Match Information
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QPR Under-18’s 2-6 Burnley Under-18’s
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When: Saturday 16th September 2023
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Kick-off: 10.30am
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Where: Queens Park Rangers Training Ground, Crane Lodge Road, Heston, Hounslow, Middlesex TW5 9PQ
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Competition: U18 Professional Development League South
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Attendance: 51
I was exceptionally excited when the club I support – Queens Park Rangers – unveiled their magnificent £20 million training headquarters near Heathrow Airport during the summer.
Spanning 27 acres, there are seven finely manicured practise pitches plus a truly stunning new building for dining, recreation, office, medical and gym provision.
This thoroughly impressive venture totally transformed the pre-existing Concorde Club in Heston that was formerly owned by British Airways forming a social base for staff.
My Rules
I wasn’t sure beforehand if it would be a new ground for me in groundhopping terms. I had previously seen a match at the Concorde Club on Wednesday 12th October 2011… British Airways Flight Deck FC defeated DHL Airline Business Solutions FC 5-0 in the London Airport Midweek League Division One.
This now defunct competition was a weekday afternoon league predominantly catering for energetic shift workers at the airport.
Although it additionally embraced teams of postmen and police officers alongside a prison team.
Looking back, I can remember driving through the entry gate at Concorde with the social club in front of me. Then a lane led down to the left towards a car park adjoining the pitch which hosted my LAML fixture.
So as long as QPR’s current Under-18’s playing area didn’t overlap the 2011 pitch, it would be a new venue satisfying my personal pedantic groundhopping rules. But I wouldn’t find out for sure until I arrived in Heston!
My Findings
All visitors to the QPR Training Ground are required to fill in and print out an advance online form.
This was inspected by the helpful gateman who directed me to car parking on the right hand side of the complex. The original Concorde social club was fully intact and had been spruced up to incorporate Queens Park Rangers reception facilities.
I subsequently discovered the old car park down to the left is now completely covered by the new QPR building.
In addition, the pitch I saw a match on 12 years ago still remains and has become floodlit. However today’s Under-18 fixture was taking place on the very far side of the whole site. Therefore it was definitely a new ground for me!
Programme Details
An up to date printed teamsheet was distributed free of charge to spectators 45 minutes prior to the kick-off.
The Match
Early exchanges flowed evenly and the score was 2-2 at half-time. Youssef Yahyaoui banged home a couple of spectacular fizzing shots into the roof of the net for Rangers. But opponents Burnley grew stronger throughout to finish comfortable 6-2 winners.
The Clarets’ scorers were Callum West, Zac Johnson, Vernon Masara (penalty), Logan Carlin and Jack Bates (2). I felt centre-back Bates was virtually unbeatable in the air pushing forward on set-plays.
The People
QPR’s head of coaching Chris Ramsey welcomed me with a friendly handshake. A few minutes later, Chris texted me the confirmed R’s line-up and he phoned me later to make sure I had everything I needed. Great assistance from the main man at the training ground!
It was also good to meet Ian Randall again who performs brilliantly as official photographer at QPR matches like this. Ian kindly supplied a fantastic photo for use in my 888sport blog.
Furthermore, I spent the entire 90 minutes chatting to young writer Sam Wraight.
He is a UCFB (University Campus of Football Business) journalism student and gains vital experience voluntarily reporting on QPR youth fixtures. Sam has refreshing views concerning the industry so I was happy to give him some salient pointers.
Credits
Several leading companies delivered the 14 month project including Studio Zoppini Architects, global design engineering consultants Buro Happold, planning advisors HGH Consulting and contract administrators Arcadis.
Michael Brady Ltd oversaw construction assisted by Thomas Alexander Design whilst White Horse Contractors were in charge of pitch work and landscaping.
Funding was helped via The QPR Bond with Tifosy where in excess of 1,500 R’s fans and investors across 38 countries raised £6.8 million.
Those supporters consequently own part of their beloved club’s training ground. Overall, it is a Premier League standard set-up that everyone at Queens Park Rangers can be extremely proud of.
*Credit for the main photo in this article belongs to Ian Randall Photography*
*Credit for the other photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
