"So You're Representing Loads of People, Go Out There & Just Do Your Best"
Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 2:19 pm
From the Club...
QPR Development Squad head coach Paul Furlong emphasised the pride he has in his players as they
ready themselves for Thursday's Premier League Cup final against Brentford B at MATRADE Loftus Road.
Kick-off is at 7pm.
Furlong young R's head into tomorrow's derby after seeing off Burnley Under-21s in W12 to progress to the final.
Brentford overcame Southampton.
“To say I’m proud is an understatement," Furlong told us. “I’ve worked with some of these boys for a very long
time, so it’s great to see them in a cup final.
“Often when you get to the end of the season, if you’re not in the promotion positions, it can peter out but this
has kept it alive for us - I don’t know the last time a senior group got to a final so we’re creating history, too.
“I said to the boys before the Burnley game, when you get to a semi-final of a cup there’s something you’re doing right.
There’s been a consistent theme where we have a never-say-die attitude, we keep on going to the end.”
While the Dev Squad's progress in this season's Premier League Cup has certainly been welcome, the real success story
for QPR's academy in 2024/25 has seen a number of players step up to be involved with the first team.
Eighteen-year-old Kieran Morgan, for instance - who only joined from Spurs last summer - subsequently featured 31 times
for Rangers' senior side.
Furlong said: “This year is the most aggressive I’ve known the club in terms of stretching young players, getting
Under-18s playing in the Development Squad or even going out playing men’s football in the National Leagues - and
we’ve also had boys playing in the first team.
“It’s been really good and really testing for the Development Squad, whereby we’ve been light on numbers and pulled
players from the younger groups, but the end goal is getting the boys in the first team which I think we’ve been really
productive with this year.
“There’s a good feel about the club I think at this moment in time. If you’re a young kid and looking for a pathway,
why not QPR?
“In terms of what we’re doing, the work we’re doing here is really good.”
Discussing the test that lies in wait for his team tomorrow evening, Furlong added: “We’re expecting a very
tough game.
“Brentford are very aggressive and in terms of the physical profile of the players, they’re very good in that
department.
“But we’ve got good players and a good resilience about us. It’s a one-off game at Loftus Road and on the day,
anyone can win.
“I know we’ve been beaten on both occasions by Brentford this season (in the league) but I’m quietly confident that if
we get certain elements of our game right and we’re good in transitions, I think we can really do well.”
Some 7,500 fans have already snapped up tickets for the final with a limited number to be made available at the ground
tomorrow night (full information below).
“It was a great experience in the semi-final to have all the fans and the players’ friends and families at the game - I know
there will be even more for the final cheering the boys on," Furlong said.
“I say to the boys sometimes that you’re not just representing yourself, you’ve got your family, you’ve got the fellow in
the corner shop that you go to and wants to know how you’re getting on.
“So you’re representing loads of people, go out there and just do your best.
“At this moment I want them to just focus on their roles and do what they need to do. Then afterwards, we can
reflect on the experience. I’m really looking forward to the day and so are the boys.”
You can watch Thursday's final live with a QPR+ Pass! Annual and monthly QPR+ subscriptions are not valid
for this stream.
Tickets are now off sale online. There will be a limited number of available on the night for supporters (free entry
with a suggested donation to QPR in the Community Trust), available on a first-come, first-served basis from the
QPR Box Office.
Please arrive in plenty of time to avoid disappointment.'
QPR Development Squad head coach Paul Furlong emphasised the pride he has in his players as they
ready themselves for Thursday's Premier League Cup final against Brentford B at MATRADE Loftus Road.
Kick-off is at 7pm.
Furlong young R's head into tomorrow's derby after seeing off Burnley Under-21s in W12 to progress to the final.
Brentford overcame Southampton.
“To say I’m proud is an understatement," Furlong told us. “I’ve worked with some of these boys for a very long
time, so it’s great to see them in a cup final.
“Often when you get to the end of the season, if you’re not in the promotion positions, it can peter out but this
has kept it alive for us - I don’t know the last time a senior group got to a final so we’re creating history, too.
“I said to the boys before the Burnley game, when you get to a semi-final of a cup there’s something you’re doing right.
There’s been a consistent theme where we have a never-say-die attitude, we keep on going to the end.”
While the Dev Squad's progress in this season's Premier League Cup has certainly been welcome, the real success story
for QPR's academy in 2024/25 has seen a number of players step up to be involved with the first team.
Eighteen-year-old Kieran Morgan, for instance - who only joined from Spurs last summer - subsequently featured 31 times
for Rangers' senior side.
Furlong said: “This year is the most aggressive I’ve known the club in terms of stretching young players, getting
Under-18s playing in the Development Squad or even going out playing men’s football in the National Leagues - and
we’ve also had boys playing in the first team.
“It’s been really good and really testing for the Development Squad, whereby we’ve been light on numbers and pulled
players from the younger groups, but the end goal is getting the boys in the first team which I think we’ve been really
productive with this year.
“There’s a good feel about the club I think at this moment in time. If you’re a young kid and looking for a pathway,
why not QPR?
“In terms of what we’re doing, the work we’re doing here is really good.”
Discussing the test that lies in wait for his team tomorrow evening, Furlong added: “We’re expecting a very
tough game.
“Brentford are very aggressive and in terms of the physical profile of the players, they’re very good in that
department.
“But we’ve got good players and a good resilience about us. It’s a one-off game at Loftus Road and on the day,
anyone can win.
“I know we’ve been beaten on both occasions by Brentford this season (in the league) but I’m quietly confident that if
we get certain elements of our game right and we’re good in transitions, I think we can really do well.”
Some 7,500 fans have already snapped up tickets for the final with a limited number to be made available at the ground
tomorrow night (full information below).
“It was a great experience in the semi-final to have all the fans and the players’ friends and families at the game - I know
there will be even more for the final cheering the boys on," Furlong said.
“I say to the boys sometimes that you’re not just representing yourself, you’ve got your family, you’ve got the fellow in
the corner shop that you go to and wants to know how you’re getting on.
“So you’re representing loads of people, go out there and just do your best.
“At this moment I want them to just focus on their roles and do what they need to do. Then afterwards, we can
reflect on the experience. I’m really looking forward to the day and so are the boys.”
You can watch Thursday's final live with a QPR+ Pass! Annual and monthly QPR+ subscriptions are not valid
for this stream.
Tickets are now off sale online. There will be a limited number of available on the night for supporters (free entry
with a suggested donation to QPR in the Community Trust), available on a first-come, first-served basis from the
QPR Box Office.
Please arrive in plenty of time to avoid disappointment.'