Off to the Bush next weekend!!!

I've booked my first trip to London this season and I'll be off to the Bush next weekend to see the Rangers take on Colchester United.

After the match, there's "An evening with Stan Bowles" planned at O'Donogue's Bar on the Goldhawk Road, so it should be a great day all around. I met Stan Bowles once at the Springbock after a match and he was a very engaging fellow. By the way, if you didn't see the story by Stan Bowles in the September issue of Four Four Two, you've got to check it out -- very funny stuff.

There's also a raffle for QPR memorabilia going on at the event, with the proceeds going to QPR Youth Team Development, so I'm in for a few pounds there too, I suspect.

If anyone wants me to pick up anything for them (match programme, In The Loft, A Kick Up the R's) or to buy a chance or two in the raffle (yes, I'll mark which ticket is yours in advance!), post here or send a PM.

Mark

 

Thankfully, it seems a good number of those (all of them?) are reserved for the visiting fans, who often complain about the view of the goal below from the upper School End.

Kevin, where is particularly bad in the QPR seating areas? To date, I've only been to one sold out game there (and had pretty fair seats, although maybe I wish I had a worse view of the FA Cup thrashing Arsenal gave us in January '01), and when the crowds are 10-12K, as they usually are when I've been, that obviously isn't an issue.

Mark

 

Just me, myself, and I. A friend (who works nearby at the BBC) and I are likely to do our "traditional" drinking tour of Shepherds Bush on Friday afternoon/evening, but other than that I'll be by my lonesome. Still, I've always been taken in and treated excellently by the R's fans in the Bush and look forward to it again this time.

I've got you covered: a copy of the Hoops Magazine and a copy of AKUTR's. Shall I throw in an "In the Loft" too? I'm not sure about the MLS Cup final at the moment, so I'll email you when I get back with the details.

Anyone else need anything?

You're right, I feel lucky to be going this weekend. The vibe in the stadium and in the Bush generally will be great this weekend.

Cardiff got a draw yesterday at Plymouth (Plymouth scored the equalizer in injury time!), so we're in second, but it's going to be great opening up that Hoops Magazine and seeing the R's sitting there in automatic promotion position. Here's hoping for three more points on Saturday toward that end.

Come on, you R's!

Mark

 

Yeah, I expect the far corners of the Upper Loft wouldn't be great. I think I've only been as far as M or N over there, but never over in Q (or H on the other side).

No, I haven't bought my ticket yet. I figured I'd get it at the box office when I arrive on Friday. I touchdown at Gatwick at 9:15 AM; I'm staying in the Bush (Grantly Hotel on Shepherds Bush Green), so will have an hour or two before my friend can shake loose from work for the afternoon and I plan to hit the box office and club shop before meeting up for a long day of drinking.

I've been to the Bush Ranger, but, oddly enough, not before a game. I've just been with my friend while hitting four or five places in an evening. I think I'll hit the BR for awhile on Saturday, but want to stop for a few moments on the way to the ground at the White Horse to check and see if a few acquaintances are there (it's their usual pre-match haunt).

Have you been to O'Donoghue's Bar (174 Goldhawk Road) where this Stan Bowles event is? I don't think I have (but you never know!). If so, how is it?

R Block on Ellerslie? I believe that's where I was for the Arsenal game (I bought them in advance from a "ticket agency" who said they got them from a reserve R's player). Great crowd over there -- but bad flashbacks of six goals in the wrong net are hitting me now!

Mark

 

Good to know about the White Horse; thanks! I was in there before both games I attended last season (Northampton and Bury) and it wasn't overcrowded. However, both of those games drew between 10-11K and I was in there around opening time, as I recall, so even if they were stopping people at the door later, I mightn't have noticed. I'm sure it'll be part of Friday's pub crawl, so I'll ask about it then.

Going for the Cardiff match, eh? That should be a great matchup. Wish I could make that one, but I've got some other plans that weekend.

I'm looking at dates for my next trip, also. I'm half leaning toward trying to go for the Northampton game (Nov. 9th). I really want revenge on that club for upsetting the R's in one of only two trips I was able to make last season!

Although, if DC United is going to play at White Hart Lane on Thursday, October 17th (as is the rumor on the DC board), I may have to go and make the Saturday away trip to Cheltenham Town with the R's. I'd love to see a successful away trip, since the only time I've been on the road with the R's was a thrashing at the hands of PNE (unfortunately, I saw McBride's only First Division goal). Still, I had a great time drinking with the R's fans on the train!

Mark