The Fans View:
Name - Dave Frodsham
Age -51
Birthplace - Hammersmith Hospital, grew up in Notting Hill
Nickname - none
Years been a Rangers fan - 44 years
Season Ticket Holder (if yes where) - Upper Loft P block
1st game and what you remember - Home to Mansfield 1958. I was 7 and it 46 years ago :-)
Why Rangers - I'd been taken with my brother to the Mansfield game but was probably a bit too young. A couple of years later, through TV, I fell in love with Spurs. Our Dad said it was simply too far to go and, if we wanted to go Football, it had to be Loftus Road.
Boyhood idol - Rodney Marsh
Current idol - Too old and cynical! And wise (it's unfair on the player) :-)
All time game - So many...Wembley 67 and Villa Park 68 obviously, the first game in Div One (V Leicester) was like a dream come true, the first ever win at Shambles Bridge- I took a drunken bet that I wouldn't go in the Shed...I did (and survived). Afterwards I somehow avoided being arrested after being woken from happy supporter, by a very nice WPC, in a 'phone box’ on Fulham Broadway where I must have been trying to ring the world :-) BUT, all things considered- drama, atmosphere, result, repercussions...it would have to be the 4-2 League Cup win against Leicester (Banks et al) in 1966- that was everyone really started to believe in the dream.
Pre-match ritual - Constantly varying but if we do well, I try and repeat as much of it as possible until it goes wrong.
The best thing about supporting Rangers - Friends.
Which club do you hate the most - Chelsea
3 players who you would love to bolster the squad - Oh Yeah? :-) Rio Ferdinand, Viera and Henry. But if you mean within a slightly expanded budget (and not among those discussed as possibles already) Tranmere's right back, Ewan Roberts and a passing, creative, goal-scoring midfielder.
If you bring back any ex player who would you - Les Ferdinand
Most enjoyable game of 2003-2004 - Plymouth (Home)
Player of the season 2003-2004 - Martin Rowlands
Goal of the season 2003-2004 - Either of GA’s at R&D... or maybe the 3rd one at Hillsborough :-)
Best goal ever scored by a Ranger - Any one of 20 scored between Marsh and Bowles.
Where do you see Rangers in 5 years time - I don't think about it in case of madness. Possibly we could be in very severe trouble (with a miracle we could be in the Prem) but probably in the 1st.
If you could say anything to Ian Holloway what would it be - Piano movers ARE vital but what's the point of moving a Piano if you have no one to play it? AND we WOULD forgive you if you sent the team out to try and win in style (even if we lost more than we won ...or drew!).
If you could say anything to the Rangers chairman and board what would it be - Go and allow fans to vote for Voluntary replacements (the talent we have in our fan-base would ensure the right outcome) Well that's what my first draft said :-) History (or Politics, sport and the world in general) teaches too frequently, the easiest thing is to sit outside with ambition and ideas and soon after taking power, giving in to the easier options and finding excuses for not doing things (to begin with) and soon not even bothering with excuses.
How do you rate the Rangers fans - Loyal, slightly rebellious (you have to be), presently somewhat over-optimistic, perhaps a few too many who don't understand that it's easy being supportive when things are going well but it's when they are not going well that the support is really needed.
Describe life supporting Rangers - Lots of Agggggggghs ..... b**L**Ks and **** its etc .... but enough YESSSSSSSSSSs to make it enjoyable ...... painfully enjoyable ...... with Rangers, some sort of pain is always the added ingredient..
"The Fans View" by Mark O'Haire for QPR MAD- www.qpr-mad.co.uk The best place to find up to date news, rumours, reports and analysis of the best football club in London.
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