QPR 1994The memory is a bit hazy as to why I couldn't get my tickets for the Pop Side for this one, probably because things were so good back then that, looking back it seems as though almost every week there was something to buzz about regarding County, in fact there was! The longer we linger in the Conference, the easier our recent 'good' moments are to remember, simply because they are so few and far between these days. I will refrain from saying "I digress", ah b*ll*cks, I just did.......
I somehow ended up getting tickets for the Railway End, and for the life of me I still can't remember why, but I know I was fuming. How dare some big game merchant take my place on the Pop Side! So to the game, which was under some threat from the frozen conditions, but to the dismay of the QPR management and players, it went ahead!
Just under 8,000 were at Edgeley Park that day. I remember myself, my Dad, my cousin and my mate had to squeeze our way up to just about half way up behind the Railway End goal, it was absolutely packed. So much so that my Dad and my cousin said they were going to find another spot as it was too crowded! So off they went. I remember watching Jonesy warming Neil up with his usual array of venomous drives, and Neil was diving full-blooded trying to save every one of them. Then just as one flew past his left hand into the far corner, and I saw the anger in Neil's face at letting one get past him (this was just the warm-up remember), I turned to my mate and said: "There's no way we're gonna lose this today!"
It may seem odd, but I really can't remember too much about the game aside from the goals and one or two other incidents. I remember the 'Tel 4 England' banners scattered around the ground' which were obviously put up by QPR fans, and I was in agreement with them, and he did indeed get the job. I do remember the Ferdinand/Barker combination leading to their goal, and it went in exactly the same spot where Jonesy had beaten Neil in the warm-up. Ferdinand's ability in the air was much-lauded, but I got to witness it first-hand that day. He really did have a way of just hanging up there, and had pace to burn. He was a top drawer centre-forward and it showed.
I can't remember one bad performance among our lads, not one. We battled for every ball, and played them off the park that day. Of course they had their moments, and you could see the difference in class with the likes of Ferdinand and Barker, but aside from that we were the better side, and with the pitch being a leveller or not, they knew it.
The real stand out players for us (if I had to pick any) were Chris B, Kev, Preecey, Wardy and Frainy. Wardy and Frainy pulled the strings in the middle, and Chris, Kev and Preecey ran them ragged up front. They really didn't have an answer for us. Chris was 100% County and rarely got the credit he deserved, with many people preferring to bemoan his lack of goals, but when it came to effort, determination and hard work I've never seen anyone give more for the County cause than him, ever. I was always a fan of Beaumont, but he was outstanding that day.
The equaliser came not long before half-time, and it was a peach. Mike Wallace played a fantastic ball to Kev on the right hand corner of the QPR box while the away defence had pushed out. Now Kev had beaten the trap, but Baz hadn't, how could he? He was lay prostrate in the middle of the QPR box after going down injured! Kev didn't even blink though, he just took the ball down with a sublime first touch, took a second touch to steady himself and unleashed an unstoppable low drive into the far corner of the Cheadle End goal. GET IN! Cue the protests for 'offside', my arse it was, and the referee made yet another brilliant decision to follow his decision to let the game go ahead!
The MOTD highlights (David Davies was their reporter that day for the meagre coverage they gave us) said our first goal was 'controversial', because Baz was in an offside position while he lay on the floor injured, but the referee waved play on saying he wasn't interfering with play. It was common sense refereeing, now when was the last time we saw that in recent years?! The protests continued into the tunnel at the break, but 1-1 it was, and what a belter it was from kev..... well done, Baz!
I do remember the second half being mostly us, with wave after wave of attacks, corners, and goal-line clearances. Then came that goal, the one I'll always remember until the day I die. I can still see it now from where I was stood, clear as day. Wardy curled a free-kick into the QPR box, and Preecey just connected with it perfectly to crash a stunning left-foot volley into the far corner. The place erupted, and I can honestly say that it was the most mental I have ever gone after a County goal. 1993 at Wembley was special, the best atmosphere and 'County' experience I have ever had, but this was the best Edgeley Park goal mental ever for me. David Davies did his best to try to take the shine off it on MOTD by saying Steve Yates had slipped as the ball came in, but b*ll*cks to him! Preecey's goal would have graced any pitch, anywhere in the world, and I was there to see it!
MOTD did show the Danny interview with the 'bloody big heart' quote, so they did get something right!
After the final whistle went, the pitch was flooded with fans, but I stayed up on the Railway to soak it all up. What an atmosphere. I even saw my Dad down in front of the section of the Main stand where the QPR fans were, shaking hands with them. This was the man who took me to my first ever County game, so I suppose him being there to witness this amazing match was fitting.
Cheers to my Dad, and cheers to Preecey & the boys, what a game!
