PU PREVIEW 57: QPR

Queens Park Rangers Football Club was founded in 1886 after the merger of St Jude's (formed 1882) and Christchurch Rangers (formed 1884). The club became professional in 1889 and played in nearly 20 different stadia before settling at current home Loftus Road in 1917. QPR spent two short spells playing at the White City Stadium (1931-33 and 1962-3) in a bid to attract larger crowds. QPR were promoted as Division 3 South champions in 1948. Alec Stock became manager before the 1959-60 season and helped transform the club. QPR's biggest win, 9-2 versus Tranmere Rovers, came in the 1960-61 season. The club won its only trophy in 1967 when, as a Third Division club, they won the League Cup by defeating West Bromwich Albion 3-2. The following season saw them promoted to the top flight. In 1976, QPR were First Division runners-up by a single point and went on to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup before losing to AEK Athens. The club installed a plastic pitch in 1981 and in the following year reached the final of the FA Cup. They lost to Tottenham Hotspur in a replay. In 1986, QPR reached the League Cup final but lost to Oxford United. The club was a founder member of the Premier League in 1992. QPR entered administration in 2001, and financial troubles continued for some years before the club was bought by Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone (Formula One) in 2007, with billionaire Lakshmi Mittal later buying a 20% share from Briatore. Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes became majority shareholder in August 2011. Briatore and Ecclestone are no longer involved with the club.

QPR and Pompey have played on thirty-eight occasions. Of the two League Cup games, QPR have won one with the other being drawn. Of the two FA Cup games played (2018-19 season), QPR won one and the other finished as a draw. In the thirty-four League games, Pompey have won ten and QPR thirteen, with the other eleven drawn.

QPR are nicknamed The Hoops and finished 19th in the Championship in 2018-19. They are managed by Mark Warburton.

(Information via Wikipedia and www.11v11.com)