Family Day at QPR

Tuesday August 17, 2010

Dedication to your club is travelling all the way from Dubai to see some of the opening games of the season.

James Norris, 36, certainly fits the ‘superman’ bill – having also started his own supporters’ club in his new home in the Middle East, where he has lived since last October.

He was one of nearly 1,000 QPR fans and their children who turned up at Loftus Road to catch a glimpse of the first-team squad and get their autographs at the annual family day on August 1.

With face-painters and caricaturists on hand to entertain younger fans, it’s clearly designed for future generations of QPR supporters, but young and old alike were happy to meet their heroes.

James was delighted to have the chance to introduce his 19-month-old son George to the squad.

“It’s great for the kids to see the players and I got to speak to Martin Rowlands, who said he should be ready to play in four weeks, and Neil Warnock,” said James, who has supported the club since 1981 and who is aiming to get to at least 10 games this season despite the rather heavy commute.

“I got to meet Akos Buzsaky. He’s my favourite player,” said his niece Shanel Payne-Jones, eight, of the Hungarian midfielder who would have won out in any player popularity contest. Having been a keeper with the club himself until he was 16, James was especially happy with one of the club’s new signings.

“Paddy Kenny’s a great buy,” he added. “I’d say he’s going to be the number one choice over Radek Cerny.”

Warnock looked in relaxed mood as he strode across the Loftus Road pitch and before the autographs the whole squad took part in a 90-minute training session.

The players, accompanied by club mascot Spark the Tiger, then headed straight for the Lower Loft, where the fans were waiting, and happily signed shirts and books and chatted with the young fans and their parents.

Lee Pilgrim, 51 and son Owen, four, couldn’t compete with James’s commitment, having only travelled from Hemel Hempstead, but Owen’s shirt was emblazoned with every signature imaginable.