Just out from the official opening ceremony and tour. More details to follow, along with pics, but got collared to appear on a Radio London programme going out tonight on the facility.
.....make sure you share a link to your radio appearance!
Hmmm...not sure I will ever get used to being the interviewee! This is a link to the schedule for the 18:00 transmission, and it seems you just click on it to get it live...? www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_londonfrom 6pm to 8pm I think
OK, overall experience: Very well looked after, with a lot of effort gone into organising us for parking, gathering, being allocated for tour groups, food & drinks, etc.
Overall on Academy/Training Ground: Blown away - honestly! Of course it has bits not completed yet, such as around the edges of the pitches and the last step onto the roof, but the building has so much room inside that it almost feels like a tardis! It is well-equipped and the staff are very profession but excited.
Added comments: Indoors Sir Les talked frankly about his decision to go, which does seem to have been influenced by fan pressure, and I have this on a video (part of which has him sideways); Andy Sinton talked as ambassador; and Gareth Ainsworth chatted about his season ahead.
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Last Edit: Jun 21, 2023 17:45:31 GMT by kingfisher
More inside the tardis: The walls have photos of past academy players and this montage of the club's history; plus a mini-cinema look Performance Analysis Room.
Last Edit: Jun 21, 2023 17:55:19 GMT by kingfisher
Further inside the tardis: An anti-gravity treadmill (to assist recovering players); me and Clive Birtwhistle in front of the mural designed by Amit's or Rueben's wife (and includes '1889' in there); and the classrooms for all age groups (9year olds through to U18s or U21s) with education including A-levels for those interested!
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Last Edit: Jun 21, 2023 17:53:44 GMT by kingfisher
Thanks for sharing kingfisher, it does look fantastic.
I just hope it benefits QPR on the pitch and helps us to develop some better players over the coming years.
Did you pick up on any tension between Ainsworth and Ferdinand or other board members?
Quite the opposite in terms of the comments from both Gareth & Les! I do have video of their interviews but it is too large to upload onto Hoops & Dreams . (It also does not help that halfway through I moved the camera to take a vertical shot and we have those on the video appearing to be walking on a wall.... ) So, Sir Les stressed he had decided to walk away because of attacks in social media on him, rather than allow it to detract from QPR working. He also went on about how he loved the club and still does (he did turn up so I reckon that is true). Gareth went out of his way in his interview to point out how well he and Les had worked together. Les got a great reception outside and again when he was interviewed inside.
As I was parking a Rolls Royce arrived and I thought it must be a gold bondholder turning up, but it turned out to be Gerry Francis! I did manage to shake his hand (as he was chatting to the guy I went round with, Clive Birtwhistle, who knew his nephew I think). I also chatted to Gareth for a while and he was at great pains to mention how FFP was going to seriously restrict our choices this season, and it was already looking to be a challenging season. (Can I assume that because of accumulative spend we have little left in the pot to spend on new players? If so, perhaps this was a strong reason for employing Gareth as he knows how to operate on a shoestring?). I chatted to Andy Sinton too, and briefly to Lee Hoos & Les Ferdinand. I missed talking to Amit and Ian Gallen sadly.
Just heard my bit on Radio London's superb two-hour programme devoted to QPR. They included the whole interview and it sounded better than I thought - must be some magic on their side to improve those they interview!
Post by northwesthoop on Jun 21, 2023 19:07:53 GMT
Re: chatting to Ainsworth it doesn't give us much to get excited about for the season ahead does it? In every interview it's becoming clearer that our aim is survival. Not much of a turn on for fans is it when we are about to start our 9th consecutive season at this level.
It sounds like you had amazing access, it must have been fantastic to chat to QPR legends.
Thanks for posting the pictures kingfisher, the training complex is looking good. Obviously this is the first step and if we can get some decent coaching staff to compliment the facilities then we will hopefully start to see the production of better quality players.
Out of interest, was TF there today or do you think that he's now lost total interest in the club?
kingfisher glad you had a good day out. Is there a picture in the training ground of the fans at the 82’ Final, the one that is taken outside Loftus Road. Just interested to know as it’s got four family members in.
I’ve seen the We Are QPR thing as well, that looks terrific and offers a history lesson to West London. A look at the names on there and it’s a history lesson in migration to West London.
I will say I find the academy graduate board I’ve seen online ludicrous, especially given it’s got Chair, Dieng and Manning on it when they’d all made professional appearances at other clubs before but who knows.
It’s a fantastic thing owning our own training ground. The most significant thing this board has done in 11/12 years. However far we’ve regressed, however many mistakes they’ve made in recruitment, finances and strategising they’ve secured their legacy and significant part of the clubs future here. Big step forward and they deserve credit here. All other criticism of them though is valid. But this a big big plus.
This is a link to the schedule for the 18:00 transmission, and it seems you just click on it to get it live...? 
. (It also does not help that halfway through I moved the camera to take a vertical shot and we have those on the video appearing to be walking on a wall.... 
) So, Sir Les stressed he had decided to walk away because of attacks in social media on him, rather than allow it to detract from QPR working. He also went on about how he loved the club and still does (he did turn up so I reckon that is true). Gareth went out of his way in his interview to point out how well he and Les had worked together. Les got a great reception outside and again when he was interviewed inside.
