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Season Review 2005-06
Monday 22nd May 2005
by Ron Norris
 

 

SEASON REVIEW: June 2005

A look back at the season past, month by month. We begin our review by casting our minds back to the summer months of June and July.

June 2005

   
     
     

 

 

Rangers started the month by announcing the signing of Ian Evatt from Chesterfield on a three year deal. Evatt signed for an undisclosed amount but controversy over the amount paid in agents fee rumbled on for sometime. Chairman Bill Power flew out to meet Evatt during his holiday in Majorca to capture his signature.

QPR Chief Executive Mark Devlin was pleased with season ticket sales despite the criticism of the new pricing structure. Sales had reached the 8,000 mark, over two thousand down on the previous season but Devlin was still happy saying "Already at this early stage we have produced more season ticket revenue than we did in total last season”.

   

Two Rangers’ legends were named in the Queens Birthday Honours list, Les Ferdinand was made an MBE whilst iconic 70’s manager Dave Sexton received an OBE.

Stefan Moore became Ian Holloway’s second summer signing as he put pen to paper on a three year deal after moving from Aston Villa on a free transfer. "There isn't one particular player that I would say I am similar to” Moore said, describing himself “ I like to take different parts of everyone and add it to my game." We didn’t realise he’d end up being part Steve Slade part Sammy Koejoe. Meanwhile Ian Holloway proved he was no Mystic Meg by adding "What he needs to do is get a few games under his belt and when he does he'll be flying.”

Rangers added a second shirt sponsor when Sellotape agreed a deal to have their brand name stuck on the back of our shirts for two seasons.

The Evening Standard conducted a survey of London football fans and found that QPR had the most satisfied supporters outside the Premiership and the second happiest in London overall, behind Charlton. It would be interesting to see where we sit now…. 

The fixtures were released and The R’s would open the season at Hull City before facing Ipswich in the first home game of the campaign. Other notable games were a Boxing Day trip to Brighton, Crewe away on New Years Eve and the first ever game at Coventry City’s brand new Ricoh Arena. Rangers were also drawn away to Northampton in the League Cup.

   

Danny Shittu signed a new contract keeping him at Loftus Road until 2008, ending speculation about a move away from Rangers, at least for another season anyway. "It feels good for me to know that I'm going to be here next season. There was a lot of talk about me playing in the Premiership next season, but I really feel that I can get there with QPR” said Big Dan at the time.  

Ian Holloway increased his summer signings to three with the capture of Tommy Doherty from Bristol City. Doherty, like Evatt and Moore before him, signed a three year deal for an undisclosed fee. Doherty was confident he would make an impact saying that "I'm stepping up from League One but have no doubts about my ability to play at this level and higher.” However again, like Moore and Evatt, things wouldn’t quite go to plan.

 
   

Rangers’ youth team would open the new campaign as part of a revamped league format. The under 18’s lined up in a new look thirteen team league alongside Brentford, Brighton, Cambridge, Colchester, Gillingham, Orient, Luton, Northampton, Portsmouth, Rushden & Diamonds, Southend and Wycombe. 

Swindon Town looked to raise their attack to the level of popgun by signing former R’s strikers Jamie Cureton and Tony Thorpe both of whom had left The R’s at the start of the summer. “They are both renowned goalscorers” said then Swindon boss Andy King. 

The last news to come out of Loftus Road in June was that the club were in negotiations to sign former Chelsea and Glasgow Rangers striker Tore Andre Flo. Ian Holloway knew it would be a battle to sign the Norwegian rating our chances as “a real 100-1 shot”.

   

< CONTINUE TO JULY 2005 >

 

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