Independent Rs Messageboard

[Steve Russell]

The following article appeared in the Middlesex County Times on 21st March 1936:

‘On Thursday night in last week the second public meeting of the Queen’s Park Rangers’
Supporters Club, held at Queen’s Park Congregational Hall. Harrow-road, attracted
hundreds of members and supporters.

The chair was taken at the start in the temporary absence of Mr W. Birrell, the QPR
maanager, by Mr E. E. Coster, chairman of the Queen’s Park Rangers’ Supporters Club.

In his opening remarks, Mr Coster, after giving a hearty welcome to everyone present,
particularly Mr Charles Buchan, the chief speaker, Mr Dave Richards (QPR trainer), the
soloist that evening, the players (who were nearly all present), and the many others
officially connected with the club, made a brief summary of the club’s activities since
the inaugural meeting in December last year, just three months ago, since when the
membership had grown from 450 to 1,833.

He felt sure that, if tonight’s meeting was any criterion, the Queen’s Park Rangers’
Supporters Club had come to stay. He congratulated the players of both teams on the
really fine fight they were putting up for the honours in their respective competitions.

Mr Charles Buchan received a great ovation. Mr Buchan said he hoped the supporters’ club
would go on as it had started. It was up to the followers of the club to be 100 per-cent
Rangers “fans”.

He pointed out how sensitive players are to the feeling amongst the spectators, and urged
them to give their team encouragement in the fight for promotion.

Since he had been watching instead of playing football, he had been struck by the fact
that followers of the game did not bring enough brains into their watching of football.

If everyone who attended matches looked for the finer points of the game their pleasure
it would increase by half.

Mr Buchan expressed the hope that the Rangers would be successful in their fight for the
championship of Division 3.

The meeting then settled down to excellent entertainment by Mr George Kempton and
his versatile company of magic, melody, mirth and music.

Before this part of the programme had finished, a burst of cheering announced the arrival
of Mr Birrell & the QPR directors, Mr C. W. Fielding (chairman), Mr A. Hittinger and Mr P. Cohen.

When they had taken their seats the variety show concluded with some modern magic, and the
meeting was treated to a short song recital by Mr Dave Richards, whose singing was also cheered
to the echo.

The chairman then called upon Mr H. W. Hughes, hon. treasurer of the club, to give the financial
statement.

Mr Hughes showed that on the income side the total receipts to date amounted to £165, and on the
expenditure side £54, a considerable part of which had been spent on new crush barriers at Loftus-rd
and material for other work on ground improvements to be put in hand as soon as the close season
made this possible.

Mr Hughes was followed by Mr W. Birrell, who warmly congratulated the treasurer on the club’s happy
financial position. He paid a big tribute to the way in which the committee of the QPR Supporters Club
were tackling their job, which, he felt sure, would make itself felt on the field of play.

He had a secret to tell the meeting, which proved to be nothing less than that Mr C. W. Fielding, chairman
of the board of directors of the football club, had promised to double the collection which the stewards
were waiting to take up.

The collection itself produced a sum of £12 14s, and the chairman told the meeting that, after all the
expenses had been paid, the supporters’ club, thanks to Mr Fielding, would benefit to the extent of £15.

The treasurer also announced during the evening that an anonymous gift of £7 10s had been received
only that day.

The second organised trip of the supporters’ club takes place on Saturday, March 28, to Selhurst, by coach;
return fare 2s. Coaches depart from the Ellerslie-road ground entrance at 1.45 pm.

Tickets can be booked in advance from the hon. secretary, Mr A. H. Green, QPR SC, Loftus-road Ground,
Shepherd’s Bush, W12, by sending a postal order for 2s and a stamped addressed envelope, or can be
obtained on the day from the committee and stewards.’

The R’s won that match at Palace 2-0, with goals from Tommy Cheetham and Jackie Crawford, but
finished the season in fourth place.

(Thanks to Colin Woodley for sending me the article)