QPR are set to celebrate their 100th anniversary of playing at Loftus Road as they prepare to host Ipswich Town on Saturday.
As part of a special series, we've caught up with a number of former-Hoops to find out what Loftus Road means to them.
Next up, we have former Hoops striker Kevin Gallen.
What do you remember about your Loftus Road debut?
It was a long time ago! Was it 23 years ago?!
I’ve been going to Loftus Road since 1979, so all through the 80s, watching great players through different era; The Terry Venables era, Jim Smith and then the Gerry Francis era which I was part of.
To make my debut in the first home game of the season against Sheffield Wednesday, It was both a very nervous and exciting tim, and to score the winner was even better. It was an amazing night for me really.
I remember the goal going in, I’ve seen it on telly now and on YouTube, but it was an amazing night for me. The buzz of the crowd was outstanding. I remember going to bed at 11 or 12 o’clock and I couldn’t sleep until 4 or 5oclock, I was just on a massive high. At that stage of my life it was probably the best day of my life.
What is your favourite Loftus Road memory?
Playing-wise my debut has to be up there. Scoring against Chelsea was up there but that first season playing in the Premier League against Manchester United and Liverpool, who we beat 2-1, there’s just so many moments to mention.
Obviously the Oldham game was a magnificent game to get to the play-off final. It had such a great atmosphere and was such a nerve-racking evening, but once we got through the atmosphere was absolutely rocking that night. I don’t think I’ve ever played in an atmosphere better than that.
I remember seeing QPR play Arsenal in the FA Cup when Kenny Samson was playing, it must have been 1991, and I thought that atmosphere was special; and that was in the stands watching, but to be part of the game where we got to the play-off final, that was special and i’ll always remember that.
What does Loftus Road mean to you?
I’ve had great times there as a supporter and a player. My whole family are QPR so when I go to see my mum and dad I take my six-year-old boy down to drive him round Loftus Road, even when there’s no game just to show him.
It’s like a centre of a lot of memories. There’s a lot of good memories and some bad ones, but you always forget the bad ones.
QPR is always a big talking point in my family’s house with my brothers, my parents and now my little boy because now he’s obsessed with QPR.
It means everything to me. Other than mine and my parent’s home, it’s like a second home. It’s a great place to watch football, it has a great atmosphere, great supporters and great people there. I’ve known people at the club since I was a kid. I know people who work behind the scenes and it’s just a great place.
How big an occasion will Saturday be?
It’ll be really good to see ex-players that you’ve played with and ex-players that i’ve watched when I was a kid, so it’ll be great to meet up with those players who you haven’t really spoken to or seen for a long time.
It’ll hopefully be good for the fans to see ex-players there and recognise the people who played on the pitch and gave them good memories, so it’ll hopefully be a good day.
I go down to Loftus Road quite often but some of the others don’t, but that’s because I’m a QPR fan and i’ve got that sort of affinity with the club because I support them.
I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be really good, I’m going to take my little boy, he loves all that stuff so I’m really looking forward to it.
