Queens Park Rangers F.C.
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Queens Park Rangers Football Club (also referred to as QPR) is an English football club based in the area of White City in London, England. QPR currently competes in the English Premier League, with a blue and white hooped shirt as their home kit. Due to the clubs kit type, they are known as The Hoops.
QPR's foundation dates back to 1882, when Christchurch Rangers were formed. In 1884, another local team, St. Judes, was formed. Within a couple of years of both clubs operating in the same area, they decided to merge. The merger took place in 1886, which created Queens Park Rangers. QPR had a slow start to their history in terms of major honours, but did win both the Western League and Southern League titles before 1910.
The club has played the majority of its history at Loftus Road. Before 1917, the club played at as many as 13 different home grounds. Since 1917, the club has played at Loftus Road, but had two short spells away from the ground in the 1930s and 1960s for 3 season in total. QPR will move into a new home in 2018, called the New Queens Park. The ground will be over twice the capacity of Loftus Road, holding up to 40,000 spectators.
QPR are seen as one of the larger London football clubs, however they have never had a long period of success in England's top-tier. Until the mid-1960s the club was a prominent club in the 3rd tier of English football, before climbing fairly rapidly to the top tier. They spent the majority of the next 30 years as a top-tier club, only falling into the second-tier on a couple of occasions. They finished runners-up during this period in both Division 1 and in the FA Cup.
Alec Stock is the clubs longest serving manager, from 1959 to 1968, taking charge of 439 games. Full-back Tony Ingham played 555 games for the club and is the record appearance holder. George Goddard is the clubs leading goalscorer with 186 goals in 260 appearances. Rodney Marsh and Les Ferdinand also had a great goal returns for the club, both averaging around a goal every other game.
QPR's main rivals are said to be Chelsea, following a 2003 poll. Other clubs they have a local rivalry with include Fulham F.C. and Brentford F.C.. Games between any of the four clubs are referred to as West London Derbies.
The clubs only major honour came in 1966–67 when they won the League Cup. Other achievements include finishing runners-up in the FA Cup and also the Division 1 in 1982 and 1975 respectively. They have also been runners-up in the FA Charity Shield twice in 1909 and 1913.
