we were staying in. Our hope that the hotel may be the same one the players are in was raised when it all looked rather posh inside but sadly it was just a few other QPR fans and a wedding party so we couldn’t celebrate with the players after the game assuming it all went to plan. The hotel
wouldn’t let us check in till 2pm, which was a bit of a pain.
We had hoped to drop our bags off and then go for a few drinks
before the game but they kindly let us keep our bags in the clock
room as the blue hair kind of give away where we were going for
the afternoon. Before I could laugh about 60 other men joined him and women all dressed the same and all with bells on them. It turned out they were Morris Dancers and it was a shame we had to leave to meet my dad and some other friends as apparently they did some dancing for the QPR fans in the pub in one of the most bizarre pre match atmospheres anyone has ever seen. We stopped in the Yorkshire Grey for a few drinks and the nerves were getting even worse now as we watched Man Utd struggle to draw with Chelsea on the big screen before leaving to get a tram to the game. We wanted to get to the ground by half two so we could have a bet and get to our seats in plenty of time. The tram was pretty slow and both sets of fans were having a bit of banter on the tram although one kid got a bit upset by it all and had to get off the tram with her mum. Not nice to see but the mum should have had a bit of brain power not to put her kid on a tram full of football supporters going to a match. As we got
to the ground we saw plenty of familiar faces all of which looked
rather nervous ahead of the big game. As we went into the away
end we were given a leaflet with a message from Ian Holloway.
It said the following: I was supremely
confident of a win and felt strangely relaxed as I waited for
the game to start. Then High Ho Silver Lining was played over
the PA system and I knew it would be our day. This song is played
after every home win now in memory of the late great Daphne Biggs
who worked at QPR for many years and was and still is much loved
by QPR fans. It just felt right that this song was being played
to welcome the teams onto the pitch. If only the
stewards had been as relaxed outside the stadium and then legendary
QPR fan Dave Thomas may have been able to see the game. More on
that disgraceful story elsewhere on the site. Mark Robbins
in particular was worrying me, mainly because he played for Bristol
City last year and he’s the kind of player to make headlines in
these type of games but Rose and Carlisle were marshalling him
well. It was very
tense and Rowlands was next to have a go firing well wide from
outside the box. Gallen continued the shoot on sight policy and
fired wide from the edge of the area and I began to worry that
we needed to take one of these early chance or be made to pay
later in the game. We went mental
in the away end and most of us thought it was Rowlands who got
the goal but who cared. We were 1-0 up and surely on our way to
division one. I bumped into
several people at half time and the confident mood seemed to suggest
we were not far away from actually doing it and the realisation
of how close we were was starting to hit home. I’ve felt sure
all season we were going up but we were now so close to it happening
it just didn’t feel real.
I went berserk jumping about 3 foot higher than I thought possible and now I had tears in my eyes as I knew this was it. I hugged the bloke next to me who I had never met before but neither of us cared. This was it, we had finally done it. The last 20 minutes were just a blur. Edghill got booked for time wasting which was one of the few decisions I thought the ref got wrong. Jamie Cureton
replaced the knackered looking Martin Rowlands and we pushed on
for a fourth. Rose carried the ball out of defence and stormed
forward to play a ball into Gallen the ball came back to Rose
as he headed across goal for Furlong but the Rangers forward didn't
read it and the danger was cleared. A goal from Rose here would
have been well deserved after a fantastic display at the heart
of the Rangers defence. The police
seemed to calm everything down and a few minutes after the team
had gone off the pitch a blue and white haired bloke ran back
on the pitch as Stewards looked confused. It turned out to be
Bircham who had done a Pat Cash and ran into the away end to find
his mum and dad. The players
were going mad as we sung louder than ever songs to Bircham, Gallen
(who actually had a magic hat with him), Holloway, Lee Camp, Chris
Day and the man of the match Matthew Rose. Words can’t do justice
to the celebrations, which were a joy to be involved with, and
I feel honoured to have been able to be a part of something so
special. The night
ended badly in a night club. By this stage we’ve met up with about
15 other QPR fans up for a party and the big screen in the night
club had text messages coming in saying well done to QPR and we
cheered each one. Then the bouncers decided they didn’t like us
and threw out Ian McCullough for wearing a QPR shirt and then
a few others and myself were told to leave as well. It was a pain
in the arse but nothing could ruin our night and a few drinks
later back at the hotel ended what had been a superb day and a
memorable season. Man of the Match: Matthew Rose Players Ratings 31. Lee Camp: Superb 10/10 |
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After
45 games of the second division season it came down to one game.
QPR travelled to Sheffield Wednesday knowing a win puts us back
in division one and any other result would probably mean the playoffs.
After a walk
around town and a few drinks in the Devonshire Cat I almost choked
on my pint when I saw who was coming in the pub. A bloke with
a big top hat on, face painted with blue and white dots and dressed
like a throw back to the 1970’s.
The
pre match bet of Rowlands for first goal scorer and a 2-0 was
put on and it was time for the biggest 90 minutes of the season.
By this stage the nerves I had felt earlier had gone and I really
couldn’t imagine us playing another game this season. 
The game kicked
off and the roller coaster that is QPR 2003/04 was set for it’s
final twist and turn. We started the game nervously. Sheffield
Wednesday were clearly up for the game and the Rangers offside
trap was being tested with some neat balls over the top to Robins
and Shaw. 
Then
the moment came. 35 minutes into the game the Leppings lane end
went berserk. Gallen held up the ball well in the box and laid
it off to Ainsworth. The Rangers winger put in a low cross, which
was blocked at Furlongs feet, and it came out to Gallen eight
yards out and the Rangers top scorer fired into the roof of the
net.
Bircham
did well to cut out a clearance and Gallen laid it off to Bircham
for the blue and white haired one to cross into the middle. Ainsworth
couldn’t get on the end of it and Furlong chested down the ball,
held off his man and fired in a brilliant shot past Pressman and
that was surley it. Carly had tears in her eyes screaming we’ve
done it but we still had over half an hour to go and I had the
feeling we needed one more to be safe. 
All
the players were looking for a goal now with Ainsworth having
an effort and Padula also had an effort but as I say it was all
a blur and none of us cared. I was still nervous about us throwing
it away but as the board came up for 3 minutes injury time I finally
began to celebrate punching the air. An announcement was made
on the PA system to say Congratulations to QPR fans your team
will be back out to celebrate after the game. The game was still
going on when she said this and it all began to feel very surreal.
It
still didn’t feel real until we got back to the hotel afterwards
to check ceefax and see we were in 2nd place. In fact it still
really hasn’t sunk in two days later but I’m still on a massive
high.